Oh, how I grieved. But I smiled through my tears. They’d sacrificed everything to ensure I could stand here in our newly formed faerie, ready to marry my fated mate.
As Gaineos had predicted in the ether, the veil had fallen. Zayde took control of Bledmire Court with Layla by his side.They’d held a small wedding, and we’d attended just a few days ago.
Vexxion and I planned to unify Weldsbane and Lydel into one court.
Riftflame’s High Lord had come to our wedding and was eager to talk about an alliance—too late, but certainly welcome. We’d put him off for a few weeks.
Already, new treaties were being formed, ones that didn’t place lesser or powerless below any other.
The Nullens who now called themselves fae were learning how to control their magic and making their demands known. The high fae had much to make up for.
The Lieges remained in a stone circle, watching over this land from one edge of the continent to the other. They had acted only once, when a high lord tried to control one of the lesser fae. He’d turned into smoke and was swept out to sea. No one had dared tell the lesser fae what to do after that.
As for the powerless, they were settling in the valley below the Xandest Mountain Range with the fortresses looming above. Some planned to take jobs at the fortresses themselves, while others were talking about hiring those who could perform magic to work on the wasteland. They hoped to turn it into a lush landscape, something it had been so far back, no one remembered other than them.
The door opened, and Layla stepped inside. With a hand on her belly, she hurried over to stand in front of me. Her smile swept through me like a fresh breeze and a beam of the prettiest sunshine. With a laugh, she grabbed onto my shoulders, staring into my eyes. “They said to tell you it’s time.” Her smileonly grew bigger. “Vexxion’s waiting, and he looks amazing. Not as handsome as Zayde,” she winked, “but he comes close. There’s something special about our men, don’t you think?”
“They’re wicked, and we love them even more for that reason alone.”
“They sure are.” She winked again.
She felt good, and a foreteller said she’d deliver a healthy son. I couldn’t wait to hold my nephew in my arms.
Since they’d taken over the court, Layla told me Bledmire had changed, that laughter rang out, and they planned to refurbish to give the place a cheerier atmosphere. For now, neither Vexxion nor I had any interest in visiting beyond the few trips I’d make to free those still trapped inside portraits.
Vexxion and I planned to magically build a glorious manor on the cliffside border between Lydel and Weldsbane, and we’d move in once it was finished. The aerie would be complete at about the same time, and Madrood, Glim, and some of the other dragons who’d fought against Ivenrail’s army would settle there. We’d insisted on no gates and no barriers to keep them inside stalls—fresh ideas that had spread across the continent already, now that everyone knew it was possible to bond with a dragon.
“Are you ready?” Layla asked softly, straightening the jeweled strand dangling from my ear. “There’s so much love and hope in Vexxion’s eyes. He’s . . . He loves you. Not one person out there doubts that.”
Including me.
We’d purposefully not spoken in our minds since yesterday, wanting today to feel like a new start for us both. To think we’dcome close to dying. I still shuddered when I pictured Ivenrail standing in front of Vexxion with a collar in his hands.
“Thank you.” I hugged my sister; grateful I’d found her and that she’d stand with me today. Only she and Reyla would walk with me down the aisle, though I sensed my mother and Aunt Vera would float in spirit nearby.
Other than my magically arranged hair, we hadn’t heard from Airia. The wraith chose the game; she was not chosen.
I had a feeling she’d show up when she was most needed.
“Your flowers.” Jessia handed me my bouquet and kissed my cheek before striding over to slip out the door to join the other waiting guests.
Once we were ready, Layla opened the door and nodded to one of my generals waiting outside. His gaze swept across me, and his grin split his bearded face.
“Lovely, my high lady,” he said. “Simply lovely.” He gave us a nod before striding toward the courtyard where he’d take his place at the end of the aisle to salute me as I passed.
We walked sedately through the hallway and stepped out into the blinding sunshine.
Dragons waited, lined up on either side of the path that would take me to the man I’d soon marry. When we appeared, they dropped down in grand bows, the bows and flowers we’d adorned them with shifting.
Only Madrood stood close the alter, to Vexxion’s right.
Drask perched on the dragon’s back, watching the procession. We’d seen no evidence Vexxion’s mother remained with the bird, and we suspected we never would again. She’dprotected us for as long as she could, but now her spirit had traveled to be with those she’d loved.
I hoped she’d found peace.
I paused at the head of the path while my friends continued toward the archway where my love, my mate, my dream of a wonderful future waited.
Vexxion’s gaze met mine, and my heart flipped over.
