“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Elyse replied, reaching a hand to touch her friend’s shoulder. “Though, a little warning would have been nice!”
Sera laughed, then spun to face Manny. He was already beaming at her, and he immediately took her hands in his.
“You look…” he began, but never finished. The dazzled look in his eyes as he stared at his soon-to-be-wife said all that he couldn’t vocalize.
“I couldn’t ask for a more handsome and loving husband,” Sera trilled. And she was right. Manny had let his blond hair down, and it hung in tousled waves that gave him a sophisticated air. The suit jacket emphasized his broad shoulders so that he looked every bit the dependable man Elyse knew him to be.
“Gathered friends and family,” Kal declared in a booming but cheery voice. “Thank you for joining us—on such short notice,” he added with a wink at Sera, “—to celebrate the marriage of Sera Tan and Manfried Bordell.”
Manny didn’t even flinch at the use of his given name, he was so enamored by Sera.
“I’ve only known Manny for a short time,” Kal continued. He spoke with such ardency that the crowd hung on his every word. “But I have always known, thanks to my wife’s sacred gifts,”he said with a nod toward Dah, “that Sera would meet her soulmate.”
Elyse glanced at Killian and found his gaze already locked on her.
Kal went on, “We always knew she would find a man who loved her as we do. A man who would be awed by her beauty, her kindness, and her strength. Who would take her trusting heart and hold it dear.”
Manny beamed back at Sera, a proud shimmer in his eyes.
“So, we were delighted to meet Manny and find that he embodies all of those attributes and more.” Kal gave Manny a broad, fatherly smile. “He makes her laugh. He dotes on her. It is obvious that he cares for her deeply, and that is why I am honored to give him my blessing to marry my little iris.”
Elyse watched a single tear slip from Manny’s green eyes. Even Killian—the stoic, cynical soldier—sniffled at Kal’s speech.
“The betrothed will now recite the traditional marriage vows of Otsuk,” Kal announced as he took a small step back.
Manny cleared his throat. “As the flower loves the sun, so shall I love you. As the earth loves the rain, so shall I love you. As the bird loves the wind, so shall I love you. As long as I am in this world, my heart is yours.”
Elyse couldn’t help it as her vision blurred. With a quiet sniffle, she wiped the tears from her eyes.
Sera’s voice was a quaking lilt. “As the flower loves the sun, so shall I love you. As the earth loves the rain, so shall I love you. As the bird loves the wind, so shall I love you.” She took a deep breath and squeezed Manny’s hands. “My heart is yours—forever.” The final words were a change from the traditional vows, but even more beautiful for it.
Kal stepped forward again. He placed a hand on each of their shoulders. “With duty and honor, I pronounce you husband and wife.” He opened his arms wide and signaled for the two to embrace. “You may now kiss.”
Sera clutched at Manny’s shirtfront as Manny touched her waist, and the two collided. But Elyse didn’t watch as they kissed. Her eyes were pulled to Killian, whose answering gaze was unwavering. He saw her, all of her, and he stood firm, with adoration in his wide smile. Unable to be apart from him, even by only a few feet, Elyse slipped behind the newlyweds and slid her hand into Killian’s.
“Please join me in congratulating the merry couple,” Kal called to the guests, who promptly rose to their feet. Whoops and cheers filled the garden as applause broke loose. Sera and Manny turned to face their family and friends and proudly raised their clasped hands.
With that, Kal concluded, “Let the festivities begin!”
37
Elyse
After the ceremony, the servants efficiently rearranged the patio for dinner. They set up tables on the right side of the courtyard, leaving the left side open for dancing and mingling. No sooner had the plates been cleared than Manny whisked his new bride out onto the dance floor, and they hadn’t stopped dancing since.
Elyse watched as Manny whirled Sera around the patio. The gardener was strumming a lively tune on his guitar, one that many in the party couldn’t resist. The shifters had paired off to dance, except for Yanis, who had engaged Killian in a deep conversation on the other side of the courtyard. Dah and Kal were cozied together, moving slowly amidst the younger dancers, while Nina and Corin took turns twirling one another.
“Elyse, can you hold him?” Sera’s sister, Viola, was shoving her infant toward Elyse with a pleading smile. “You don’t mind, right? I just want to dance for a bit.”
Elyse found a place to set down her glass of sparkling mead and held out her hands for the child. “Not at all,” Elyse offered. She pulled the baby into the crook of her arm. He seemed unfazed by the exchange as he happily bopped his teeny fists together.
Viola immediately ran onto the dance floor with Camilla and Taleea. Elyse smiled down at the baby and used his bib to wipe away a spot of drool. “There you go,” she cooed as she bounced him up and down.
She twisted the child in her arms so he could see out into the crowd. “There’s your Aunt Sera,” she whispered, pointing toward her friend. “And your Uncle Manny,” she added, chuckling to herself at his new title.
“Who’s this little fella?” asked a deep, amused voice from beside her.
Elyse pivoted and was delighted to see that Killian had somehow slipped away from Yanis. “I believe his name is Ihsan,” Elyse replied, thinking back on conversations with Sera. “Ihsan, meet Killian.”
