There was Todd, he of the adorable ears. He had brought a date, and I was surprised to see that it was William, the man I’d tried to set Justin up with so very long ago who had made us call him Sir. I reminded myself to compliment Todd on the leather collar he was wearing around his neck and to ask what his hard limits were.
There were Katya and Brant, which—huh. I’d forgotten they even existed. How nice of them to be here.
There was Vadoma, surrounded by other gypsies, her eyes tracking me unnervingly with every step I took. Our relationship was… contentious, to say the least, but she had seemed thrilled to receive the invite and had even offered to read my fortune before the wedding. I had politely declined, telling her I would rather stab myself in the face with a dull spoon until I died.
Mama sat near the front, because she wouldn’t be anywhere else. She wore a tight, revealing dress that would most likely be considered inappropriate in at least three-fourths of Verania, but since she didn’t give a single fuck, neither did I. Next to her were Letnia and Moishe, the latter of whom stared at me, undoubtedly thinking about how he’d like to lick the magic off my skin, the gross asshole.
Dimitri buzzed with his fairies around the raised dais, their lights blinking brightly. “Say the word,” he whispered as I walked by him. “I can get you out of here and our love can blossom in the Dark Woods.”
“Not the time, dude,” I said through gritted teeth.
“I had to try. The last time there was a wedding here, it worked.”
He wasn’t wrong, but still. What a dick.
Gary and Tiggy stood to one side of the dais along with Terry, who for some reason had decided to stick around the City of Lockes, much to Gary’s dismay. Terry had recently told us that their parents were wrapping up their swingers tour and that we should probably expect them shortly. Gary hadn’t been too happy to hear that, but I was excited, because everyone knew the only thing better than two unicorns was four unicorns.
The doors to the garden were open so Kevin could stick his head in to take part in the proceedings. He winked at me, flicked his tongue salaciously in my direction, then proceeded to shed a tear because his son was getting married, Gary, look at our baby boy!
The crowd tittered.
I ignored them.
The King and Prince looked regal as fuck, crowns atop their heads as they sat upon their thrones. The King nodded at me, a twinkle in his eye, and Justin looked bored, but before I could turn and look at my husband-to-be, Justin broke protocol, jumped up, crossed the dais, and wrapped me in a tight hug. “I’m so happy for you,” he muttered. “And if you tell anyone I said that, I will lock you in the dungeons for the rest of your life. Best friends 5eva.”
I was gobsmacked. “You do love me more than anything in the—”
“Not. Another. Word.”
I closed my mouth immediately.
Randall stood near the King, his eyebrows having finally broken down the last of his face’s defenses, now waging the final battle for control of his head. He frowned hard at me, most likely already planning on berating me for my lateness. Morgan was next to him, looking amused. And just because I could, I stared at him in awe, still not quite believing that he was actually here.
But they all faded away before the last.
Knight Commander Ryan Foxheart.
He stood before me, looking uncharacteristically nervous and extraordinarily handsome in his best suit of armor, the one shot with red rock that he’d worn the night he’d been promoted to Knight Commander. His wavy hair was endearing, his beard neatly trimmed (as I refused to let him get rid of it after I’d been able to sit on his face). He was biting his bottom lip, his eyes wide. As my parents kissed my cheek and let me go, he flushed brightly when my father reached forward, hugging him and whispering words I couldn’t quite make out. Ryan just nodded to whatever my father was saying, glancing over at me. Dad let him go, kissed his forehead, then went to stand next to my mother.
It was just the two of us.
(Surrounded by a thousand people and all our loved ones, but whatever.) “Hi,” he said quietly.
“Hi.”
“Okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah, just this whole… thing. Gary wanted to have a three-way with a centaur named Jeffrey, and he kidnapped us and—”
Randall cleared his throat.
“Right, right,” I said hastily. “Not the time. I’ll tell you later.”
Ryan nodded rather maniacally. “Yeah, okay. Sure. Fine. Whatever.”
I frowned. “Are you all right?”
“Fine, fine. Just. You know. Getting married!”
“That was… shrieky. Do you not want to?”
His eyes bulged. “Are you out of your damn mind?”
“Watch your mouth! There are children present!”
He grabbed my hands and held them tightly. “Sam, there is nothing I want more.”
I blinked rapidly. “Okay. Yeah. Me too.”
He nodded, and that was that.
The King stood. He smiled at Ryan and me before looking out at his subjects. “Much has happened since we last gathered here for such an event. We have seen the bravery of men and women of Verania as they rise to face adversity. We have seen the good in all of us, and the evil of those who would attempt to bring us to our knees. We have lived. And we have lost. But I know those who cannot be here today are smiling down upon us, their grace soothing whatever hurt remains. We have taken back our country, thanks in no small part to the men we have gathered here today for.”
He smiled at each of us in turn. “You have an oath to the Crown. To the country. To me and my son. And to each other. Though no legality is needed to see the bond between the two of you, I am honored to be present for your union. My son said once that hope is a weapon. And it is. But sometimes we must lay down our weapons to accept our rewards. And today, I believe the love between these two men is a reward to us all.
“And so, as your King, I give you my blessing. May you know only happiness for the rest of your days.”
He nodded at us, then took his seat upon his throne.
Randall stepped forward.
Shit. This was happening.
It was really happening.
Fuck yes.
Randall said, “Now, I must ask before we proceed. And I’m going to start with Knight Commander Foxheart, because last time he didn’t seem so sure.”
The crowed snickered.
Ryan blushed harder.
Gods, I was going to destroy him later.
“Knight Commander, are you here of your own volition and peace of mind?”
“Yes,” Ryan said immediately.
The crowd sighed in relief, the fucking drama queens.
(I sighed inwardly, so.)
“Sam of Dragons, are you here of your own volition and peace of mind?”
“Hell yeah,” I blurted out.
Morgan put his face in his hands.
Ryan grinned brightly.
Randall rolled his eyes. “We are gathered here today to join Knight Commander Foxheart and Sam of Dragons, who will one day stand as the King’s Wizard. They have both spoken and have agreed they are here of their own volition and peace of mind. Before we begin the ceremony, joining these men in a bond not easily broken, there is a question I must ask.”
“Oh, this is gonna be gooood,” I heard Gary whisper.
And since I couldn’t turn around and tell him to die horribly, I clenched my jaw instead.
Then Randall asked his question, and I swore once again that all the world held its breath.
“Should anyone here present know of any reason why this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
No one spoke.
Someone coughed, but that was it.
I made sure to see who it was so I could ask the King to have them beheaded later.
It was Lady Tina.
Perfect.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
And then, “Are you sure. Anyone at all.”
I turned slowly to gape at Randall.
“Anybody who doesn’t want to see these two married.”
Silence.
“For any reason. Doesn’t even need to be a good reason. Just… anything.”
Silence.
“What are you doing?” I hissed at him.
He looked at me blandly and shrugged. “Just had to give everyone a fair shake. Did it last time. Figured it was only right to do it here too.”
“Oh my gods, I hate you so fucking much! A dick! A dick on all your appendages!”
He grinned at me. “I’m old. I’m allowed to do whatever I want.”
“He has a point, Sam,” Morgan said.