Chapter 35
The next morning is chaos. Ruby and Nora wake us up before the sun has even risen, all of us clenching our heads at the pounding on the door.
Cally, Holly, Elle, and I all stayed up way too late and drank way too much.
Thankfully, Ruby accounted for this, bringing medicine and handing each of us a glass of water as soon as she came inside.
“You’re a godsend,” I croak.
“You didn’t bring breakfast? Coffee?” Cally asks after almost drinking the entire glass of water in one swig.
Ruby gives her a look, and Cally says, “Sorry, sorry. Can we order some breakfast then?”
She bats her eyes at me, and I say, “It’s my wedding day, and I’m the High Queen. Of course we can order breakfast.” We place our orders with the staff, and Ruby and Nora immediately set to work.
Hair and makeup for an event like this can take hours, and there are four of us. Willa was supposed to be here an hour ago but hasn’t arrived yet. I’m beginning to worry that something happened to her.
I feel like I have no one right now—like I’m doing this alone. This is my big day. I don’t have any parents. Willa’s the closest family I have, and she’s not even here right now. I look across the room to Cally, and she’s looking at me, her brow furrowed.
“What’s going on?” she asks.
“Where do you think Willa is?” I ask.
“Do you want me to have Ivan check on her place?” Elle asks from beside Cally.
I think about this, but I don’t want to panic anyone. “No. She said she’d be here. This isn’t the first time this has happened,” I say, remembering when she was late to the opening day of Bound.
“Just let me know if you change your mind, okay?” Elle asks, concern in her voice.
I force a smile and nod.
Ruby and Nora put the finishing looks on all of us and help us into our dresses.
Cally, Elle, and Holly all get dressed first, each of them wearing some shade of berry red.
All of them decided to go with half-up, half-down hairstyles.
They all look incredible. My own hair is done in a loose fishtail braid, white daisies artfully arranged into the braid.
It flows past my shoulders, stopping just below my shoulder blades.
I step into my closet for Ruby and Nora to help me into the strapless ivory dress that closes with what feels like a million buttons down the spine.
“Marik’s going to have a hell of a time getting this thing off tonight,” Ruby says with a laugh, but my stomach churns at the thought as I think about the last time his hands were on me.
Finally, my dress is on. Tulle explodes from the waist, a white lace detail forming vines and flowers layered over the tulle. Nora places a long, matching veil just behind my antlers and places the High Crown on my head.
The dress’s massive train flows behind me, not yet fully unfurled in this room. I look into the floor-length mirror, chills erupting all over my body. The final product is amazing. Breathtaking.
When I finally find the words, I say, “You both are artists. This is the only way I want to look for the rest of my life.”
They laugh, their eyes stuck to the mirror, admiring their work. “We can’t take credit for the dress, but it is a work of art,” Ruby says.
“You ready?” Nora asks me, beaming.
I swallow hard and say, “Let’s do it.”
They help me walk out of the closet and into the living room, Nora holding the heavy train behind me, where the rest of the girls are waiting, conversation buzzing about who they’re excited to see today. When they see me, the room falls silent while they take in the dress.
Cally speaks first. “Holy shit. You look…”
“Like an angel,” Holly whispers.
I look at Elle who’s just nodding, her jaw dropped. She closes it, then says, “No. You look like a goddess.”
They stare at me for another few seconds before Holly claps her hands and says, “Okay, people. We are on a tight timeline. Cally, Elle, and I will head down to the throne room, where we’ll be waiting for you at the altar.
Mae, Ivan, and Luca will be here shortly to portal you to the beginning of the procession sight.
This is it.” She smiles at me and then rushes to me, pulling me in for a hug.
“You look incredible,” she whispers into my ear. “I’m so happy you’re our High Queen.”
I squeeze her and say, “I’m happy to have you, too.”
Elle comes to hug me next, and she says, “It’s been an honor, Mae. I’m happy for you.”
Finally, Cally runs to me, pulling me in the tightest and longest hug. “I’m sorry Willa is late. I’m sorry your mom isn’t here either. She’s looking down at you, watching you today.”
I smile at her words, feeling a surge of sadness at the thought of my mom never getting to see her daughter walk down the aisle.
I wonder what she would have worn today, what she would have said to me before I committed myself to Marik for a lifetime.
