I let go of the storm, just a little, and rain seeps from the surface of my skin, dripping upward against the force of gravity. The onlookers gasp, but I ignore them, concentrating on the rings.
“May your love be as powerful as thunder.”
I let go a little more to allow pressure to thud through my hands, pushing the rings upward, floating them in the air above my palms, sustaining the suspension while I continue speaking.
“May your love burn as brightly as lightning in a clear sky.”
My hands light up and so do the rings, glittering lightning burning around them.
“And may your love… be as eternal as the air we breathe.”
I take a breath and blow gently over the rings. With the puff of air, the lightning fades, the raindrops disperse, and the rings lower to my palms.
I take each one between my thumb and forefinger. “Please hold out your hands, but stay very still.”
Jordan and Sebastian do as I ask, and I carefully drop their rings into their palms, making sure I keep my distance as much as I can. I quickly step back, putting a large gap between us again. I’m vaguely aware that Reisha and my ladies are keeping a very close eye all around me. It makes me insanely happy to see that they haven’t taken their eyes off Teilo Splendor in the first row.
After that, Jordan and Sebastian make their oaths and place the rings on each other’s fingers. They clasp hands. Normally, this is the part where I would place my hands over theirs, acknowledging them as now united. I can’t do that, but I hope that my gesture with the rings makes up for it.
Instead of wrapping their hands between mine, I clasp my hands in front of me and declare, “You are married.”
He kisses her without a moment’s hesitation and she returns his kiss, fresh tears sliding down her cheeks as they melt into each other. I tear away from their happiness and step out of the way, taking myself off to the side, guarded once more as guests move forward to congratulate them.
Elise quickly joins me so I’m not alone inside the Storm Command’s protective circle and I appreciate her presence beside me.
“They’ll tell stories about this,” she says with a warm smile. “Nobody’s marriage has been blessed by a Storm Princess before.”
Sebastian and Jordan are truly happy. I’m glad Jordan will stay in the city until the final battle is over, but another big part of me wants her and Sebastian to run as far as they can away from it all. They don’t need death tainting their first days as husband and wife. “What happens now? I hadn’t thought past this moment,” I admit.
“Food and dancing. You’ll need to stay for that, but we’ve set up a table over there so you can keep your distance from everyone.” Her lips thin in disapproval as she glares at Teilo Splendor.
When she said I should keep my distance from everyone, she mostly means him. He’s the only member of the Elven Command who is present and I’m grateful for that. I couldn’t stand sharing this moment of happiness with all of those males. I want to ask Elise if she’s found out anything about recent deaths or the Command’s involvement in the curse, but I don’t want to taint the moment. It will be easier to talk in a sound bubble in my quarters.
“I appreciate that you arranged the table for me.” Maybe. Maybe I hate it too, because I want to dance and talk with the guests, instead of always watching from a distance while others live their lives.
I find my seat, remaining at my table while the Storm Command forms a semi-circle behind me and along my sides. I watch the dancing and revelry unfold in front of me. It’s hard not to find it contagious, but at the same time, I can’t breathe properly. With every passing second I get closer to the battle in two day’s time.
All of the guests leave me alone, even Jasper keeps his distance which is probably just as well—there’s no explanation I can give him that would make things better—but toward the end of the night, Sebastian’s mother approaches my table. She bows. “Princess.”
“You’re Sahara Splendor,” I say.
“I am.” She has the same eyes as Sebastian—a glistening silver-green. She’s curvy and graceful in a rose gold gown that swathes her shoulders and drapes across her hips. Her voice lilts as she talks, reminding me that the Splendor House is known for its beautiful singing voices.
She looks directly at me, an unexpected intensity, as she says, “It’s a beautiful love story destined to end in tragedy, isn’t it?”
I eye her with caution. Jordan and Sebastian are chatting happily with guests on the other side of the space that’s been cleared for dancing. They haven’t left each other’s sides. “There will be no tragedy here. I won’t allow it.”
She rushes to speak. “No, I don’t mean my son and his lovely wife. I mean you and Commander Rath.”
“What did you say?” Anger shoots through me like a hot iron slamming across my spine. I can’t control it. She’s approached me out of the blue and now she tells me that Baelen and I are some sort of tragedy unfolding like we’re here for everyone’s entertainment. I shoot to my feet. The air thumps. Thunder crashes across the courtyard. Time slows. The dancing and music slow and then stop, plunging us into heavy, angry silence.
Sahara glances around, but she doesn’t seem surprised or worried. I’m the one who is shocked as I realize she’s checking that nobody’s moving.
“I’m sorry to cause you grief, but I needed a way to ignite your thunder.” She spins back to me. “I’ve been speaking with Mai Reverie and I understand you can only slow time for a few minutes.”
“Mai told you?” I’m incredulous and disbelieving. Mai wouldn’t tell anyone that secret unless she trusted them completely. And the only other two people I thought Mai trusted were her husband, Darian, and her advisor, Rebecca.
Sahara ignores my question. “Which is why I’m going to speak plainly. Commander Rath is one of my son’s true friends—a loyal friendship that I refuse to forsake. But the Commander bound himself to you, vowing to love and protect you, and now you hold his life in your hands. Will you really not yield? Or will you kill him?”
