#Chapter 199 – Away from the Edges

Lila The whole village gathered in the square that afternoon, a hush of anticipation woven through the air. Lanterns hung from wooden posts, their light flickering against the oncoming twilight, casting gold across faces who had been kind and welcoming. Wildflowers lay scattered across the clearing where Ronan and Thalia stood, their hands clasped. It was not the kind of ceremony I had been preparing for: no silks, no crowded halls, no regal oaths spoken beneath banners. It was simple. Raw and honest. And as I watched, I realized it suited them. Ronan’s face was lighter than I had ever seen it. The lines of grief and burden had softened, replaced by something I had thought him incapable of: joy. He stood tall, his hand steady around Thalia’s, and when he looked at her, the bond between them shone brighter than two suns. Thalia, in turn, met him with the same quiet steadiness she had shown since the moment she entered our lives. She wore a simple dress the villagers had