We’d truly reached a peace that I prayed would be upon this realm for centuries.
I stood and peered at myself in the mirror. My eyes grew misty at my reflection. My red hair was tied up in a cascade of curls. The white velvet bridal gown I wore was reminiscent of a fifteenth century gown, with a tight bodice and long draping sleeves that touched the floor. The palace seamstress had outdone herself. She’d modernized it with a deep scooping back and shiny silk trim to offset the velvet. It was truly stunning.
The aquamarine tiara that sat atop my head was a gift from Brayden. This crown had been his mother’s, and it meant a great deal to me. The only thing missing wasmymother. The mother I’d had in this life, who I loved so dearly.
“I wish my mom could come to the real wedding.” I frowned.
Maddy and Leah walked over to me, both smiling conspiratorially. “Mmhmm,” Leah said.
I raised an eyebrow. “What?”
Another knock sounded on the door.
Maddy and Leah leaned forward, kissing each side of my cheeks. “Love you. You look beautiful.”
Natalie and Blake then did the same. “See you out there.”
“Hey, where are you going?” I asked. “You’re my bridesmaids!”
Maddy popped a chunk of cheese into her mouth and then left, the others trailing behind her.
What the—?
I peered at the door, dumfounded, when my father stepped into view. “Oh, hey.”
He frowned and I instantly felt bad.
“I just… miss my mom,” I amended.
My little ghost wolf pack was lying in front of the doorway, guarding it, and allowed Artemis to pass. They were still with me. Brayden and Artemis thought they made good guardians and I’d asked them if they wanted to be released. They voted unanimously that they wanted to continue to protect me. I sensed that they felt indebted to me for freeing them.
“I missed you too.” My mom’s voice came from the doorway and my head jerked up. A sob formed in my throat. She stepped right through the ghost wolves, her foot passing through them as if she didn’t even see them, and stood beside Artemis shyly. I’d learned that humans couldn’t see them, and in turn the wolves couldn’t hurt humans.
My mom looked partly terrified and partly in awe of seeing me in my dress. I just stood there in shock that my human mother was in the Ether!
Wait, did she take a portal egg here? What was happening?
Artemis cleared his throat. “I have spent the morning with your mother telling her everything. Brayden approved it. She has been magically sworn to secrecy, so there are no issues there.”
Holy crap.
“Everything?” I stumbled forward.
My mom gave a nervous laugh. “I slept with a fae unknowingly, had you, who is apparently half fae and half reincarnated Greywolf queen? You weren’t with a boyfriend in New York, you were a captive, and you just fought a war and won. Oh, and this is your real wedding, not the civil service you were going to do for me,” she said in a rush.
Yep that was about everything.
“Are you okay? Are you freaking out?” I ran to her, stopping short of giving her a hug because I didn’t want to freak her out.
She and Artemis shared a look.
She smiled. “I’m past the freakout, and the shock. Full disclosure: I’ve had half a bottle of wine and I’m excited to see you marry the love of your life.”
I burst into laughter, which also caused a few stray tears to slide down my cheeks. “Oh, Mom. I’ll keep your wineglass full. I’m so glad you’re here!”
She stepped forward then and pulled me into a hug.
“You look so beautiful,” she murmured, her words muffled into my hair. “At first I thought you were getting married a little young, but I guess you are like hundreds of years old, so now I don’t know what to think.”
