Chapter Two
Krys checked into the bridal suite and saw the ladies ready for their walk down the aisle.
Isocar and Imara were in silver dresses with black and red trim.
Hannah was spectacular in white satin that hugged her torso, had a slit up her left thigh, and set off her dark skin and red hair.
Her hair was half up and half down, cascading over her shoulder.
Sapphires and rubies were in her necklace and earrings.
Hannah’s mother put the matching headpiece in place.
Mrs. Lee smiled. “No veils. He could see through it anyway.”
Krys smiled. “Is everybody ready?”
Hannah turned and smiled. “I think so. Holy shit! Did Reynal propose?”
Krys looked at the ring that wouldn’t come off. “It’s either that or he is weighing me down.”
There was a bright squeal, and Hannah lunged forward to hug her. She laughed and hugged the bride back.
Imara smiled. “Seems there is a rush to matrimony. I will have to keep a charm of disinterest on Argus.”
Krys snorted. “Good luck with that. I think the guys were just having a problem finding a neutral venue. The mansion fits the bill.”
Hannah leaned back and nodded. “I think you have a point. Neekil wants to try for a kid, and that is contingent upon this human ritual.”
Mrs. Lee grinned.
Krys leaned back. “I think that has more to do with that other ritual you two engage in.”
Hannah laughed.
Dia smiled. “Right. Now, I am going to get set up, and then I will be down there when you make the final dash to prison... I mean freedom. Videographer is in place. My second shooter has been doing the guys.”
Isocar chuckled.
Dia sighed. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
Imara snorted. “And yet, we are laughing anyway.”
Hannah smiled.
Dia got her bag and left, grinning and shaking her head.
Krys nodded. “We will give her two minutes, and then I will come up, and it will be show time. Have some fruit with honey, and hang tight.”
Krys left and moved swiftly down the stairs. Everyone was in place, the dark elf elder was standing under the vine arch, and Neekil was waiting with Emmers and Kairek standing next to him.
Iris and Amy were seated on the groom’s side of the space.
Azreen and Vaia were on the bride’s side, and with everyone seated, Krys said, “We are about to begin.”
Excitement ran through everyone seated as the sunset painted the sky pink.
Krys headed up the steps, and she took Mrs. Lee down the steps a few steps ahead of the bridal party. Krys murmured into her headset as Hannah’s mother was escorted to her seat by Emmers.
Krys walked to the mansion and nodded to the dark elf harpist. He began a cascade that the bridesmaids walked down the aisle to, and then Hannah took her triumphant walk to a complex and stirring harp composition that energized the entire assembled group.
Krys checked the cameras in the kitchen, and everything was ready for cocktail hour.
The ceremony began, and the elder made a few jokes about there being far too many clothes for a dark elf union.
Neekil’s parents and his brothers’ fathers all laughed, as did the other fifty dark elves on his side.
When the time for the vows was to be spoken, Neekil spoke eloquently in his native dialect while the dark elves teared up.
There was silence for a moment, and a woman on the bride’s side said, “In every imagining of his life, he had never crafted the image of a woman whose heart and soul were fire, whose body was sculpted just for him, and who carries heavy weapons to every occasion. My heart, my soul, my dream, my wife.”
Hannah was smiling and tearing up, but she shifted her bouquet and hoisted a hammer skyward. Lightning crackled.
Everyone laughed.
Hannah smiled. “Well, my tongue is not as talented as yours. We have discussed it at length, so I will just say that from the moment Imara pulled your soul out of my body and you tried to flirt with me in disembodied form, I knew I was in trouble. When we got you out of me, I couldn’t wait to live on my own, but breathing was hollow, and my joy rang like tin.
So, today, I pledge myself to you... again.
.. so that I see you as my partner for the rest of my life.
.. again. I love you, and if I change colour again, I am going to light your ass up with this hammer. ”
He was grinning, and tears pricked his eyes.
They exchanged rings, and Neekil bent her back in a kiss as she gripped the back of his hair. His formal tunic was held in her other fist, and the kiss went on and on.
When they came up for air, the cheer was deafening. Hannah bent to pick up her hammer and took the bouquet from Imara, and they walked down the aisle to cheers and small sparkler-type bursts of magic.
