"Thank you," she mouthed to Wulf who gave her a small, heartrending smile.
In that moment, she felt the full depth of her love for him. He would make a good husband to her for the next few months and he would be a great father. In spite of what Chris said. Once they reached her soon-to-be husband, her father took her hand and placed it in Wulf's. Then her father took the red and white ribbons from the rose and wrapped it around their joined hands.
Cassandra stared at Wulf. His eyes were hot. Kind. They smoldered with his passion and with pride as he looked at her. It made her shiver. Made her hot. His look touched every part of her body. He tightened his hand on hers as her father began speaking the words to bind them together. "It is through night we are—"
"Light," Urian whispered loudly, interrupting him.
Her father's face flushed a bit. "I'm sorry. I had to learn this rather hastily." He cleared his throat and began again. "It is through light we are born and through… through…" Her father hesitated. Urian came forward to whisper in her father's ear.
"Thank you," her father said. "This ceremony is nothing like ours."
Urian inclined his head and stepped back, but not before he gave Cassandra an uncharacteristic wink.
"It is through the light that we are born and through the night that we travel. The light is the love of our parents who greet us and welcome us into this world and it is with the love of our partner that we leave it. Wulf and Cassandra have chosen to be with each other, to ease their remaining journey and to comfort one another in the coming nights. And when the final night is upon them…" Her father stopped as his eyes welled up.
He looked at her. The misery and horror she saw in his eyes made her own well up. "I can't," he said quietly.
"Daddy?"
He stepped back as a tear fell down his cheek. Phoebe came forward and wrapped her arms around him.
Cassandra started toward him, but Phoebe stopped her. "Finish it, please, Uri." Phoebe escorted their father off to the side. Cassandra wanted to join them, but could tell her father was already embarrassed and upset that he had spoiled her wedding for her. So she stayed by Wulf's side.
Urian moved to stand with them. "When the final night is upon us, we vow to stand together and ease the one who travels first. Soul to soul we have touched. Flesh to flesh we have breathed. And it is alone that we must leave this existence, until the night comes that the Fates decree we are reunited in Katoteros."
Cassandra felt her own tears starting again as Urian spoke the Atlantean term for "heaven."
Urian stepped to the pedestal that held an elaborate gold cup. The three Fates were engraved on it. He brought it over to Cassandra. "Normally this would be the blood of both of you combined, but since neither one of you is particularly gung-ho for that, it's wine."
Urian handed the cup to Cassandra who took a sip, then gave it to Wulf who followed suit. Wulf handed the cup to Urian. As was the Apollite custom, Wulf bent down and kissed her so that the taste of wine was mingled with them.
Urian returned the cup to the pedestal and finished the ceremony. "Here stands the bride, Cassandra. She is unique in this world. Her beauty, grace, and charms are the legacy of those who have come before her and will be gifted to those who are born through her. This man, Wulf, on the other hand stands before us a product of…" Urian frowned as he paused. "Well, he's the product of a bitch who can't stand the thought of Apollo's children ruling the earth."
"Urian, behave!" Phoebe snapped from where she stood with their father.
He bristled at her command. "Considering the fact that I just bound a member of your family to one of the people I have sworn to annihilate, I think I'm being remarkably good."
Phoebe cast him a glare that loudly proclaimed he'd be sleeping alone for at least a week. If not longer. Urian curled his lip at Wulf. It was clear who he blamed for his wife's upset.
"Fine. I'm glad I didn't say what I really thought," he muttered under his breath.
Louder, Urian returned to the ceremony. "It is your similarities that brought you together and your differences that add variety and spark to your life. May the gods bless and protect your union and may you be…" He paused again. "Well, you already are blessed with fertility so we'll skip that."
Phoebe growled low in her throat while Cassandra gave him a glare of her own. Urian cast another murderous look at Wulf. "May the two of you enjoy every minute left to you."
Then, Urian took the ribbons that combined their hands and tied them into a double knot. The ribbons would last for the night and in the morning they would be cut and buried for luck. Chris and Kat led the way back to the apartment.
Her father came up to her and wrapped his arm around her waist. "I'm sorry I couldn't finish."
"It's okay, Daddy. I understand."