Page 157 of A Courage of the Chosen

This woman is mine. She is giving herself to me in every possible way, and I take a second to ask myself how, in a cruel life, I became the luckiest Seelie in the realm.

Then Elsie is before me, and her crisp scent is curling its way through my senses and making a home amongst my heart. Untainted and bright.

Paul kisses her cheek and then shakes my hand, his words drawing my focus for the briefest of moments. “Màiri always considered you a part of our family. I know she’d have wanted to see you find happiness, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to love our girl.”

The room blurs and I blink it away, clearing my throat. “Thank you.”

Taking Elsie’s bouquet, he slides into the bench, where Reyne leans into him as he pulls a cloth from his pocket to dab at the moisture on his face.

Finneus moves into position clad in a majestic purple jacket. His hair is tied back for a change, and there’s a silver coating of emotion on his lower lash line. He takes our right hands and holds them as he stands between us.

“Ready?” I ask her.

Elsie nods, and the first tear falls onto her cheek. I wipe it away with my other hand as Finneus begins speaking.

“To be Seelie is to know magic. It’s in our blood, our homes, the land. It’s everything we are.”

Elsie beams up at me, and my heart gallops in my chest as I find myself drifting closer to her.

Finneus continues. “Marriage is filled with its own kind of magic. The bringing together of two people, two families, is sacred in the eyes of Dhia, and symbolizes the lifelong choice you will make to each other.”

The love of my life begins nibbling on the corner of her lip, something she absently does when she’s feeling a lot and doesn’t know what to do with the emotions coursing through her. I reach for our bond, opening myself to her completely.

“It’s a choice you will make every day. A promise to grow together in love, to laugh with each other in joy, and to shelter one another in sadness.”

Eòghann brings over the Quaich, a small silver chalice from which we’ll both drink to honor the commitment we are making. I grasp it first, and Elsie’s palm covers mine.

Finneus addresses me. “Callahan Knox, do you take Elspeth Aitken as your wife? Do you promise to love, protect, and cherish her, all the days of your life?”

“I do.” The easiest two words I’ve ever spoken, and Elsie’s hand flutters over mine as I make my vows to her.

“Then drink,” Finneus instructs. The whiskey is smooth as it slides down my throat, aged in an oak barrel that gives it the perfect bite as it settles in my stomach.

Finneus turns his attention to Elsie next. “Elspeth Aitken, do you take Callahan Knox as your husband? Do you promise to love, protect, and cherish him, all the days of your life?”

Warmth trickles like honey from her side of the bridge, filling me with more joy than I’ve ever experienced. My love stretches out to greet hers, and they come together in something so raw and beautiful it makes my bones ache.

“I do,” she murmurs with a wobble in her voice.

“Then drink, my dear,” Finneus says thickly.

My arm stretches as she brings the Quaich to her mouth and takes a small sip of whiskey. She shudders a little as she swallows, and I have to bite back my laughter. If only it was traditional to use wine instead. She much prefers it.

Finneus joins our right hands together, his braced on top and underneath, while Eòghann takes the chalice from us. I reach for Elsie’s left hand and draw us together. “May this union be blessed by our Goddess, and may the spirits guide them from this day until their last.”

Finneus steps to the side to make space for Brodie, and Elsie gasps when he moves.

“I wasn’t missing this, Queenie,” he teases, but it falls flat, like the very best parts of him don’t exist beyond his pain.

Erin approaches us, holding a length of emerald ribbon with Celtic runes painted onto it that speak of tradition and love and promises. We wanted her to have some part in this today, since she’s become important to the both of us, and we asked her to pick that which will tie our union together. She took that task very seriously, and spent a while deliberating the options presented to her, according to Reyne.

Brodie takes it from her and places it over mine and Elsie’s linked hands, wrapping it around over and over before tying a knot on the top. “May you forever be joined, sharing in love and loyalty for all the days to come.” Brodie whispers the words, and I want to reach for him.

He came to do this for us, came and stood with us to bind our lives together, while his love is slowly slipping away from him. The gravity of it isn’t lost on me, and it isn’t for Elsie either. More tears spill down her cheeks as she looks at him.

“Thank you, Brodie,” she says.

Thank you doesn’t feel like enough.