Chapter 56
The End Of Everything
Music wafted through the open window of the sitting room that Tam waited in. He watched guests find their seats in front of the arch covered in white and blue flowers while the backdrop of the forest added brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow to the scene.
He let out a long, steadying breath.
“Nervous?”
Tam whirled around and received yet another pleasant surprise for the day. “Likon!” His face broke out into a smile as he embraced the man whom his parents had adopted when they were children. “Gods, am I glad to see you!”
“You think I’d miss seeing you become some other assistant’s problem? Not a chance. I’m shocked you aren’t holed up in here doing paperwork.” He guffawed after thumping Tam on his back and stepping away.
Likon’s brown eyes roved over Tam’s casual appearance, then he glanced down at his own forest-green velour coat, tan pants, and polished brown boots. “And here the duchess made it sound like I was the underdressed one.”
Tam snorted. “So… are you here with Lady Dana?”
Likon flushed then narrowed his eyes. “You’re more like your mother than you realize, you know that?”
Tam grinned shamelessly. “I just want to start working on travel plans in advance! I’ve got a few kids to take care of now.”
“Dad?”
As though he’d just heard his father’s comment, Luca appeared with Penelope at his side.
“Hey, Luca, Penelope, did you say hi to your Uncle Likon?”
Luca waved with a sunny smile, while Penelope shifted awkwardly before issuing a curtsy. She still was feeling a little uncomfortable with his relation to Thomas Julian.
Seeing this, Likon exchanged a look with Tam, then crouched to be eye level with the little girl. “I’m glad to see you, Penelope. You’re looking more and more like the duchess every time I see you.”
Penelope blushed and sidled over to Tam, taking his hand.
“Dad, Grandma says you should start heading over to the back door. Eli said we should start.”
Tam’s heart fluttered.
“Ready to get married?” Likon asked playfully.
“He’s been bugging Eli about it for long enough,” Penelope contributed under her breath.
Likon burst out laughing. “I guess we’d better let him get on with it before she changes her mind, eh?”
Penelope issued a shy smile.
Likon looked up at Tam once more, his gaze more peaceful than it had been in years. “Good luck, Tam.”
Tam bobbed his head in appreciation. “You too. I think I already saw my mother speaking with Lady Dana about some future plans.”
Likon blanched, cursed, then darted out of the room. Most likely to try to quell whatever cunning plan the duchess had already set into motion.
Chuckling, Tam dropped his attention to the children at his sides. “You two ready to have married parents?”
Penelope shrugged in response, while Luca pondered this. “It doesn’t really change anything, right?”
Tam tilted his head. “Not much. But legally it will.”
Luca sighed. “Does that mean you and Mom have more paperwork to do?”
Tam barely suppressed a snort of laughter as he and the children exited out into the corridor. “Just a tiny bit, but I bet you won’t even notice when we do it.”
Luca dropped his head back with a loud groan.
“Hey, you two,” Tam called out as he approached the doorway where his parents stood waiting, along with Kat and her three boys at her side.
Luca and Penelope turned to look up at him.
“Thank you for being my kids. I’m the luckiest dad in the world.”
Luca beamed and Penelope rolled her eyes, but Tam saw the blush on her face.
“You’re the best dad!” Luca informed him brightly before giving Penelope a light push. “Say something nice!”
The little girl scowled at Luca, but eventually turned and stared up at Tam, though she did quickly look away as her nerves visibly got the best of her.
Tam had to strain to hear her next words. “I’m glad that you… you and Eli are my family.”
Tam bent down to lock eyes with her.
“I’m glad of that, too. Now I should probably hurry before your sister starts crying.”
Rising again, Tam sent the kids off to Kat, who winked in his direction and then hastily ushered them down the aisle to their seats.
Tam heard the music shift from its quick beat to something beautiful and slow as he looked to his parents.
His father was already misty-eyed, while his mother smiled warmly… until her sights landed on his throat, where there was no cravat, and then on his rolled-up white sleeves.
She raised an eyebrow.
Tam mirrored her expression, waiting for her to say something.
She merely sighed and shook her head, her smile no less loving as she held out her hand. “Come along, you.”
Grinning, Tam laced his arm through his mother’s, then felt his father’s arm loop through on his other side.
“Thank you for keeping your promise, Tam,” Fin murmured as they walked down the stone steps and stepped out onto the grass.
“I keep my promises. You know that.”
“Mm-hm. I appreciate the twist of three children before the wedding,” Fin added wryly.
“Would I be an Ashowan if there wasn’t just a bit of madness?”
