Elora and Tallulah share a glance, smiles splitting across their faces, and before they say anything, I already know. They’re not worried about hunters anymore.
Because they’re not afraid.
Perhaps it was easy for us to be frightened alone in all of this, but we’re not alone anymore. I square my shoulders and take a deep breath. If they’re not scared, then neither am I. I’m a Mother-blessed Enchantress, for fuck’s sake. My palms tingle, magick flowing through them with ease. My skin prickles as a spirit enters the room, raising the hairs on my arms.
Elwyn steps to my side, her glowing skin flickering, as if she may fade away any moment. She holds her hands to her chest, and although she can’t cry—at least I don’t think she can—her face twists as if she is. An ache forms beneath my breast for her.
Tallulah flicks her wrists, drawing my attention, and Elora and I both gape as beautiful white flowers begin to blossom in the palm of her hands. She places them in Elora’s hair so they cascade down her loose waves. She flicks her wrist again,and this time a slightly larger, white flower grows. She tucks it behind Elora’s ear and grins.
“Now you’re ready.” She spins her to the small mirror and the smile on her face is almost enough to bring a tear to my eye.
“I told your brother this could wait,” she says to me through the mirror. “But he wants to ensure we’re married before he meets with the council. Besides, you know how stubborn he can be.”
I choke on a laugh. Of course I know, because he gets it from me.
Elwyn’s spirit draws closer, so I raise my wrists slightly, making sure the movement is subtle enough that Elora doesn’t see. I don’t wish to upset her, especially on this day. But I open the window between the spirit and myself, giving her just enough time to pass along a message.
“She is radiant.”
Thirty-Seven
Elora
“Nervous?”Jarek asks as I grab his arm. I bite my tongue and nod. “If it eases your nerves, remember it’s just Sorin at the end of the aisle.” He laughs which makes me smile. It feels so good to do so.
Jarek walks me outside. I shiver against the damp air, but he tightens his grip on my arm, grounding me from the fleeing feeling I have gnawing in my gut.
Agnes waits at the end of the aisle of candles and flower petals. Evren and Tallulah stand, their hands clasped together. Then, I look at Sam and her smile gives me the last bit of confidence I need. She’s beaming in a long, silk emerald gown. She gestures for Jarek to sit and for me to step forward.
I wait until I’m directly in front of him to finally look up at Sorin. He’s in black pants and a long-sleeved, black shirt buttoned all the way up to the collar. His tanned forearms peek out from his rolled sleeves. His eyes widen as I step closer, his smile stretched across his face. I clasp my hand around his, mostly to stop the fidgeting he’s doing with his father’s ring, and when our hands connect, all of the nerves in my stomach disappear.
“You are…” He bends and places a kiss to the back of my hand. “Wow.”
My stomach erupts again. A new sense of nervousness weakens my knees. I grip his hands tighter to steady myself.
“Sorin Rudhek and Elora Leigh,” Agnes says, “I apologize I’m a bit rusty, but I’ll try my best.”
The breeze picks up, sending a flurry of pine needles and crisp, fallen leaves around us. Alaric and Ruse join my side and a soft brush of warmth runs down my spine, my magick alerting me that the puppies are here too.
“The heart of your heart and the soul of your soul, the two of you shall join together as one. Not only in this life, but all of those hereafter.” Agnes folds her hands in front of her. “Do you take each other as partners in this life? Vow to protect each other. Love each other. In the face of every hardship?”
“Without question.” Sorin squeezes my hand tighter.
“Without question,” I repeat back.
He grins widely, his full lips begging to be kissed, and lucky for me, Agnes says the word not a moment too soon. Sorin wraps one hand around the small of my back, his other weaving through my hair and then his lips are on mine. Soft and sweet and the most overwhelming sense of home washes over me.
“Sorin Rudhek and Elora Leigh,” Agnes says through a laugh, “your souls are now one. Bonded, for life.”
As everyone claps and cheers, my stomach somersaults again. But before I can panic at all the eyes on me, Sorin pulls me down the aisle.
“Where are we going?” I ask, but he doesn’t respond as he leads me back to the keep.
Singing and dancing sounds from behind me, but I whisper down my bond to the wolves to keep an eye out on the perimeter as Sorin and I slip inside a small closet.
He spins me so my back hits the wall as he kicks the door shut. There’s no window, the faintest light from the afternoon sun trickles under the door.
“Did you think you could wear something likethat, and I wouldn’t whisk you away?” He kisses my neck, nipping at my earlobe.
