Chapter 55
A Wild Wedding Day
Eleven months later…
Tam stared at the black cravat in his hands.
Did he really need to wear it?
His eyes narrowed on the fine black coat hanging on the spindle of the full-length mirror, then drifted over to the window.
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and the sun was warm.
It wasn’t even the hottest point of the day and Tam already felt perfectly comfortable in his white tunic, black vest, and pants.
He shrugged and regarded his reflection one more time.
His beard was trimmed close to his face, and his hair was shorter than it had been in months, prompting him to run a hand through it to make sure it lay as it should.
He turned his face to inspect his right cheek and neck, where three long black lines were mostly hidden under his beard. They were the residual marks of where Death had laid his hands on him in the Forest of the Afterlife. The ropy scar where he had cut his throat was on the other side.
The call of a chickadee off in the trees pulled Tam’s attention back to the window with a smile.
It really was an idyllic day.
With a final satisfied glance at his reflection, Tam turned to the rest of his chamber.
It was smaller than his chamber back in Austice, but it was cozy.
Four peaked windows overlooked the rolling green fields and forests that surrounded the keep on two walls.
The furniture sported an assortment of colored velvet fabrics, while the walls were decked with a Zinferan-style tapestry of the former empress in her red dress overlooking the ocean, and a Daxarian depiction of the Gods.
Well, better go see if I can be of use somewhere.
Tam crossed the room, his steps light. Upon opening the door to leave, he found himself staring down at his sister. Her golden eyes blinked wide, and her fist remained suspended in the air.
The siblings stared at each other blankly, both caught off guard.
“Were you about to knock?” Tam chuckled while taking in the burnt-orange dress his sister had donned that, without sleeves, would’ve been too cold for most other women to wear that time of year.
She dropped her hand, her expression sardonic. “I don’t know how you’re processing a day like today—and I don’t want to know!” she added sharply.
Tam’s eyes wound up to the ceiling.
“Oh, sure. Roll your eyes all you want, but after walking in on you and Eli that one time, I don’t ever want to see your bare arse again.”
Tam opened and closed his mouth with a grimace at the reminder of the unfortunate day she was referring to only a fortnight ago.
“Well, if you’re finally knocking before barging into rooms, I’m glad some good came from that nightmare,” he managed, putting his hands into his pockets and leaning his shoulder against the doorway. “Is everything going alright?”
Kat gave one last shiver at the memory for good measure before brandishing a sprig of sky-blue aster flowers at him. “For when you’re ready.”
Tam arched an eyebrow and accepted the flowers, which had their stems tied together with an ivory ribbon, then pinned them to his vest. “I’m ready. How are things coming along outside? Need any help?”
“You’re not wearing the coat or cravat? Seriously? You want to fight with Mum right before getting married?” Kat asked, her smile hinting at admiration.
“It’s my wedding. I get to be comfortable,” Tam answered with a shrug and a grin of his own. “Eric with the boys?”
Kat arched a brow at her brother’s boldness. “Yes. And I want to thank you again for saying they can wear whatever they want. After that traumatic event with the family portrait, I wasn’t sure they’d come to the wedding if you said they had to wear clothes they couldn’t get dirty.”
Tam ducked his head and finished exiting his room, closing the door behind himself.
The siblings proceeded down the hall to the back stone stairwell. Right before they made their left turn, Tam gazed out a window at the end of the hall that looked over the wedding setup.
He paused. “Kat… Is that—”
“We all tried to tell her not to, but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, your soon-to-be wife is the most laid-back exacting woman I’ve ever met.”
Tam snorted as he watched Eli direct their footmen and maids to adjust the long tables where they would be eating to face a different direction. Without needing to ask, Tam could already tell that she was doing this to make sure no one had the sun in their eyes during the meal.
He shook his head with a quiet chuckle and resumed descending the steps. “I should’ve double-checked what they were doing so she wouldn’t have to worry.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, she likes to worry. Mum loves her for it.”
Tam laughed loudly as they neared the second floor of the keep. “Did Likon and the Troivackians arrive safely?”
Kat grinned. “They did. It’s really funny watching Brendan struggle with the informality of this event.”
“Oh? Is that why you aren’t calling him ‘King’ or ‘Majesty’ right now? To help him?”
