Iannis and I turned toward each other, and my heart flipped over in my chest as he smiled broadly at me. “I, Iannis,” he said, reciting the vows we’d spent weeks agonizing over, “bind myself to you forevermore as your loving husband. I promise to spend each day working to become the truest version of myself, for you, for us, and for our family. I vow to stand by your side throughout the rest of our long lives—to warm you on cold winter mornings, to watch our love grow during the soft days of spring, to work and play hard together in the light of the summer sun, and to hold you close in the days of autumn, when the leaves fall and we begin to look toward yet another year together. I will love you for all of our days together, and cherish you above all others in my life.”
“Dammit,” I sniffled, swiping at the tears running down my face. I’d told myself I wasn’t going to cry, but my vision blurred, and my heart swelled so big in my chest that I thought I was going to burst. Thankfully, I wasn’t the only one—I could hear other people sniffling too.
The priest conjured a handkerchief, and I carefully dabbed at my eyes. Somehow, I managed to get the words of my own vow out without my voice breaking, gripping Iannis’s hands tightly the entire time.
“I, Sunaya,” I said in a clear voice that only trembled a little, “promise to live with you for the rest of our lives, as your loving wife. I shall strive to honor our union with steadfastness, truth, and courage. I look forward to spending the seasons of life at your side, as your equal, best friend, and, I hope, the mother of our future children, in good times or bad, wealth or adversity. I will love you for all of our days together, and cherish you above all others in my life.”
His steady gaze kept me grounded, and by the time I got out the last of it, I was calm again. I hadn’t expected this occasion to be quite this emotional, but I’d gotten through it. I’d committed, and to my surprise, all I felt was relief and happiness. This was a responsibility I accepted with no reservations, no second-guessing.
“Now that the two of you have exchanged your vows, it is time to seal this pact with the marriage spell,” the priest announced when I was done. “Best man, bridesmaid, do you have the rings?”
“Yes,” Annia and Fenris said, coming forward. They handed us the white gold bands, which we carefully slipped onto each other’s ring fingers before turning to face the priest again. He took our joined hands gently in his, then began to chant the Loranian marriage spell that would bind us forever. His sonorous voice echoed through the chamber, and my skin began to tingle as the air around us buzzed with power. I’d seen Fenris and Mina go through the same thing just a few days ago at their own wedding, but I had no idea it was so powerful—it felt like a live electric current was running through me. Did this happen at all mage weddings?
Suddenly, a flood of emotion swept through me, so brilliant and intense that I had to grip Iannis’s hand tighter to steady myself. I felt Iannis tense next to me as an invisible bond snapped between us, and I sucked in a sharp breath as all of Iannis’s feelings—the joy, the pride, the sharp edge of relief—crashed into me. I turned toward him, and his wide-eyed expression told me he was feeling the same thing from me. The bond that had been forged between us with the serapha charm was now strengthened a hundredfold.
“And so, it is done,” the priest said. He released our hands, smiling broadly at us. “You may now kiss your bride, Lord Iannis.”
Before I could blink, Iannis crushed me against his chest and kissed me deeply. Cheers and clapping filled the inside of the temple as I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him back, savoring the tender, passionate feelings that passed between us. I could hardly believe this was real, but as his arms tightened around me, and the seconds drew out as we kissed beneath Resinah’s benevolent gaze, I began to accept that it was.
I wonder if Resinah really was a special Tua who loved humans and came here to share her gifts with them, I thought. All those clues had to mean something…but did it truly matter? Her wisdom and affection for us spoke for themselves, whatever her origins.
Resinah laughed softly in my head as Iannis finally pulled back. A sense of knowing came over me—there was some connection, but the truth about her origins was more complicated and mysterious than I had imagined. I was glad I hadn’t discussed the Tua’s suggestion with anyone—there was no point in bringing it up and confusing everyone. Let things stand as they were.
“My blessings on your union,” Resinah’s voice echoed in my mind, and from Iannis’s startled expression, I knew he’d heard it too. “May you both live a long and happy life as one.”
Iannis and I both bowed our heads and silently thanked her. Joy swept through us both as we turned to face the crowd—there was no greater honor than being blessed by the Lady, except perhaps from the Creator himself.
“We did it,” Iannis said as the crowd clapped and cheered. “We are finally husband and wife.”
“We sure are,” I said, grinning at our friends, who were sitting up at the front row and waving furiously at us. “Now why don’t we go and enjoy that feast?”
After the wedding, everyone returned to Solantha Palace for the public reception, where we’d be on full display for the rest of the world. As soon as we alighted from our decked-out horse-drawn carriage—following a human and shifter custom, I’d insisted on hanging a sign from the back that read “JUST MARRIED”—I was nearly blinded by the multiple flashes of light from the waiting paparazzi. Iannis and I were whisked away by security and taken to the back garden, where we spent nearly an hour taking more photographs with the palace’s official photographer.
The first half hour was just me and Iannis, but Fenris, Annia, Rylan, and my Aunt Mafiela were brought in for the last half. When we’d planned the wedding, I had been unsure whether this photo session was truly necessary. I would never forget my wedding anyway, and so much posing seemed an excessive display of vanity. However, Nelia and Aunt Mafiela had convinced me that my wedding was not just important for Iannis and me—our union was being watched by shifters and humans throughout the Federation and beyond. Let them see how radiant and happy a shifter and mage pairing could be, they had argued. Our example might help the next unorthodox couple. Besides, our children, and theirs, might like to see how we had celebrated today. So I forced myself to be patient, and posed as required.
“You look wonderful in that gown, Sunaya,” Aunt Mafiela said afterward, taking me by the shoulders and looking me up and down. “It is just your style.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, trying not to roll my eyes. The way she was swelling with pride, as if I were her daughter, you never would have guessed that just last year, she and I had been at each other’s throats, driven to hatred by twelve years of bitterness between us. “I’m glad you came,” I said, and I meant it. I was very happy that those terrible years were behind us.
“Yeah, you’re a real fancy pants now, Lady Sunaya,” Rylan teased, cuffing me on the shoulder. “Guess I won’t be able to mess around with you anymore, now that you’re the wife of such an important guy.” He waggled his brows at Iannis, who simply chuckled.