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“If anyone can bring together the kingdom and the village,” Lisette said to Jade, “it’s you.”
Jade turned to her human friend and emotion swelled within her. “I’ve learned so much from you, Lisette.” Tears suddenly sprang to her eyes. “You’ve been a mother to me, without making me feel disloyalty over the replacement.”
The older woman gently squeezed her hand. “And you’re the daughter I’d always hoped to have.”
Jade hugged her. She was grateful to finally be of the frame of mind where she could not only accept the friendship and love surrounding her, but give something of herself in return.
When Jade pulled away, Sheena dabbed at her cheeks with a handkerchief to make sure her makeup hadn’t smudged. “Both of you stop, or I’ll be crying too and lose all credibility with the king.”
Jade laughed softly. “Never. He’s very appreciative of everything you do and he holds your strength and determination in high regard. He seems to like that in females.”
“Please continue to remind him of that, if you wouldn’t mind.”
“Between the two of us, we might be able to keep him in line?” Jade jested.
“Not a chance. But I like the false sense of hope that thought offers.”
Lisette cleared her throat to break up the conversation. “At the moment, the only thing
Jade should be thinking about is getting married.”
She drew in a deep breath as the crowd stood and turned to observe her entrance.
“Try not to say or do anything that offends anyone on your way down the aisle,” Lisette added with a wink. She and Sheena preceded Jade, who crossed the clearing and then the arched bridge over the river.
It was easy to follow Lisette’s direction. The people gathered faded into the background as soon as she rounded the corner of the last row of chairs at the back and saw the Demon King standing at the end of the aisle, before an elaborate, three-sided domed structure made of platinum posts and crimson-and-silver-veined marble. Certainly ostentatious, but also stunning. And just the right amount of extravagance for a royal wedding.
As she’d imagined, Davian was sexy as sin in his formalwear.
Jade was a magnet, tethered to the solid steel that was her king.
He exuded raw virility and power, but also a refinement and sophistication she found titillating. And yes, Lisette had been right. He was ridiculously handsome. Impossible to take her gaze from.
Not surprisingly, she was anxious to get the evening over with so they could be alone. Conversely, it was such a lovely affair, she tried to commit every detail to memory.
There was no distinction between bride and groom factions when it came to the setting, save for the three stewards of the continent’s parceled regions, who obviously stuck to demon droves.
Other than that, both sides of the aisle were occupied with humans and demons alike. While she noted more than a few looks of concern from the villagers, the overriding emotion seemed to be delight—they were happy for her, for finally finding her way.
In turn, when Jade reached her groom and his groomsmen—Morgan and Toran—Jade couldn’t have been happier for herself. There truly was a sense of unity forming. And she was marrying more than the Demon King. He’d become her heart, her soul, her lifeblood. She honestly could not envision a day without Davian in it.
She smiled at the men, then inhaled deeply, breathing in the fresh, late-spring air. The moon overhead was full and shimmery, casting glittery rays across the lush clearing and the forest beyond. More candles and a few torches lit the area, but with a warm, inviting illumination that made the entire event intimate, despite the mass of people in attendance and many more spectators who stood on the ridge, not far from the castle.
Jade knew that not every creature, human or demon, fully embraced the new direction in which relations had turned, but she couldn’t deny there was support formed by curiosity and optimism—a solid foundation that could be built upon.
The village’s chaplain, who administered service at the meeting hall on Sundays, had agreed to perform the ceremony. A nice touch. Jade gave her rose to Sheena so she and Davian could join hands before him.
“You take my breath away,” Davian told her as she faced him.
More tears of joy pricked the backs of her eyes.
“I hope you know this is the most wonderful day of my life,” she said.
Emotion flickered in his glowing amber gaze. “There will be many more to come. I’ll make sure of it.”
She had no doubt.
“I’m so glad we finally made it to this place,” she told him. “I love you so much.”
