“Yep.” Kira nodded, pulling on her deeper lilac gown, complementing Echo’s paler one. “You’re gonna knock Dark and Deadly off his feet—someone help zip me up.”
About to pivot to the mirror, dying to see what she looked like, Grace stopped her. “Wait. A few things first—” She retrieved a square, robin’s-egg colored box from her evening purse. “This is Blaéz’s gift to you. He gave it to me earlier.”
She opened it, revealing a dazzling platinum necklace studded with small diamonds, ending with a larger stone set in the center. The earrings were elegant diamond drops.
Darci swallowed. She really wished he’d been there to put them on her. She missed him dreadfully.
After Grace had fastened the jewelry, Echo attached the veil, a flowing wisp of chiffon, to the back of Darci’s head. “Nowyou’re all done.”
Her heart thumping faster than an escaping grasshopper, Darci turned. Her jaw nearly hit the floor. Heck, she knew what her dress looked like. Those fitting sessions had been sheer torture and had left her sweating at each visit.
But now with her hair and makeup completed, she appeared nothing like her usual self in the fitted, off-the-shoulder, long-sleeved, ivory satin gown hugging her all the way to her mid-thighs before flowing into a short train behind her. The back was incredibly stunning and sexy. The low, scooped out V ending just below her waist had been made from sheer material that was edged with beaded lace appliques.
Mostly, she was really happy the dress fit her properly.
As Shae took several informal shots of her, a knock sounded. Kira hurried over and answered, then opened the door wider. Declan ambled inside, looking so handsome in his tuxedo. He staggered to a halt, his green eyes dampening.
“You look amazing, Dars.” The words seemed to choke him. He crossed to her, took her hands in his, and kissed the backs of them. “C’mon, sister mine, I’d better get you to him. He looks like a man at the end of his tether.”
“Blaéz?” she asked, surprised. “No way.”
“Yes, Dars. He just doesn’t show it like us mortal men.”
“Okay, give me a few minutes,” Shae called out. “Let me get downstairs, don’t want to miss your entrance. Have to get those shots.” She flashed a grin as she and Grace hurried out.
“Here.” Echo handed her the cascading bridal bouquet in tones of cream, white, and green before they all headed for the elevator.
Moments later, Darci slowed to a halt at the main living room entrance. It was as if she’d walked into a fantasy—into an honest-to-god underpass made of white branches with trailing purple and white flowers. Lights winked amidst them.
Hedori had used the same color scheme she’d wanted. Butthis, it was even better than her vision.
“How lovely! It’s spectacular,” she breathed.
“Wow,” the girls gasped from behind her.
“It’s as if a faery waved a wand over the place! Well, come to think of it, Hedori knows real faeries, so it’s probable,” Kira added.
Soft music started. Declan smiled. “That’s our cue. Ready?”
Inhaling a deep breath, Darci nodded. He patted her fingers clenching his jacket sleeve.
As they strolled through the short, flower-scented tunnel and into the living room, Darci barely noticed that the white birch branches had also transformed the usually high ceilings to appear like a wooded wonderland. Or that snow fell softly outside though none of it landed on the terrace. Or the people seated in the two rows of chairs there.
Her gaze remained fixed on the end of the carpeted aisle where several tall men, all dressed in black formalwear, stood. Then she met the cobalt blue eyes of the man who held her heart. A tremulous smile curved her mouth.
* * *
A soft melody drifted to him, one Blaéz recognized as the bride’s cue. Finally, the tense muscles in his shoulders relaxed.
He took his place in front of the altar where the priest waited. The warriors hanging with him sought their seats, leaving only Aethan and Týr by his side. Then Blaéz stopped breathing, everyone and everything around him fading.
As if the heavens had opened up, a vision appeared in a flowing ivory gown, a sheer veil floating behind her like a mist as she glided to him on her brother’s arm. A smile trembled on her lips when she met his eyes.
For this moment alone, he was so bloody glad he’d insisted on a wedding.
The priest said something, and before Declan had even handed her over, Blaéz took her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles. “You are incredibly beautiful.”
The priest cleared his throat. Declan laughed. He kissed Darci’s cheek and walked away.
