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Then thedraugrqueen leaned forward and placed a circlet of gems on my hair. “This is not a veil. It is not a fae crown. It is in place of those things.”
Carefully I met her eyes in the mirror. The crown was obviously a gift, but I could not help but suspect that there was more to it. “You’re not telling me everything.”
Beatrice waved my words away, reminding me of every time my own mother made such a gesture. “Today is not the day to speak of everything,” Beatrice said. “Later you may question me. I shall answer.”
I nodded. Honestly, there was only so much I could handle, and I was at my maximum stress capacity far too often lately.
“Today you celebrate your love here with your family, yes?” Beatrice fussed with my hair.
Behind me, by way of the mirror, I saw my mother, who had just walked into the room. The three of us stood there for a moment, and I realized that today was significant to both of them, too. My mother had fought for me simply to exist, bringing life out of death, and I was the descendent of a woman who had thwarted death in a different way. Strong women came before me, making a path that I had followed.
Beatrice kissed Mama Lauren’s cheek. Then mine. “You are my greatest achievements in these many centuries of un-living existence.”
Before we could think to reply to being called achievements, Beatriceflowedout of the room. I often wondered if emotion was too much for her in some moments. It certainly was for me.
“She loves us in the way she can,” Mama Lauren said. “I remind myself of that often when she is imperious.”
“She sounds like you,” I teased.
Mama Lauren swatted my arm lightly. “You are lovely, despite that sass.”
“Because of it?” I asked.
“Perhaps.” My mother’s smile was agreeing even if her words were tentative. “From my long-ago bargain . . . to this wedding, there has never been a risk too great when it came to your happiness.”
Sometimes I thought this was exactly why I’d been so hesitant to want children. Mama Lauren had set such an example of what it meant to be a mother that I wasn’t sure that sort of self-sacrifice was for me—but my bad luck in genetics was good luck on this front. I had a longer life than any human expected to have, and that was only added to by bonding with one of the fae. My longevity was tied to his now, so there was no rush to procreate.
My mother and I talked and finished getting ready in what felt like minutes although it was almost two hours later when we finally walked out of the room and toward the courtyard.
I watched as Allie, Sera, and Christy walked toward Beatrice, who was officiating.
Then, Jesse stepped forward. My “Man of Honor” had chosen to wait at the front with the ring. When I reached him, he would be in place to hold my bouquet of vibrant flowers. My family and my friends were here.
Myreasonwas waiting in front of me. Halfway up the aisle was my groom. My already-husband. My bound-unto-death fae prince. Handsome in every way I could dream—and completely mine.
Eli was everything I never dreamed to find. He’d stitched my stab wounds, created a safe haven for me in his home, and waited while I struggled with fears of commitment. Instead of asking me to be less than what I was, Eli stood at my side in conflict and life.
My mother escorted me toward him, and I could not look away. How had someone so amazing, so gorgeous, so strong slipped into my life and stayed? In a world with so much wrong, how did I get so lucky?
“Breathe in and out, Gen,” Mama Lauren whispered.
“Trying.” I smiled at Eli. “He steals my breath.”
I knew there were guests as well, but in that moment, I couldn’t tell you who or why they were here. All that mattered was my family, my dearest friends, and this man.
My mother and I reached Eli’s side, and she said, “I give my heart into your possession, Eli. Guard her. Love her.”
“I shall,” he promised.
“I trust you.” Mama Lauren stepped away, watching us with a pride that made her glow.
As I placed my hand on Eli’s arm, I was trembling. This was it. The last ceremony. The final exchange of vows.
“Three exchanges,” I whispered, thinking about the rule of three. We were as bonded as any couple could ever be, but instead of finding that frightening, I was elated. This person, inexplicably, was mine to love and cherish until we died together. Our souls, our pulses, our very lifespans were intertwined, and I was so grateful my eyes teared up.
Eli simply smiled as we walked toward Beatrice.
She looked at us, nodded, and said, “The couple would like to say a few words in the presence of witnesses.”
