Tears prickled in my eyes. “Dominic?—”
“Please. Let me do this properly.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
He unfolded the paper, his hands steadying as he began to read. “Sasha, in the dance of our worlds, I stand before you hoping for what I’ve searched for my entire life, someone who sees past the outer shell to the man beneath. I vow to be your partner in truth, not just in title. To stand beside you in crisis and celebration, to trust your strength while offering mine. I promise to value you always. Together, we can build something neither of us could create alone, a partnership based on real connection rather than courtly expectation.”
My vision blurred. I pressed my hand to my chest, feeling my locket warm beneath my palm.
“I love you,” he said, lowering the parchment. “Iwould’ve said my vows on our wedding day if I could’ve. But I can say them now.”
“I love you.” The words came out thick with emotion.
He pulled me close, and I buried my face in his shoulder, breathing in his familiar scent. We stood there for a long moment, holding each other while my racing heart settled.
When I pulled back, he wiped the tears from my cheeks with gentle fingers.
“We should go,” I said, even though I wanted to stay here with him instead. “My sisters will come looking for us.” I stepped back before I could change my mind.
“Exactly why we’re going downstairs.” He offered me his arm, and I took it, smiling up at this man I adored above everyone else.
Savory swooped through the open balcony door as we started toward the door, landing on my shoulder with a flutter of wings.
Two trees that once stood alone now share roots deeper than stone,she said.The forest sings your joined names.
I smiled and shared her words with Dominic, who nodded in agreement as we descended the grand staircase.
“Your companion is getting more poetic,” he said.
“She’s been spending time with Lord Primrose.”
“That explains everything.”
The ballroom doors stood open ahead, music and conversation spilling into the corridor. Servants moved past us, using magic to levitate trays of food and drink, their faces bright with happiness.
We paused at the entrance.
Enchanted lights floated near the ceiling, casting everything in a warm gold. Emotion-responsive flowers lined the walls, their petals shifting through blues and purplesand brilliant reds as they reflected the happiness of the gathered crowd. Tables laden with food curved along one side while musicians played near the other.
My family stood beside the refreshment table.
Cyrene spotted us first, her face lighting up. She wore a flowing gown in pale yellow that complemented her joy witch nature perfectly. But what caught my attention was the way she gently stroked her belly. Her complexion glowed with something beyond her usual cheerfulness.
“You’re pregnant,” I said the moment we reached her, then clapped my hand over my mouth. “Sorry. That was?—”
“True.” Her smile widened. “We were going to announce it tonight, but apparently I’m not subtle.”
Kieran appeared at her side, his vampire king intensity softening when he looked at his wife. He stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning close to kiss her cheek.
Adele and Raoul joined us, my weather witch sister looking relaxed in a way I’d never seen before. When he handed her a glass of wine before she’d even asked, she accepted it with a smile that suggested him anticipating her needs happened all the time. I loved that for her.
Victoria rushed over, her eyes bright with excitement. “Sasha. You have to tell me everything about the plant magic integration you accomplished here. I’ve been reading about emotional-botanical synthesis, and the applications could be revolutionary for?—”
“Victoria.” I caught her hands, my low laugh ringing out. “We can discuss research later. Tonight is for celebrating.”
She blinked, then grinned. “Right. Celebrating. I can do that.” She paused. “Though if you have even five minutes to explain the theoretical frameworkof?—”
“Later.”