They went off to take photos while the cocktail hour began. Krys grabbed family members as they were needed for photos, and it was a busy time.
She had missed the staff dinner because of the size of the event, and when she found Sable, she asked, “Are you here as a guest or planner today?”
“Both. What do you need?”
“I need to eat. I have to grab a sandwich or whatever is cooked and I can steal. Can you check with the photographer and gather the next group of folks who are going to stand next to the couple?”
Hands grabbed her around her waist, and one of the hot snacks was in her mouth. She started chewing. “Hey, Reynal.”
He kissed her temple and hugged her. “This is not a flattering dress for you.”
“I know. I will switch into something more festive after the dancing.”
She smiled. “This is a job. I am not a guest, and being a peacock isn’t in the description.”
He put another snack in her mouth. “You forgot to eat again.”
“There are over three hundred people here. I am glad I padded the tables and food.”
Krys leaned back against him.
“This is quite the turnout.”
“The couple are well-known and well-connected. Most of the connections are here.”
A server went by, and another snack found its way into her mouth. Reynal rocked her from side to side, and she started to relax until Mrs. Lee cleared her throat. “Krys? Sable has a question.”
Krys patted Reynal’s arm, and he let her go back to work, but one more bite found itself in her mouth. She guessed it was a meatball.
Sable didn’t know how to get the dark elves to show up on camera, and Dia was getting frustrated.
Krys looked around and cast the illusion early, lighting the trees, vines, and other structures with soft witch lights.
The light was soft enough that the cave dwellers could remove their protective shades and bright enough to show off the details of the embroidered finery on their trousers and the silver bands on their biceps and wrists.
Sable smiled and gave a thumbs-up.
Krys checked Dia’s shot list and the cocktails. She went to the kitchen, got a tray, and brought it and some wine out to the happy couple. Hannah looked at her in relief. “Oh, thank you. This is going to be a long day.”
Neekil didn’t speak; he just grabbed two items, shoved one in his face, and put the other in Hannah’s mouth, getting his finger nipped in the process.
Dia winked, and Krys faded back as the couple fed each other, giggled, and bit. They were love drunk, and it was glorious.
When they were good and Dia had what she needed, Krys turned but was snagged by the couple and held for a photo, then another.
Dia looked at her camera and grinned. “That is a lot of aura.”
Krys smiled. “Yeah, they would be.”
“No, Krys. You.”
“Oooohhhh.” Krys looked over her shoulder and saw the frost fairy overlaid by a woman who was standing in front of her, and then Krys and her wolf. “Looks like the wave was a little backed up.”
Dia snickered. “You should see Amy. She’s just as bad.”
Krys grinned. “I know. Where did she go?”
“I let the bridal party go ten minutes ago, so I am guessing she is making out with Emmers.”
Krys looked toward Reynal and sighed. “Lucky.”
The kids were running around, and once dinner was ready, Krys smiled and spoke, using magic to carry her voice. “Ladies and gentlemen, if you could take your seats, we are getting ready for speeches, and then you will be set loose on the buffet.”
There was laughter, and folks got settled for the speeches and dinner.
Krys looked around and blinked as she took in the table with Elida and her girls.
The table was brilliant with stunning women, who were the target of every stray male gaze in the room.
Elida and her girls were seated with Reynal and an elf with dark skin, stars moving on it, and eyes that were glowing white.
The speeches started, and the best man asked Elida to come up and sing the song that showed the meeting of Hannah and Neekil.
With the song curling through the air and the images of Hannah and Neekil keeping the audience rapt, Krys headed off to the kitchen to check on the buffet.
The bar was open, beverages were being delivered to the tables, the hot food was complete, and desserts were getting ready for the setup on the twenty feet of table, including the wedding cake. Dark chocolate with cherry filling.
When everything was ready, she walked back to listen to the father-of-the-bride speech, and when everyone had a tear in their eye, she extended her hand and gave a signal.
Two servers, each with two plates, walked to the sweetheart table and presented samples of all the food at the wedding.
Krys smiled. “So, now they can keep their strength up with something other than tacos. No offense, Dem-rah.”
The goblin grinned.