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The throne room doors opened with a boom. The people rose to their feet. Killian stopped breathing.
The aunties entered first. Auntie Mo threw flowers with assertive force and bustled down the aisle. Auntie Toru followed, blindly throwing flowers as she wept, loudly. Her high-pitched wailing could be heard even above the music. Auntie Shou came last, her face beaming in her toothless turtle way. She had lined her hair with daisies, aspen twigs, and a live robin which fluttered each time Auntie Shou took a step. She tossed the flowers in the air and pranced down the aisle merrily.
The elk followed, his antlers decorated with wreaths and flowers. A shuffling of murmurs rose from the crowd as the bear cubs entered with their mother and sauntered down the aisle. Though his people had been warned, Killian still smiled at their clear desire to run from the creatures. The aunties and the ancients took their places—the aunties on the side of the bride, with the elk and the bears, while Jax and Phineas stood beside him.
The music hushed, and the crowd turned. When the doors opened again, his bride stood before them.
All the light in the room seemed dim when compared to her radiance. No beauty had existed before she arrived. Her white gown shimmered as if made of a thousand pearls. Delicate floral gems glittered down her bare shoulders. Her eyes drifted up from her bouquet to meet his.
She smiled. The wind swirled hot around his collar, and the rest of the room disappeared.
The few moments between them dragged to eons until she was finally standing before him. Her bright face so close. Her gaze enraptured with his own features.
As he took her hands, she blushed, and the room surged with brilliant sunlight. He knew his father was saying words beside him, but all he heard was Raela’s breathy giggle, and all he knew was that within moments, he would be hers, and she would be his.
She squeezed his hands and gave him a wink, and Killian realized it was his turn to speak. He spoke in L’Turetian, since these ancient vows were only for her. Auntie Shou translated for the people.
“Raelametanashi, I give you my heart, mind, body, and soul. I will honor you and treasure you forevermore. I will know you as the stone knows the stream and the willow knows the sun. I will love you as the earth loves the sky and the day loves the night. The seasons will grow us and change us, and I will be your constant companion. I will protect you and defend you. I will correct you and forgive you. And I will forever remain softened toward you, as you are my one true love. Today and tomorrow, I choose you. This I vow.”
Raela swiped a tear from her cheek, as Auntie Toru blew her nose like a horn into a handkerchief, causing Raela to giggle again.
Raela’s voice was thick as it replied in her favorite tongue, the sounds like music and magic all their own. “Killian, I give you my heart, mind, body, and soul. I will honor you and respect you forevermore. I will know you as the seed knows the earth and the leaf knows the wind. I will love you as the flowers love the rain and the sea loves the moon. The seasons will grow us and change us, and I will be your constant companion. I will protect you and defend you. I will correct you and forgive you. And I will forever remain softened toward you, as you are my one true love. Today and tomorrow, I choose you. This I vow.” She was whispering by the end, tears running down her face.
Killian reached over and wiped them from her cheek. She turned into his hand, pressing her cheek into his palm and he was undone. His heart was brimming with affection and joy, with warmth and with hope. A day he had dreaded his entire life was now the happiest day of his life.
In Common, they repeated after his father. “United together, we vow to uphold the value and honor of the people and ancients within our kingdoms. We vow our humble service to each other and to our people. Through our marriage, we vow to always act in the best interests of our united kingdom. Two people become one household. Two nations become one kingdom. We pledge ourselves to all as servant leaders. We vow our lives to this holy calling.” The service continued, but Killian didn’t hear the words. He only had eyes for his bride.
His father and her parents now stood beside them and, together, bound a long silken cloth around his and Raela’s hands. They spoke in unison. “We vow to support you, guide you, correct you, and love you. May you grow in character and affection as you serve one another and the kingdom.”
King Harolt announced, “It is our pleasure to present to you, Prince Killian and Princess Raelametanashi, now joined forever in love. Do you vow to support their marriage? Do you subject yourself to their leadership? Do you uphold the values and laws of our united kingdom, henceforth no longer Walworth and Norwood, but now the sovereign kingdom of Norworth?”
The people replied in one voice. “We do.”
“Then I pronounce you husband and wife, king and queen of Norworth!”
The crowd cheered as the music started again, and Killian and Raela led the way through the castle, toward the feast in the forbidden forest meadow.
In the hall, Raela pressed into Killian’s side, nudging him toward an open door, forgetting—perhaps deliberately—decorum and royal expectations. Killian looked behind him to be sure no one was watching too closely, before ducking into the small library. Pulling the door shut, he captured her face in his hands.
“Raela, I love you.”
Her eyes glittered as the room lit up, glowing with her affection and certainly exposing their location to anyone paying attention. “I love you too.”
He captured her stunning lips in a heated kiss and pressed her back against the side of the bookshelves. She snorted as she stumbled a bit, stepping on the train of her lovely dress. “This dress is not made for backward.” She giggled, as she swept it out from behind her.
Her eyes found his as she straightened. Her palms pressed against his chest. Tilting her chin up, her words breathed against his lips. “More kissing, please.”
Wrapping her closer, careful not to disturb her hair or step on the dress now beside him, Killian leaned over her, hovering a heartbeat away.
He smiled broadly. “As the lady wishes.”
Chapter 27
The Winter Prince by Constance Lopez
Next inOnce Upon A Prince:
Available December 15, 2023
