Chapter Forty
CHAPTER
FORTY
The next day, they left for Clair de Lune.
As night fell in the forest around them, Scarlett kneeled next to Brayden in the main chamber of the Forest Temple in front of the statue of the Goddess Cerridwen.
An array of priestesses stood around them, along with Brayden’s friends and family, Manon, Cass, Tyler, and Beni, who’d all come to see the once-in-a-lifetime North Star ceremony take place.
Gwen stood at an altar lighting incense for the ceremony.
Scarlett ran her fingertips over the pearl lining of her mother’s white dress—the same one she’d worn for their wedding.
Brayden kneeled next to her in his suit, ready to make his unbreakable lifetime commitment.
She reached for his hand, and his fingers interlaced with hers as he smiled at her, joy, light, and love plain on his face.
It was a marked contrast from their wedding day—for both of them.
Love had been there that day, but now all the doubt and fear was gone from their hearts.
They were ready.
“Let’s begin,” said Gwen as she turned to the altar where they were kneeling. “You can keep holding hands, if you like, but please close your eyes.”
Scarlett shut her eyes, and the priestess started chanting, her melodic voice echoing across the large room as Scarlett kept Brayden’s warm hand in hers.
The scent of the incense surrounded her, the smell more vivid without the distraction of her sight.
Her body thrummed with excitement for what was to come next.
Even upright as she was, Scarlett dropped into a trance.
Her head fell forward as the chanting quieted her thoughts.
Her parents appeared in her mind’s eye, reunited and beaming at her, as if giving their blessing.
Then came a carousel of memories of her and Brayden through the years, until finally, the image of Brayden in the mirror—older, and all hers—was all she could see.
Was that children laughing, or was it Nori and…?
The familiar prickle of the valor manifesting arose on her left ring finger. Gwen continued to chant, and an itchy heat spread over Scarlett’s shoulder. It hurt for just a moment, causing Scarlett to twitch and her conscious mind to awaken, but then the heat became gentle.
“Congratulations to the world’s newest North Stars,” said Gwen, her voice bright. “You can kiss, if you like!”
Scarlett opened her heavy eyes to the sound of enthusiastic cheers and clapping around them.
Brayden beamed at her and pulled her into an embrace.
The cheering around them grew louder as his lips moved against hers, but they didn’t break the kiss.
Scarlett threaded her fingers into Brayden’s hair, heat building in her as his soft lips caressed hers.
Her mouth grew hotter. The blaze spread across her face and over her neck, but she didn’t want to stop kissing him to see what was making her so feverish.
Gasps of surprise filled the temple. Brayden pulled away and stared at her in shock and then wonder.
“You’re not hurt?”
She laughed. “Why would I be hurt?”
“You were just on fire,” cackled Manon from her seat behind the altar.
Beni laughed. “That was amazing.”
Brayden held out his hand. His fire danced on his fingertips like always, but this time he didn’t pull away when Scarlett reached out and intertwined her fingers with his.
Her hand burst into merry flames, and she stared in wonder as the flames grew larger.
Then her dress began to burn. She shook her hand, trying to put the fire out, as the smell of burning fabric filled the air.
Brayden chuckled and smothered the flames with his hands. “We need to teach you how to control your fire.” He patted the sleeves of her dress, where the fire had burned the fabric.
“Please don’t incinerate the castle tonight,” called James from next to Lachlan. Lachlan shushed him.
“Look at the valor,” whispered Brayden, grabbing her hand.
A cross-like star, etched out of the finest lines, had appeared on the ring finger of Scarlett’s left hand.
The vertical line extended downward and was just visible beneath her wedding ring.
Scarlett seized Brayden’s hand and was delighted to find a matching rune in the same place on his left ring finger.
You’re so beautiful.
Scarlett startled, and then a smile spread across her face. It was Brayden’s voice in her mind. She threw herself at him so hard he had to grab on to the altar to keep both of them from toppling to the floor.
Brayden, I love you so much. I’ll love you till the end of time. It’s us against the world now.
His laugh lit her up. Always and forever, and even after that. I love you too, Scarlett, my beautiful firebird.