The rest of the day moved simultaneously speedily, and slowly at the same time. Rice and rose petals were thrown into the air. Congrats were exchanged. Photos were taken. Cas and I were pulled to the side for a few photos of us together. 

We re-joined the reception with a cheer. Groups had been re-allocated and seated. The hues of styling reached up the walls of the marquee tent. Dinner was served. Toasts were allocated. Speeches were made. Tales recounted, stories to share. 

Throughout it all, I kept my eyes on Cas, his hand holding mine. The two of us holding one another.

A new life to begin, I grinned to myself. Hanna was finishing up her speech. 

Cas looked to me, smiling. I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling a flush throughout my chest. After this, we'd leave and be alone to hold one another. No one to interupt us.

Maybe we should just skip the rest of the night and go there now, I thought to myself. No one really cares about us dancing, and they can all cut the cake by themselves.

But we stayed, against my better judgement, entertaining the guests. There was, after all, a cake to be cut and songs to dance to. Cas and I swayed alone, on the dance floor, under the watchful eye of our family and friends. 

Five dances in, it was time for Cas and I's exit. I'd gleaned from available information that our wedding night would be spent in Ardeena. Aside from that, I was at a loss. In complete reliance on Cas.

The more important members of Cas' family would also disappear; the king and queen as well as Prince Artur and his family. For everyone else, they'd spend the night partying until dawn, or until the police were called. 

Everyone gathered on either side of the path; holding sky lanterns to guide us into the next chapter of our lives together. It'd been a tradition that Hanna had recommended. And, as the two of us said our final farewells, the twinkles of light made their way into the starry night sky; a guidance for the way into the future. 

"We did it," Cas grinned to me as we belted in. He looked to me, beaming. 

"We did," I gave him a kiss. He was scented with wine, sweat and a little bit of cake. 

"You know what happens now?" Cas raised a brow. I looked away, my face suddenly rushing red. Cas laughed as my reaction. 

"We have to get there first," I teased. 

"Sounds like a plan," He grinned. 

We let the king and queen move out of the driveway first. They were accompanied by a long convoy of protection. Us, however, we only had Franciszek and Vlad in the car ahead of us, as well as our driver. Lena would be joining the team for the honeymoon and that would be it. 

I unbuckled my seatbelt, sitting next to him in the car. Cas drew me close, the heat from our skin, warming us both. I rested my head on his shoulder. I did my best to slowly breathe in and out, suppressing the thrumming in my chest.

Cas drew little circles on my skin; first on my cheek, and then on my shoulder. 

The world flew by outside. Occasionally, I'd be able to see the stars past it all. 

I shifted my weight when we moved into Ardeena. 

"Any info on where we're going?" I asked, looking up at Cas.

"Not the big event. Though, today we'll be staying at a little cottage,"

"Sounds wonderful," I smiled. 

And then, in the following silence, something turned. The first hint of it was the light spray of rain. Pittering lightly, it soon became a patter. Soon enough, the wipers were on the highest setting. I didn't mind, rain was cozy, it was also good luck. A wedding knot tied would be harder to undo. And with what sometimes felt like the world being against us, we needed every bit of luck that we could get.

Then it happened. Our driver received a call. He pulled to a safer side of the road, the car ahead also pausing. 

"What's happening?" Cas asked with a hint of warning.

"We're going to need to move you to the car ahead," Our driver's voice was serious, "the cottage has been compromised," 

Cas took in a deep breath, taking my hand. Franciszek was by the door. It would've been a space of less than ten meters, but he shielded us the whole way. Cas insisted that I was the first to enter. He slid in behind me. A few seconds later, Franciszek took the passenger seat. 

"What's happening?" Cas asked, his voice edged with urgency.

"Cottage was compromised," Vlad's words were solemn, "there's been an attack on the King and Queen as well,"

"By who? What happened?" He breathed out, "where are we going next?"

"We're not sure," Franciszek frowned, "perhaps to Eclypsis, they have an airport which we might be able to charter,"

"That'll take at least an hour," Cas huffed, "we're sitting ducks,"

"Let's go to my house," I suggested, "it's a little further back from the road, we should be safe in the meantime," 

A moment of silence as the understanding passed between everyone. It seemed to be the plan as the two cars pulled out back onto the road. Our wedding car would continue to nearby the cottage before tracing back and sit at the Ardeena Base. It would act as a sweeper, making sure that there would be no traps lying in the wait. If all was clear, we'd follow a little later as Headquarters organise a charter plane out of Ardeena and for the rest of the royal family as well. 

Eclypsis, I couldn't help thinking, why is that important?

I clenched my eyes shut, rubbing my temples. Cas and I held one another a little more tightly now. We'd been barely married a few hours ago and already we'd had another attempt on our lives. 

Fantastic.

Information about Cas' family came in sparingly. It wasn't the airport where they'd been attacked but rather en route. Headquarters was doing their best to send through information but we were often the last to be informed. 

It took fifteen minutes to pull up outside of my house. I looked to Cas, breathing out. We were sitting like ducks on the sidewalk. Franciszek went in first, sweeping throughout the house. The command came in that we were clear to enter. Franciszek opened the door for me while Vlad and Cas gave one another increasingly anxious looks. 

I gathered my cape in one hand, holding my skirt up with the other. The rain had ceased for the moment, a misty aura rising throughout the street. Cas re-appeared by my side, the lightest touch between my shoulder blades.

"What a start to a honeymoon," I chuckled. Cas gave the slightest exhale.

"Sorry about this,"

I paused, looking up to him. In all honesty, my heart was thrumming in my chest. I felt like I was going to be sick. In the back of my mind, I felt like all of our options were slowly being cut off. Our chokepoints closing. Soon enough, there might be no option to escape. 

Franciszek took a few steps ahead, opening the door like a chivalrous gentleman. 

Bang!

I cried out in surprise, staggering back. Cas latched himself onto me, shielding me with his body. Vlad rushed forwards, to protect Cas. 

"Francis!" I cried, as he fell to the floor, limp. 

"Get back!" Vlad shouted, pushing us back roughly. I staggered back.

The shooter walked into view. He possessed an animalistic swagger. His head held high. Cas looked to either side, shifting his weight and pulling me closer to the shooter. I tore my eyes away to see why-

There must've been at least ten of them. Shadowy figures, stepping out of the treelike and emerging from the car which had just pulled up on the street. 

"Shoot," I hissed out throughout my teeth. I stumbled back. We were completely surrounded. 

I looked back to the shooter, suppressing a sob at Franciszek's lifeless body on the ground. I looked to the looming figure.

"Alek," I breathed out, my eyes full of tears.

He shakes his head, "Sofia, I told you not to,"

"What have you done?" My lip trembled, tears spilling over my cheeks.

"Its the beginning of a whole, new world," Alek breathed out, drunk on the dreams of a revolution. 

"Why?" I spat out, "why?"

Alek went to say something, then decided against it. "You won't understand, in the meantime-,"

I was suddenly wrenched away from Cas. 

"Hey!" I screamed, doing my best to throw off the attacker. I looked to Alek, "Please don't do this!" 

He didn't even spare a sideways look as he raised his gun. 

"No!" I screamed out as he fired, Cas falling to the ground. Another firing as Vlad also staggered to the ground. I wrenched myself forwards. Anything that I could do to reach my husband.

A cackle of electricity in my ears. My muscles fell limp as my legs gave way and I dropped to the ground. In the distance, my shoulder was screaming with an overflow of pain.

I was out before I could hit the ground, Cas' lifeless body embedded in my mind.