“Sorry.You know I like my naps.”
Vaia laughed and pressed her head to Axa’s hand.“I remembered that.I spend time here, reading to you, chatting with you.Oh, I have met my father.He’s...interesting.”
Axa smiled.“Is he tall, dark, and handsome?”
“He’s the king of a group of under-the-bed monsters.He can do everything with shadows, and an acquaintance is currently in his sights or probably his tentacles.”
Axa blinked.“So, a friend is going to be your stepmom?”
“Yeah.Oh, shit.You met her.Hura.”
“The dance instructor?Wow, well, she could certainly move her hips.”
They laughed softly.Vaia filled Axa in on the shop and the dresses, and Axa got sleepy again.
“Right.We are going to go.Tomorrow is our vow renewal, but I don’t think you are up for it.”
“Probably not.Dance for me, and we will get together when I can do more than just feel the bedding on my toes.”
“Okay.I will set you up with a phone tomorrow.Don’t be surprised if it’s someone else who delivers it.”
Axa grinned.“I will take any connection to what is going on now.”
Azreen said, “We will send you someone to help you get back on your feet.”
Vaia grinned.“On the plus side, you can do physio and such at our place as long as you don’t mind weddings frequently.Krys can keep your room from being disturbed.So, you have a place to go.”
Axa nodded and lay back.“Thanks.I am looking forward to rejoining the world.”She looked at the fidgeting medical staff.“As soon as I am clear to move around and pee on my own.”
Vaia laughed and kissed her forehead.“Okay.Phone tomorrow.I am hoping you can video call for the wedding.There are so many different races coming; you would be stunned to meet them all.Next week, the property is hosting a dark elf and his war companion.So, there are going to be dark elves and all the off-duty XIA that are available.Plus, families and a wonderful woman who lives on site.She’s a ghost who lives in a statue that was carved to look like she did when she was alive.”
Azreen smiled.“Her name is Sable.”
“You are really her husband?”
“Yes.Now that we are both adults, it is a lot more practical, actually, to say vows versus the arrangement she was forced into.We have been married for fifteen years, so tomorrow we start again.This time, together.”
Axa smiled and leaned back, closing her eyes.
Vaia looked at her friend and got up, hugging Azreen.He smoothed his hands down her back, and then they walked out of the hospital room while the staff went in and spoke quietly to Axa.
Azreen walked her out, and a car was waiting for them.She said, “Can we get a phone right now?”
“I will arrange it tonight.She will have it in the morning.You need sleep.I need to hold you when you sleep.”
She smiled.That had become normal over the last week.He had used the logic that their actual wedding was fifteen years earlier to get around them not seeing each other before the wedding.
They headed back to the mansion, which was feeling like home after they had started moving furniture into the common spaces.
Stands for flowers were in place and out in the yard.Sable was walking and ticking things off on her tablet.Vaia walked out and looked at the skeleton of the event.Sable came over and smiled.“Ready for tomorrow?”
Vaia said confidently, “Yes.Does everything look good here?”
“Everything is under control.You are going to have an amazing day.”
“Did Krys tell you to say that?”Azreen said with a grin.
“Yup.She said that you two are going to be focused on each other, and that is how it should be.Anything that can be smoothed out of the way will be, and anything else will be denied wholeheartedly.”