Annika gave a breathy laugh.
The trio made their way down the aisle, smiling at the many friendly faces that stared up at them.
People they’d known and loved through the years.
People they had helped, and who had helped them.
It made Tam’s heart fill to the brim with gratitude—and also awkwardness. It was weird being stared at so much.
Upon reaching the arch where Eric Reyes waited, Tam turned to his father and embraced him.
When they pulled apart, tears were falling down Fin’s face, and the smile he bore looked ready to split his face.
Tam then faced his mother and was moderately taken aback to find that she, too, was teary-eyed.
She reached up and gently touched his cheek before leaning forward, brushing a kiss on his cheek, and whispering. “I love you, my son.”
“I love you, too, Mum.”
And they parted.
Tam took the final few steps to take his place in front of the king, sharing a brief nod with Eric, then rounding back to look at the keep.
The back doorway was still dark… until the music changed once more.
Then Harris appeared with Eli on his arm.
Tam forgot to breathe.
Eli wore a red gown. The straps were off her shoulders, exposing her collarbone, and they ran down into the layers of her skirt that trailed on the ground below the fitted bodice.
In Eli’s hands was a bouquet of white wildflowers. Her hair was down and treated to a shine as it waved over her right shoulder. Her lips matched her dress, elegant lines were drawn over her eyes, and she wore only delicate pieces of gold in her ears and necklace.
Tam felt whole, and the world, with her in it, looking at him with a coy yet shy smile, was perfect.
When Harris reached Tam, and Tam fumbled for Eli’s hands, the duke leaned forward, stopping him.
“You could have a dozen children, and I would still burn you at the stake if you hurt her.”
There may have been a smile on Harris’s face, but Tam could tell the threat was genuine.
“Makes sense.”
Harris’s smile widened as he then passed Eli’s hand to Tam.
“Dad!”
Tam and Eli looked over where Luca had loudly whispered, “Remember to compliment her this time!”
Everyone burst out laughing.
However, Tam still tugged Eli closer. “I was going to remember, believe it or not. You look stunning.”
Eli blushed and cleared her throat, then lifted her chin gracefully and looked at Eric, who quirked his eyebrows at her once in a teasing manner. “Weren’t you supposed to be watching the children earlier?” she suddenly said.
“Eli,” Tam whispered. “We’re kind of in the middle of something right now.”
Eric was already looking away guiltily. “I thought I could nap a bit before. They’ve been well behaved lately, so—”
A fuzzy black paw shot out from behind Eli, swatting Eric’s knee.
Tam hadn’t even noticed Kraken sitting behind Eli thanks to her skirts. But there he was, a crisp ribbon tied at his throat, glaring up at Eric.
Eric sighed and nodded at the feline before lifting his sights to the couple, then the guests.
“Everyone, we all know why we’re here. It’s to see the new ancient beast advocate,” the king said, nodding at Eli, “and the new diplomat to witches,” he added, indicating Tam, “get married at long bloody last!”
The crowd broke out in cheers and whoops.
“Given that close friends and family are here—and Tam isn’t even wearing a cravat—”
“Oy—” Tam’s exclamation was cut off as the king continued.
“—We all know this isn’t going to be the usual formal affair.
Lord Tamlin Ashowan, viscount of House Jenoure, and future duke of House Ashowan, and Lady Elisara Harris: Do you take each other to be lawfully wedded spouses in sickness and in health, in times of great fortune and times of poverty, in times of conflict and times of peace?
To be loyal to each other and respect each other to the very best of your ability until death do you part? ”
“And beyond,” both Tam and Eli responded in unison.
Eric nodded appreciatively.
“Wonderful. Now, we have a small bit of paperwork to sign over here, and then we will—”
“ELISARA!”
Everyone turned at the bellowing voice. A Zinferan man stalked down the aisle. His long hair flew about untidily. His demented gaze fixed on Eli as he barreled down toward the couple.
Evidently it didn’t matter that the golden dragon curled up on the lawn a short distance away was lifting its great head with narrowed eyes; the man continued surging toward Eli.
With a frown, Tam realized that it was none other than Yun Shik. Eli’s brother’s assistant, who had wanted to marry Eli himself…
Just as Tam was about to step forward to deal with this intruder, Luca leapt out of his seat and shouted, “FAMILY JEWELS!”
He punched Yun Shik right in the groin, dropping him to the ground faster than a sack of rocks.
Caught by surprise, Tam watched dumbly as Penelope joined Luca’s side, followed by the three princes, Aster Fuks, and Kat.