I rolled my eyes, but a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. Despite my reservations, I couldn't deny the infectious joy that filled the room. For a moment, the weight of our responsibilities, the looming threat of the Council who hunted us, seemed to fade away.
As everyone settled onto the yacht's deck, the salty breeze tousling our hair, Luce cleared his throat. "Hey, Jeanette and I will go play cards in the bedroom, give you guys some privacy. I understand wanting your most precious moments to be very private, since being a king means you don’t get much."
Rey's smile softened as he reached out to shake Luce's hand. "Thank you, man. I appreciate that."
I watched the exchange, warmth blooming in my chest. For all his arrogance and bravado, Luce had a way of surprising me with his thoughtfulness. It was moments like these that reminded me why, despite everything, I couldn't help but be drawn to him.
As Luce and Jeanette disappeared into the cabin, Rey turned to Cathy, taking her hands in his. "I know this isn't what we might have planned, but it feels right. Just us, surrounded by the people who matter most."
Cathy nodded, her green eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "It's perfect. I don't need anything else but you."
Roma stepped forward, a small velvet pouch in her hands. "In the shifter world, amber is a symbol of commitment, of a bond that cannot be broken." She opened the pouch, revealing two simple yet stunning amber pendants, each carved with intricateswirls. "I might have commissioned these when Foxman the hero and his assistant made their debut. Pure coincidence, of course."
As Roma placed the pendants around their necks, Rey and Cathy clasped hands, their gazes locked. The world seemed to fall away, leaving only the two of them, lost in a love so pure and profound it stole my breath.
"Cathy, I promise to stay by your side, to lend you strength when you falter, give you laughter when life grows dark. I will cherish every moment, every challenge, every triumph, as long as I have you." Rey's words rang out across the water, carried by the wind.
Cathy squeezed his hands, her voice trembling with emotion. "Rey, you are my home, my haven, my heart. I vow to love you fiercely, to be your partner in every sense of the word. Whatever the future holds, we'll face it together."
As they sealed their commitment with a kiss, tears pricked at my eyes. How odd and unlike me for my eyes to sweat.
I slipped away from the ceremony, my heart full to bursting, and made my way to the bedroom where Luce and Jeanette had sequestered themselves. Knocking softly on the door, I called out, "Hey, you two. The ceremony's over. Come join us for some champagne to celebrate."
The door swung open, revealing Luce's imposing frame. He quirked an eyebrow at me, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Champagne, huh? Didn't take you for the bubbly type."
I rolled my eyes, shoving past him into the room. "Yeah, well, it's not every day my best friend gets hitched. I think I can make an exception. And Roma and Bran brought it."
We made our way back to the main cabin, where Rey and Cathy were wrapped in each other's arms, their faces alight with joy. Roma had already popped the cork on a bottle of champagne, the pale golden liquid fizzing gently in the flutes she'd lined up on the table.
As Roma handed out the glasses, I cleared my throat, searching for the right words. Public speaking had never been my strong suit, but I wanted to saysomething. "To Rey and Cathy," I began, my voice wavering slightly. "You two are the embodiment of what love should be. Patient, funny, and unwavering. May your lives together be filled with laughter, adventure, and endless happiness."
"Hear, hear!" Roma chimed in. "And may you always keep each other on your toes. Goodness knows Rey needs someone to keep him in line."
Rey let out an indignant snort, but he was grinning from ear to ear. "I'll drink to that," he said, raising his glass. "To my beautiful wife, and to the family that surrounds us. I couldn't ask for anything more."
As we clinked our glasses together, the bubbles dancing on my tongue, I hoped for that future for them.
Luce cleared his throat, his deep baritone cutting through the chatter. "Bran, Roma, you're welcome to stay on the boat with us if you'd like. I know it's not much room, but we can make it work."
Bran smiled. "Thank you, Luce. That's very kind of you. But I think we'll wait this one out at home." He glanced at Roma, who nodded in agreement.
"Besides," Roma added with a wink, "I think the newlyweds could use some alone time."
We spent the next hour or so chatting and laughing, the champagne flowing freely. As the sun began its final descent Bran and Roma announced that it was time for them to head home.
Bran stood up, his tall frame unfolding gracefully as he stretched out his arms. With a flick of his wrist, a shimmering portal appeared in the center of the cabin, the edges pulsing with an otherworldly glow.
Roma hugged each of us in turn, her embrace warm. "Take care," she whispered in my ear.
With a final wave, Bran and Roma stepped through the portal, their forms shimmering and dissolving into the ether. The portal snapped shut behind them, leaving nothing but empty air in its wake.
18
RISSA
I satcross-legged on the silky cotton sheets, my cards fanned out before me. Luce lounged beside me, his long legs stretched out, a playful grin on his face as he studied his own hand.
"You know," he drawled, "we could make this more interesting after dinner. Turn it into a little game of strip poker, maybe?"
