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Letting out a breath, Orion tore his eyes away from the doors to appreciate the work that had gone into transforming the ship's dining room into a grand banquet hall for the wedding.
The tables were draped in white tablecloths, and a golden fabric runner bisected each. The chairs were also draped in white and adorned with golden sashes tied in the back in large bows. Tall golden candelabras with dozens of candles were placed on each table, and between them were arrangements of flowers, their fragrance wafting through the air and creating a pleasant blend of fresh scents.
Through the tall windows, the vast expanse of the ocean stretched in every direction, the gentle waves casting shimmering reflections of the moon in a cloudless sky.
It reminded Orion of the centuries he'd spent alone, thinking that he was the only immortal on Earth, a freak of nature who couldn't age or die from injuries that killed other men.
He'd been adrift in the ocean of life.
The Fates had guided him to the clan and to Alena, his one and only, the light of his life, the mother of his unborn child, his everything.
As a soft melody started playing, signaling the start of the ceremony, a hush fell over the gathering, and all eyes turned to the double doors of the hall.
Two Guardians dressed in fine tuxedos opened the doors, and in walked Alena's bridesmaids. Their dresses were different yet somehow coordinated, but Orion didn't pay them any attention.
His heart thundered in his chest as he waited for his bride to appear. There she was—his Alena, effortlessly striking in her simple loose gown and her pale blond hair flowing freely down her back in soft waves.
Orion smiled, his heart swelling with love and gratitude to the Fates for granting him this incredible boon.
His stunning bride hadn't let her sisters paint her face or style her hair in an elaborate coif. Other than the shimmering fabric of her dress and the jewelry she had donned, all gifted to her by him, she hadn't done anything special for her wedding. She looked the same as she did every day, and she was perfect.
Alena smiled back, but then her gaze shifted to the guests she was passing by. She smiled and nodded at her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, reminding him that she was the de facto Mother of the Clan.
And yet, she had chosen him, a young immortal only five centuries old. How had he gotten so lucky?
Why had the Fates chosen him for Alena?
Was he worthy of her?
His father's hand on his shoulder fortified Orion's confidence. He was, after all, a demigod, and so was she. Perhaps they were better matched than his momentary panic had him believe.
As she turned her eyes back to him, so full of love and adoration, the last vestiges of his doubt evaporated, and Orion squared his shoulders.
He might not be worthy of Alena now, but they had eternity before them, and he would dedicate his life to her. They might not have another dozen children together, and the clan she had created would always outnumber their new family, but that was okay. His goal was not to father a new clan.
All he wanted was to make her happy and raise the child she was carrying together. If the Fates granted them more children, he would be overjoyed. Still, he was perfectly satisfied with what he already had.
Alena
The rhythmic pulse of the ship was a backdrop to the anticipation that filled the air, or maybe just Alena's lungs. She hadn't expected to be so excited, so breathless.
The wedding had been postponed many times, and she would have been delighted with leaving things the way they were or just having a small ceremony in the village square.
After all, a clan wedding had no official significance. It was merely a celebration of her union with Orion. In her mind, weddings were needed only for arranged marriages because they provided a binding legal agreement between the parties. But she and Orion were truelove mates, which was as binding as it got.
Still, butterflies fluttered their wings in her stomach, or maybe it was the life growing in her womb.
"Breathe," Amanda whispered in Alena's left ear.
On her right, Syssi reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Just look straight at Orion when you enter the dining hall."
Nodding, she forced a breath into her lungs.
Why was she so anxious?
The excitement hadn't hit her until two days ago when it had become clear that it was happening and there would be no more delays.
It would have been less unnerving if she had followed Syssi's example and entered the room holding hands with her groom instead of doing it the more traditional way and having him wait for her.
