“Are you sure a wedding is a good idea? There’s so much to do here to restore Alnembra,” Verity murmurs.
“I think a wedding would be a perfect opportunity to improve everyone’s spirits. A boast of overcoming darkness,” I say, enjoying the way her fingers linger over the scruff on my chin.
“Then we should do it soon, and somewhere public,” Verity says.
“Is that a yes?” My lips quirk into a smile.
A flush creeps up her neck and to her cheeks. “It is.”
I press a kiss to her palm, heart thrumming with joy. A part of me hadn’t believed that Verity would forgive me for betraying her for Erzur and her armies. I had worried that our brief kisses and private confessions might be nothing more than a drawn-out goodbye. But here we sit, Verity pallid and sick with magic, but beaming. I match her grin and I don’t think I could stop smiling if I tried. I kiss her gently, careful with her fragile body. She sighs softly as I pull away.
“I love you,” I whisper, pressing my forehead to hers.
Her pale blue eyes sparkle. “I love you too.”
Epilogue
Altair
My heart pounds, so loud I wonder if everyone in Desmarais can hear it. I stand on the front steps of the palace.
The walls and towers have almost been completely rebuilt using the stones from the walls that used to surround it. Now, the castle is open to swathes of rolling hills and picturesque views of Desmarais and the sea. The lawn, drive, and open spaces around are filled to the brim with people.
Almost every citizen of Desmarais has shown up to my wedding, and more people from villages throughout Alnembra. Visiting ambassadors and royalty are also in attendance. I catch Erzur’s eye where she sits a few rows away from me. She gives me a haughty smirk and shifts so her cloak falls open to expose her ivory gown. I raise my brows, not at all surprised that she’s opted for a dress the same color as Verity’s.
Flowers adorn every available surface. Ribbons of gold and white flutter in the breeze, looped between towers and over the crowd. An arch stands behind me, made of woven birch and decorated with moss and flowers. From above, snowdrifts over us but it isn't cold. Yesterday, Verity cast a spell over the area to ensure it would remain warm during the ceremony without melting any snow. I smile softly to myself, looping my fingers together behind my back. She recovered quickly from her illness of magic but has been using magic sparingly since.
A bell tolls and the musicians switch their tune from one of ambient noise to a wedding march. I straighten, carefully adjusting my jacket with and straightening my trousers. A heavy cloak sits on my shoulders, lined with white fur and clasped with a golden chain. My crown rests on my forehead and I know Verity will laugh at the red mark and indentation I’ll have later when I can finally remove it. I don’t often wear my crown, but a formal occasion like this calls for it.
Suddenly, I see Navi make her way down the aisle. She clutches at a small bouquet of peonies and forces a smile. I lift a hand and hide a snicker at the sight of her. Fae traditions are different from mortal ones. In a purely Fae wedding, we would have taken our vows in front of a crowd of royalty underneath an arch much like this one. But there would be no wedding march, no collection of women to walk before the bride, and it wouldn’t matter what Verity wore. After short vows, the Fae would dance under the moonlight. But for the sake of Verity’s traditions and my people, we’ve organized a three-day festival instead.
Navi has been forced into a petal pink gown without sleeves. Her shoulder-length hair was curled this morning and attendants painted her face with makeup. She looks gorgeous but uncomfortable, and no amount of forced smiling can change that. She meets my gaze and her forest green eyes flash with irritation. But Navi agreed to this when Verity asked her. The two became close while Verity was recovering. Navi comes to a halt at the base of the steps and turns towards the crowd, at attention. No one can force the soldier out of Navi.
The air changes, and tiny, golden sparks drift down from the sky. My lips quirk into a smile. It was Verity’s idea to give the wedding such drama, she thought the people would enjoy feeling like the world had a little magic left in it after the horrors they endured. Soft gasps rise from the crowd, and I know Verity was right.
Verity enters the light and it feels as if my heart stops. She lifts her head, a blush on her cheeks as she gazes out over the crowd. I can hear her heart beating to a staccato rhythm. When her eyes finally meet mine, a smile blooms on her face. She's dressed in a simple, ivory gown, decorated with lace and pearls. The sleeves are long and cling to her arms. Once the fabric hits her waist, it hangs loosely and pools around her feet. The train is at least five feet long and fringed with gold. Her light brown hair has been curled softly and is partially hidden by a long veil. Even from this distance, her eyes capture me as they always have.
Slowly, she starts down the aisle. I notice her hands quivering, but my own are as well. When she reaches the stairs, she hands her bouquet of matching peonies to Navi. I
