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"Just as long as the dress actually covers the parts it's supposed to, I’m game." I grinned. She looked a bit confused at the statement, but never asked me to clarify.
As she began to clean up, my thoughts drifted to Alistair. Ares said he was awake now, but he wasn't talking to anyone. He just sat there in the cell, looking miserable. Part of me wanted to march over and confront him about everything, but part of me also didn't feel ready.
I really wanted to have some of my memories back of what he'd done before I faced him. Ares and I talked about various things that we could try, but most of them would take a great deal of time to procure, like finding his witch friend who was a world traveler and almost impossible to find unless she wanted to find you.
I headed upstairs and was in the process of putting on the beautiful royal blue dress that Ares had bought for me…that did indeed cover all the important parts, when that voice came to my head again.
"I'm beginning to think I just imagined you,"it whispered, so forlorn that it brought tears to my eyes. I pressed on my temple, hating that I was hearing it, but also hating that I couldn't give comfort to whoever’s voice it was.
I'm here,I wanted to scream, but I knew that wouldn’t help. I hadn't said anything to Ares yet, but…I was thinking I would say something soon.
I tried to shake off the pain and the sadness that settled over me every time I heard the voice, and I finished getting ready, twisting my hair into an elegant topknot, stepping into a pair of black heels that complimented the dress perfectly.
I stared at myself in the mirror, admiring the way my eyes seemed to sparkle, and the fact that the shadows underneath them had disappeared. There was a rosiness to my cheeks, and I looked alive…and happy. It was amazing the difference in me after just a week in such a beautiful place. What would it be after a month…after a year?
I quickly shut down those thoughts, because every time I went down that road…I thought of a relationship with Ares…and the idea of that only left me confused.
There was a car waiting for me outside, and I slipped in gratefully, nodding at Armand as we headed to the other side of the town. I would normally have walked, but trying to navigate the cobblestones in these heels would not have been fun. I was glad that Ares had thoughtfully arranged for Armand to drive me, just another example of how he always seemed to be anticipating my needs since I’d been here. Ten minutes later we'd reached the field where the wedding was taking place. There were white wooden chairs set up in neat rows and an archway set up in front of them, covered in vines, autumn leaves, and flowers. There was a garland of the same colors lining the aisle where the bride would walk.
It was an incredibly picturesque venue with the mountain stretched out behind it. I could only imagine how wonderful the pictures were going to be.
Ares had told me that the group for the ceremony was small, but the whole town would be at the reception afterwards to set off the festival. He was standing under the archway talking to Connor, but as if he could sense me, his gaze met mine down the aisle, and the smile he gave me made my heart stutter.
He looked somehow more gorgeous than he did normally, with his hair slicked back and the dark navy blue of his suit matching the blue in his hair and the blue of his eyes.
Ares gave Connor a pat on the shoulder and then immediately came towards me. He pulled me close, his hands grasping my waist. "You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen," he whispered. And I felt a little lightheaded. He made me feel bubbly… free…happy. This was how I envisioned having a mate would be like when I was a little girl. This was how I should have felt with Alistair.
I just fiddled with his collar. "You look pretty sharp yourself," I murmured.
He was staring down at me intensely, as if he was trying to see straight to my soul. "Rune, I —" He was cut off by the start of music playing.
"Let's get you to your seat," he said with a soft smile. I couldn't help but wonder what he'd been about to say.
He sat me down on the second row, something I felt a little awkward about seeing as how I wasn't family, but as he strode back towards his position under the arch, I couldn't help but think that he’d given me a really good view.
A couple of minutes later, the wedding march started. We all stood as the bride walked down the aisle, arm in arm with a beaming Connor.
For some reason I turned to glance at Ares, even as the bride came towards the arch. And I realized he was staring at me as well. We held each other's gaze the entire time, and I couldn't keep out of my head visions of myself walking towards him like that.
By the look in his eyes, he was having the exact same thoughts.
Danger. Danger. Danger.Abort mission, a voice inside me screamed, but it almost felt like it was too late, like somehow I’d already stepped over the line, right into the dangerous territory.
Connor and Kelly reached the arch, and I watched as the groom and Connor gave each other a hug before he excitedly took his bride's hand. Connor joined his wife in front of me.
Ares was a wonderful officiant. Funny at times, and then so romantic that I swore every woman gave an audible gasp. When the wedding was done, and the bride and groom were kissing and then running back down the aisle, they looked like it truly was the best day of their life.
Ares came and got me.
"Ready to start the festival?" he asked.
"You know you were pretty amazing up there."
He flushed, staring down at his feet. "I've done some of those before, but this was definitely the best one yet. It's helpful when you actually have an idea of what the young couple are feeling.”
My lips parted and I knew if anyone was staring at me, they would have thought we were in love. But I couldn'tnotlook at him like that. Ares squeezed my hand, and together we walked to the large town hall where they held the gathering.
I changed in the bathroom into a pair of pants and a long sleeve blouse, and then joined Ares who’d also changed into a pair of dark jeans and a black V-neck that accentuated every one of his muscles.
