Page 95 of Bewitched

“Brother, it’s only hair, just like you said,” Rhys reminded him.

“Go on, Zann. We all did it,” Darium coaxed him.

“I need locks from two people,” the elf told him. “I only have one.” He held up Rhys’ hair to show him.

“Please, Zann,” Medea asked nicely. “Will you do it? For us?”

“Brother, the faster you cooperate, the faster you’ll get that big, fat, juicy steak we have that is for you alone,” Rhys promised.

“All right. Just do it.” Zann walked up to the dais and closed his eyes. He held his breath as the elf snipped off a lock of his hair.

“Not too much,” Zann said, his eyes popping back open.

“Stop whining, you big oaf. It’s over.” The elf braided the two locks together and quickly shoved it into his pocket. “All right, the wedding is over, too,” he announced. “I’m going to stop in the great hall to collect my pazzleberry pie, and then I’m off for a nice long nap.”

“You do that,” said Rhys. “Sorry to say we won’t miss you.”

“Rhys, be nice,” said Medea, taking his hand and turning to wave to the courtyard filled with people. With crowns on their heads and dressed likes nobles, Medea felt for the very first time that she enjoyed being a queen. This time, the title hadn’t been stolen, it had been earned through marriage. This time, it was real.

She waved to her family, whom Rhys had already met. Her father stood with Alaina. They were both fussing over little Lily-Rae. Medea looked out to see her siblings with their spouses and children. Hugh, known as Wolf by most, and his twin, Arnon, were there. Stefan, Kin, Ellea, and MacKay proudly stood by as well. Rap was up at the dais with her. All their spouses and children were here as well. It felt so good to have them all present.

And of course, Zann, Darium, and Talia were her new family now. Everyone was so accepting of her that she didn’t ever want to go back to the darkness or being evil ever again.

Marco flew down on the dragon once more, and the crowd parted. He hopped off and held out his hand. “Your carriage has arrived, Your Majesties.”

“What?” asked Rhys. “You’re going to take us for a ride?”

“No,” said Marco. “You are a Dragon Lord now, Rhys, so you can take your bride for a spin by yourself before the feast begins. Go ahead.”

“Well, all right,” said Rhys. “Why not?” He helped Medea atop the dragon, and took off up into the sky. With the wind in their hair and Rhys’ arms wrapped around Medea, they flew over the castle and then up above the waterfall and the Picajord Mountains. It was a beautiful day and the sky was clear. The land of Mura as well as the lands of the nearby islands of Lornoon, Tamaris, and Dolphin Island were visible.

“It is such a wonderful view from up here,” said Rhys, wrapping his arms tighter around Medea from behind as they flew on the dragon, turning back now over the Goeften Forest and Lake of Souls.

“Rhys, I think I see a portal opening down there near the lake,” said Medea, looking down over the side of the dragon. “It doesn’t look like the one that leads back to my home. It’s different colors.”

“Don’t look,” said Rhys, keeping his eyes forward. “The last thing we need is another portal. I don’t want to see it or even know anything about it. Especially not on our wedding day.”

“You’re right,” Medea answered with a giggle.

“Dada. Mama.”

“Rhys? What was that?” Medea turned to see little Lily-Rae settled on Rhys’ lap, tucked in between them.

“I guess our daughter wanted to go for a ride on the dragon,” he said with a hearty laugh. “Medea, our baby has some powerful magic to transport up here all by herself.”

“I am thinking that they both might have powerful magic, Rhys,” she answered, watching his eyes as she said it.

“Both?” His attention turned to her now. “Why did you say that, Medea?”

She leaned back against him, hugging both Rhys and Lily-Rae as they flew over the Whispering Dale, and she thought of how she felt when she’d first conceived. “I’m pregnant again,” she announced.

“Y-you are?” he asked, sounding a little uncertain about it. “Already?”

“I’ve known for a few weeks now, but wanted to wait to tell you.”

“Are you sure? You don’t look pregnant at all, Medea.”

“Precisely,” she answered with a huge smile, turning back around to face forward. “That means this baby isn’t going to be born in a day or two, or even in a few weeks’ time. It’s going to hopefully take nine months, like it’s supposed to, Rhys.”