“You did not,” I laughed.
She held up her palm with a fading white scar and repeated, “I Seraphina Daphne Van Curen swear to never hurt a single hair on Lillian-”
“I believe you!” My cheeks heated with embarrassment. I couldn’t believe Talbott made her sign a blood oath! What had he been thinking?
Her eyes softened as she applied some blush to my already red face. “He’s protecting you, Lilly. I think it’s sweet.”
“And I think it’s necessary,” Eden put in.
I cleared my throat and decided not to argue with them.
By the time Seraphina finished with me, I hardly recognized myself. I stood up and walked to the full-length mirror in the small studio apartment Talbott and I had been staying in.
The small space boasted rustic, Tuscan decor and sat over the workshop the owner used to bottle his wine. The windows were always open and let in the soft summer breeze. The air smelled fragrant and rich and just at dusk the lighting glowed with the epitome of romance.
I swayed nervously in front of the mirror and tried to find the fragile bird that I’d been acting like the last couple days under Seraphina’s talented handiwork. She was nowhere to be found.
The black circles under my eyes were camouflaged, but she’d managed to keep the rest of my makeup light and natural. My long red hair settled around my shoulders in pretty curls. My dress fit me perfectly. I had no idea how my mom had done that since I’d lost a considerable amount of weight over the last year.
Even so, this exquisite dress managed to give me a figure despite my body working in direct contradiction. The antique, ivory lace wrapped around me from strapless top to mermaid-style bottom. There was a cream sash that tied at my waist and clasped with a silver pin. The brooch was from my grandmother; my mom had brought it with her and offered it as my something old.
My something borrowed came from Eden. She held out her low-heeled, vintage Mary Jane pumps for my feet. And my something blue came from my dad. A peacock feather hair pin that blended blues, greens and rich browns together in an exotic barrette that set off my gorgeous dress. It blended into my hair and pinned my long bangs out of my face.
My something new would be my wedding ring. I’d lost the original one that Talbott gave me some time during my captivity. I mourned the loss of such a valuable memento, but I looked forward to the new ring too. This entire ceremony felt like starting over to me, marking a new milestone in my volatile life. I was excited to begin this new adventure with the man I loved.
I couldn’t stop staring at myself in the mirror. I didn’t just look healthy, I looked like a bride.
A beautiful bride.
“They’re ready for you, Lilly,” my mother stood in the doorway.
I spun around and ran to her arms. We’d already had our tearful reunion days ago, but the flood threatened again when I caught the look of utter pride on her face.
“You’re striking,” she murmured against my head. “You’re the loveliest woman I’ve ever seen. I’m so happy for you.”
Words failed me so I hugged her tighter. I wanted to say thank you, but I couldn’t get anything out. I hoped I got over this speechlessness before I had to say my vows. I wasn’t strong enough to use Magic yet and just staring at Talbott while I he waited for me to say something would probably kill him.
Nerves fluttered in my stomach and threatened to start their own rebellion inside me. I couldn’t believe I had agreed to have any kind of audience at all. I wanted my loved ones to be here, but the thought of going out there and having to stand in front of them all made me dizzy.
I swayed in my mother’s arms and she caught me. “Are you alright?” Her expression turned from elation to fear in the half-second it took for me to tip sideways.
“I’m just nervous,” I told her. “So terribly nervous.”
Her expression softened and I felt more hands at my back.
“There’s only a small number of people here,” Eden promised. She’d finished getting herself ready for the big event too and looked gorgeous in a cream tea-length dress with soft pink accents on the waist and hem. “Less than a hundred.”
“A hundred people?” I squeaked.
“Look at it this way,” Seraphina put in. “Terletov did you a favor. Avalon wanted you to get married in front of the entire Kingdom. In front of thousands of people. Thanks to Terletov, you get to have it your way.”
“Seraphina!” Eden gasped. I heard the smack of Eden’s hand hit Seraphina’s bicep and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Too soon?” Seraphina snickered.
Sylvia stepped in the room next and I moved to hug her too. We had already seen each other today when she stopped by to give me a checkup. I had been thrilled to hear that I was cleared for all wedding festivities. Even the wedding night.
Ahem.
She held bouquets for Eden and me to carry- white calla lilies. I hadn’t had a hand in decorating any of this and probably would have never chosen flowers that shared the same name as me. It seemed a little… vain. But the simple arrangement was breathtaking and I loved the flowers instantly.
I could get over my anxiety. I didn’t want to stand in front of a bunch of people, but these were people that I loved. And that loved me back.
My friends and mom surrounded me and we made our way down the outside staircase to the ground below.
I sucked in a sharp breath and stared in awe at the path in front of me. Twinkle lights lit up the darkening sky and made an aisle from the edge of the vineyard to the middle of it, where I could see a hundred more sparkling lights hung from posts.
My dad waited for me at the beginning of the path. He couldn’t even speak when he saw me. He struggled with his emotion and beamed with sheer happiness and pride. I felt so loved by my parents, more so than I ever had in my entire life. We hugged tightly and both fought the onslaught of tears that wanted to break free.
