The haunting blend of witch flutes and fae harps swelled, and there he was. King Dominic Willard Featherdorn stepped forward, stopping at the end of the aisle, tall in his black robes embroidered with gold leaves, his antler crown perched on his head.
My first glimpse of him hit like a spell I hadn’t prepared myself for. I’d seen him when we signed the agreement aweek ago, but I’d spent more time studying the terms of the treaty than looking at him.
I was looking now.
His tousled, dark blond hair hung to just above his broad shoulders, and his sharp features screamed regal fae. His leaf-green eyes sparkled with…mischief? No, that couldn’t be it.
There was no denying he was handsome in an otherworldly way that made my pulse skip.
I shoved the feeling down, reminding myself that distractions like this had no place in my life. Many counted on this alliance to solidify the arrangement between the fae court and the witch coven, and I couldn’t mess that up by developing feelings for my soon-to-be husband.
His gaze met mine and while I didn’t find excitement or anticipation there, I also didn’t find resignation. Perhaps this would work out alright.
As he began walking toward me, the fae shifted in their seats, clamped their hands over their mouths, their shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. Snorts escaped here and there, muffled behind elaborate sleeves. Smiles were hastily covered with fans.
My cheeks burned. What was so funny?
The enchanted vines decorating the altar trembled, their glow flickering, responding to something in the air. Their confusion itched beneath my skin. But I pushed the sensation away. I couldn’t look into this now, not when heat was crawling up my neck and my future husband strode toward me.
Dominic continued down the aisle, regal as a king, but I caught him fighting a smile, his lips twitching at the corners. He strode up onto the platform and joined me, his shoulders shaking, his mouth pressed into a tight line.
He still didn’t look my way.
Watch the patterns,Savory said in my mind.Not all laugh with the same rhythm.
I glanced across the fae court. She was right. Some fae looked bewildered, their laughter forced. An older lady in the third row frowned, her fan frozen mid-flutter as she studied the lords and ladies around her with dismay.
The elder began the formal proceedings, and I focused my attention there.
“We gather today to bind two souls and two realms,” she said, her voice steady. She raised her hands to invoke the ancient wards.
But no sooner had the serious words left her mouth than a fresh wave of barely-contained laughter rippled through the fae side. A lord in the second row let out a snort that echoed like a hiccup, and another doubled over, pretending to adjust her shoe while her entire body shook.
Every solemn pause from the elder and every invocation of unity and magic seemed to trigger more humor. Giggles bubbled up like champagne and snickers were hidden behind hands.
I touched my locket, the silver cool against my burning skin.
Everyone knew the fae could be frivolous, but this seemed excessive. I tried to catalog the pattern, including who laughed when and where they sat, but the ache in my chest made it too hard to think clearly.
I stole a glance at Dominic. He looked…amused? Not reverent or fully engaged in the gravity of this moment. His eyes crinkled at the corners, and I sensed he was holding back a grin during the elder’s recitation of the binding oaths.
When it came time for the vow exchange, the elder nodded to me. “Sasha, speak your truths.”
I unfolded the paper with unsteady hands, my stomach twisting.
“Dominic,” I said, my voice clear and sincere, “in this union, I pledge my respect and partnership. Together, we can build an alliance that strengthens our people, weaving strategy with your court’s vibrant spirit. I commit to standing by your side and honoring our shared path and the magic that binds us.”
The words hung in the air, heartfelt and earnest. But before I could lower the paper, the fae court erupted in fresh giggles. A wave of laughter swept through them, light and infectious, like I’d just delivered the punchline to a joke. One lady fanned herself dramatically, wiping away tears while her shoulders shook, while another whispered something that set off chuckles along his row.
The vines around the altar wilted, their glow dimming. Hurt swamped me, like thorns poking into my skin.
Grandmother rose from her seat, her expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought she might stop the ceremony, might spare me this humiliation. But she simply watched, her fingers twitching as if she was testing the air for magic, before she slowly sat back down. That frightened me more than the laughter.
Dominic cleared his throat. He met my eyes, his appearing earnest enough. “Sasha, in the dance of our worlds, I stand before you?—”
His chuckle broke free, his eyes widening. He pressed his lips together hard enough to make them pale.
He reached for my hand as if to anchor himself, but another laugh bubbled up, and he pulled back, shaking hishead in what looked like genuine distress. “I’m—” Another giggle burst from him. “Fates, I’m sorry, I can’t?—”
