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“Talia, the sooner you get ready, the sooner we are at the ceremony and the sooner you see Galen.” Valerie’s patience had worn thin and with my eyes back to their normal shade of blue, so had my threat of violence.
“Fine.” I slipped the dress over my head, and swept my hair out of the way for Valerie to fasten the buttons on the back.
She plaited my hair into a loose fishtail braid and wove in fresh sprigs of baby’s breath and lavender.
“There, all done.” She ran her fingers along the crown of my head and smoothed the flyaway strands of hair. “You look beautiful. Fit for a king. Or a god.”
“The only person whose opinion matters to me is Galen.” I growled, hating the thought of him seeing me glammed up for someone other than him.
Valerie draped the mink and rabbit fur cloak over my shoulders, tied the leather cording to secure it around my shoulders and escorted me to the blessing ceremony.
***
THE DEOFOL PACK MEETINGroom had been rearranged to accommodate all of the clans and their members. The furniture was gone. A small wooden altar draped with white and gold linens and fresh greenery took its place. A long gold runner with pillar candles on wrought-iron floor stands lining either side ran down the center of the room, directing me to my destination.
A priestess with a garish wolf headdress stood behind the altar, her arms outstretched as she beckoned me forward.
The cloak dragged the ground, rippling the runner in my wake as I walked down the aisle to the altar. Again, I was struck by the similarities to a wedding ceremony.
Still, it was nothing like I’d imagined my wedding to Galen would be like. And for that I was grateful.
The priestess retrieved a brass triangle from beneath the altar and struck it with the metal stick. A hush fell over the crowd with the first chime.
The ceremony had officially begun.
She opened with a prayer in a language I didn’t understand and proceeded to light incense, wafting the scented smoke as she walked circles around me.
The crowd responded, chanting the closing line of her prayer over and over again until the incense burned away.
My head swam. I felt nauseated and dizzy from watching the priestess rotate around me. A lack of food and water didn’t help my condition either.
To my relief, the ceremony was brief and ended with another prayer to the demon wolf god and triangle chimes.
Bjorn stepped forward, thanking the priestess for preparing me, the demon wolf god’s new bride, for the long awaited union.
Servers carrying trays laden with glasses filled with ale moved through the room.
“Princess Talia has been returned to us and our clans are united once again.” The alpha raised his silver goblet in toast. “Tonight we celebrate.”
The Bone Clan rejoiced, raising their glasses and clashing them together. Music played, alcohol flowed and the pack members danced to the rhythmic beat of the drums.
“This is all for you.” Bjorn the swaying mass of people parted for their alpha, who came to stand at my side. “It has been a long time since we have had a crowned princess among us.”
“What happened to the last one?” I asked, unsure I wanted to know the answer.
I’d foolishly assumed there hadn’t been any other brides apart from the goddess herself.
“The demon wolf goddess killed the last princess to accept her husband’s proposal. He tipped his goblet back, emptied it of ale, and signaled for a refill.” The other women chose consort over the goddess’s wrath.”
“You might have mentioned that.” I turned and glared at Valerie.
“Would it have changed anything if I did?” Valerie tipped her glass in my direction before she raised it to her lips and took a sip.
As much as I hated to admit it, she was right. It wouldn’t have changed a thing. I hadn’t accepted either role, princess or consort. I wasn’t a willing participant in their plans.
All I wanted to do was get through the night and see Galen.
But the alpha of the Deofol pack had other plans.