Would she have yelled at Willa for not being here?
Or would she have rolled her eyes, trying to make me feel better?
A knock pounds on the door, pulling me from my thoughts. Holly rushes to it, revealing Ivan and Luca standing outside in black suits. Ivan walks in first, his eyes lighting as he sees me standing there in my dress. He stops to look at my with misty eyes as a small smile graces his face.
“Mae…” he says, seemingly lost for words. He takes a step closer and says, “You look absolutely beautiful. Your father would be proud of you. So, so proud.”
I fan away the tears threatening to fall down my cheeks. “Okay, everyone, enough with the sweet words. Ruby will be mad if I ruin my makeup.” But I smile and hold my arms out for a hug. He walks to me and wraps me in a brief hug before letting go.
“We haven’t discussed the specifics of this, but I’d be happy to walk you down the aisle in place of your father,” Ivan says.
I shake my head and say, “Thank you, Ivan, but I have already thought about it. I think I want to walk myself down the aisle today.”
He nods and then gestures toward the door. “Shall we?”
“Wait. Ivan, can you send someone to check on Willa? She was supposed to be here by now.”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.”
Luca sees Nora still holding my train, and he comes to replace her. I say goodbye to everyone, and Cally blows me a kiss as we leave the wing. Ivan leads Luca and me to a room down the hallway, where he’s created a small portal. He steps in it first, then I follow, with Luca behind me.
The portal spits us out at the same spot where I started the walk to the castle for my coronation. When we get here, I can feel my heart beating faster. The reality of this moment tightens around my rib cage. I’m about to get married. I can do this.
I use my magic to create the same effect that I did during my coronation, settling a glow over my features. I send a small wind behind me, and my entire train unfurls and rests on the soft wind, cascading ten feet behind me.
My breath catches in my throat when I see what’s behind me.
The stag slowly walks toward me, and I want to cry at the sight of him.
I’m so grateful to see him again today. His presence makes me feel like I should be the Deer Queen with him by my side.
Ivan and Luca watch me as the stag approaches, neither of them speaking.
Finally, he steps beside me, and I place a hand on his back.
“Thank you for being here with me,” I lean down and whisper. He huffs in response, then starts walking. Ivan and Luca follow behind me, Ivan casting a shield around us.
We make our way down the path, coming to the edge of the crowd of spectators.
When they see me and the stag, they bow again, falling silent.
It’s just like my coronation day. I see all manners of hybrids in the crowd.
Deer antlers rise above, but I also see bear hybrids, big and burly, and cat eyes find mine as I walk down the path.
I wave to everyone, a smile on my face. Joy radiates through my body, coming from my heart.
The stag showing up was a symbol to me that this is right.
I look through the crowd, hoping to spot Willa, but knowing already that I won’t.
Everyone who was guaranteed a seat for the ceremony should already be seated by now.
The procession is more for citizens of the kingdom to see me if they didn’t receive an invitation to watch the ceremony.
The crowd ends at the entrance to the castle, the spectators not allowed inside. Before I enter, I turn and wave at everyone. The crowd responds by clapping and cheering, and I can’t help but grin at their excitement.
In the distance, dark storm clouds lazily head toward us. A flash of lightning cracks through the sky, followed by a boom of thunder.
Ivan ushers us inside.
The stag follows me, keeping its slow pace. We come to a stop outside the throne room.
I look at the stag, who still stands beside me. “Want to walk me down the aisle?” He bows his head in response.
Ivan and Luca open the double doors into the throne room. Everyone inside rises slowly from their seats, turning to get their first glimpse of the bride.
I smile, one hand holding my bouquet, the other hand resting on the stag.
We begin walking down the aisle. There’s no flower girl, but flowers have already been artfully placed down the center of the aisle, leading right to my future husband.
Marik stands at the altar. He dons a black suit and a tie the color of berries, the same shade as my bridesmaids’ dresses. I smile, wondering who spilled the details. He sees me and grins, his entire face lighting up as it takes in my dress, the crown, and the veil, then the stag beside me.
I wink at him, then scan the crowd, looking for Willa. I still don’t see her, so she must be upfront and out of my line of sight. At least, I hope she is. If she’s not…The smile begins to slip from my face, and I cut the thought off before it can take hold.