I felt bad for her that neither of her parents were here. Her father wanted nothing to do with her, and she hadn’t had any contact with her mother since we’d left Dolinska. Didn’t want to either, by the sound of it.
“Stefan and Isaak are my family. They’re all I need,” she’d told me.
Isaak saw his mother coming. He got to his feet and toddled to her. We let out soft laughs as Delmare reached down to pick him up, bolstering him onto her hip. Emma rushed forward to take her bouquet, and Delmare reached out to take Stefan’s hand as her other arm supported her son.
Lucien was performing the ceremony. He held a book of fae law in his hand, and cleared his throat before he began. “Welcome, friends and beloved family. We come together under the light of the Seven Gods to witness the marriage of Lord Stefan Slasky to his bride, Lady Irena Delmare. The couple have taken vows to one another during their Choosing. Today, we solidify that bond with the power of marriage. At their choosing, the lord chose Radek as his patron god, and the lady Neva as her goddess. May Radek bless this union, providing these lovers with the strength to battle for their relationship with all the fierceness of war, and Neva also, giving these young ones the time they need to cherish each other and grow old together.”
I could hear Miroslava weeping. Stefan was getting teary-eyed. He was trying to hold back tears, making choked up noises. Delmare’s face was clear as she stared at Stefan. She was truly happy. She’d never imagined this life for herself, but we all knew this was exactly what she’d secretly desired from the moment she’d met her mate.
Stefan lifted Delmare’s veil, and pulled a few dahlia’s from her hair to proceed with the burning of the flowers, signaling her transition from maiden to mother. They partook in the bread and salt ceremony before moving on to their handfasting. Jonathan had come up to take Isaak from Delmare, and the couple’s hands were bound with corded red rope, saying the traditional dragon Faction vows.
“As my wings spread across the sky, so shall I encompass you with my love.” Stefan’s voice shook as he spoke, his lip trembling as he grasped Delmare’s hands. He pretended to be a tough guy, but really, he was a big softie inside. “My fire will be your hearth, keeping you warm in the darkest winters. My claws will be your protectors, defending you from any foe that is at our door. My scales will be your mirror, reflecting back upon you what you show to the world. As a dragon is loyal to his horde, so I will be loyal to you, and will die defending your honor, our marriage and our home.”
Delmare’s tone was sincere and full of honest adoration as she said, “As the gods bless our marriage, I will bless you and our home. Like Vesna, I will be wise in judgment, and slow to anger. Like Radek, I shall fight for you each day. Like Neva, I will lend you my time, and always fight for just one more moment. Like Luka, I will give you my body to worship. Like Droga, I will stay beside you, through darkness and through loss. Like Tomir, I will do what is best for us, and not what is best for myself. And like Milonna, I will lend you my heart, taking you exactly as you are, giving generously until our lives are complete and the circle begins again.”
Emma stared at me as Delmare said her vows. Our wedding had been large and grand, and this one was intimate and small. Yet they were all the same, on the inside. The only thing that truly mattered was that two people were willing to face the world together. I wished for a long and happy life for them, as I did for Emma and I.
Stefan and Delmare pulled their hands from the knot they’d made, then yanked the handfasting cord tight. They gave the cord to me, and I hung on to it for them. Lucien gave them a nod as he said, “I pronounce you married. Join together as husband and wife, and claim your future as one.”
Stefan grabbed Delmare, and dipped her down as he gave her a kiss. Rapturous applause and obnoxious shouting broke out amongst the crowd. Delmare and Stefan proceeded down the aisle together with looks of true affection, now husband and wife. Isaak slipped off Jonathan’s lap and hurried after them, his little feet hitting the hardwood.
Everyone stood. Faylin threw her arms up, and all at once, the room changed at her illusion magic. The candles lifted, floating upon the air near the ceiling. The plants moved as the room rearranged, making room for one long table draped in black cloth, and red velvet chairs.
Vocheck rose off the bench and cast his hand at the organ. It began playing of its own accord, giving background music and setting the mood for dinner.
I put the handfasting cord in Stefan and Delmare’s bedroom before I returned to the foyer. I sat down next to Emma and looked down at the plates. They had designs of dancing skeleton couples on them, and the wine goblets looked like they were fashioned out of a skeleton hand. This wedding had Delmare’s taste written all over it.
A large cake had been placed in the middle of the table; devil’s food cake with red frosting, white skulls decorating the edge. Dinner was sun-dried tomato and spinach ravioli with herb-crusted rack of lamb, both of their favorites, prepared by Faylin.
The food was absolutely exquisite. I was proud to have Faylin in the family. She had more or less become my own grandmother. It was comforting having her around, as it was clear she took care of the people around her. I knew exactly where Emma had gotten her big heart.
After dinner, there was dancing throughout the night, along with the fae wedding traditions. Delmare huffed and complained about the unveiling, but still participated. She screamed as she ran around the room, chased by the groomsmen. The bridesmaids scampered after her, trying to protect her from all the boorish males. Alexei was particularly ginger with Kiara as he caught her, cradling her against him like he thought he might hurt her.
I grabbed Emma around the waist with a rough yank that was more sensual than playful. Her breasts heaved against my chest as I squeezed her to me.
“You caught me, you know. Game’s over,” Emma said.
“What if I don’t want to let you go?” I asked, and I nuzzled my face into her hair.
“Then I’m going to expect something later,” she said, and she reached down to give the front of my pants a light squeeze.
I was definitely planning on it. Theo ended up snagging the veil from Delmare, and Odette eagerly caught the bouquet once Delmare had tossed it. Odette danced around the room, holding the bouquet over her head as she shouted, “Yay! I’m next, I’m next!”
“Maybe Theo will whip out a ring right now,” Alexei joked.
“Nah, I have much better taste than Stefan,” Theo said. “I’ll wait to propose untilhiswedding is over.”
“A big pink ring,” Odette gushed. “Maybe a topaz!”
Theo wiggled his eyebrows at me and whispered, “She doesn’t know she’s getting a diamond.”
I bet he already had it picked out. Delmare’s laugh echoed around the foyer as she swayed across the dance floor with her husband. Stefan pressed his lips to Delmare’s neck, then down the revealing front of her dress, making her giggle.
They looked so happy together. I had a certainty that they’d make it. If any two people suited each other, it was them.
“She’s gonna get pregnant again,” Kiara said as she watched them, swishing the wine in her goblet.
“Well, why not?” Alexei replied. “The more the merrier, I’d say.”
