“Of course,” I say, turning back to my parents. “Mom, you want to find your seat. Dad, if you want to walk me down the aisle…”
He gives one of his rare smiles. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment.”
My heart just about explodes.
The seamstresses wave me back to the podium where they put my shoes on and arrange the veil in my hair. My dad stays to one side, not saying a word—not that I expected him to—until they’re finally done. One of them runs off to inform the king, and the others step back.
“What do you think?”
I look at my reflection in the mirror. The gown is a pure white shade that I’m sure only the wealthy can afford. The dress is made of the finest lace I’ve ever seen. It’s delicate and soft allat the same time. It hugs my body like a spiderweb. There are no sleeves, and it’s tight until it reaches the bottom. My hair has been left down, with curls going down my back, and the veil on my head is simple and beautiful.
“I love it,” I say. “Dad?”
He comes closer. “Those royals are lucky to have you.”
I smile at him. He takes my hand and helps me down from the pedestal, and then I put my hand in the crook of his elbow. He puts his hand over mine, and we start walking, heading for the ballroom. He doesn’t know the way, so I lead us along.
No one is in the halls except the guards. It’s quiet. Eerie.
When we reach the ballroom doors, two guards open the doors. I don’t even have time to ask my dad if he’s ready, when the music starts playing, and we’re marching our way down the aisle. In the audience are mostly dragon riders and other lords and ladies, but I see my mother, brothers, and Arthur all sitting together, looking just perfect.
Tears sting my eyes, and I finally chance a look ahead. All four of my men are dressed in matching black suits, looking so handsome that it takes my breath away. They’re staring too, not even trying to hide the devotion in their gazes.
We reach each other, but my dad’s hand curls around the one in the crook of his arm, and he stares down the four of them. “Royals or not, I’ll kill you if you hurt her.”
Sevrin, still wearing his face paint, gives a little nod. “That seems like a fair deal to me.”
My father gives me a kiss on the cheek, hesitates, kisses me again, and then, finally, pulls back and sits beside my mother. It’s strange as I look between them and my men. I’ve never been happier. I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.
I stand across from my men, and the king comes to conduct the ceremony. He talks very little about love or happiness, and a lot about unions, treaties, and peace. My men don’t look happyabout what’s being said, but I feel like the whole thing is silly anyway. We’re bound together in the ways that matter already. This ceremony was never really for us.
I start to smile. I catch Alaric’s gaze, and he mirrors my smile. Soon, all of them are smiling. It’s like we’re sharing a thought. Like we all know that we just have to get through this moment, and then we can be together.
The king starts to wrap up. A ring box is produced. We’re all given matching gold bands, although mine is more slender than theirs. Sevrin puts my ring on my finger. I put each of their rings on them. The king says something about a kiss, and then each of them gives the chastisest kiss they’ve ever given me.
Everyone begins to cheer, and then we’re led off so they can remove the chairs, and we can begin the reception. We mill about in the courtyard as drinks and hors d'oeuvres are passed out. The moon and the sun are both in the sky as the day turns to evening.
I introduce my brothers to my men. They joke about killing my husbands, but it’s less of a joke and more of a friendly threat. We all go back inside and dance the night away until guests begin to head home, and my family goes to bed. Then the king calls for us to join him in his study.
The good mood dampens, and I look at Sevrin, trying to read his expression, but there’s just tension behind his eyes. My heartbeat picks up, and for the first time, I really wonder about his information about making more male dragons.
He really knows how to do it.Doesn’t he?
16
Harper
We’re backin the study in our wedding attire, the joy of the night slowly fading. If the king had a single romantic bone in his body, he would’ve at least given us a day before doing this nonsense, but no one has ever accused him of being a romantic. He probably thinks just a few hours is more than enough time to celebrate for us.
King Stormvale, his advisor, and the guards stare at our little group as Sevrin goes through the contract one more time and looks over the lands that have been set aside for his people. He’s clarifying every point and every boundary.
“And the dragon riders at Gore Rock will need to be informed of the treaty and allow us to rest there and recover before continuing on to our allocated lands. The lands are useless without that,” Sevrin says.
The king nods. “That’s been outlined in the contract, and the dragon riders will be informed.”
“Just clarifying,” Sevrin says, giving him a look.
Elder Thorne’s bushy white brows sink low. “Remember,we’rethe trustworthy ones.”