A sheer, ivory runner had been laid down over the rough ground for us to walk on. Soft pink lily petals had been strewn prettily along the path, every once in a while landing on a purple stain from where a wayward grape had marked the runner. The purple stains spread out in poke-a-dots all over the pretty cream from the foot traffic that had walked from here to the ceremony spot.
I loved those imperfect spots. I loved that something so accidental and some might say ruined, could still be so beautiful.
Seraphina and Sylvia left us to find their seats and Avalon appeared out of nowhere.
“Lilly,” he said gently. “Thank you for doing your duty for the Kingdom by marrying Talbott. I know how horrible it must be for you. I will forever be in your debt.”
I suppressed a smile. “You know that I’m marrying Talbott because I love him, right?”
His eyebrows squished together. “Really? Talbott? You could do a lot better than-” He suddenly pressed two fingers to his forehead and flinched in pain. “Alright, alright!” He turned back to me while Eden smiled innocently and serenely behind him. Those two. “You look lovely, Lills. I couldn’t be happier for you.”
I got choked up all over again but managed to say, “Thank you.”
“And I’m very happy for me too,” he went on. “Now Talbott can finally pull the giant stick out of his-”
“Take me to my seat now, Your Highness,” my mother demanded. She yanked on his arm while he grinned at me.
With one more over-the-top wink, he escorted my mother to her seat. I heard the music start up in the distance. Sounds from a pretty string quartet floated in the summer breeze. My heart swelled with the moment and I stopped worrying about other people and the future and anything else.
I was going to marry the man I loved now. Nothing else mattered.
“Ready?” my dad asked.
“Yes,” I replied. And I meant it.
Eden gave me another quick hug and then my father hugged me again and kissed my cheek. He told me how beautiful I was until Eden cleared her throat and started her walk down the
aisle.
My dad and I followed a little ways behind. We walked by rows and rows of vines while the sultry breeze caressed my skin and the music filled in the perfect soundtrack. Crickets joined the symphony, and the stars peeked out to shine in the clear sky.
Perfection.
The small space designated for the ceremony came into view. Several rows of folding chairs had been covered with ivory covers and wrapped with big bows. They were filled with the people I cared about most in the world. Friends from my Resistance days, a few co-workers from the Citadel that had managed to escape Terletov’s invasion. Titus, Xander, Xavier and Roxie sat near the front on my side. Most of the Titans that looked to Talbott as their leader. Family members that represented both sides. Jericho and his girlfriend that I hadn’t met yet, only heard about. And so many more.
Avalon stood at the front under a hand-carved trellis, wrapped with more lilies. Kiran stood up there as well, acting as Talbott’s best man. Eden had made it to her spot by now and smiled back at me.
When I’d taken everything in, I finally allowed my gaze to drift to the man that had brought me here, the man I was going to marry.
He looked… he looked stunning. His dark hair had been cut shorter and combed stylishly. It hung over his forehead just a little bit and contrasted nicely with his tanned skin. He was cleanly shaven and his perfect skin seemed to glow in the fading light. His tux fit him like a glove and molded to all his toned muscle in a way that made me want to mold myself to him.
I blushed hotly and tried to banish my lusty thoughts.
For now anyway.
The most-attractive part of him though was the expression on his face. I had never seen him more at peace or more excited. His eyes sparkled at me, even from this distance, and his lips formed the most-perfect smile.
He looked like a god up there, something out of fiction.
But he wasn’t. He was very real. And he was going to be my husband.
I felt a surge of Magic at that thought. The dormant life-force in me suddenly burst to life and I picked up my pace, anxious to bind myself to this man I loved so incredibly.
My father gave us away and Avalon started the service. Talbott didn’t say a word to me, almost like he couldn’t. Instead, he took my hands and gazed at me with a look of pure adoration, one that I would never forget.
I didn’t listen to a single word Avalon spoke the entire time. I was too busy staring into Talbott’s eyes and getting lost in those chocolate depths.
A thousand thoughts swirled around in my head. Grateful ones that we’d been able to get to this point in our relationship and our lives. Fearful ones for the things that were yet to come. Excited ones for the future I planned on sharing with this man. And happy ones. So many happy ones.
“Lilly.” Avalon broke through my blissful haze. “Repeat after me.”
And I somehow did. Through some kind of miracle, I was able to hold Talbott’s searing gaze and repeat the old-fashioned vows Avalon gave me.
“In the presence of God and these our family and friends, I take you to be my husband, promising with Divine assistance to be unto you a loving and faithful wife so long as we both shall live.” Talbott beamed with pride, especially when I continued, “I commit to never leave you, to follow you. For where you go, I shall go, and where you remain, I shall remain. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I shall die and be buried beside you.”
And then it was his turn. “Lillian Elizabetta Mason, iubita mea, in the presence of God and these our family and friends, I take you to be my wife, promising with Divine assistance to be unto you a loving and faithful husband so long as we both shall live.” I had never heard more beautiful words ever spoken. I understood the soul-shaking pride that Talbott had felt not moments before. And then he continued and I thought I would burst into a million happy pieces. “I commit to never leave you, to lead you. For where you go, I shall always be, and where you remain, I shall always remain with you. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will follow immediately for even in death I will never leave you.”
