Chapter 234: Voting
Everyone sucked in a breath. Milo had done it; he had actually accepted Dahlia Elrod’s rejection to her face!
I was honestly surprised at this turn of events― Dahlia certainly did not deserve Milo as a fated mate, but Milo had not rejected her even when she was standing at the altar, getting ready to marry Damon.
I guessed he finally accepted the fact that Dahlia was not a good match for him. She must have some compelling qualities, but they were as rare to spot as a lunar eclipse, and this incident showed that they differed in their devotion towards the Moon Goddess and the conviction in their beliefs.
Dahlia flinched, her eyes turning bloodshot as she endured the pain from the finalization of a mate bond.
Since the mate bond was a gift from the Moon Goddess, a rejection of said bond was meant to hurt both parties as punishment for disregarding her kind intentions― but it would always hurt the party that first rejected the bond more keenly than the other.
I winced; back then, if Damon had accepted my rejection, I might have landed in the infirmary from the backlash of the ruined bond. I highly doubted the Moon Goddess would look at my reasons for rejecting Damon to begin with.
Or did she? I stared wonderingly at Dahlia and Milo, and their contrasting reactions.
Dahlia gritted her teeth and hissed to herself, trying not to scream as her face slowly alternated between paling and purpling, as though she was a beetroot stuck in a blender.
Meanwhile, Milo’s face was solemn with acceptance, his eyes closing as his breath escaped in a slow long sigh. His shoulders relaxed. Rather than pain, it seemed as though he had managed to let go of a heavy burden that was weighing him down.
Perhaps the Moon Goddess did take into account the circumstances of the rejection when doling out retribution.
Finally, Dahlia’s face returned to her normal shade of beige, confirming that the bond was fully rejected for good by both parties.
Luna Cassidy threw her hands up into the air in triumphant glee. "Oh, what a glorious day! Thank you, Moon Goddess, for waking my son up!"
Alpha Burke also clapped in happiness. "Well done, son. Better late than never. Someone get me champagne― it’s time to celebrate!"
The couple embraced each other in relief, as Milo hastily averted his eyes from his parents, his face red with embarrassment at their behavior.
I had to stifle a snort at their fervent displays of joy and relief. If someone didn’t know any better, they’d think that Hornstead was about to celebrate an impending engagement or birth, not a rejection of a mate bond.
"Mom, Dad, a little gravitas would not be amiss," Milo chided gently. "You’re in public. The oracles are seeing this!" His eyes darted to the retinue of oracles, who were patiently watching and waiting for us mortals to sort out our affairs. Milo gave them a quick bow of apology.
"That makes it even better," Luna Cassidy beamed. "Since the rejection is witnessed by the beings closest to the Moon Goddess, there is no way for Dahlia Elrod to change her mind and chase after you with her tail between her legs."
"I would never!" Dahlia burst out, her face purple with indignation. "If anything, I can’t be happier that you’ve finally accepted my rejection! Mating with you is beneath me, especially when I’m going to be Thunderstrike’s Alpha! You will regret accepting my rejection!"
Wow. Dahlia’s reality was not like everyone else’s reality. I wish I had a fraction of her unfathomable confidence.
"That would never happen," Milo said with all sincerity. He turned back to the oracles. "Is it possible for us to start the voting process now?"
One of the three Oracles waved a hand. With their movement, the tables moved and buzzed with a strange hum before a box materialized out of nothing, floating in the air.
Gasps of surprise filled the air at this blatant display of magic.
"How does this work?" I asked curiously. Blaise shrugged; he had no answers either. There were confused murmurs coursing through the room, and I wondered if Milo or his parents would have an answer.
To my surprise, it was Damon who explained the matter.
"Put your hand in," Damon calmly said, pointing to the bottom of the box. Upon closer inspection, I noticed there was a small opening right at the bottom, just enough to fit a hand in.
As he spoke, he moved his hand to the box, slipping one into the slot. "After it’s in, think of an appropriate vote."
To demonstrate, Damon closed his eyes, and the box glowed a bright silver before fading. He then nodded to the oracles and stepped aside for me to take a turn.
My mouth fell open in amazement. To think I was expecting the oracles to hand out papers for us to write our votes on! That very thought was amusing in hindsight― what did I expect, that the Oracles would count them out one by one and announce the results?
I could only marvel at their use of magic, yet part of me wondered how Damon could have possibly known this.
I stuck my hand into the box and felt a strange calm wash through me. Who should I pick for Thunderstrike’s new Alpha?
Two images floated in my mind.
Dahlia and Darach.
There was only one choice I could make. I gave a mental apology to Darach before handing in my vote. Once again, the box glowed a bright silver, and I moved aside to make room for Blaise who did the same. Slowly but surely, everyone finished casting their votes.
Dahlia was last, and she smirked smugly, as though she already knew the results.
The oracles held out their hands, and the room was enveloped in an expectant hum. I guessed they were deliberating the results.
"Now for the moment of truth," Blaise said with a wry smile. "I can’t believe I’m feeling nervous when it’s not even our business."
"I know what you mean," I muttered, wiping my sweaty hands on my jeans. "My heart is beating so quickly I might be sick."
Eventually, one of the oracles stood up. Her lips didn’t move, but everyone heard her words echo in their heads loud and clear.
