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I hesitated, wondering what to tell her. Finally, I said, “I have no idea where he is.” Which was the truth. I hated having to lie by omission, but we were wading into a tricky creek right now. “All I know is my wedding’s been ruined by a man I sincerely wish was dead. You will charge him with trying to murder me, won’t you?”
Millie reached out to pat my arm. “Don’t worry, we will. And since there are so many witnesses, I guarantee he won’t be able to get away from this one.”
* * *
After that,it was obvious that we couldn’t continue the ceremony. Not yet—I had no desire to attach our wedding vows to events where I’d almost been killed. We opened up the reception, though, given we’d lose the money and the space if we didn’t. The members of the Royal Order of the Wand and Sword would be here soon enough, anyway.
London Mulberry, who owned the venue and land, offered to let us plan another date for half price, but as I talked to Killian, Rowan came up with a better idea. We had the hall and gazebo until midnight.
“Enjoy the food. We’ll cut the cake because we can’t eat the entire thing by ourselves, and by tomorrow morning, we’ll be husband and wife,” Killian announced. “We’re doing things out of order tonight.”
Killian’s parents took over playing host for us. Most of the guests stayed, though a few had been so traumatized they went home. As the music began and people began to dance, the wedding party retired to the planning room to assess the damage. I was worried that my dress might have ripped, but Ari and Meagan checked me over. I pulled off my gloves.
“Amazing. Your dress is fine. You have a scrape on the back of your arm, and bruises from Ellison grabbing your wrist, though.” Ari fetched the first-aid kit and began to dress the scrape.
“Unfortunately, my tux is ruined. I shifted while I was in it, and the seams blew out in several places.” Killian was wearing a dressing gown, courtesy of London Mulberry. “I doubt if I can get another by tonight.”
“Not so fast,” Rowan said. She turned to Tarvish. “Go to their house and find him something nice to wear. It doesn’t have to be a tuxedo. Killian has several suits that will work, I believe.”
“Will do,” Tarvish said. Rowan handed him her key to our house. “I’ll check on the cats, too, while I’m there.” He headed out.
“Do you mind if I’m not in a tux?” Killian asked me.
“I’d marry you if you were bare-assed nekkid,” I said. “But that might be cold. Meanwhile, put on your clothes that you wore until you got here. That’s fine for the reception. Nobody’s going to complain.” I stared in the mirror. “I can’t believe this happened.”
Tad and Hank brought in plates of food to us. “Come join the party. Everyone’s worried about you.”
“Yeah, I know. We were all going to go to the Winter Solstice Ball that the Royal Order of the Wand and Sword is throwing tonight, but I don’t feel like it,” I said. “I’m doing my best to keep the stress of today from throwing me into a migraine.”
Killian finished dressing in his torn tux and we headed out into the crowd, which had now been thoroughly searched to make sure there weren’t any other surprise guests. As we danced and ate, we tried to avoid all the talk about Ellison and my near demise as the afternoon passed into evening.
* * *
The snow was falling heavilyby the time we got home. But I didn’t mind, and neither did Killian. Rowan led us out into the yard behind our house. Without the fence, it was huge, and so we went to the central point, trudging through the snow. Tarvish and Hank carried over a couple benches from Killian’s yard, setting them up, and then they brought out a folding table and Rowan re-did the altar. Killian was wearing a suit, and I was still in my wedding dress. Caitlin, Ari, and Meagan had added long cloaks to their outfits. I had switched out my velvet capelet for my long black cape that went with my coven regalia. As the flakes grew larger, muffling the sound around us, Killian and I took our places in front of the altar.
Caitlin, Tad, Hank, Tarvish, Ari, Wren, and Teran sat on one of the long benches. Killian’s mother and father, as well as Tally and her husband, Les, and Killian’s brother, Daryl, sat on the other bench. Ari manned the speaker that was playing the playlist on her phone. We dispensed with any walking down the aisle, given how successful that had been the first time.
When we were in place, Rowan held out her dagger and began walking the circle thrice as she cast it in the name of the Maiden and the Young Lord, the Earth Mother and the Antlered Lord, and finally, the Sky Father and the Ancient Crone. As the magic settled in, creating a sphere of protection that extended out to include both houses and yards, a calm settled over us, silencing the outer world.
Rowan motioned for us to hold out our hands—my right hand clasped Killian’s left. She wrapped the handfasting cord around our wrists, binding us together.
“We are here, between cosmos and earth, between the worlds, under the sight of the gods. Druantia, Mother of the Woodlands, Goddess of the Groves, She who rules over birdsong and the white bull, She who provides the muse for poets and healers, be with us now. Protect all within this circle, all who walk upon this land. Watch over your Priestess, January, as she binds her life with that of her beloved, Killian.”
I sucked in a deep breath, reveling in the chill that filled my lungs. This was right. This was so much better than if we had done this at Clydesdale Mansion. We were here, under the stars, under the gods, souls and bodies open to the night when magic ruled at its strongest.
Rowan continued. “Listen now to the Troth of Nine. These are oaths you will live by as long as you continue your lives together. Listen now and hold your answer till I am done.” She held out a piece of paper, illuminated by a clip-on light, and read aloud:
Listen now to the words of the troth to which you both agreed to bind your lives together. This is the pledge of truth. Listen well, for in your listening so do you make oath.
First: To love deeply, on a basis beyond superficiality, and to commit yourselves to each other, your children of heart—be they fur and clawed, or human, and to those you hold faith with.
Second: To have the courage to stand for what you know you must, and to stand up for each other when the occasion arises.
Third: To be honest to yourselves, to each other and to forsake hypocrisy.
Fourth: To be faithful to each other, to your pledged gods and beliefs, and to those you call family.
Fifth: To have patience, to master your talents and to support each other in your will to create and learn.
