Chapter 249: YOU ARE NOW PARTNERS FOR LIFE

Chapter 249 YOU ARE NOW PARTNERS FOR LIFE

The ceremony kicked off with the elders reciting some words Haven barely understood. Everyone around had their eyes closed and hands folded and Haven not knowing what to do followed suit. Minutes passed by and the recitation was done with, then they began to read something else out of a script again and Haven had to sigh because her legs were tired from all the standing.

She wondered if the man besides her too wasn’t tired of standing. Curiosity got the better of her and she turned a little to look at the man standing besides her and her brows furrowed when she did.

Wait, isn’t this that man she had met at the Great hall that day?

“ Aeon?” She called out softly, a bit unsure of whether it was truly him or not. Well she was right because right after she had called his name, the man turned his head to look at her.

Yes, she was right. It was Aeon but what was he doing here?

At the same time, she heard one of the elders say something that made her entire body freeze on the spot.

“ And now, the ceremony of joining this two souls, Aeon Barnell and Haven will be completed The couple will now place their hands over each other’s and seal this bond forever.

Haven’s eyes widened in horror. Joining two souls? Bond? What the fuck was going on here?

Aeon stretched out his right hand in front of her, waiting for her to take it as his expectant eyes fell on her.

“ Put your hand on his Mrs Barnell and complete the final ritual of the ceremony” An elder said to her but Haven barely listened. She was too shocked trying to comprehend what was going on. Is this some sort of marriage? Are these people trying to marry her off?!

“ What– what is all this?” She stuttered when she finally got her tongue back “ What do you people think you’re doing?” Her tone raised a little “ This is madness! You– you can’t do this! You can’t do any of this without my permission!”

“ What insolence is this?!” One of the elder’s voice thundered as he slammed his hands on the table. “ How dare you talk like that in front of us, girl?!”

“ You cannot do this! I won’t . I won’t accept this! K– Katie?” She turned to look for Katie who was standing quietly in the small crowd.

“ Katie stop them! Tell them what they’re trying to do is wrong! No one told us anything about this, we were tricked. Katie—” She paused when she noticed the look on Katie’s face. “ Katie? You.. you knew about this didn’t you? You knew all along?” Haven’s voice lowered feeling betrayed.

“ I told you, I told you I will never accept this, yet you still brought me here and without even telling me.” Haven shook her head. Katie had disappointed her yet again.

“ Haven, this was bound to happen sooner or later. And you already knew there was no way to escape it so please, just complete the ritual”

Haven smiled bitterly hearing this. Of course, she shouldn’t be surprised.

“ You are wasting our time young woman” Another of the elder’s said impatiently. This one looked older than the rest “ Put your hands over his and complete the ritual”

“ I WON’T!!” Haven screeched and started to move back “ I’ll NEVER!” She turned to run away but Katie and another woman were already blocking her path.

“ No, let go! Let me go!!” She cried seeing them push her backwards to stand near Aeon again. “ No, please, I really don’t want to do this. I cannot be with another man” She pleaded but no one listened.

Katie pulled her hand and tried to place it over Aeon’s but Haven kept resisting “ Haven please, you’ll put yourself in trouble if you keep doing this. Just complete the ceremony already.” She pulled her hands once more.

“ I will never be with another man! You guys can try all you want but I’ll never accept this, I’d rather die!” Haven spat yanking her hands away from. Katie’s grip and almost toppling over the other woman in the process.

“ What insolence is this?!” One of the elders couldn’t believe what was going on.

“ This rude girl should be locked up in the dungeon for such disrespectful behavior. How dare she talk to the elders like this?” The first elder said with disgust. He had never seen anyone oppose their decision so openly like Haven was doing right now.

“ I agree with you,” A second said “ This is an insult to us, the elders. Sheer disrespect!”

The other three had to agree with what they said. This was the highest height of disrespect.

“ Let her go, the both of you” It was the oldest– looking elder who spoke. Haven glared at Katie and the other woman who left her and moved steps backwards.

“ Now listen, young woman,” The elder continued “ You have two choices now. You can either choose to put your hand over your new partner’s and agree to be with him for the rest of your life. You will be faced with a minimal amount of punishment if you do this or you can refused and be sent to live out the rest of your life in the dungeon”

Haven scoffed. Were they trying to threaten her now? If that was the case, then they should really try harder because she didn’t give a damn. She would rather spend her days in the dungeon than agree to this crazy demand.

She opened her mouth to talk but Aeon beat her to it.

“ No, she’ll accept” He said and before Haven knew, he had grabbed her hands and placed it in his, his wrapping tightly over hers to keep them in place.

Horror ran down Haven’s spine seeing what he had just done. She didn’t see it coming at all.

“ Fine then, the ceremony has been completed. You are now partners for life.” The elder’s voice was nothing short of daggers in Haven’s ears. Her whole body had frozen in place and her throat had gone dry.

Before she could even say a word, Aeon had grabbe

d her hands and dragged her out of there and into the dark streets.