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When we reach the hallway of the highest floor, my mother stops, turning to me and gently brushing down the front of my dress. The delicate fabric falls from my waist in a rush of fabric, where it brushes the floor. I can just see the tips of my mother’s golden shoes underneath the hem of the dress.
“You’ve grown up so quickly.” The words escape her in a whisper, along with tears. I can’t stop myself from crying either. “Thank you for taking such good care of us.” I nod, unable to do much more as she leans forward and brushes a kiss against my cheek.
Taking James’s hand and allowing my mother to steer me forward by the elbow, we walk down the hallway and through the double doors that lead to the library.
The air is fragrant with bunches of flowers that stand on every flat surface in the library.
Carmichael and the two elves he trusts most stand, waiting for us. My mate is standing with his back erect, his head proud, as always, and he looks breathtaking. He is wearing his traditional Orthani elf attire. When he sees me, a small smile crosses his face. Then it settles into its usual stoicism.
The elves that flank him do not look very happy to be there as Carmichael steps aside, revealing a shorter elf, who looks disgruntled to see me. The elf is clearly not of the Khuzuth caste.
“We do not have much time.” The elf grumbles. My mother pushes me forward to stand next to Carmichael. He quickly takes my hand in his. “After noon, your King can interfere in this wedding, and it will be all our heads once he finds out about this.”
“Who knew I would be presiding over the wedding of an esteemed Elf and a human.” The old elf falls silent as Carmichael clears his throat, glaring at him. I lean slightly against my mate, softening against him, inhaling his scent, looking at the exquisite flowers that he has arranged everywhere in the room.
The short, older elf starts speaking then.
“We are here today to witness the union of the Duke Carmichael, and the Diane Blaze. The union of eternal mates is a sacred meeting of souls and hearts and for all elves, finding and uniting with their mate only happens once.”
Carmichael shifts slightly and now we are leaning into each other as the elf keeps talking. He goes through the history of the elves, the history of Carmichael’s people, and the history of powerful mates.
I almost blink when he reaches the end of his speech, and I straighten up as he looks up at me severely through wire-rimmed glasses.
“Duke Carmichael and Ms. Blaze, it is time for your vows.”
Carmichael and I turned to one another. We had both prepared our vows together, save for the last line, which we had each kept secret from one another.
Carmichael starts.
“I, Duke Carmichael, take thee, Diane Blaze, to be my partner in life. As my mate, you are my blessing, and with these vows I promise to return the blessing one-hundred-fold. I vow to hold your hand as we start this journey. I have loved, currently love, and will love you for who you are.” He took a deep breath before the last sentence.
“And I promise to be by your side for now and all eternity.”
A flash of sunlight passes through the library, as if to confirm Carmichael’s vows.
“I, Diane Blaze, take thee,” I began my vows. As I begin speaking, I feel the rest of the world slip away. Including the past.
The past where I had struggled. Before meeting Carmichael.
“I take thee, Duke Carmichael, to be my partner in life. As my mate, you are my blessing, and with these vows, I promise to return the blessing one-hundred-fold. I vow to hold your hand as we start this journey. I have loved, currently love, and will love you for who you are.”
“Thank you,” my voice wobbles as I speak the last, secret, sentence of my vows. “For saving me.”
23
CARMICHAEL
Butler swings the doors to the dining room wide. I look back to Diane, and my breath catches in my throat as her face fills with awe. Her eyes shine with wonder and glitter in the room’s dim lighting. The table is filled with food the likes she and her family have not seen before. I want to show her that she’ll never go hungry again.
Inwardly, my heart warms in my chest. I so want to make her happy. I want her to understand that although she came here in servitude, this house is as much hers as it is mine.
Elves do not take mating lightly.
Although I don’t quite understand what that will mean for us, I can start by sharing everything I have.
James shouts and whoops into the air, “This is amazing!” He runs to the table and down the length of it to see the food up close. He doesn’t touch it yet, although I can see his fingers twitching. A laugh rumbles from deep inside me and bursts out of my throat at the thought.
My two old friends jump at the noise. Shock riddles their face, but I can see that neither is angry with my laughter. I even scare myself.
