Blair’s eyes widen. “Don’t you have it? I don’t have it.”
“Chelsea?” My panic level’s sitting at one thousand percent. “Where is it?”
She grimaces. “I thought you had it. You’re the bride.”
I swish one way and then the other, searching the room. Since the wedding’s at the castle, I’m getting ready here, so the room’s an explosion of flowers and chiffon and champagne and, for some reason, jewelry.
Feylin apparently opened up some jewelry vault and pulled everything out of it, leaving millions of dollar’s worth of diamonds for me to choose from to wear. There are necklaces dripping with emeralds, sapphires, pearls. There are even stones that I don’t recognize.
But none of that matters. What matters is that we’re getting married, and that I can’t find my bouquet. It’s not like I can substitute a diamond bracelet for a bouquet.
Or can I?
No. I can’t.
“Where is it?” I’m about to pull my hair out. “Seriously.”
Blair pushes a pair of emerald studs into her ears. “You can just magic up a new one.”
“No, I can’t. That has our golden rose in it.”
Of course I’d kept the rose. What kind of question is that?
The door opens and Ophelia enters. Her hair’s up in a loose bun, and she’s wearing a sea-foam colored dress that suits her.
She’s also holding my bouquet.
“Thank goodness!” I rush over. “You are a godsend. Thank you.”
She smiles. “You’re welcome. I found it outside and knew you’d be missing it. Are you ready?”
I grin. “I am.”
“They’re waiting for you.”
Chelsea drains the last of her champagne. “Time to rock and roll, sis.”
I take one last look in the mirror and smile. The pale pink dress is everything that I’ve ever wanted in a wedding gown. It’s all chiffon and grace, with delicate lace straps and a bell skirt. And it’s one dress that Feylin hasn’t seen me in, though I took it on Daisy’s authority that he would, indeed, be blown away by it. If my sisters’ and mother’s reactions were any indication of how he’ll react when he sees me, I’ve chosen correctly.
I exhale and take the flowers Ophelia hands me. It’s a simple bouquet of white roses with one golden rose in the middle. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
Blair and Chelsea lead the way. My mother stands at the head of the stairs, waiting. My sisters keep going down the steps as Mama greets me, Blair giving me one last smile before disappearing below.
“You’re the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen,” she says.
“Thank you.”
My mother pulls me into a tight hug before pushing me to arm’s length and letting her gaze survey me from head to foot. She sniffles, magicking a tissue that she dabs at her eyes.
“You have turned into a beautiful woman, so full of grace and kindness. I may have been worried about Feylin at first, but he loves you, and that’s what matters.”
I squeeze her elbow. “I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for you and Daddy, for how good of parents you’ve been.”
She cringes. “Except for when we kept important details from you.”
She means Tess. I hitch one shoulder in a shrug. “You did what you believed was best. That’s what we all do at any given time.”
“I suppose so.” She presses her lips together and smiles. “Your father’s waiting.”
