“This crown is worn by all the women in my family on their wedding day,” Tana said as she lifted the crown from its box.
“Tana,” Trenton whispered, “thank you.”
“She deserves to wear it, Trenton,” Tana said. “There's no need to thank me. Mother would have wanted your bride to make her vows wearing the Crown of Spring, and I want your marriage to begin with the blessing of abundance and fertility.”
“It is the right time of year,” Drostan noted with a sly smile. “The Rites of Spring were just upon us.”
“The Goddess smiles upon us all today,” Tana said as she gently placed the crown upon my head. “And I thank her for bringing you to us, Riley.”
“No one is more grateful than I,” I said sincerely.
My wedding dress was a little rumpled, and my veil was lost, but I felt beautiful with that bright crown on my head. My three grooms escorted me to a fresh altar; with another chalice and dagger laid upon it. There was some debate over Drostan and I exchanging vows again. Technically, our vows were in place and anything further was unnecessary. But Drostan and I both felt as if so much had changed in the hours between ceremonies that the intent behind the vows had altered, even if the words had not. So, before Trenton and Conall made their vows, Drostan renewed his.
“All that I am is now yours,” Drostan declared in a strong voice. “Every breath and heartbeat I will share with you. My body is your body and my blood is your blood. I give you my eternity.”
It was short, as far as wedding vows go, but it couldn't have been any more profound or more perfect for us... for all of us. After Drostan had made his declaration, Trenton and Conall made theirs. At last, it was my turn, and I made one vow to all of them. We shared the sacred wine, and then Drostan an lifted the dagger.
“My blood is your blood,” Drostan repeated the vow as he sliced his palm.
“My blood is your blood,” Conall said as he did the same.
Then Trenton removed his tunic and took the dagger from Conall. He made a slice over his chest and held my gaze as he said, “My blood is your blood.”
The men would be united through me, so I had to be cut in three places. The traditional location was the palm, but that left one man out. So, Trenton had chosen to make his cut over his heart. I held my arms out to the men, and they each made a cut on my body that mimicked their own. Drostan cut my right palm, Conall my left, and Trenton made a small cut above my heart. Then Trenton embraced me; angling our wounds together as Drostan and Conall simultaneously clasped their bleeding hands with mine. As soon as our blood melded, magic surged through us.
The shivering rush of our new Understanding spread out from us and trembled across both kingdoms. All of the soldiers—both Unseelie and Seelie—shouted with joy, and my husbands closed in tighter around me as our marriage was set into our souls. I could feel their love flowing through my body, and I knew that with time, this bond would only grow stronger. I had bartered my life away again, but this time, it was a fair exchange.
Flower petals rained down over us as my husbands escorted me through the cheering crowd and into a waiting tent. It was beautifully appointed for something constructed so quickly. Carpets laid across a wooden floor, and tapestries hung over the canvas walls. The light of lanterns, hanging from the wood cross-beams, fell upon a small dining set, a wooden bathtub, and an enormous bed covered in silk.
The tent flap closed behind us, and the celebration began outside. Applause melded with merry music as two kingdoms rejoiced in the peace that would finally exist between them. It sounded like quite a party, but we were expected to consummate our marriage before we joined the celebration. I looked at the men, and they looked at each other before they smiled and started flinging off their clothing. The men were naked within moments, while I stood there fully-dressed; staring at them in amusement. I was still wearing my wedding finery, and I couldn't get out of it without help.
“Our wife appears to be in need of assistance,” Drostan noted.
The men circled me and started undoing my laces and sliding pieces of clothing from my body. As they did so, they kissed every inch of exposed flesh and drove my desire up to a whole new level. I wasn't sure how we should begin—which man would start the process—but it appeared that they knew. The men lowered me to the mattress together.
“Perhaps this would be a good time to mention that I removed the infertility spell from Riley,” Drostan said.
Everyone froze.
“What?” I whispered. “When?”
“Last night; while you were sleeping,” Drostan gave me a soft smile. “I had intended to surprise you after the ceremony.”
“Consider us all surprised,” Conall said.
“Should we replace it?” I asked.
“You don't want children?” Trenton asked with a note of disappointment.
“We wouldn't know who the father was,” I pointed out.
“We would know, Riley,” Conall said gently. “There are magical ways to discover paternity.”
“But all of us would treasure any child you bore,” Trenton said.
Conall nodded, and I looked at Drostan.
“Children are a gift, Riley,” Drostan said simply. “Whatever happens—whoever it happens with—we will all be overjoyed to be a part of a family.”
