Chapter Fifty-Two
Lena
A week later, Lena stood in the bedroom she shared with Vor and looked over her white gown.
Lace skimmed her shoulders and dipped into the V of her bodice.
White silk molded to her torso before spreading out into a full skirt decorated with more lace.
Her shoes were matching silk slippers, and a bouquet of pink flowers waited on her dresser.
Beside the bouquet, a vidco leaned against the mirror, Liria sharing the screen with their mother.
“You look amazing!” Liria exclaimed.
Their mother sniffled happy tears. “I wish I could be there with you.”
“You are.” Lena picked up the bouquet and vidco. “It's time.” She left the room to find Lieutenant Greis waiting just outside. “I'm going to pass you to Greis.” She handed the vidco to Greis.
“Dad! Thax! They're starting!” Liria called.
“Hello, Lena's family,” Greis said. “Let me know if you need a better angle.” He turned the screen around just as Lena's dad and brother-in-law came into view behind the women.
“Hi, Dad!” Lena waved.
“Oh, sweetheart, you look beautiful.” Yaru Drask leaned closer and touched the screen. “I wish I were giving you away.”
“Greis will be beside me through the whole thing. You can say you part.”
Her dad beamed. “I'm ready!”
“So am I.” Lena squared her shoulders and headed down the corridor and around the high-tech kitchen to the door that led to the roof.
The door was open, soft conversation filtering down.
Lena picked up her skirts in one hand, held her bouquet in the other, and climbed the stairs.
Greis came up behind her, her family talking among themselves softly.
She came to the top of the stairs and stopped.
Before her was a petal-strewn path through the rooftop garden.
It curved around raised flowerbeds and trees in massive planters.
At the end of the path, Vor stood in a dress uniform with General Ankeh.
To either side of the path were his closest friends and his parents.
As soon as Vor saw Lena through the trees, he smiled.
Lena took a step forward.
Music began to play.
Blinking, she glanced behind her at the vidco.
Liria was smirking as she held a music player close to the vidco's speakers. “As if I'd let you get married without music.”
“Is that me?” Lena paused to listen. “That's me playing the harp for your wedding!”
“That's right, sis! We recorded it.”
“Thank you, Liria.”
“I've got you, Lena.” Liria winked.
Greis beamed at Lena as she turned around and began her march again.
The scent of sweet blossoms drifted around her as she made her way through the garden, Greis marching behind her.
The music made tears come to her eyes, reminding her of when she had played for Liria and Thaxvarien, wishing she could have a love like theirs. And now she did.
Blinking away her tears, Lena glided around the curve, and Vor came into view. He straightened, his expression shifting from proud to awed, and the gathering went silent. She'd met his parents earlier that week and realigned them, so they both smiled brightly at Lena as she walked by.
Nethren didn't have fancy weddings. The only ceremony they needed was signing the paperwork to make it legally recognizable.
But Lena wanted a wedding with vows, rings, and pretty clothes.
So Vor had made it happen for her. But as Lena stepped up beside him, she saw how happy he was, and knew the ceremony wasn't for her alone.
Greis stepped to the side, angling the vidco so Lena's family had the best view of Vor and her.
The music faded to silence. Nervous, Lena passed her bouquet to Greis to hold as well and glanced around the garden.
The guests remained standing. The ceremony was going to be short, so they hadn't bothered with chairs.
“You look so beautiful,” Vor whispered.
Lena glanced down at his dark blue uniform, adorned with an impressive amount of medals, and then met his gaze. “And you're very shiny.” She tapped a medal.
Vor grinned and took her hands. “Are you impressed?”
“Always.”
General Ankeh cleared his throat. “Uh, thank you all for coming to this momentous event.”
Lena blinked, remembering similar words said at Liria and Thaxvarien's wedding.
“We have never had a marriage ceremony in Ranuvul,” Ankeh went on. “But I think they will soon be commonplace, and it's all thanks to this woman here—Lena Drask.”
Lena blushed as the guests applauded.
“Lena, from the moment I met you, I knew Vor was right, and you would bring a great change to the Nethren.” Ankeh laid his hand on her shoulder. “But in less than a week, I've seen and felt more than I thought was possible. It is a great honor to officiate your wedding to my friend, Vor Anakraes.”
“Thank you, General.”
