Chapter Fifty
Asher
“ O uch,” I hissed out, cringing each time Noe pulled at my hair. As she had the last three times I complained, the Moon shushed me with a smack to my head.
“Be still and stop whining!”
“You know, we have a saying in my world. Beauty is pain,” Stassi added from her spot on the bed. Groaning, I peered at her through the mirror in front of me. She was laying down with her legs against the headboard, snacking on chocolate-covered strawberries and powdered pastries that were meant to be my panic food.
“Why are you here?” I asked, grinding my teeth. Stassi tilted her head back, arching her body until she was looking at me through upside down eyes.
“I heard almost everyone interesting was coming here and figured my invite got lost in the mail.”
Eternity above, this female was a pest. Not that I was too proud to admit it sounded like something I would do too.
“Of course you would assume that.” I practically sighed out the words, almost wiping my sweaty hands on the skirts of what Noe called my pre-dress . It was a short, thin dress made of white silk with no straps, which proved to be an annoying thing as my breasts seemed to seek freedom at every possible moment. “As someone who has the same tendency to be a bitch, I must warn you that many will start to find you annoying.”
Stassi let out a loud scoff before flipping onto her stomach and then pushing herself up onto her knees. A single finger with a long nail painted a deep shade of pink pointed my way through the mirror.
“You better take that back. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you invited the babbling one who acts like Bellamy is a god and the freak who told me to kill myself yesterday!” My eyes flicked towards where Ray and Lara sat huddled together, their own gazes now on Stassi. Ray was slowly shrinking into herself, which left Lara glaring at Stassi.
“I will hang you myself if you insult Ray again,” Lara seethed. Stassi raised a single pink brow, a small smirk lifting her left cheek.
“No murder on the day of the wedding, you brutes!” Noe screeched, pulling even tighter on my hair. She was breathing heavily, the stress of planning the wedding clearly getting to her. No one had asked her to do it, but she had eagerly offered. I wondered then if she regretted it. Sighing, she leaned her face closer to mine and whispered, “Winona would have been better at this.”
My eyes closed, heart hammering at the thought of Winona doing my hair today. Her delicate hands and soft humming would have been so wonderful to have. Clearing my throat, I blinked a few times and looked up at Noe through the mirror.
“It looks lovely, Noe. Honestly, you have planned the most spectacular wedding Alemthian has ever seen. You are spectacular.” She smiled at that, straightening her back and making quick work of braiding and twirling the rest of my hair.
We had decided on securing all of it up, leaving my ears on full display and showing off the back of the dress. Just as she finished and began weaving pearls through it, Lian dragged a chair to my side and plopped down into it. She had been angry and on edge since returning from Captain Perdita’s ship the other day, but I felt her joy emanating from her at that moment.
“Time for your face,” she trilled, gathering supplies from the vanity in front of us.
“I will help!” Nicola eagerly offered, a wide smile on her face. She quickly dashed to Lian’s side, ready to be of service.
“You better use a lot, we all know she is hideous to look at without it. Wouldn’t want the prince to flee at the sight of her walking down the aisle,” Stassi chimed in. Rage clouded my mind, my vision going red.
“That is it!” I screamed, pushing up to a standing position and charging towards the high demon.
“Your hair!” Noe shouted as she chased me, the others breaking into laughter while Stassi screamed.
It took another two hours to redo my hair and fix my makeup. Noe had smacked me in the head for daring to ruin her masterpiece and Lian threatened to make me look like a youngling who had gotten into cosmetics if I did not sit still. Nicola had just whispered in my ear that Stassi deserved it. Eventually I was done, and it was time for the dress.
Not even Stassi had anything negative to say as Noe grabbed it from the spot where it hung in the bathing room and showed us all. It was the most stunning creation, simple and elegant and so perfect for me.
Noe had mentioned that she and Pino had begun designing it together during our trip throughout Eoforhild. They had been relaying messages with thoughts, ideas, and sketches without me even noticing. And what they had crafted was immaculate.
Nicola helped me step inside of it, tugging it up my bare body and sliding my arms into the straps. Once she was done, she guided me to the full-length mirror, now free of any cracks. I recalled standing in this very spot during my birthday, Bellamy at my back as he described the dress he had made and what it meant. Back then, I never truly dreamed of getting to this point.
