“I, Sunaya,” I said in a clear voice that only trembled a little, “promise to live with you for the rest of our lives, as your loving wife. I shall strive to honor our union with steadfastness, truth, and courage. I look forward to spending the seasons of life at your side, as your equal, best friend, and, I hope, the mother of our future children, in good times or bad, wealth or adversity. I will love you for all of our days together, and cherish you above all others in mylife.”
His steady gaze kept me grounded, and by the time I got out the last of it, I was calm again. I hadn’t expected this occasion to be quite this emotional, but I’d gotten through it. I’d committed, and to my surprise, all I felt was relief and happiness. This was a responsibility I accepted with no reservations, no second-guessing.
“Now that the two of you have exchanged your vows, it is time to seal this pact with the marriage spell,” the priest announced when I was done. “Best man, bridesmaid, do you have therings?”
“Yes,” Annia and Fenris said, coming forward. They handed us the white gold bands, which we carefully slipped onto each other’s ring fingers before turning to face the priest again. He took our joined hands gently in his, then began to chant the Loranian marriage spell that would bind us forever. His sonorous voice echoed through the chamber, and my skin began to tingle as the air around us buzzed with power. I’d seen Fenris and Mina go through the same thing just a few days ago at their own wedding, but I had no idea it was so powerful—it felt like a live electric current was running through me. Did this happen at all mageweddings?
Suddenly, a flood of emotion swept through me, so brilliant and intense that I had to grip Iannis’s hand tighter to steady myself. I felt Iannis tense next to me as an invisible bond snapped between us, and I sucked in a sharp breath as all of Iannis’s feelings—the joy, the pride, the sharp edge of relief—crashed into me. I turned toward him, and his wide-eyed expression told me he was feeling the same thing from me. The bond that had been forged between us with the serapha charm was now strengthened ahundredfold.
“And so, it is done,” the priest said. He released our hands, smiling broadly at us. “You may now kiss your bride, LordIannis.”
Before I could blink, Iannis crushed me against his chest and kissed me deeply. Cheers and clapping filled the inside of the temple as I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him back, savoring the tender, passionate feelings that passed between us. I could hardly believe this was real, but as his arms tightened around me, and the seconds drew out as we kissed beneath Resinah’s benevolent gaze, I began to accept that itwas.
I wonder if Resinah really was a special Tua who loved humans and came here to share her gifts with them,I thought. All those clues had to mean something…but did it truly matter? Her wisdom and affection for us spoke for themselves, whatever herorigins.
Resinah laughed softly in my head as Iannis finally pulled back. A sense of knowing came over me—there was some connection, but the truth about her origins was more complicated and mysterious than I had imagined. I was glad I hadn’t discussed the Tua’s suggestion with anyone—there was no point in bringing it up and confusing everyone. Let things stand as theywere.
“My blessings on your union,”Resinah’s voice echoed in my mind, and from Iannis’s startled expression, I knew he’d heard it too.“May you both live a long and happy life asone.”
Iannis and I both bowed our heads and silently thanked her. Joy swept through us both as we turned to face the crowd—there was no greater honor than being blessed by the Lady, except perhaps from the Creatorhimself.
“We did it,”Iannis said as the crowd clapped and cheered.“We are finally husband andwife.”
“We sure are,”I said, grinning at our friends, who were sitting up at the front row and waving furiously at us.“Now why don’t we go and enjoy thatfeast?”
After the wedding,everyone returned to Solantha Palace for the public reception, where we’d be on full display for the rest of the world. As soon as we alighted from our decked-out horse-drawn carriage—following a human and shifter custom, I’d insisted on hanging a sign from the back that read “JUST MARRIED”—I was nearly blinded by the multiple flashes of light from the waiting paparazzi. Iannis and I were whisked away by security and taken to the back garden, where we spent nearly an hour taking more photographs with the palace’s officialphotographer.
