I feel like I have no one right now—like I’m doing this alone. This is my big day. I don’t have any parents. Willa’s the closest family I have, and she’s not even here right now. I look across the room to Cally, and she’s looking at me, her brow furrowed.
“What’s going on?” she asks.
“Where do you think Willa is?” I ask.
“Do you want me to have Ivan check on her place?” Elle asks from beside Cally.
I think about this, but I don’t want to panic anyone. “No. She said she’d be here. This isn’t the first time this has happened,” I say, remembering when she was late to the opening day of Bound.
“Just let me know if you change your mind, okay?” Elle asks, concern in her voice.
I force a smile and nod.
Ruby and Nora put the finishing looks on all of us and help us into our dresses. Cally, Elle, and Holly all get dressed first, each of them wearing some shade of berry red. All of them decided to go with half-up, half-down hairstyles. They all look incredible. My own hair is done in a loose fishtail braid, white daisies artfully arranged into the braid. It flows past my shoulders, stopping just below my shoulder blades. I step into my closet for Ruby and Nora to help me into the strapless ivory dress that closes with what feels like a million buttons down the spine.
“Marik’s going to have a hell of a time getting this thing off tonight,” Ruby says with a laugh, but my stomach churns at the thought as I think about the last time his hands were on me.
Finally, my dress is on. Tulle explodes from the waist, a white lace detail forming vines and flowers layered over the tulle. Nora places a long, matching veil just behind my antlers and places the High Crown on my head.
The dress’s massive train flows behind me, not yet fully unfurled in this room. I look into the floor-length mirror, chills erupting all over my body. The final product is amazing. Breathtaking.
When I finally find the words, I say, “You both are artists. This is the only way I want to look for the rest of my life.”
They laugh, their eyes stuck to the mirror, admiring their work. “We can’t take credit for the dress, but it is a work of art,” Ruby says.
“You ready?” Nora asks me, beaming.
I swallow hard and say, “Let’s do it.”
They help me walk out of the closet and into the living room, Nora holding the heavy train behind me, where the rest of the girls are waiting, conversation buzzing about who they’re excited to see today. When they see me, the room falls silent while they take in the dress.
Cally speaks first. “Holy shit. You look…”
“Like an angel,” Holly whispers.
I look at Elle who’s just nodding, her jaw dropped. She closes it, then says, “No. You look like a goddess.”
They stare at me for another few seconds before Holly claps her hands and says, “Okay, people. We are on a tight timeline. Cally, Elle, and I will head down to the throne room, where we’ll be waiting for you at the altar. Mae, Ivan, and Luca will be here shortly to portal you to the beginning of the procession sight. This is it.” She smiles at me and then rushes to me, pulling me in for a hug.
“You look incredible,” she whispers into my ear. “I’m so happy you’re our High Queen.”
I squeeze her and say, “I’m happy to have you, too.”
Elle comes to hug me next, and she says, “It’s been an honor, Mae. I’m happy for you.”
Finally, Cally runs to me, pulling me in the tightest and longest hug. “I’m sorry Willa is late. I’m sorry your mom isn’t here either. She’s looking down at you, watching you today.”
I smile at her words, feeling a surge of sadness at the thought of my mom never getting to see her daughter walk down the aisle. I wonder what she would have worn today, what she would have said to me before I committed myself to Marik for a lifetime. Would she have yelled at Willa for not being here? Or would she have rolled her eyes, trying to make me feel better?
A knock pounds on the door, pulling me from my thoughts. Holly rushes to it, revealing Ivan and Luca standing outside in black suits. Ivan walks in first, his eyes lighting as he sees me standing there in my dress. He stops to look at my with misty eyes as a small smile graces his face.
“Mae…” he says, seemingly lost for words. He takes a step closer and says, “You look absolutely beautiful. Your father would be proud of you. So, so proud.”
I fan away the tears threatening to fall down my cheeks. “Okay, everyone, enough with the sweet words. Ruby will be mad if I ruin my makeup.” But I smile and hold my arms out for a hug. He walks to me and wraps me in a brief hug before letting go.
“We haven’t discussed the specifics of this, but I’d be happy to walk you down the aisle in place of your father,” Ivan says.
I shake my head and say, “Thank you, Ivan, but I have already thought about it. I think I want to walk myself down the aisle today.”
