CHAPTER FORTY #2
Laughter rings through the backyard, Shadow’s loudest of all, and I’m grinning along with him, loving how he finds so much joy in everything, loving that he’s brought that joy into my life.
His green eyes hold mine as he slides a wedding band onto my finger. “I, Shadow, take you Kayla, to be my wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
I’ve heard these words a hundred times before, but they still strike me right in the heart, because this time the words are spoken by the man I love as he joins his life to mine.
My voice sounds a little hoarse as I start, but gets clearer. “I, Kayla, take you Shadow, to be my wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
At a gesture from Shadow, Dewdrop flies up to hover in front of us, handing him a ring.
Shadow slides the white gold wedding band onto my finger. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
I take the other ring from Dewdrop, noticing the magic tingling through it. Shadow told me the gnomes enspelled it to change size when he shifts, so he can wear it always.
I grip his left hand and slide the ring onto his finger. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Shadow smiles and brings my hand up to press a kiss to my knuckles, the love pouring through our bond so strongly my knees almost buckle.
Severin takes the silver-embroidered handfasting ribbon from Dewdrop, and my familiar settles back on the ground.
The fae king has us clasp left hands, then drapes the ribbon over them.
Magic tingles through the fabric. “In the modern tradition of the fae, you’ve chosen to write your own vows. You may say them now.”
“Kayla, from the moment we first met, I’ve known I had no future without you in it.
You’ve brought so much love into my life, and you’ve given me the home I never thought to find on Earth.
” He wraps one end of the ribbon around our hands.
“I love your strength and your determination. I love your creativity and your ability to bring joy into the world. You are my perfect mate, and I will spend the rest of my life showing you exactly how much I love you.”
It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard, and I have to swallow a few times to be able to speak.
“Shadow, when I look into your eyes, I see a future I never could have imagined for myself, one full of the kind of magic and love I thought only existed in stories.” I take a deep breath and wrap the other end of the ribbon around our hands.
“Even more than that, you’ve brought me joy and family and the feeling of belonging I’ve always wanted. I love you.”
Magic swirls around our bound hands, and the ribbon tightens until it becomes snug.
“By the power vested in me as mayor of Ferndale Falls,” Hannah says.
“And in me as King of the Shadow Fae,” Severin adds.
They chorus together: “I pronounce you married! You may now kiss!”
Shadow pulls me close and grins before dipping me into a dramatic movie kiss that has me laughing and clutching at his shoulders as the crowd cheers.
Victoria starts the music, and we walk up the aisle arm in arm as the crowd throws flower petals and the hearts float above us.
The rest of the bridal party follows, the werekittens running with tulips and pumpkins, while Dewdrop and the pixies fly overhead.
Naomi and Mist link arms and walk up the aisle. Then come the remaining bridesmaids and groomsmen. Two of the pairs are as expected: Skye with Luke and Autumn with Rune, but the other two…
Violeta practically dances up the aisle on Jace’s arm, her wide, infectious smile capturing his attention so fully that the blue dragon stares at her, stunned.
Thorvinn escorts Jasmine, his usual frown firmly in place, but I can’t help noticing the large hand he’s laid over hers, locking her to his arm.
Exactly as I suspected, as soon as the music stops, Slate’s furry little hands strip off his tiny waistcoat, and he runs shrieking into the side yard, with the rest of the little ones giving chase.
I laugh. “We didn’t even get a wedding party picture yet.”
“I’ll round him up,” Shadow says, ready to unwrap the handfasting ribbon.
“Wait.” I tug at him. “I want a few pictures like this to remember the fae side of the ceremony.”
We pose in front of the arbor so Jared can take pictures. Then we take another set without the ribbon in order to show off our wedding rings, with my amethyst engagement ring back in place.
Mist corrals the werekittens, and we take pictures with Shadow’s family. Moonlight pulls me into a firm hug. “Welcome to the family, daughter of mine.”
Stunned happiness overwhelms me until I don’t know how to speak. After so many years despairing that I could never be what my parents want, Moonlight’s love and approval feels like a balm. “Thank you.” I hold her tight. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”
We break apart with a laugh when the werekittens clamp onto my legs and yell, “Family!”
Then the Witch Bitch bridesmaids surround us, offering so many hugs and congratulations that it takes several moments to get any pictures. The groomsmen join in, and after a couple of group shots, Jared has them break into couples.
“What do you think?” I whisper to Shadow and tip my head toward where the new couples of Violeta and Jace and Jasmine and Thorvinn stand.
“I think some very grumpy fae are about to meet their match.” He smirks.
I call Dewdrop to me and ask for one final set of pictures. “Gotta have one with my best guy.”
The dragonet rubs his cheek along my jaw. “And my best witch.”
When the pictures are done, I ask Jared to email me the best photo he took of me and Shadow.
While Shadow helps everyone set up the yard for the reception, I head into the house.
Once in my office, I turn on the computer and send the picture to my photo printer.
While it prints, I read congratulations messages from Xena4Eva and Ipwnedurass, who’s already at work on my new game, which Morlano Games bought last week.
I slip the photo into a frame and head into the hallway. “I thought you might want to have a copy.”
“Yes!” Victoria writes. “I need it for my photo wall.”
The pictures swirl in excitement, and when they finally settle, Victoria’s made an open space right over the magical parchment.
I hold the photo against the wallpaper for a moment, and when I pull my hand away, it stays. She’s still got that super sticking power working for her.
Shadow and I beam from the photograph, captured in a moment of perfect joy. To think that this chapter of our story started on the day I thought I needed to dismantle this photo wall, and here I am, with my own wedding picture joining all the happy couples.
“Thank you! That was a lovely ceremony.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” And it’s true. I want Victoria to be happy. She’s always been my home. “Now, come on.” I run my fingers over the velvety brocade of the wallpaper, sending her a pulse of magic. “It’s not over. We’ve still got a party, and you’re the DJ.”
Happiness saturates the air as soft music starts to play in the backyard. By the time I get outside, all of the large, round tables have been set up. Having various magic users as wedding guests is seriously underrated.
Shadow arranged for Pepperpot to cater dinner, so everything’s flipping delicious, from my chicken to Shadow’s salmon to the vegan pasta dish.
Even Dewdrop has his own special fruit bowl, full of new treats like lychee and pomegranate.
The wedding cake the brownie baker makes us is downright sinful, the outer white-chocolate icing hiding layers of rich chocolate cake filled with chocolate ganache.
“Triple chocolate!” I say after taking the first bite.
“As if I’d order you anything else, my witchy beauty,” Shadow purrs and feeds me bite after bite, his hot gaze never leaving my mouth.
“Okay, enough with the bedroom eyes, you two.” Jasmine stands. “It’s time to dance!”
“Hit it, Victoria!” Violeta calls out.
The opening piano notes of John Legend’s “All of Me” fill the backyard, and the two of them pull us up and jostle us toward the dance area.
All of our friends and family surround us as Shadow sweeps me into his arms for our first dance.
He’s so graceful and leads so well that I stop worrying about tripping over my own feet and let him move us around in a gentle swaying motion.
Love and joy thrum along the mate bond, making me giddy.
His gorgeous green eyes capture mine. “It’s true, you know.”
“What is?” I curl my arms around his neck.
“As long as I’m with you, I’m winning.” Shadow grins and pulls me closer. “Play with me forever, my wife.”
“Forever,” I promise, whispering the words against his lips as he takes my mouth in a hungry, joyful kiss.
Thank you for reading Wedding the Werepanther.