“It's just Tren today, Lena.” General Tren Ankeh looked over the gathering. “Source guided Vor to Lena, but Lena was no easy conquest. Vor told me once that she was the strongest opponent he’d ever faced.”
People chuckled as Lena and Vor grinned at each other.
Tren went on, “But he also told me the battle was worth it, that he would have endured far more to claim Lena's heart. And when he did, he found that she had already claimed his. Now, they stand here before all of you who support them, and I ask Source to be here with them as well, as they commit themselves to each other.” He smiled from Lena to Vor. “Vor, will you give your vows to Lena?”
Vor met Lena's gaze. “Lena, I never thought I could feel so much for one person, but you have opened my heart, my eyes, and my soul. You brought me to life, and then taught me how to live. I vow to you that I will never betray the love we share. I will love and protect you until the day I die. I am yours if you will have me.”
“I will,” Lena said as she lifted her hand.
Vor slid a gold band set with three sparkling sapphires on her finger and then looked at her expectantly.
“Vor, I once thought you were a monster, but you opened my heart, my eyes, and my soul.
Through you, I learned the truth about Para and myself.
I saw who the real monsters were, and I found beauty in what I once feared.
You told me I would teach you how to love, but it's you who taught me. I vow to you that I will never betray our love. I will love and protect you until the day I die. I am yours if you will have me.”
“I will only have you.” Vor held his hand out.
Lena slipped a thick gold band onto his ring finger.
As soon as it was on, Vor pulled her into an embrace, and they kissed.
Lena meant to keep it chaste, but Vor refused, and as passion rose between them, so did another, even more powerful energy.
The Source of Technology rushed through the trees, and then through the hearts of those gathered in the garden to swirl around Lena and Vor before diving into them.
Everyone gasped as Source sank into Lena with the feel of metal and magma. It wrapped around her heart before connecting with the energy that encased Vor's heart. When the two met, they merged, forming a bond stronger than metal that pulsed with the beat of two hearts.
Lena and Vor drew back from their kiss and locked wide eyes.
Between them, the air shimmered, and then it settled.
Vor cried out and clutched his chest. With his metal hand, he tugged open his shirt to show a glowing mark.
Guided by Tech, Lena leaned forward and kissed the mark.
As she straightened, the mark settled into a shimmer, revealing its shape—a stylized flame set into Vor's skin, over his heart.
Vor gaped from the flame, shimmering as if real, to Lena and whispered, “We are flame-kissed.”
Lena should have been shocked, but with the touch of Tech upon her, the bond felt natural. “I know, and you're my destru.”
“Holy shit,” Liria whispered from the vidco.
Which was quickly followed by Bena Drask saying, “Liria, watch your mouth!”
“Sorry, Mom.”
Lena chuckled as she glanced at the shocked faces of their guests and her family.
She took her destru's hand and turned to face the gathering as Tech offered her words to speak on its behalf.
“Behold the first destined couple blessed by Technology. Flame-kissed, they are now. Any who harms them, harms the Source of Technology.”
“Holy fuck,” Thaxvarien whispered.
“Thaxvarien!” Bena Drask hissed.
“Sorry, Mom,” he mumbled.
Lena swayed, and Vor steadied her. She looked at him and then the vidco as Tech left her. “Well, how's that for change?”
“My daughters are both blessed by the Sources!” Yaru Drask exclaimed. “This is the most magnificent day!”
“Congratulations to you both,” Lena's mom added.
“Thank you,” Lena looked from them to Tren's shocked face. Then she faced their guests again, this time without a god offering her words. “Thank you all for being here to support us. I know you felt Sources' blessing too, and I hope it guides you to finding your own flame-kissed love.”
“Great Tech,” Tren Ankeh shook himself as if coming awake. “Friends and family, here stands the first Nethren-Medean couple, blessed by the Source of Technology, and bonded by flame's kiss. I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Anakraes!”
Lena took her bouquet from Greis and then her husband's hand. The guests cheered as Vor escorted Lena through the garden and down to their home to celebrate all the gifts they'd received, not only from their guests, but also from the Source of Technology.
“My destra.” Vor kissed Lena's cheek.
“My destru.” She glanced back to find Greis behind her, still holding the vidco. Her family smiled at her, and Lena's world felt complete. Looking back at Vor, she teased, “Aren't you glad we had a ceremony?”
Vor burst into laughter. Seeing his face alight with joy and love, Lena had never been happier.