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Since then, Lucius had calmed. Somewhat. But he still didn’t want me out of his sight for too long, and only if I were accompanied by people he knew, like the guard I was with now as Farah and I made our way back to the manor, where lunch was waiting.
“My apologies for being so late,” I told the seamstresses as I breezed into the room. The two women and the lone male bowed at my entrance. The room had transformed into a dress shop.
Farah clapped her hands. “All right. Let’s get this done.”
I tried not to make a face as I took in all the fabrics and ribbons. Fashion had never been my thing, so I was trusting Farah in this fully.
“So,” she said, staring at me from head to toe, “as you can see, she needs a lot of work.”
I sighed. It was going to be a long day.
Chapter Two
Sierra
“Did you bring the gifts?” I asked Farah as I swallowed down my nervousness.
“I did.”
“Did you remem—”
“Yes.”
I swung my gaze to her. “How did you know what I—”
For the first time all day, she smiled. “Everything is arranged like you asked and more, my lady.”
I would have squeezed her hand, but it was occupied with its match, both hands holding my wedding bouquet of winter irises and eucalyptus. Instead, I bit my lip and nodded.
“Don’t bite your lip. You’ll ruin my work.”
“Right.” I nodded nervously, taking a deep breath instead.
We were waiting at the threshold of the cavernous gathering area, one of the main meeting places in Ordelpho where the ceremony and the Longest Night reception were being held. Above us was a stone arch from which hung glittering mistletoe and white holly. Ahead, possibly hundreds of Ongahri waited for my entrance, but until I received my cue—the peals of silver bells announcing the beginning of the ceremony—I had to wait right along with them.
I could feel needles of sweat prickling my scalp but couldn’t feel my feet. My mouth was dry, but my eyes weren’t. I was a mess.
Big, slow breaths, in and out. I said the words over and over in my head until it became a chant.
Farah had outdone herself on my make-up and hair, complimenting the gorgeous dress the seamstresses had created for me. Unfortunately, because of my nerves, the pile of white hair on top of my head felt too heavy, and the knotted satin at my breasts was tightening me to the point where, for an alarming few seconds, I feared I might just untie the whole dress and expose my nakedness to all and sundry.
Panic threatened to have me bolting from the premises, which I might just do…
“Breathe, Sierra.” A masculine hand met my back, his touch a lifeline.
Too focused on what was ahead of me—both literally and figuratively—I closed my eyes and did as Ander instructed, breathing deeply, letting the warmth of the room into my lungs.
“Better,” Ander said soothingly. “Not too much longer now.”
I nodded, still focusing on each breath until they finally evened out.
Life was funny, I thought as I stared straight ahead. It was the very man next to me who, not too long ago, I had been promised to, a prince of the Ongahri. Now that same man was standing in for my father—a father who had no idea that the man he’d agreed to marry me to was the one giving me away, to the chieftain of a rival House, no less.
At last, the bells rang, and instead of setting in more panic, the sound was ethereal, adding a blessed layer of calm to my caged anxiety.
“You look beautiful,” Ander whispered. “Let’s do this.”
Gripping the bouquet like my life depended on it, I let Ander take my elbow. Slowly we walked down the path that would turn to the left, to where Lucius, my mate, my groom, waited. The room was dim, lit by hundreds of candles, and I had to admit that the effect was dreamlike, and incredibly romantic.