Tam knew damn well she was already doing this not to be of any sort of help, but because she loved tormenting her brother-in-law whenever she could get away with it.
“Of course that’s what I’m doing!” Kat declared while resting her hand on her chest with a beaming smile and glint of mischief in her eyes.
The siblings touched down on the first floor and took a left to exit onto the back lawn of the Sorlia keep Tam and Eli had moved into that spring.
The library would require another year of renovations to become the dream oasis Eli and Tam imagined, but otherwise, the rest of the keep had been decorated and set up exactly as they wished.
Kat remained in the doorway of the castle, but Tam took the opportunity to slowly creep up behind Eli.
She was about to finish explaining that the cider barrels should be placed in the shade by the keep when Tam seized her from around the waist. She yelped before he tossed her over his shoulder and rounded back toward the keep.
“Sorry, everyone, but I’ll send my mother down to lend a hand!” he shouted as a number of the serving staff broke out in laughter.
“Oh, for the—I was almost finished!” Eli snapped from his shoulder.
Upon reaching Kat’s location once more, Tam gently tossed her off his shoulder and into his arms so he could smile down at her disgruntled expression.
“You were supposed to be having a leisurely morning while enjoying your tea. Not bossing everyone around.”
“See, I even helpfully suggested that you start drinking! That would’ve helped you relax!” Kat contributed helpfully.
Eli gently tapped Tam’s chest with the back of her hand. “Put me down.”
He arched a brow at her, then obeyed.
Once her feet were back on the ground, Eli straightened the plain, loose cotton dress she had clearly thrown on just to be decent while she directed people.
She then fixed both Tam and his sister with a stern look.
“I have two children and an infant that I take care of every day, a household to run, and negotiations with ancient beasts to schedule. And you expect me to know what to do with myself when you take that all away from me on a day as important as this?”
Tam and Kat responded in unison. “Yes.”
Though Tam went on to say, “It’s called rest.”
“I sleep in a comfortable bed and have leisurely meals. I rest plenty,” she argued in even tones.
“Then at least have fun!” Kat burst out. “You don’t want to drink, fine! Then read a book for fun! Have a cup of tea that’s a little fancier than normal! Good grief, for such a thorough woman, you are downright lazy when it comes to relaxing!”
Eli rounded on the Daxarian queen, her hands landing on her hips. “Lazy?”
Tam was caught between wanting to break up the fight—which his sister was enjoying far too much—and laughing, but he was saved from doing either when a familiar whimper drew their attention.
Striding up to them with a beautiful black-haired baby in his arms was Finlay Ashowan. “I think this one needs a quick cuddle with her parents before her last nap,” the house witch said by way of greeting.
Both Tam and Eli moved over to Fin. Eli gently took their daughter, who instantly settled into her arms, then reached a hand out to Tam, prompting him to gently pat her head.
“Doing alright, Nova?” he asked while taking stock of her bright-blue eyes, glimmering with tears.
His daughter laid her head against Eli’s shoulder with a contented sigh. Eli kissed Nova’s head and with a smile up at Tam said, “Come on. We’ll put her down before I have to get ready.”
Luckily Eli’s previous annoyance had disappeared with the comforting presence of their five-month-old.
Tam nodded happily before looking back to his father. “Mind asking Mum to come down and direct things? Your future daughter-in-law was taking it upon herself to get everything set up.”
Fin rested a hand on his chest feigning a look of hurt. “You wouldn’t trust me to do it?”
“You two could do it together,” Eli suggested as Nova grasped a lock of her long black hair and chewed on it curiously.
Fin dropped his hand with a more serious nod. “That sounds like a grand idea. Where is my beloved wife, do you think?”
The Daxarian queen leaned forward. “If I were to bet coin? I’d say fussing over the last alterations of the wedding dress, or Penelope’s dress.”
Everyone silently agreed. Tam and Eli retreated back inside to put their daughter down for her nap, before they’d have to part so Eli could finish preparing for the ceremony.
Once the couple was alone, Tam stole a glance at Eli, who was rubbing soothing circles on Nova’s back.
“How’re you feeling about today?”
She arched a brow in his direction. “Fine, and you?”
Tam grinned. “Oh. Glad you’re not feeling too badly about marrying me. I’m doing fantastically, thank you for asking.”