So I basked in the image of myself, smiling broadly at what I saw. The dress cascaded down, loosely molded to my body. The fabric pooled at my feet and stretched out behind me, trailing like silk sands following the tide. The silk stopped just above my breasts, leaving everything to the imagination and offering a perfect view of my necklace. The sleeves were more like thick, sheer straps that sparkled against the light and hung limply on my bicep. The best part by far was the back. I turned to get a glimpse, loving how tightly it clung to my backside and looking in awe at the soft silk buttons that traveled the length of my spine. Unlike the front, the back was made with sheer material that stopped right at my hips, the silk merging with it on my sides and at the bottom of my spine in waves.
Lian had given me a small flick of kohl on the corners of my eyes and some rouge on my cheeks, letting my bold red lips that Nicola had chosen steal the show. And there, dancing across my skin, were my scars. Shah had done an impeccable job, and Ranbir had kindly offered to help the healing process. They stood out in shining contrast to my dark skin, a beacon of hope.
Finally, after two centuries, I was whole.
Well, almost. My other half was waiting.
With one final smile at myself, I tried to find the words that conveyed how I felt about what was reflected in the mirror.
“I look…”
“You look—”
“Perfect,” Stassi said, finishing Nicola’s and I’s sentences. I raised a brow at her comment, but we all knew it was true. The three of them had turned me into a bride. No. A queen.
“Thank you,” I responded, trying not to say anything rude in response. I was a queen now, I was beyond insults.
“Much better than you normally look,” Stassi added with a shrug. “Like a wretched little beast.”
“You bitch!” I shouted, turning to face her. Okay, fine, I was not beyond insults. Nicola and Lian grabbed my arms, holding me back.
“If you ruin our hard work, I will literally beat your ass,” Noe seethed.
“And you, shut the fuck up and get out,” Lian added, glaring daggers at Stassi.
In response, the high demon just smirked, got up, and practically skipped towards the door. “I am sure Sterling will keep me far more entertained anyways.”
“I will kill you!” I raged, unable to stop myself from grabbing a vile of fragrance and chucking it at her. She dodged it, throwing her head back in laughter. We had found a middle ground, understanding each other better and somewhat bonding over our mutual adoration for Sterling. But that did not mean I was okay with her fucking him just to eventually leave him. They would not—c ould not —work long-term. Heartbreak was not something he needed.
Stassi waved, each of her fingers dropping at different times like the cresting of the sea. Then she opened the door and closed it behind her.
“Most of the time I hate her,” I said, crossing my arms.
“You, Bellamy, Genevieve, and the entire world—save Sterling—would agree,” Lian scoffed, smoothing out my dress. “Ray, you and Lara should go too. It is time.”
The two females immediately got up, Ray smiling widely my way. “Good luck Queen A—I mean Princess—I mean Ash—I mean—”
“Thank you, Ray,” I said, chuckling softly. Ray’s cheeks heated, her face almost twin to Cyprus’. The siblings were so different at their cores despite being so similar in looks. Ray stumbled over her feet, waving goodbye and dragging Lara behind her.
“I hope you do not fall down the stairs in your large heels and die,” Lara added as they departed through the door, closing it behind them. I snorted, turning to face Noe.
“I think that is the nicest thing Bubbles has ever said to me.”
“I would wager it is the nicest thing she has said to anyone other than Ray. Not wishing you death is practically a blessing from her,” Noe agreed, nudging me. “She is right though, we will wait until Lian, Nicola, and I get our dresses on and are fully ready before putting those monstrous heels on you.”
With that, the three of them quickly slipped into their dresses, the sage green silk making me smile. From there, I helped them each do their hair and put on their cosmetics, Lian deeming my kohl skills abysmal. And then it was time to put on the wretched heels. Noe had let me know that I would only wear them for the ceremony. Then I would change into my final outfit which involved the most perfect pair of slippers.
Noe leaned down, grabbing my long, sheer veil and holding it up as if to place it on my head. At the last second, I lifted a hand, stilling her. My mind wandered to the time in front of the castle in The Royal City when Bellamy had told me not to hide or cower. Back then, he had promised me that the world would fall to their knees before me if only I let them.
“No veil. I think I am ready to show the world who I truly am,” I spoke wistfully. Noe’s small smile was paired with a nod as she set the veil back down. Pride coated the air, whose I was not sure. It seemed everyone in the area was overwhelmed with emotions, their feelings shaking my mental gates like they might break through them.
