"That's just how it is. Catalyah's soul was sent off without going through the proper procedures for reincarnation. It's nearly impossible for her to reincarnate in the first place but if she somehow does, she will return as someone else." He explained.
That gave her some consolation. "Is that so?" She tried not to smile.
"Yes. So you don't have to be worried that she might come back and snatch me away from you." He nipped her ear to punish her for even thinking such a thing. "Besides, who ever talked about such a possibility? Even if Catalyah were to actually return as herself, I would not leave you."
Maybe she was overthinking it but his words couldn't help ringing through her mind on repeat. What did that mean? That it was possible for him to take both her and Catalyah?"
She shook the thought out of her mind but he had already read it, earning her a smack on her backside.
"You know what I meant, flower. You are the only one I can ever be with. Forever. I will not fancy any other females nor will I leave you for anyone from my past." He clarified so she would stop overthinking.
She kissed his lips. "I'm sorry. I should have trusted you unconditionally."
"I don't blame you." He wrapped his arms around her. Anything involving Ulke had to be complicated. That demon had the ability to make anyone feel something they weren't truly feeling. It was highly likely that Jasmine didn't even feel insecure on her own. Maybe that bastard put it in her head. He would have a word with him later.
She clung to him, making him momentarily forget everything else. She looked so perfect in his arms that it was though she was made to be there. He wasn't exaggerating it when he said that he felt complete after meeting her.
"Jas," He pulled her from him slightly so she faced the sea. When she looked in the direction he wanted her to look, a floating rose she hadn't noticed was washed onto the shore, at the side of his foot.
He picked it up and gave it to her. "I went to the human realm earlier and learnt that this is how they do it."
"How they do what?" She looked into the ring and covered her mouth when the sparkle hit her eye.
"A man gives his woman a ring to symbolise their engagement. Will you do me the honors and wear this ring as a sign that you will marry me, and only me? That I will belong to you henceforth and you will belong to me?" He dug the ring out from between the rose petals and held it out to her.
She held out her left hand. "Of course. I can't wait!" Her excitement was boundless when he took her small hand and slid the ring on.
His words couldn't help replaying in her mind. In the realm of immortals, all that was needed was him sliding the ring onto her finger and they would be married. In other words, he was now her husband according to immortal realm law.
Her tears dropped onto the ornament on the ring, which had the same color as diamond but looked to be of a much better quality. It must be a rare jewel from the realm of immortals. It was not the quality of the ring that mattered most, but the meaning behind it. She was not his wife. His wife!
"Did I do something wrong, flower?" He looked worried. She didn't realize that she was crying until he raised his hand and wiped the teardrops from her eyes.
"I am just so happy." She hugged him tightly. She had never been one to want to brag over anything but all of a sudden, she couldn't wait for sunrise so she would be questioned about the origin of her ring by other females. She wanted to let all the realms know that they belonged together now, no matter how silly it sounded.
He embraced her tightly. "I'm the happiest daemon to ever exist, flower. I'm not even exaggerating it."
She felt a sting on her finger and hissed, then pulled her hand out from behind his back and checked it out. The perfectly blue heart-shaped ornament on the ring had changed its color. It now had a fiery heart at the top and a blue one at the bottom that looked like it was made of a wave of the sea. It looked perfect with what looked like stars around them.
"Why did it do this?" She asked him, loving the color even more.
"Our major elements fused. That's a sign that what we have between us is pure and honest." He explained.
Pure and honest? Honesty was true, but she didn't think the things she thought about him lately were anything related to purity. The thought of it made her face flush.
But when she thought about it, she had never seen a marital ring in the immortal realm that had combined the elements of the male and female. She felt even more proud.
"Do you want to take a ride? We can watch the sun rise." He suggested.
"I would love to." She couldn't help sneaking another look at the ring.
He made sure no one would leave the mansion and turned into his demon form, before standing and flapping his wings slightly. This time, he didn't carry her in his arms. He let her step on his feet and wrapped his arms around her waist like they were about to do a waltz.
His wings flapped gently as they rose in the air and when the setting moon brightened up, he looked up at it then down into her eyes.
"Let's make a pact under the moonlight, flower." He suggested in all seriousness.
"What's a pact?" She asked him, though she liked the sound of it even without knowing what it was supposed to be.
"It's an agreement. If you get into a pact with a demon, you will never be able to get away from each other. You can control him by the binding power of your pact."
"That sounds unfair." She didn't like the thought that he was under her control no matter when or where she was, while she got to enjoy all the freedom she needed.
In the end, they made a pact and she insisted on pledging her loyalty to him.
____
The following day.
Barely two minutes had passed since Jasmine entered the academy, and she had already been asked about the ring by the third demigoddess.
No matter how many times they asked, she was not intending to hide it from anyone.
"It's from Dairon." She responded.
The demigoddess looked shocked for a while. "Dairon? The demigod of the sea?" When Jasmine nodded, she inspected the ring closer. "Goodness, your elements even fused. You are each other's true mate."
"Thank you." She took it as a compliment.
Alaina had dropped by the academy too, and her reaction was similar.
"That's the most beautiful ring I have seen since I was born. And trust me, I was born so long ago that my children should be going on missions already." She exclaimed.
Jasmine laughed at her exaggerated praise and thanked her with a soft smile.
They were going to the academy's library after Jasmine's training sessions and Alaina had dropped by to invite her to another tea party.
She placed her hand on Jasmine's shoulder and pulled her ear closer. "Listen. You have to stay away from Marina at any cost. Don't let her know about your marriage to Lord Dairon unless you can use his powers to protect yourself." She seriously warned.
Jasmine wanted to respond but she paused, looking up ahead of them. "Thanks for the warning, Alaina, but it seems too late."
Marina was already standing before them. She had materialized into the hallway just as Alaina mentioned her name and she must have already heard the rumors going around. Her first reaction was to glance down at Jasmine's finger. Jealousy coursed through her veins, so obvious that her eyes would have shot daggers at Jasmine's hand if she had that kind of power.
Jasmine didn't want to start an unnecessary battle so she spoke up. "We should call it a truce, Marina. I will not step in your lane and I will expect you to not step into mine."
Marina glared at her. "In your dreams!"
….
Meanwhile, a bolt of lightning struck and announced the arrival of Dairon in the underworld.
Ulke fell from his throne after being struck and when he checked himself out, one of his wings was slightly burned.
"I already told you, Dairon. The underworld is not a place for you to come and go. You asked for it!" He hissed.
"And I told you that my mate is not someone you can mess around with." Dairon prepared to attack again.
Ulke found it comical. "Are you really going to fight me for a female again? Even when we are of the same kind?"