The first half hour was just me and Iannis, but Fenris, Annia, Rylan, and my Aunt Mafiela were brought in for the last half. When we’d planned the wedding, I had been unsure whether this photo session was truly necessary. I would never forget my wedding anyway, and so much posing seemed an excessive display of vanity. However, Nelia and Aunt Mafiela had convinced me that my wedding was not just important for Iannis and me—our union was being watched by shifters and humans throughout the Federation and beyond. Let them see how radiant and happy a shifter and mage pairing could be, they had argued. Our example might help the next unorthodox couple. Besides, our children, and theirs, might like to see how we had celebrated today. So I forced myself to be patient, and posed asrequired.
“You look wonderful in that gown, Sunaya,” Aunt Mafiela said afterward, taking me by the shoulders and looking me up and down. “It is just yourstyle.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, trying not to roll my eyes. The way she was swelling with pride, as if I were her daughter, you never would have guessed that just last year, she and I had been at each other’s throats, driven to hatred by twelve years of bitterness between us. “I’m glad you came,” I said, and I meant it. I was very happy that those terrible years were behindus.
“Yeah, you’re a real fancy pants now,Lady Sunaya,” Rylan teased, cuffing me on the shoulder. “Guess I won’t be able to mess around with you anymore, now that you’re the wife of such an important guy.” He waggled his brows at Iannis, who simplychuckled.
This time I did roll my eyes, and punched Rylan in the shoulder for good measure. “Just you wait,” I said as Iannis put an arm around my waist and began to gently lead me toward the palace. “I’ll kick your ass the next time we’re on the mat together, Rylan. Lady ornot.”
Rylan’s laughter followed us into the ballroom, where we made a glorious entrance. The place was packed with nearly a thousand guests, and they all toasted us as one. Fenris and Annia made grand speeches, making the audience laugh as they recounted anecdotes about us, and nearly making me cry all over again when they praisedus.
“You are, and always will be, the kindest, bravest, and most ferocious soul I’ve ever known,” Annia said, her cheeks pink as her eyes shone brightly with love and pride. “And you,” she said, turning to Iannis. “I wasn’t sure about you when we first met, but I’ve learned from working with you that you’re smart as hell, compassionate, and you’ve got a spine of steel under those robes. I can’t think of a more perfect match for my bestfriend.”
The crowd cheered again, and with that, we broke off to feast and mingle. We spent the first hour receiving endless congratulations from the guests, including Annia’s mother. I hadn’t been certain she would come, but not only had she shown up, she was even talking to Annia again, and the two looked like they were getting along. I wondered if Annia had told her that she’d found Noria and gotten her to safety. The golden collar around Annia’s neck gleamed, and I wondered just how much she’d come to rely on that spirit within. Her skin glowed with a soft, almost ethereal light that I hadn’t noticedbefore.
“One of these days,” Iannis murmured, noticing where I was staring, “we will get that story out of her. But tonight, we should look toward the future, not thepast.”
Later, I sat with Fenris while Iannis was talking to Mina. “Thank you for staying on, saving us the other night, and standing with us on this day,” I said, smiling up at him. He should be on his honeymoon himself, but he and Mina had decided to stay until after our wedding, since Fenris was Iannis’s best man. “How do you feel, now that you’re a marriedman?”
“Like I am finally complete.” Fenris gave me a broad smile. “I never knew what I was missing before meeting Mina. I only hope you and Iannis are half as happy…but I am sure you are. It was clear to everyone during the ceremony earlier that, despite all differences, you belongtogether.”
“Duh.” I stuck my tongue out at him. “I’m glad everyone is finally getting with theprogram.”
Fenris laughed. “Of course,Iknew this much earlier—before the two of you had an inkling,” heteased.
We sat in contented silence for a while, happy to just enjoy each other’s company after being separated for so long. “I’m so glad you are no longer under threat, after that pardon for Polar ar’Tollis,” I said softly, pitching my voice so nobody could hear. “Pretending to be your own son was all well and good, but now you’re trulysafe.”
“It is quite a relief,” he admitted. “Though I had adjusted to living under the threat of execution, now that I’m married, and hoping to be a father soon, it is better not having to dodge the authorities or use multiple falsenames.”
“Sunaya,” a familiar voice called. I spun around in shock to see that Deryna was behind us, with Drawe standing shyly by her side. “Congratulations on your marriage,” she said, smiling fondly at us. “I am so glad that you two pulled through. There were times when I despaired of a happy outcome, but I prayed that the Creator would help youescape.”
