Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Anna
Six weeks later...
I stare at myself in the full-length mirror and barely recognize the woman looking back. My hair is a shiny black wave, the makeup is darker than usual and my skin is clear and hydrated, with a glassy sheen.
The dress is perfect. Creamy white silk, elegant and minimal, with clean lines that hug my curves in all the right places.
It’s inspired by Caroline Bessette-Kennedy’s iconic wedding gown, a vision of simple and sophisticated elegance.
I can’t see a single roll. Just beautiful fabric skimming over my body like it was made for me.
Which it was. Custom altered to fit every curve.
The neckline shows just a hint of cleavage. The back dips low enough to be interesting. And my ass looks fantastic, the silk drapes over it in a way that makes me want to spin around and admire the view again.
So I do.
“Stop admiring yourself and let me fix this last piece of hair,” Ellie laughs, tugging me back around.
“I can’t help it. I look good.”
“You look incredible,” Drew corrects from where she’s perched on a settee, already dabbing at her eyes. “Keric is going to lose his mind.”
I hope so. That’s the plan.
The dressing room at the Great Lodge is spacious and warm, filled with afternoon light streaming through tall windows. Outside, I can hear the murmur of guests arriving, the distant sound of music being tested. Inside, it’s just me and my girls, getting ready for the biggest moment of my life.
Ellie fusses with a strand of my hair, pinning it into place so the veil won’t budge. She flew in from Truckee three days ago and hasn’t stopped crying since she arrived. Happy tears, she keeps insisting. The happiest tears.
Miranda adjusts my train, making sure it falls correctly. “The shapewear is working?”
“Like a dream.” I smooth my hands over my hips. “Doesn’t pinch, doesn’t squeeze. I could wear this all day.”
“Good. Because you might have to.”
I glance at her in the mirror. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She just grins. “Orc receptions can go late. Very late.”
Drew snorts. “As if Keric will let her stay at the reception past sunset. Did you see his face at dinner last night? He’s barely holding it together.”
They’re not wrong. My orc has been vibrating with impatience for weeks. Every time he looks at me, I can see him counting down the hours until I’m officially his wife. He loves the idea of us becoming legally married according to human law.
“Speaking of which...” Ellie leans close, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Have you told him yet?”
Drew and Miranda step out for a moment to talk to Maggie.
Meanwhile, my hand drifts unconsciously to my belly.
Still soft, the way it’s always been, but now there’s a slight firmness underneath.
A subtle roundness that only I would notice.
“I took the test three days ago. Two pink lines, clear as day. No question, no ambiguity. I’m pregnant.
About six weeks along, if my math is right.
You’re the only one I’ve told so far. I’ll need to see the OB-GYN in town soon, apparently there’s a doctor there who’s experienced with humans carrying orc babies.
That’s a sentence I never thought I’d think, but here we are. ”
“Oh good, I’m happy you’ll have a Doctor you can trust. When are you going to tell Keric?”
“I’m going to tell him tonight, after the ceremony.”
Ellie’s eyes well up again. “God, Anna. You’re going to be a mom.
” Her hand moves to her own belly, which has a visible curve now beneath her dusty sage bridesmaid dress.
She’s about three months along and got pregnant on her wedding night with Garlen, just like orc tradition promised.
“Our sons are going to grow up together, as cousins.”
“I know.” I grin. “I keep thinking about that. They’ll be so close in age.”
“They’ll be best friends,” Ellie says firmly. “Just like us. Running around the commune together every summer vacation, getting into trouble, driving their fathers crazy.”
I laugh, blinking back tears. “Keric and Garlen will have their hands full.”
“They’ll love every second of it.” She squeezes my hand. “Have you had much morning sickness?”
“Some. You?”
“Brutal for the first two months. It’s finally easing up.” She grins. “Garlen has been an absolute wreck about it. Every time I look slightly green, he’s ready to call the Doctor.”
“Keric doesn’t know yet, so I haven’t had anyone fussing over me.” I pause. “Well, except Maggie, but she fusses over me anyway.”
“He’s going to be so happy, Anna.”
“I hope so.”
“Oh, he will be, trust me.” She squeezes my hand. “Orcs live for the moment they are allowed to become a father. And his parents are going to be thrilled too.”
“I still can’t believe we’re both pregnant at the same time,” I admit. “When I left for Maine, you’d just found out. And now...”
“And now you’re getting married and we’re going to raise our orc sons together.” Ellie’s eyes are sparkling with happy tears.
I pull her into a careful hug, mindful of both our bellies. “I love you, you know that?”
“I love you too.” She pulls back, dabbing at her eyes. “Okay, we need to stop or we’re both going to ruin our makeup before you even get down the aisle.”
The door bursts open and Maggie, sweeps in, tissues already in hand, her eyes red-rimmed. Drew and Miranda trail behind. “Oh, sweetheart.” She stops dead, one hand flying to her chest. “Anna, look at you.”