“The rings,” Avalon said in a voice I was confident held a wealth of emotion.
Kiran handed over the rings that we would exchange. Talbott’s was indestructible platinum, but a simple band. I had my dad have it inscribed. It simply said, “I want to know you more.” Those were the words that set our entire adventure into motion and I would always hold them true. I would always want to know him more. Always.
And I couldn’t wait to show him that part later.
Avalon continued with his instructions, “Lilly, place the ring on Talbott’s finger and repeat after me.”
“I give you this ring as a sign of our covenant. With all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you.” The ring slipped onto his finger and something eternal and never-ending clicked together inside me. He was my husband.
For now and forever.
He repeated the words and slipped the most-valuable possession I would ever have onto my finger. “I give you this ring as a sign of our covenant. With all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you.”
Tears slipped down my cheeks. I couldn’t help it. I stared down at the pretty silver band and the emerald stone centered in the middle. The stone was large but not too big. It glittered at me under the twinkling lights, promising happiness for the rest of my life.
Because that was what Talbott was for me. No matter what we faced in the months, years, and decades to come, Talbott would always be my center, my calm in the storm… my endless source of joy.
It would take us a while to learn to live with each other, and I knew that we would argue and fight and disagree, but there was a deep, abiding love that would always hold us together.
I had never felt truly safe until now. I had never been completely safe, until this moment.
Avalon had continued talking but between the ring and my husband’s adoring eyes, I had not heard a single thing he said, until, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Talbott, you may kiss your bride.”
And then he did.
Chapter Four
Then
“She’s here,” Kiran announced from his constant place near the tent entrance. I watched him with no small amount of fascination. He was more nervous than I’d ever seen him before.
I had watched him fidget in constant movement since we first arrived in Morocco. I’d sat in the sand while he had erected this monstrosity of seduction in the desert. And I’d sat through hours of him silently worrying Eden would still reject him.
He didn’t need to worry about the what-if of that. I knew she would. I could have told him that hours ago.
He’d promised he loved her and then betrayed her completely. Of course, she hated him.
Or she should.
I wanted her to hate him because, damn it, one of us needed to. I had started to see good moments in him over the last few months. Even in my version of hell, he’d gone out of his way to be kind to me. And that had softened me to him.
Him and his stupid, brutish friend.
“Do you want to know my opinion?” I asked quietly. I had no strength. My Magic had only just been returned to me and it took a while to come back to its full force. I had been nearly starved over the last few months and been tortured on several occasions- like whenever Talbott was called away from the Citadel.
It had been worse lately. Eden had managed to capture him. And while her end game was awesome- an exchange, Talbott for me- her timing was terrible. With Talbott gone, the remaining Titan Guard had been relentless in their persecution of me.
They hated me because I was Talbott’s pet. And I hated Talbott for making me such a sideshow.
Kiran turned around and met my weary gaze. His blue eyes glittered with an energy I didn’t understand. I thought it might be love though. I thought this was true love encouraging him to pursue her time and time again, even when she rejected him.
Even wh
en she tried to kill him.
How could you love someone that didn’t love you back? Or wanted the absolute worst for you? Talbott and Kiran seriously needed some therapy or something.
Liar, my inner monologue called me. Dirty, filthy liar. You have feelings for Talbott too. You love him too.
“Yes, I do.” I thought it had been me that spoke at first, answering that silent accusation. My heart leapt to my throat and I felt a hot blush sweep over me. But it had only been Kiran, answering my question.
“I don’t think this is going to work.” I gestured around at the extravagant tent and made sure to make a pointed gesture at the enormous bed. Psht. Boys were so clueless.
I thought he might be upset with me, or at least disappointed. Instead, his shoulders seemed to lift with confidence and his blue eyes sparked with challenge. “I don’t expect her to actually fall into bed with me, Lilly. But I do expect her to struggle not to.” He flashed me a devilish smile. “I’m trying to remind her that I’m the love of her life. And for that, this tent is perfect.”
I opened my mouth to argue with him, but Eden’s irritated voice cut through the quiet desert. “Um, are you sure this is the right tent?”
I pressed my lips together at my ditzy friend. As if there were other tents in the middle of all this sand.
Kiran shot me a wink and then gestured for me to follow. I gave an exasperated sigh but did as he bade me. I loved Eden like a sister, but I was anxious to see her reaction to Kiran. Not because I was a cruel friend, but because I wanted to see if he was right.
I wanted to see if Kiran really was the love of Eden’s life.
He stepped through the tent flap and announced, “Yes, Eden, you are exactly where you should be.”
My intention had been to watch Eden and Kiran. I wanted to see what Eden would do and how she would react. But other than her shrieking voice, I didn’t understand a word she said.
And that would be because as soon as I stepped outside, I came face-to-face with Talbott.
I had promised myself I would ignore him, just like I promised myself I would ignore him every time he came to visit me in prison. But like all those other times before, I failed. He managed to capture my attention every time I stood anywhere near him. And most of my thoughts anytime he wasn’t around.