Her eyes bulge.“Yeah, that will do,” she chokes out.
I snort and have to wipe my eyes to stop the laughter tears.I tie up the ribbon, letting the two different blue silk threads trail down her back.
“Ma, we’re ready for you…” I say and our mother, our queen and our only remaining parent steps into the doorway.
She claps her hand over her mouth, tears streaming down her cheeks.
When she finally speaks, it’s soft.“I wasn’t the most supportive of you in this relationship at the start.But I need you to understand that I am so proud of you, Morrigan.And one day you will make a most ferocious queen.But if Stirling ever hurts you, I swear I will serve her heart up in a jar to Scarlett.”
Morrigan simultaneously sniffs and coughs out a garbled laugh.“And I suspect you told her this yourself?”
Mother smiles.“Every word of it… including the apology.”
Morrigan embraces Mother, who reaches out and tugs me in, smooshing the three of us together in a tight hug.
There’s a clearing of a throat and then a quiet knock on the dressing room door.
“Sorry to interrupt Your Majesties, but Benedict says it’s time,”Dahlia says.
“Ready?”I ask, and Morrigan nods.“Let’s get you hitched.”
Chapter13
Penelope
The hallways leading up to the throne room are dark with all the windows covered in drapes.Buried in the fabric are thousands of twinkling lights that sparkle like stars.It’s cute, and makes me feel like we’re outside, and obviously keeps Dahlia and her family safe given it’s still the afternoon.
As I watch the swish of Morrigan’s puffy skirt, the ruches and wave-like fabric moving with her steps, I notice the odd sparkling gem buried in the folds.It kind of matches the twinkling in the windows.It’s understated, elegant, and beautiful.Our styles differ so much, I honestly thought she would choose something wretched.Especially given my style is clearly superior to hers; at least I give a shit about my appearance.But Morrigan looks simply divine, a true bride.
We make our way through the corridors, which are lined with a deep blue plush carpet so thick it feels like my feet are sinking into the depths of ocean.
At the throne room’s arched doorway, we pause.I’m to go in first, and Mother will accompany Morrigan down the aisle.
I open the door a creak and peer inside.The hall, though already large, has been stretched.Thank you, palace.It’s expanded itself enough to accommodate more than five hundred magicians and a handful of vampires.
Dahlia steps up beside me.With Father gone, I was intending to walk down the aisle alone, given Mother is walking Morrigan.But with what’s happened, no one is allowing either of us out of security’s sight, not even for the short walk down the aisle.
She smiles at me and holds her arm out.I slide my hand over her forearm and grin back.She looks incredible in her suit, and I won’t lie, I do feel considerably safer with her by my side.
The fact Dahlia looks dapper as fuck in a suit that could have been moulded around her body helps more than somewhat.I push the thought away, knowing that today is it.She’ll go back to Sangui City when tonight is over and whatever this fun was, will be done.I flick a piece of dust off one of her lapels, and she tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“Beautiful,” she mouths at me.My cheeks flush.
“Huh,” Mother says, looking at us.She narrows her eyes, glancing between Dahlia and me.
“What?”I say, brushing my dress down, wondering if I’ve spilt something on me.
But she’s just staring at us.She shakes her head as if coming out of a reverie and says, “Nothing.Anyway, I’ve spoken to Daria.There are dozens of guards in there, camouflagued in wedding attire.If so much as a fly misbehaves, it’ll be handled.”
I hate that we even have to discuss security at such a romantic time, but with the corpse last night and the threat of ‘Tomorrow,’ we all had to be out an hour earlier for a security briefing.Mother’s just being careful, I suppose.
“Go on now, the music has started,” she says.
I pull the door open and slip inside, closing it behind me.Together, Dahlia and I stroll up the aisle to the orchestral music.
All eyes stare at us, or maybe mostly at Dahlia.Of course, it doesn’t matter if Mother has deemed the vampires welcome, a thousand years of hatred is hard to erase overnight.But she stands tall, her eyes set on the dais in front of us where Stirling and Scarlett stand.
Stirling rubs and pulls at her hands while she stares at the door, her focus honed on the handle.
