Myone held her hand up. “I’m well aware of his flaws.”
“Yet you love him anyway.”
Shaking her head, she turned back to Lilliana. “There’s something profoundly wrong with us that we allowed such reprobates into our hearts.” With a kind smile, she placed a kiss on Lilliana’s brow. “I’m glad to have you as my sister.” Then, she faced Caleb. “Don’t make me regret my silence.”
He took Lilliana’s hand and made her blush as he placed a tender kiss on her palm. “I’m not the demon you fought. I’ll never be him again.”
“Good. Now, I need to give you a gift.”
“Your silence is all I ask.”
Myone smiled at Caleb. With a wave of her hand, she changed his clothes into the elegant robes of a noble lord. Then, she snapped her fingers and Lilliana found herself in a light blue dress made of the finest, softest material she’d ever touched.
Running her hand over it, she couldn’t believe the way it felt on her skin. “What is this?”
“Silk.”
The priest neared them. “What’s going on?”
Myone turned to face the old man. “This young couple has the blessings and benediction of our Lord Verlyn. They are very special to him. He will smile kindly upon your ceremony. Please take care of them.”
The priest’s face lit up. “Really?”
Myone nodded. “Absolutely.”
“Laying it on a bit thick, sister?”
She clapped Caleb on the arm. “At least I’m not stabbing you this time. Take it as a win.”
“Any day I’m not bleeding, inside or out, I take as a win.” And with that, he pulled Lilliana gently toward the altar.
Caleb scowled up at the statue. “He looks nothing like that.”
Lilliana bit her lip. “How so?”
“For one thing, it’s not sneering at me. Another, he has long hair and sharp features.” He lifted himself up on his toes and curled his lip. “This is what he normally looks like.”
She laughed at the exaggerated face he made. “Be nice, my love. He might be watching.”
“Doubtful. I’m his least favorite child.”
The priest joined them and placed two wreaths on their heads. Festival wreaths made of dried greenery someone had interwoven with holly berries. Not the most comfortable headdress, but Caleb didn’t mind. Especially given how lovely Lilliana looked in hers.
Lighting candles, the priest motioned for Myone and Ophelos to move closer. “Let our witnesses step forward to behold a sacred union.”
Caleb saw the two of them and then he caught movement from the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he felt his jaw go slack at the presence of his brother, Xev.
He met Myone’s gaze. Smiling bashfully, she moved to stand with him.
Caleb didn’t know what to think. But a wave of guilt went through him. He hadn’t been there for them, and he didn’t understand their kindness toward him now. Until Lilliana, kindness of any kind had been unknown. He’d never understood it or felt it.
Today, it brought a strange moisture to his eyes. But not nearly as much as when he stared down at the beaming face of his soon-to-be wife. And to think, he really did owe this moment to Myone trying to kill him.
Out of evil comes good. Those words were etched on his father’s sword. They were Jaden’s motto. Caleb had never really understood what they meant. He’d thought it was some pithy saying for humans to make them feel better about their useless, miserable lives. To placate them over the unnecessary suffering the gods laid on them often for no other reason than they were bored.
Now, he knew better. His enemies had meant to kill him. Had been determined to do so. Out of their brutality, he’d found a good that he’d never known existed.
Day follows the night. Nothing lasted forever.
