With a final squeeze, Smee handed her over to Hook. Taking her hand in his, he turned them toward a beaming Danika. She hovered before them. Dangling in front of her were two necklaces. One with a square pendant, the other with a heart shaped one.
“We are gathered here today,” Danika’s voice was strong, “to celebrate the union of James Hook and Trishelle Page.”
The sighs of several women flitted on the breeze, but Trisha didn’t look at them, because she couldn’t. She was snared in the black-eyed gaze of her lover. His thumb rubbed gently across her knuckle.
“These are the stones of Veritas,” Danika nodded to the jewels. “In Kingdom, to be parted from your soul mate is a fate worse than death. The stone allows the wearer to share the life and very soul of their lover, to be united for all eternity. Take the necklaces in your hands.”
Trisha reached for the square shaped pendant, while Hook grabbed the heart.
The glass stone heated in her palm and began to glow a dark shade of crimson.
“Trishelle Page,” Hook began, “I give everything I am, all that I have to you. My life with yours.” His voice was strong and sure and unclasping the necklace, he draped it around her neck. The stone flared to life, burned against her chest.
Betty had warned her it might feel uncomfortable at first, but it wasn’t that bad. It felt almost like the lapping of a wave against her flesh, a little hotter than the ocean might feel, but not terrible.
Her hands shook, because now it was her turn and there was only one thing left to say. “Hook, I am not always going to be an easy person to love…”
The crowd laughed, but his gaze stayed on hers. Hot and hard and so full of love that tears squeezed her throat.
“But for some reason you do. For the longest time I worried I couldn’t love, but I love you.”
His nostrils flared and her knees grew weak.
“With all my heart and soul, with every breath I’ll be thankful for you. Grateful to know you as she once did.”
She didn’t say who she was, he understood and that was enough.
His knuckles grazed her jaw. “You are all I want, little bird. You are my perfect fit.” Bending his head, he waited for her to slip his necklace on.
It took two tries before her fumbling fingers could latch the chain around his head. Immediately both their stones turned from molten red to deepest blue with glittering veins of indigo swirled throughout.
Sniffling loudly, Danika wiped her nose. “You may kiss the bride,” she said and then laughed.
Lifting her in his arms, Hook claimed her lips for his own. This kiss was different than any other he’d ever shared with her.
This one was full of promises and devotion, a whisper of love and hope and they lived…
Happily…
Ever…
After…