Sons of a devil-Chapter 103: The vow

Meanwhile, down the hall, Leo was already in the middle of what could only be described as a mild panic. The youngest brother, who had once relished in chaos and adventure, was now standing in front of a mirror, tugging nervously at his collar.

"I look ridiculous, don't I?" Leo muttered, examining his reflection.

"No, you look fine," came the reassuring voice of a woman from behind him. Leo turned to find his new girlfriend, Zara, standing in the doorway, her smile soft and encouraging. Zara had been with Leo for a few months now, and although their relationship had started with a few awkward moments, it had quickly blossomed into something special. Zara was kind-hearted and fierce when necessary, qualities that Leo had come to appreciate more than he had initially thought possible.

"I feel like I'm about to walk into the lion's den," Leo grumbled, adjusting his tunic again. "There's so much pressure. It's not even my wedding, but I feel like I'm going to be the one in the spotlight the whole time. What if I trip on the way down the aisle? What if I forget what I'm supposed to say? What if I—"

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Zara laughed softly, crossing the room to place a calming hand on his shoulder. "Leo, relax. No one is expecting you to be perfect. Cain's the one getting married, not you. Just be yourself."

Leo met her gaze, seeing the genuine warmth in her eyes. "Yeah, I know. But still... this is a huge deal. It feels... weird. In a good way, but also... weird."

"Look, you're going to be just fine," Zara said with a wink. "And I'll be right here with you. So don't even think about messing this up."

Leo flashed her a grin. "I'm glad you're here."

While Leo and Zara had their own quiet moment, the King and Queen—Darius and Lysandra—were busy overseeing the final preparations. The castle had been transformed for the occasion, its great halls adorned with flowers, ribbons, and banners in every shade of white and gold. The smell of fresh roses lingered in the air as the entire kingdom prepared to celebrate the union of Cain and Selene.

King Darius walked through the grand hall, inspecting everything with a sharp eye, but his gaze often wandered to his wife, Queen Lysandra, who was overseeing the decorations. She stood beside one of the large tables, smoothing out wrinkles in a long white cloth.

"I can't believe it's finally here," Darius said, his voice soft but filled with emotion. "My son is getting married."

Lysandra looked up from the table and smiled warmly, her eyes sparkling. "It feels like just yesterday we were fighting for our lives, and now look at us. It's... it's incredible."

Darius nodded, his expression softening. "I only wish we could have been more involved in their lives. We missed so much... but I'm proud of the men they've become."

Lysandra reached out, taking his hand in hers. "We can't change the past, but we've got the future ahead of us. And today is a new beginning."

Darius squeezed her hand. "Yes, it is."

Just then, a voice interrupted their moment.

"Don't get too sentimental now, old man. You'll ruin the mood," Eren called out from behind them. He walked into the room, a mischievous grin on his face. He looked ready to go, his dark hair slicked back and his outfit impeccable.

"I'm not the one who's getting sentimental," Darius muttered, half-smiling at his son.

Selene was standing just behind Eren, her arm gently looping through his. She looked radiant in her gown, her smile brighter than ever. "Is everything ready?" she asked, her voice gentle but full of excitement.

"Everything is perfect," Lysandra assured her, stepping forward to give Selene a quick hug. "You look beautiful, dear."

Selene's eyes softened with gratitude. "Thank you, Lysandra. I never thought this day would come, but I'm so grateful to be here."

"And we're grateful to have you here, Selene," Darius added, his tone warm. "Cain is lucky to have found you."

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the wedding ceremony began. It was intimate and full of meaning, with friends and family gathered to witness the union of Cain and Selene. The vows were exchanged, promises made, and as they stood together before their family, it felt like the entire kingdom had come to life again.

The party that followed was nothing short of spectacular. The hall was filled with music and laughter, the guests dancing and celebrating the momentous occasion. Even Leo, who had previously been nervous about the day, found himself swept up in the joyous atmosphere, his nerves fading as he watched his brother marry the love of his life. Zara was by his side, and for the first time in a long while, Leo felt like everything was falling into place.

Throughout the evening, the King and Queen watched their children with pride. The years of struggle, pain, and separation had brought them to this point—a family united, stronger than ever.

And as Cain and Selene shared their first dance as a married couple, Eren was at their side, and Leo and Zara danced nearby, it was clear that, despite the trials they had all faced, they had finally found peace.

A peace they had worked so hard for, and a future they could now look forward to together.

The music played on, a soft melody that seemed to wrap around everyone in the room like a warm embrace. The golden chandeliers above flickered, casting a romantic glow across the grand hall. Cain and Selene shared a tender moment, spinning together as their love shone through their eyes. But in the corners of the ballroom, other moments were quietly unfolding.

Eira, having been brought back into the fold with new purpose, stood off to the side, her posture still a bit stiff, as if she was still learning to adjust to her newfound place in the family. The darkness that had once clouded her soul seemed to have receded, but there were remnants, fragments of who she had been that still lingered.

