Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 434: Never Let Go ()

"Rosa?" Celia called, catching a glimpse of Rosalie’s familiar dress making as she made a turn somewhere down the hall.

Celia breathed a sigh of relief as she hurried to catch up with Rosalie who was yet to notice her.

Celia soon turned the corner and caught sight of Rosalie just as she stepped into the ascending room.

"Rosa!" Celia called, hurrying to catch up, she dashed into the ascending room just before it could go closed.

The ascending room was empty, save for Rosalie who had gotten on it first and Celia who was in a hurry did not really take a close look, instead she leaned against the wall in an attempt to catch her breath.

"Rosa! I have called to you multiple times! Where have you been? It will be time for you to present the gift soon, yet you only now show up!" Celia reprimanded as the ascending room went closed.

Celia glanced over her shoulder at Rosalie when she did not receive a response but her eyes widened in horror to find herself staring at someone else entirely.

"You!...Why are you here?! Where is Rosa?!" Celia demanded immediately.

But of course, Celia was granted no response but a malicious glare that sent a chill down her spine.

"You saw nothing...stay out of it." The one in Rosalie’s dress warned Celia.

Celia frowned slightly, for a moment, she stayed in place and neither said nor did anything. But in the next moment, Celia’s hand reached for the lever to stop the ascending room.

Celia did not get to, a force slammed into the back of her head and her world spun, her consciousness tugged back into darkness.

"I told you to stay put." Were the last words Celia heard as she collapsed to the ground unconscious.

____________

Neveah came to a stop before the side door, sucking in a deep breath first to calm her breathing. When her breathing was steady, she pushed open the door and walked in, her strides confident and certain.

The moment Neveah stepped in, her eyes met Menarx’s awaiting gaze. She was not certain for how long he had been staring to the side door, waiting for her return... perhaps he thought she would not even return.

Neveah knew Menarx must have known Xenon went after her, and the fact that he had still respected Neveah’s privacy made Neveah uncertain of how to feel about it.

Menarx had always made it clear that he trusted Neveah completely, she was the one who was yet to return the favor.

Menarx was a right and proper man, it reflected in everything he did, every choice he made. Neveah could confidently say she was probably the first impulsive decision Menarx had ever made in his existence.

Though Neveah knew Menarx would say choosing to bond with her had not been on impulse but an inevitable result of his feelings.

Neveah walked over to Menarx, ignoring the gaze of everyone else that was fixed on her.

In her absence, the ceremony had been interrupted, the guests allowed the time to mingle with one another,

But with Neveah’s return, it would be known if the ceremony was to carry on or if this was to become a banquet to welcome the unified council.

Neveah kept her head straight till she stopped by Menarx’s side, she took his hand and intertwined their fingers.

"Are you okay now?" Menarx asked Neveah in a low tone.

"I am. Are you?" Neveah asked Menarx.

Menarx shook his head slightly and Neveah nodded in understanding, squeezing lightly in reassurance.

"I am here, and I am not going anywhere. Not unless you want me to." Neveah assured.

Menarx nodded to the high elder who still stood at the head of the hall by King Jian’s side and the high elder called for the attention of the guests.

All eyes moved to settle on Neveah and Menarx.

"There is not much to be said. No one in this room is unaware of my chosen bond and neither is anyone ignorant on whom I am bonded to."

"As the Creator wills and in honor of all customs, Neveah and I have completed the second merging. " Menarx announced.

"The Lord and Lady of Ruby Scales, the stronghold, the king’s guard and Dragon kind is blessed in your bond." King Jian lauded, nodding to Cassian who presented King Jian’s gift.

Neveah stared down at the gift, it was a seal bearing both the Asvarian sigil and the crest of North’s End. The symbol of her authority as Lady of Ruby Scales as well as the rights to command decrees and govern affairs of the Northern dragons.

"Lady of the North, you have my congratulations." King Jian said.

"Congratulations to the Lord and Lady of Ruby Scales!" The guests echoed.

"All official titles will be accorded on the next council gathering, but for tonight, we honor the Lady of Ruby Scales. May your bond be blessed and fruitful." King Jian lifted a goblet of wine up as he made the toast.

"Hear, hear!" The guests concurred.

Just like that, the ceremony began with throngs of guests approaching Neveah and Menarx to offer their congratulations and present gifts.

All the academies and guilds in the stronghold had sent representatives and even the unified council had come bearing gifts in honor of the ceremony.

Neveah maintained a polite smile, accepting congratulations from guest after guest alongside Menarx and all the while, try as Neveah might, she could not pretend not to notice the eyes that watched her.

She was not certain from where he watched, he had not returned to the hall yet, but she could sense Xenon’s presence and she knew he watched her at this very moment. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Neveah allowed her gaze wander across the hall for a moment, she was not hoping to but her eyes found his.

He was not in the hall like she had guessed but gazing down from the shadows of the ministrel’s gallery, where his silhouette could barely be made out.

But his eyes...those eyes, Neveah could pick them out anywhere. And at this moment, they were narrowed in silent promise, and the message hiding behind that gaze resonated through Neveah’s very soul.

’I will never let you go... little wolf.’