chapter 43
Two weeks later, Selene stood outside the castle’s chapel doors. She listened to the ancient bells chime, calling the congregants to assemble. She smiled at her friends. Lila and Adelaide stood beside her, also dressed in violet blue gowns designed to mimic the style of the bride’s, only without the train. The color of their dresses had been chosen specifically for the way it mirrored the bride’s stunning eyes. The three girls carried bouquets of pure white flowers decorated with sparkling crystals.
Ellie stood next to them in her wedding dress that Lucy had sewn for her, a replica of the party dress Audrey Hepburn had worn in the film Sabrina. Diamond white, it was a strapless satin sheath decorated in velvet embroidery in an elegant, flowery design. It hugged her body and accentuated her delicate curves. The dress was pure Ellie. It was complemented by her bouquet of a tumbling mass of deep blue and purple flowers.
Radiant happiness glowed from her as though she were lit from within. The sun itself couldn’t compete with the stunning young bride today.
The organ music started to play inside.
“Ready?” Selene asked Ellie. A smile of pure joy lit Ellie’s face.
“Absolutely.” She leaned forward and kissed Selene’s cheek and then did the same to Lila and Adelaide.
The girls lined up in front of the door. Griffin moved to stand beside his sister, offering her his arm. One of the servants opened the heavy doors, and Adelaide and Lila went first. Then it was Selene’s turn to slowly, gracefully walk the long aisle that led to the front of the church. She’d been so touched when Ellie had asked her to be her maid of honor that she’d actually cried.
As she walked down the aisle, Selene looked at the faces in the crowd and was pleased by how far her people had come in such a short time. Vyusher stood peacefully side-by-side with Svatura, as well as with their new Louisiana allies and friends. Out there, somewhere, Maddox continued to be a threat, but today was a day to celebrate.
Desmond gave her a wink as she passed, and she held back a small grin. He really was incorrigible. Selene reached the front of the church and sent a sweet smile to Alex, who stood next to Nate and Ramsey.
Now it was Ellie’s turn.
But rather than watching the bride, Selene watched Alex. As soon as the first strains of the bridal march started playing, he took a deep breath and his face lit up as he saw his bride for the first time. Tears blurred Selene’s vision at the look he gave his te’sorthene… love, devotion, adoration, partnership, respect, wonder… She’d never seen a man look at a woman like that before. As if she were perfect. As if she were the center of his entire world.
Selene moved her gaze to Ellie, who was gliding down the aisle on Griffin’s arm, and saw the same look on her face reflected back at Alex.
Selene kept her focus fixed on Alex and Ellie throughout the service, never once giving in to the almost overwhelming temptation to glance at Griffin, no matter how handsome he looked as he stood across from her. She had declared her love to him, but in the weeks following the battles, he still had not said one word to her about it. She’d often caught his gaze on her. But he didn’t approach her.
So Selene kept her eyes on Ellie.
Oren performed the ceremony, and it was beautiful in its simplicity. Ellie and Alex both said their vows in clear, confident voices, their eyes never wavering from the other. Many guests wept silent tears of joy when the groom escorted the bride back down the aisle.
The reception was held in the Great Hall, which blazed with thousands of bright, white candles and was covered with flowers of white, purple, and blue. Wine flowed, music played, and laughter filled the air as all celebrated the union. In honor of Ellie’s gypsy heritage, the bride and groom exchanged and ate salted bread, representing taking each other into themselves. To honor Alex’s history, they also incorporated a beautiful Cajun tradition of a wedding march.
The dance floor was cleared. Alex offered Ellie his arm. “Ready, Wife?”
Ellie grinned at her te’sorthene. “Lead away, Husband.”
Alex and Ellie held hands and walked slowly around the room while the band played a special song just for the occasion. After a few laps, Griffin approached Selene.
“May I?” He offered her a hand.
Selene merely nodded, placing her hand lightly in his and praying it wasn’t too sweaty. They joined Ellie and Alex in the dance. Gradually, everyone else in the room partnered off and joined in, following the bride and groom around the room until the song ended.
After it was over, the floor cleared again, and Griffin led Selene to where Adelaide and Nate were standing. And then, without a word, he disappeared into the crowd. Selene’s shoulders stiffened, but otherwise she kept a smile on her face and watched as Alex led Ellie through a floating waltz across the floor. Afterwards, the dance floor was opened to everyone, the band alternating between lively tunes and sweet love songs, keeping the party going most of the night.
Several hours into it, Selene was exhausted. She was so happy for Ellie and Alex, but her broken heart threatened to swallow her in a haze of misery. She plastered a smile on her face and kept it there through sheer force of will. Aware of her duties as the maid of honor, Selene stayed close to Ellie all night, making sure the bride’s needs were all taken care of. She really didn’t pay all that much attention to anyone or anything else. Consequently, she was slightly surprised when a strong male hand wrapped gently around her arm and tugged her out of the room via a side door. Desmond led her to the conservatory, which sparkled with strung-up twinkle lights.
“Desmond? What’s this about?” she asked as he turned to face her.
He shook his head. “When will you call me Dez, I wonder?” She said nothing, so he continued. “I wanted to talk to you alone. Tonight felt like the best night to ask you something. Fitting somehow.” He flashed his charming smile and confidence shone from his eyes.
“What are you doing?” Selene whispered to him, as he took her left hand in his and knelt to one knee before her. She gasped and covered her mouth in shock as she realized what was happening.
“Selene, my Queen and my friend…. A union of our two powerful families would unite the Vyusher people in such a way as to bring prosperity for centuries to come. I know in my heart that love would follow in time for both of us if you gave this union a chance. Would you do me the honor of accepting my hand in marriage?”
Selene looked deep into his sea-green eyes and saw his sincerity. Despite how her heart protested against anyone who wasn’t Griffin, a future with Dez flashed though her mind… a future of happiness, for he did make her smile and laugh at times… a future of grace and peace, for he was one of the finest and most honorable men she knew… a future of prosperity for herself and for her people, for the Vyusher would, indeed, band together behind them.
Selene lowered a shaky hand from her lips. Just as she was about to speak, a heart-wrenching cry sounded from the back of the room.
“NO!”