Page 271 of Spring Guardians & Songbirds

Atlas lit a sage garni, the bitter scent spreading in the wind and the white smoke forming circles around us. “The messenger of gods.” If the smoke wavered, we would be blessed and if it disappeared, gods would have sealed their disapproval.

“We gather tonight to seek your blessing,” Atlas spoke loud and clear without stuttering and my chest boosted with pride. He was doing better these days. “To unite Kilian Henrik Castemont, born of Henah and Snowlin Edlynne Castemont, born of Krig and Nubil.”

Snow smiled at him, and the young priest blushed red to the tip of his hair. “Will you vow to one another, will you vow to live, to prosper, to love. To join a soul and live this life and all the next as one?”

“I vow,” I said.

“I vow,” Snow repeated.

Atlas raised his palms to the skies, the markings of gods painted on his palms glowed gold when they were touched by moonlight. The wind picked up, swaying the moonflower, her obsidian hair billowing around her, blending in with the marvel of night. “I call to unite these two souls as one, to live and part this lifetime and all the next—together. I call for this union to be marked as one, to be marked for eternity as one soul made of two.” Atlas raised the sage garni between and all around us to leave a visible mark from the smoke. “I call for your blessing.”

Every heartbeat was loud in the air as they all held their breath. Waiting.

A gust of wind blew the smoke away, letting it disappear through the night and Snow’s hand loosened in my hold. Her face fell and something mellow slipped in her stare—sadness.

The ground suddenly shook around us and something poked the ground where we stood, pushing to the surface. One by one, dozens of stems of white roses bloomed around us.

“What—” Snow didn’t get to finish her thought because the sky brightened by light. The sun stood by the moon, not facing each other—standing by one another. And then flakes of snow brushed upon our skin, blowing lightly in the spring wind. Torches around the garden blew alit one by the other and songbirds flew overhead us, warbling a sweet tune that sent the magical folk spinning with excitement and joy. It was something of a dream.

“Mother? Sam?” Snow called looking behind me and everyone turned, gasping.

Two figures stood behind us, half fading in the night. Serene and Sam watched us from the distance, a bright teary smile on each of their faces. The gift from the god of death.

Everyone spun round, a mix of tears and unbridled happiness echoing between them.

“By the approval of gods, I call you married,” Atlas said. “You might seal your bond with a kiss.”

I cupped my wife’s face and kissed her—unhurriedly. We had all the time in the world, so in that moment I tasted her softness and warmth—I tasted the sweetness of the lily perfume and the salt from her tears.

All of a sudden, the night was night again and the wind was no longer cold, but warm and gentle. Her loved ones no longer stood behind us and the torches had blown off. The only remainder of what had happened stood around us in aromatic white petals and the golden bands of crawling thorns around our ring fingers.

“And blessed you are,” Alaric said, breaking our reverie and everyone clapped after him, howling and cheering as loud as they could, waking every sleeping soul in Amaris and in the skies above.

“I’ve never had that happen before,” Atlas commented, looking still astounded.

Snow blinked stunned at the roses around us. “It has to be because I threatened to burn their heavens,” she said with a wince. “They know I know I can now.”

I raised a brow at her. “So, you don’t think they’ve blessed us because we are in love?”

Her mouth parted open. “No.”

“No?”

“I mean, yes.”

I cocked my head back looking down at her. “Hm?”

She grinned brightly and jumped in my arms, toppling us both back on the grass, hugging me tightly to her. “You’re forever mine. In this life and all the next.” She pulled back and kissed me, hungrily. “Secured your pretty buttocks a gracious spot in hells. At least you will always be warm. Right by the pits.”

That made me chuckle. “It is better for your pores, too. At least I’ll hear no complaints.”

A throat cleared beside us and Snow, though reluctantly, pulled away. Alaric pointed his chin to my hands on her hips. “Would you please hold my kid a bit more respectfully.”

Snow sneered and gave him a lethal look. “You should see all the other respectful positions–” I quickly put a hand over her mouth, holding her from making Alaric my deathly enemy.

“Will do.”

He nodded his thanks and clasped my snickering brother’s shoulder. “Take us to Taren? I have a feeling none of us are wanted around anymore.”