Chapter 80 The Mating Ceremony

• Katarina
• I walk down the Grand Hall toward Zane and Maik, the old seer who set our ceremony date. My heart is pounding in my chest. The sound of the musical instruments only makes me more tense. Is this an appropriate song for a wedding or a war? I feel all eyes on me as I take each step, and I can hear the silent whispers from every corner of the hall. I sense the angry glares from those watching. Weddings are supposed to be joyful, but this… this feels different. The tension is suffocating, but I force myself to keep breathing.
• I finally reach Zane at the front, and everything else fades. His eyes lock onto mine, and suddenly, the world seems quieter. He stares at me, breathtakingly, and his gaze drops to my chest, as if listening to the beating of my heart.