Simple vows. Simple promises.

Kaya repeated the words without stumbling, her voice steady and clear.

Veer’s voice was softer, almost reverent, like he was speaking a prayer instead of a contract.

They bowed to each other.

And then Veer stepped forward, cupped her face gently in both hands, and kissed her.

It wasn’t dramatic. Wasn’t desperate or showy.

It was just... real.

When they pulled apart, the crowd erupted in cheers—even the ones who hated her couldn’t resist the tradition.

Kaya looked out at the sea of faces, the flowers, the chairs, the mountains stretching behind them, and thought:

’This isn’t so bad.’

Not bad at all.

Kaya thought the wedding ceremony was the end of it. Simple vows, a kiss, done. What more could there be?

But when she reached the food section, her mind went blank.

She turned slowly to look at Veer, who was grinning at her like he’d just pulled off the world’s greatest prank.

She really wanted to choke him.

This damn bastard had organized a complete feast. Not a meal. Not a celebration. A ’feast.’

For the entire tribe—maybe eighty kilograms of meat. At least. Probably more.

Kaya’s eyes swept across the tables. Four different types of meat dishes, though calling them "dishes" felt like an insult. Chopped meat. Ground meat. Meat cut into chunks. Whole roasted sections still on the bone. Different animals, different cuts, different preparations.

In one area, whole chickens roasted over open fires, covered in spices that made the air smell rich and smoky. Beside them sat pots of chicken curry, bubbling and fragrant. Fish laid out on wooden platters. Eggs cooked a dozen different ways.

Kaya stared at it all, calculating mentally.

With this much food, Veer and the household could eat for two, maybe three Years without hunting. Easily. And this idiot had prepared all of it for a wedding. A one-day event. A ceremony that lasted maybe two or three hours at most.

She couldn’t understand it.

Was he insane? Had he completely lost his mind?

As she stood there, jaw tight, trying to decide whether to yell at him or just walk away, a voice came from behind her.

"It’s nice."

Kaya turned.

Veer’s father stood there, arms crossed, but his expression wasn’t hostile. Not friendly, exactly, but not the usual cat-and-mouse glare ready for a fight.

Kaya had one rule: if you didn’t pick a fight with her, she wouldn’t pick one with you. And since he hadn’t started anything, she wouldn’t either.

She looked at him and gestured helplessly at the feast. "Don’t you think this is too much? With so much food, this—" She shook her head, not even knowing how to finish the sentence.

Veer’s father looked at the tables, then back at her, and smiled—actually smiled. "This? This is nothing. When I married Veer’s mother, I prepared just like this."

Kaya blinked. "The whole ceremony too?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Veer’s mother gave me the idea. The flower decorations, the chairs, the vows—we had the same wedding." He paused, looking slightly embarrassed. "I didn’t even know what the rituals meant. She just said it was beautiful, so I did it."

Before Kaya could respond, he tossed something at her.

She caught it automatically—a small wooden box, light but sturdy.

Veer’s father turned and walked away without another word, disappearing back into the crowd.

Kaya stared at the box in her hands, then carefully opened it.

Her breath caught.

Inside was a bracelet. Beautiful. Delicate. At first glance, it looked like pure jade—light green, with intricate carvings running along the surface. The kind of piece that would cost a fortune anywhere.

She touched it gently, then frowned.

Wait.

She turned it over, rubbing her thumb along the underside.

It wasn’t jade. Or rather, not ’just’ jade.

From the top, it looked like a jade bracelet. But underneath, there was gold—a thin, perfectly fitted gold band with jade pieces set into it. The craftsmanship was incredible. From above, you’d never know there was gold. But from below, the metal gleamed softly.

Kaya’s hands trembled slightly.

This wasn’t just expensive. This was heirloom-level. The kind of thing passed down through generations.

She hurriedly closed the box, scared she’d somehow break it just by looking at it too long.

"Ah, it’s mother’s."

Kaya nearly threw the box.

She spun around, clutching it to her chest, heart pounding. "Veer! What the hell? Why are you standing behind me like a ghost?"

Veer grinned, unbothered by her glare. "Just wanted to see your face when you opened it."

Kaya’s grip tightened on the box. "This was your mother’s?"

"Yeah." Veer’s expression softened. "My father gave it to her on their wedding day. She wore it every single day until she died." He paused. "And now he’s giving it to you."

Kaya stared at the box in her hands, feeling the weight of it—not physical weight, but the meaning behind it. "Veer, I can’t take this. This is—"

"You can," he said firmly. "And you will. Because he wouldn’t have given it if he didn’t mean it."

Kaya looked up at him, searching his face for some hint that this was a joke. But Veer’s eyes were serious, warm, certain.

She closed the box carefully and slipped it into her dress pocket. "Your father really has terrible timing. Gives me a priceless heirloom and then just walks away like he handed me a napkin."

Veer laughed. "That’s him. Emotions make him uncomfortable. So he throws gifts at people and runs."

"Runs," Kaya repeated flatly. "Your father. The tribe leader. Runs."

"Emotionally runs," Veer clarified, grinning. "Physically, he’d just fly away and pretend it never happened."

Kaya shook her head, fighting a smile. "Your family is insane."

"You married into it," Veer pointed out. "So what does that make you?"

"Trapped," Kaya said dryly.

Veer’s grin widened. "You could’ve said no."

"Could I?" Kaya raised an eyebrow. "You and Cutie basically trapped me in a cave for a week. Not exactly giving me options."

"That was the heat," Veer said innocently. "Medical necessity."

"Medical necessity," Kaya repeated, voice dripping with disbelief. "Is that what we’re calling it now?"

"Would you prefer ’life-saving intervention’?" Veer offered.

"I’d prefer ’kidnapping,’" Kaya shot back.

Veer laughed—a real, full laugh that made a few nearby tribe members turn and smile. "Kidnapping. Right. The kidnapping where you threatened to shoot me multiple times."

"And yet you’re still here," Kaya said. "So clearly I should’ve followed through."

"Too late now." Veer leaned in closer, voice dropping playfully. "You’re stuck with me. Officially. In front of two hundred witnesses."

Kaya looked at him—at his ridiculous pink shirt, his styled hair, his stupid, genuine smile—and felt something warm settle in her chest despite herself.

"Yeah," she said quietly. "I guess I am."

Veer’s expression softened. "Good."

They stood there for a moment, the noise of the feast swirling around them, flowers and laughter and the smell of roasted meat filling the air.

Then Sparrow’s voice cut through: "OI! ARE YOU TWO GOING TO STARE AT EACH OTHER ALL DAY OR CAN WE EAT?"

Kaya turned to see Sparrow standing by the food tables, already holding a massive chunk of meat in one hand, looking impatient.

Cutie stood beside him, quieter, but with a small smile on his face.