Chapter 56 #2
“Go do your paperwork, Dad!” Luca hollered before dropping his dark gaze to Yun Shik, who lay whimpering on the ground. “We’ll deal with him.”
Tam opened his mouth to object, but Kat made a waving motion while rising from her own seat. She then stooped down and slung Yun Shik over her shoulders while murmuring something to Luca, who responded seriously. Most likely he was informing her who this strange person was.
At a loss, Tam looked at Eli, who turned back to Eric. The king’s mouth was pressed into a thin line as he watched his sons follow their mother while she carted off someone his nephew had just punched in the testicles.
Tam stole a lone glance at Harris, who appeared perfectly proud as he sat with his legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. His wife stared at his profile suspiciously.
After a long breath, with a very flat tone, the king waved to a small round table that had been set up off to the side. “Right… Off you go… I guess…”
Tam cleared his throat, then offered his hand to Eli.
They proceeded over to the table and signed the marital contract and the paperwork for Eli to take on her new noble title as viscountess.
Though they both kept stealing glances across the lawn toward the edge of their keep where Kat had disappeared with the entourage of children.
Just as Tam and Eli were finishing up, the small group returned—without Yun Shik—and reclaimed their seats as though nothing had happened.
With the paperwork signed and finished, Tam and Eli returned to Eric, who was already sharing a questioning look with his wife.
With Tam and Eli blocking his sightline, however, Eric snapped his attention back to them.
“I think the only thing left to say is that we all wish you years of happiness, and we hope that you both enjoy your well-deserved peace. Now… you may kiss as a symbol of your agreed-upon vows.”
Tam turned his smile to Eli and didn’t waste time cupping her face in his hand. He kissed her with every ounce of love, desire, and giddy emotion he carried in him. The crowd erupted in applause, whistles, and cheers.
Upon breaking apart, Tam searched her eyes, which met his with open adoration.
“So… if Hannah is watching Nova for us, do you think I’ll need to set myself on fire to get you to myself?”
Eli laughed and didn’t dignify his absurd question with an answer as they turned and retreated down the aisle, hand in hand, to start celebrating.
★ ★ ★
Kat and Eric listened with undisguised disbelief when they heard how, despite the fact that Eli’s birth family had been stripped of their titles following Pina’s rise to the throne, Yun Shik had grown obsessive about being with Elisara.
He had come to Daxaria with the muddled plan of stealing her from Tam.
Brendan Devark, Troivack’s king, had managed to persuade the wedding intruder to explain his actions, and was, at present, relaying his findings to the newlyweds and the Daxarian rulers, as well as his own wife and queen, Alina Devark.
“Good Gods, you must have made one hell of a good impression,” Kat said with a snort in Eli’s direction before tilting her goblet into her mouth.
Eli rolled her eyes and took a sip from her own tankard.
“You know… since this affair is more of a laid-back sort,” Kat began, with a forced air of innocence that had Eric looking at her suspiciously and Brendan Devark warily.
“How about we start playing some drinking games? No one is pregnant, everyone is together, and we have a bloody dragon guarding us!”
Tam expected Eli to object or to say that she wanted to stay present for the other guests, who were already imbibing quite heavily. Though most of those guests surrounded his parents at the tables that were covered corner-to-corner with the wedding feast that the house witch himself had cooked.
“You know, come to think of it… I’ve never seen Tam drunk.” Eli turned slowly to look up at her husband.
“ What?” Kat squawked. “This is an abomination! How could you have married him without knowing what he’s like drunk?”
Tam regarded the Troivackian king and queen, who normally were quite helpful with adding a note of seriousness, only to find that the two were looking all too intrigued at the notion.
“I feel like I might be in danger,” Tam said, only half jesting.
Kat was already craning her neck. “Where’s Likon? He’s the best at getting Tam drunk.”
“Excuse me, would you be able to bring Lord Tam a bottle of moonshine and some extra goblets?” Alina asked one of the passing footmen.
Tam looked down at his new wife questioningly. “Is this really what you want to see? My stumbling around to everyone talking about how much I love you?”
Eli gazed up at him serenely. “Yes.”
Laughing, Tam dropped a kiss on her head and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I guess that settles it. Shall we all go sit so you can enjoy my disgrace comfortably? I think Bong and Jeong are waving us over.”
Kat and Alina grinned, and Eli gave a dignified inclination of her head as they all headed across the lawn to one of the tables. Over the music, Eli heard the shouts and laughter of the children playing with a leather ball off in the distance.
As they walked, the smells of roasted meats and baked sweets wafted over to them in the air.
The setting sun cast the world in a beautiful glow.
Tam silently thanked the Gods that he had found what meant everything to him where nothing else mattered.
He had found his place with his family, his wife and familiar, his children, his magic… What more could an ether witch ask for?
“Alright!” Kat roared. “Time for truth or guts!”