The tears start immediately. Full waterworks, just like I predicted.
“Maggie,” Drew sighs affectionately. “You promised Keric you’d hold it together until the ceremony.”
“I lied.” Maggie crosses to me, cupping my face in her hands. “You are the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. My son is the luckiest male alive.”
“Thank you, Maggie.” My voice comes out thick. Damn it, now I’m going to cry too.
“I have something for you.” She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a velvet box. “This belonged to Keric’s grandmother. It’s been in the Irontree family for four generations. I wore it at my wedding ceremony to Cadoc and I want you to have it.”
She opens the box to reveal a delicate diamond necklace with a fine gold chain and a small pendant, simple and elegant. Perfect for my dress.
“Maggie, I can’t—”
“You can and you will.” She’s already fastening it around my neck, her fingers gentle. “You’re an Irontree now. This belongs to you. And don’t worry, there’s lots more jewels where this came from. You’ll see.”
I touch the diamond pendant where it rests against my collarbone. “Thank you, for everything. The planning, the decorating, all of it. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“Don’t be silly.” She dabs at her eyes. “I’ve been waiting years for this. When Keric finally brought home a Bride, I wasn’t about to let anyone else plan the wedding.”
There’s a commotion near the door. I look down to see a small furry, grey and white menace running in, trying to attack my dress hem.
“Dinah, silly girl.” Ellie scoops up the kitten before she can do any damage. “We discussed this.”
Dinah meows indignantly. She’s wearing a little floral collar and looks absolutely ridiculous and yet adorable. My little cat has been trying to murder my train for the past hour and you’d think I’d banish her from the ceremony, but I love it that she’s here.
“I can’t believe you put a bow on my cat,” I laugh.
“It’s not a bow, it’s a fancy collar, and she looks darling.”
Laurie Willis appears in the doorway, looking elegant in a navy-blue dress. Ellie’s mother has been with Dane since the winter holidays and the happiness suits her. She’s glowing.
“How’s our bride?” She crosses to give me a careful hug, mindful of the dress. “Oh, Anna. You look stunning.”
“Aww, that’s nice of you to say. Thank you for coming all this way. I’m so happy that you’re here.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it.” She steps back, her eyes warm. “Dane’s been insufferably proud all week. Keeps telling everyone his nephew finally found his Bride and he gets to officiate this ceremony too.”
Someone knocks on the door. It’s one of the commune members, letting us know the ceremony is about to start.
I bite my lip. This is really happening.
“Ready?” Ellie asks.
I take one last look in the mirror. The dress, the necklace, the carefully styled hair. My eyes are bright with unshed tears, but I’m smiling. “Let’s go get married.”
The Great Lodge’s main room has been transformed.
Rows of chairs line both sides of a flower-strewn aisle, filled with faces that have become familiar over the last two months.
A large part of the commune is squeezed inside and anyone who couldn’t fit for the actual ceremony are here for the reception held outside.
I also recognize friends, former coworkers who traveled from far away, and there are even a few members of law enforcement and my lawyer, all here to celebrate with us.
Twinkling lights are strung overhead. The massive stone fireplace at the front of the room is blazing, casting warm golden light over everything.
And standing in front of that fireplace, waiting for me, is Keric.
My breath catches.
Keric wears dress pants and polished shoes, a thick leather belt is cinched around his waist with a large silver buckle.
He’s bare chested with that soft and yet muscular green skin and black tribal tattoos on full display, firelight dancing across the ridges of muscle.
His black horns are shiny and his tusks somehow look whiter.
He’ll get a new tattoo after today to commemorate our union, and more later for each of their offspring.
He’s the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.
Cadoc appears at my side, offering his arm.
Keric’s father asked to walk me down the aisle two weeks ago, and I ugly cried for fifteen minutes straight after he left.
“You’re already my daughter,” he’d said.
“Let me do this.” He couldn’t have known how much those words meant.
How long it’s been since anyone claimed me as family.
I was adopted as a baby. An Asian child raised by a Caucasian couple from Ohio who happened to have the last name Lee.
People sometimes assumed Anna Lee meant something about my heritage, but the truth was that the Lees chose me and gave me their name and I never knew anything different.
They were my parents in every way that mattered.
My parents both sadly passed away by the time I was in college and that left me alone, with no siblings or extended family.
I’ve spent my adult life building little chosen families wherever I landed…
coworkers who became friends, colleagues who felt like siblings.
My “work family” at Black Oak was the latest attempt to fill that void.
But those connections always felt fragile, even before I was on the run. I was always holding something back.
Here, at the commune, amongst this clan of orcs in Maine, I don’t have to hold back anymore. They’ve accepted me and I feel comfortable here.
For the first time since my parents died, I have a family again. A real one.
Cadoc guides my hand to his elbow, his harsh features look proud and a little emotional. “Ready?” he asks quietly.
“Ready.”