“I’m not dying, Mom. This isn’t a funeral,” I tease lightly, and she gives my arm a gentle slap.
“You are my only child, and I wouldn’t wish this fate on my worst enemy. That girl is poison, and I know what courses through her blood,” she insists. Anger flares within me—I hate hearing her talk about Lyra like this—but now isn’t the time for that fight. We’ve had too many already. Instead, I sigh, exasperated.
“Is there nothing I can do to change your mind?” she asks, desperation edging into her voice.
“Mother, I love her. She completes me, and my soul would be lost without her. Please, let me go through with the bonding ceremony with the woman I love. My destiny is mine to embrace, and I am happy. Be happy for me,” I plead. Her eyes soften briefly, and she nods, gripping my arms tightly.
“I’ll be in the front row,” she promises, and before she can get more emotional, she releases me and hurries back down the hallway toward the terrace doors.
I wait a moment, letting some distance grow between us before making my way to the terrace. As soon as the double doors open, the scent of flowers mixed with the sea overwhelms my senses. So many flowers. Flora hands me a glass of water while she’s standing with Twig, greeting guests. I take it and thank her. Rix and Rune hover behind them with a few of their family members. I wave and move to the stage.
Little groups are mingling all around. Some people have already taken their seats while others are sipping drinks and chatting. I spot my father with a couple of his friends. Even though things have been strained between us ever since I found out he’s not my biological father, I’m still glad he’s here. He doesn’t approve of me being with Lyra either, but at least he’s not as vocal about it as my mother. I walk over and shake his hand then continue greeting friends and family along the way.
I see Drew standing on the stage, her back to me as she leans over the railing, peering out at the ocean. Hollie is here too, and she’s brought a couple of her friends. Lyra will be ecstatic to see more Pixies, I’m sure. I shake hands with a few more people and finally make it onto the stage.
“You ready for this?” Drew says without looking back.
I lean against the railing, angling my body toward her. “You have no idea,” I chuckle, brushing the hair out of my face as the breeze picks up.
She turns to face me, her hip propped against the railing. “I bet you didn’t think it would turn out like this when I asked you to come train Lyra in my realm,” Drew says with a slight smile, one of her fangs catching the sunlight.
She had asked me to help Lyra with her Fae magic after Nyx had fucked everything up. It feels like a lifetime ago now and yet also not so long at the same time.
“Honestly? I thought you wanted an excuse to see me more often,” I say with a wink. We both laugh, the sound mingling with the distant crash of the waves below.
“Will our dear King Onyx be in attendance today?” Drew asks, her tone light but her eyes sharp as she glances from me then back out to the horizon.
“Oh, he’s here alright. He’s with Lyra right now. Honestly, I wouldn’t put it past him to be trying to talk her out of the ceremony. If she weren’t so godsdamn powerful, I’d worry he’d try to capture her and hide her away just to stop this wedding,” I say, half-joking but fully aware there’s some truth to my words.
“You two have more in common than you realize. It’s a wonder no one figured out you were half-brothers sooner,” Drew remarks, a hint of amusement in her voice.
I shake my head, laughing. “Hey, I might be tolerating him lately, but that doesn’t mean we have anything in common.”
“Sure, you sacrificed your life to save his becauseyou ‘tolerate’ him,” Drew says, narrowing her eyes at me. I push off the railing, not wanting to admit I might have a small soft spot for him.
“There are a lot more people here than I anticipated,” I say, shifting the focus as I look out at the crowd. More and more people are starting to take their seats.
“Don’t pretend you’re getting stage fright. We all know you love the attention,” Drew teases, moving to stand at the center of the stage.
Flora makes an announcement, and everyone finds their places, ready for the ceremony to begin. I scan the crowd and spot my mother and father, seated as promised in the front row. Lili and Hollie have also secured spots up front.
I glance around, searching for Nyx, but he’s nowhere to be seen. He never said if he was staying for the entire ceremony or not. I can’t really blame him if it’s hard for him to see.
A low hum of music begins to play on the wind, an ethereal melody that seems to come from the very air itself. The guests rise, a sea of anticipation, and then the double doors open. Lyra steps out, and I swear my heart stops in my chest.
Everything I thought I knew vanishes, and all I can do is drink in the sight of her. She is indescribably beautiful, and she’s mine.
All mine.
Chepi hovers beside her, flying at shoulder height, a small white bow tied around his neck. Even he seems to understand the gravity of this moment.
Her dress sparkles and shifts, the shadows intertwining with the lace details like living fabric. It moves as if it’s part of her, responding to her every breath. As she walks down the aisle, the path lights up, each candle bursting to life.
I know there’s music playing, but I can’t hear it over the pounding of my heart. My mindis filled with nothing but her. Her eyes scan the crowd before locking onto mine, and they stay there, pulling me into her. Her hair catches the sunlight, sparkling almost as much as her dress.
I feel an overwhelming urge to go to her, to meet her halfway and claim her before everyone, to show them all that she belongs to me. She is striking, a vision of power and grace. I open the tether between us, reaching out to feel her presence, but her shields are up. Maybe she doesn’t want me to feel her nerves.
Finally, she reaches the stairs leading to the stage. I step forward, extending my hand to her. The moment she takes it, the world narrows to the two of us. The magical connection between us ignites, and I feel her essence, her love, her power.