Eren watched her from a distance, his eyes tracing the way her gaze flickered over the room, hesitant yet fascinated. He had always been the mischievous one, the one who brought laughter to even the most serious situations, but now, seeing Eira in a new light—no longer the villain, but his sister—he felt a different kind of connection. He couldn't ignore the past, the hurts that had come before, but he also knew this was their chance to heal, to rebuild something.

It was with that thought in mind that Eren made his way over to her. The crowd parted slightly, but he didn't let it deter him. His steps were steady, and as he neared her, he offered her a playful grin, trying to ease the tension that lingered between them.

"Eira," he said, his voice light, teasing, but also sincere. "I think it's time we stop standing around and actually enjoy ourselves for once. What do you say?"

Eira looked up, startled by his sudden appearance, but when she saw the warmth in his eyes, something inside her softened. It had been so long since she'd felt anything but anger or fear. Her heart still carried the weight of everything she'd done, but here, in this moment, with Eren's hand extended toward her, it felt like a chance to be something else—something better.

"I... I'm not sure," Eira replied quietly, her voice unsure. "I'm not really... used to this."

Eren's smile didn't falter. "You don't have to be used to it. Just trust me. We're family now, and it's time to act like it." His hand remained outstretched, patient, as if waiting for her to decide.

For a long moment, Eira hesitated, the noise of the celebration around her a distant hum in her ears. But then, her gaze shifted from Eren to where Cain and Selene were dancing, their closeness a reminder of what love and family truly meant. Taking a deep breath, Eira's stiff posture relaxed slightly. She placed her hand in Eren's.

"Alright," she said, her voice still quiet but with an unspoken acceptance. "I'll give it a try."

Eren led her to the center of the ballroom, where couples were spinning in time with the music, their joy palpable. Eira felt the weight of every eye upon her as they danced, but Eren, ever the charmer, didn't let her focus on anything other than the present moment.

As they began to move together, Eira initially stumbled, unsure of the rhythm. But Eren's hand on her back steadied her, his touch light but confident. "Relax," he whispered. "Just let go. It's only us here."

Something in his voice eased her nerves, and slowly, the tension began to slip away. The music swirled around them, and Eira allowed herself to be carried along with it. The moment was simple, yet profound. Here she was, dancing, smiling even, and for once, the weight of her past didn't feel like it could crush her.

Eren's playful smile softened into something more genuine as he guided her, his movements smooth and fluid. "You know, you're not so bad at this," he teased.

Eira shot him a small, reluctant smile. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Better than nothing," he quipped, spinning her lightly in the middle of the floor. Their laughter mingled, filling the space between them like a bridge—one that had been long in the making. Their bond, forged through hardship and time, had finally begun to take root in something more tender. They weren't just the rebellious siblings anymore; they were learning to be something else—together.

As the song came to a gentle end, Eira found herself not wanting it to stop. The softness in her chest, the way her heart fluttered, was something she hadn't felt in years. Her life had been so filled with dark shadows, and now, in the warmth of her brother's arms, she could finally feel the light creeping back in.

"That wasn't so bad," she said, glancing up at Eren.

"Nope," he replied, a grin spreading across his face. "And there's still more dancing to do."

Just as they were about to step off the floor, Eira felt a tug at her heart—something else drawing her attention. She turned, her gaze landing on Cain and Selene, who were locked in their own world, a bubble of affection in the center of the celebration. Cain's hand rested on Selene's waist, his lips grazing her ear as he whispered something that made her laugh.

It was beautiful—seeing the love they shared. Eira felt a pang in her chest, but it wasn't jealousy. It was something deeper, something quieter. A longing, perhaps, for the peace they had found, the love that had slowly begun to take root in her own heart.

Turning back to Eren, she said softly, "You were right. I think I needed this."

Eren squeezed her hand, his voice warm. "I'm glad. And remember, we're not done yet. You're part of this family now, Eira. We're all here for you."

And in that moment, Eira realized just how true his words were. She was part of something now, not just because of blood, but because of love—the kind of love that gave her the strength to step away from her dark past and find her place among her brothers, her sister, and the family she had almost lost.

As the music swelled once more and couples resumed their dance, Eira felt herself caught in the embrace of something beautiful—something new. A future where the past no longer defined her, and the love she had longed for was finally within reach.

Meanwhile, across the room, Cain and Selene shared a quiet, intimate moment of their own. As the guests around them danced and celebrated, they stood together, hands intertwined, their eyes meeting in a silent exchange of promises.

Selene rested her head against Cain's chest, her voice barely above a whisper. "You've made me so happy, Cain. More than I ever thought possible."

Cain's smile was soft, the rough edges of his past finally smoothed away by the love he shared with her. "And you've healed parts of me that I didn't even know were broken, Selene. You've given me a future—a real one."

Their love wasn't perfect. It wasn't without its struggles. But standing here, in this moment, surrounded by family, they knew they had overcome so much. And whatever came next, they would face it together.

As they held each other close, Cain whispered, "This is just the beginning, Selene. We have all the time in the world."

And for the first time, in the quiet of the palace and the warmth of their embrace, they both believed it.