Val gave Tristan a brief nod and received a grunt in reply—his best friend, his brother, already knew everything he wasn’t able to say.
The bugle player from the tournament field played a sparkling fanfare, pulling attention to the back of the room, and then Nim and Keely were there, faces bright and soft with happiness.
They both wore simple cotton dresses of dusky rose, laced up the front and flowing around their legs. Their feet were bare and their hair left loose in shining waves to fall around their shoulders.
They looked lovely, and he grinned at his sister, but then Alanna stepped through the door. His whole focus, every thought, every breath in his body, was instantly, completely, fixed on her.
She stepped delicately onto the tiles, her feet also bare beneath long skirts of heavy, shimmering gold.
Her corset was white leather, bearing the same gleaming golden angel of the Nephilim that Val and Tristan wore, but she had chosen to leave off the pauldrons that might have covered her shoulders and the cuirass that would have protected her from neck to girdle, leaving her chest and throat open, an expanse of beautiful, vulnerable, creamy skin.
Her arms, too, were bare, except for the twining forest green bands of knotwork around her biceps. Her hair was loose; the short locks of sunshine blond almost glowing in the soft light as she stepped slowly toward him.
She was a warrior maiden straight from heaven. And she was his.
Gods, he had no idea what he had done to deserve her, but he was never going to let her go.
A sharp elbow nudged him as Tristan whispered, “Take a breath. I’m not catching you if you faint.”
There was a soft ripple of laughter as the Hawks heard his words, and even Alanna flashed him an amused grin as he let out a shaky exhale.
And then she was there. Tristan joined their hands and stepped back, leaving him and Alanna to turn toward Ramiel together.
Somewhere far away, he heard Ramiel asking who would support them in their marriage, and Nim and Tristan replying that they would.
He could hear the Supreme Justice speaking about the sanctity of love, of joy and compassion within marriage, the importance of truth, as if he was in a dream.
All he could see was Alanna.
Tristan handed Ramiel a set of gold, white, and green ribbons—for wisdom, gratitude, and abundance—and he helped them to loop the ribbons over their joined hands in a complex weave similar to the infinite knots on Alanna’s arms.
And then they were repeating their vows, the words clear and true as they promised, in the presence of the archangels, to hold, love, and cherish each other, in sickness and in health, until death might part them.
Ramiel prompted him to lift Alanna’s free hand, and Tristan passed him his family signet ring that he had given to him for safekeeping that morning.
Val had worn it since he turned fifteen. Every single day, except for the few weeks that Nim had carried it for him. It was a tangible connection to his heritage, to his family, to his parents who were gone. And now Alanna would wear it for him, joining her to everything he was.
He slipped it onto her thumb with his free hand. It was too big for any of her fingers. He fumbled slightly as his hand trembled, while she looked up at him, her face pale, but her eyes bright and filled with love.
Ramiel gave them a warm look and then lifted his voice once more. “Alanna and Lanval have exchanged their vows truthfully before heaven and these witnesses. They have pledged their commitment, each to the other by the joining of hands and by the giving of the ring. I now pronounce them husband and wife.”
The Supreme Justice smiled, his hard face softening. “I invite you to seal your promise with a kiss.”
Val threaded his free hand into Alanna’s silky hair, tipping her chin up, and whispered softly, “Are you happy?”
She gave him a dazzling look of pure joy. “Yes, Val, more than I ever thought was possible.”
That was all he needed. All he ever needed.
He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. Her lips were soft and warm, her body slender against his. So graceful and delicate, and yet so full of life and passion. With a core of unbelievable strength. He lost himself in her, knowing that he would love her beyond reason for the rest of his life.
Cheers and whistles pierced their golden bubble, and he pulled away reluctantly to rest his forehead against hers. “Your family wants you, Lanni.”
She smiled softly, her eyes sparkling as she replied, “Our family.”
Epilogue
Lucilla turnedon her side and looked out her window.
