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When the chanting dipped to nothing, there was utter silence for a few minutes. There was no birdsong or even a cricket to be heard anywhere within earshot. It was as if the world held its breath.
Eventually, Madison opened her eyes, and her irises flashed violet. She and Tanith looked at one another, then embraced. Fletcher noticed tears streaming down Tanith’s cheeks. He felt incredibly self-conscious to be standing in the center of such a highly charged magical moment. It was like he was somehow intruding on sacred ground.
He wasn’t sure if Madison had felt his discomfort, but she released Tanith and held her hand out to him. He pulled her close so she was tucked protectively under his arm. He understood there was no danger, but he felt better that she was under his protection.
Afterward, everyone, including his enforcer, gathered for lunch at the long table set up on the green. They held hands and blessed the food in the name of the Goddess Ostara. Madison explained to him that Ostara was the goddess of spring.
Fletcher noticed Madison's hand often reaching for the beautiful necklace around her neck. When she touched it, the gemstones lit up and sparkled under her hand. He wondered if it would continue to do so.
It appeared everyone was slightly deferential toward her, holding her somewhat in awe. He was used to deference, of course. He was, after all, the king. But this was different. There was respect in the eyes of the witches who surrounded them. They obviously held her in high esteem, as did he.
In fact, he could not have been prouder of her. Madison was open and friendly to everyone and seemed to have a warm inner glow radiating from her.
The food was excellent. He wondered if it was because they were eating outside in the fresh air that made it taste so good or if the witches had infused it with magic. Either way, it was the most delicious food he had tasted in a long while, even tastier than the meals his chef prepared.
At the end of the meal, Tanith stood. “Sisters and brothers,” she said, holding her arms wide. “It is a great pleasure to have King Fletcher of Willowfrost and his betrothed, Princess Madison of Autumhart, here with us for the celebration of the new flower moon. It is certainly an auspicious start to the season of Ostara.”
There was a light smattering of applause. Tanith waited for it to quiet before continuing. “Our peoples have been united over many generations. It was once a custom for the king to join with the witches to give blessings to our shared lands and people. We would like to invite you, Lord and Lady, to accompany us in welcoming the new moon through our rituals today.” She inclined her head toward Fletcher and Madison.
Madison glanced at Fletcher for confirmation. “Sister, it would be an honor to join you and your coven for the celebration of the flower moon.”
Tanith smiled and nodded just once. After everyone left to gather on the field, she pulled them aside. “I know you have no magic, Fletcher, but would you both consider joining me in the center to give your blessing to the occasion?”
Fletcher felt the rightness of this in his heart. He had not realized that one of the king's historical duties was to join with the witches at the turning of the year, and he was hopeful that this tradition could be reinstated.
“It would be an honor, Tanith,” he replied, reaching out and taking Madison's hand. Together, they walked across the green into the center of the circle in front of the mandala.
“Your job will be to take the bunches of white flowers and lay them around the mandala. You should whisper, ‘May you be full again’ to the moon as you lay them down.”
Fletcher noticed everyone, including Madison, was carrying beautiful bouquets of white flowers. “Should I have brought flowers?” he whispered to Madison. She glanced at his empty hands and offered him half of hers.
He didn’t fully understand the ceremony. There were definitely parts where he just assumed that magic was going on, some sort of communing he had no awareness of. But as they were driven through the inky darkness home that night, he felt far more alive and aware of the forest around him than he ever had before, even as a wolf.
He glanced at Madison in the seat next to him. One of her hands held his, and the other was on the strange necklace that was a gift from her great-great-grandmother. Every now and then, one of the jewels would glow gently under her fingertips.
She had a faraway look in her eyes as she sat there. She was so perfectly beautiful, and Fletcher felt in his heart how lucky he was to have found his true mate.
NINE
MADISON
The drive back home from the celebration was full of happy silence.
Madison loved the whole evening. It touched her that Fletcher had gone to such lengths just to do something that honored her heritage and who she embraced.
It showed that he really saw her and just proved to her that he had been telling her the truth about his feelings all along.
It was scary to be so vulnerable to someone, and she wasn’t sure if she had actually ever done it.
But Fletcher was making it easy for her.
In a way, attending the ceremony and feeling the power of the moon upon her helped Madison realize that he was everything she had ever wanted. And needed.
He was good to her and made her want to embrace herself instead of hiding who she was. That was a powerful thing to do to a woman. It was invigorating.
And now, on the car ride home from a day dedicated to her, Madison vibrated with positive energy, riding on an enlightening high. She wasn’t sure if she had ever felt this good, this connected.
Madison only stayed quiet because her mind was busy realizing all that she should be grateful for instead of scared of. She looked at Fletcher, letting her eyes indulge in her delicious desire.