In the haze, I heard Padon call out, his voice distant in my mind. I closed my gates tighter, shortening the chain that held the lock. He would not ruin this day for me.
“Last thing,” Noe said as she grabbed each of our bouquets of flowers. I smiled widely, almost sinisterly, at the sight of them, my mind thinking about what lined the aisle outside.
“Only you would choose murderous flowers as décor,” Lian said, catching my expression. I laughed, picturing how appalled Noe had been when I told her I wanted lavender and belladonna to decorate the training area of Pike that would double as our wedding venue. Only I knew that it was a little “fuck you” to Mia. Well, me and Bellamy. I did not keep anything from him anymore. “Thank you for changing your mind about our bouquets, at least.”
Nicola nodded, shaking her small gathering of vanilla, salvia splendens, and baby’s breath at my face. The four of us laughed, taking a few moments to gather ourselves.
Farai silenced our fading laughter, bursting through the door dressed smartly in black trousers and a sage green button-up shirt. “Okay, Ash baby, are you ready to make the most incredible entrance since that one time I walked into a ball wearing all black when Mia had specifically said we were all to wear cream?”
“Oh yes, the very one that you were kicked out of and forced to change for,” Jasper said as he came in behind him, lightly closing the door. His outfit was an exact replica, their black shoes clicking as they walked across the wood floors to me.
“Ready as I will ever be,” I sighed, letting them each take one of my arms and gripping my bouquet tightly in my hands.
“Cold feet?” Farai asked from my right. Jasper pushed himself farther into me on my left, always quick to offer physical affection.
“Sorry, Ash, I cannot let you run. I feel like my loyalty to Bellamy has to mean something every once in a while,” Noe said quickly before pushing Lian and Nicola. The three females gathered in a line ahead of us, Nicola directly in front of me.
“I have seen the future, she walks down the aisle,” she teased, smiling at us over her shoulder and winking.
“Ugh, I am not getting cold feet! Can we go now before I start wiping my gross sweaty hands on the dress?” I begged.
The five of them nodded, all of us getting closer as Noe called to her shadows. We appeared just before the entrance to Pike, completely circumventing the possibility of me tripping and dying. Lara would be so happy. Or disappointed.
Lian reached up and knocked three times on the doors, music quickly following. It was a soft tune, beautiful and optimistic as it rang out through the open area of Pike. With a deep breath, I nodded at the five of them as they stared at me in wait.
“Ready.”
“Showtime!” Noe practically sang. Lian pushed open the large wooden doors, revealing the most stunning sight.
Noe had decorated the area perfectly. A small aisle was marked with a silver carpet, red rose petals running down the length of it. My flower choice littered the area, guests looking down at them in unease that made me giggle. The chairs were all white, green garland wrapped with sky-blue tinsel woven around them. Demon light glittered in the air, bright against the pink and purple sky and the fading orange sun. At the very end of the aisle was a large arch that was made of the same greenery as the garlands, also wrapped in sparkling blue.
Just before our friends were the paintings Bellamy had been working on. Perfect depictions of Luca’s blonde hair and blue eyes, Winona’s dashing smile and expertly styled green locks, Pino’s knowing eyes and soft wrinkles, and even Wrath’s wicked smirk were placed at the edges of the small raised altar. And, somehow without me knowing, Bellamy had added a painting of what had to have been Zaib. Her flowing dark brown curls were darker than mine and her eyes were practically black, but her heart-shaped face and sharp cheekbones were twin to mine. My mother. The one I never knew but who risked everything for me. She was here with us.
Adbeel stood just beyond the paintings, his black trousers and silk white top paired with his daunting black crown marking him as both a fierce and loving king. He smiled so broadly that I could do nothing but smile back as Lian began her slow walk down the aisle. Noe followed her, slyly raising her middle finger to Damon, who fanned himself from his spot behind Ranbir as Cyprus nudged at his back with a wink. Henry chuckled in front of the Healer, the four of them matching Farai and Jasper. And then, as Nicola started her walk, Henry nudged the male in front of him, drawing my attention to the one I had been saving for last.
He was dressed in all black, the crisp trousers at odd with his—only slightly open—loose shirt. He wore no chains around his neck, nor did he sport any rings on his fingers, but the lashes below his bright blue eyes were lined with black, and his dark waves were perfectly mussed. He looked at me as if he was seeing the world for the first time and was in awe of its beauty. Like a male in unabashed and never-ending love.
The male there was my everything.
Bellamy.