Eternal Promise (Between Worlds Book 3) (23 page)

“Cool.” I nodded. “Is there anything I need to do before we go?”

“No. Everything is ready.”

I walked outside and found Abrax waiting for me.

“No way!” Sierra shouted from behind. “That’s a…flying horse!”

“Wanna ride him with me?”

“For real?”

“Yeah, for real.”

“Yes!”

“Climb on.”

“How am I going to sit with the dress?”

“Sideways.”

“What if I fall?”

“You won’t.”

Abrax bowed down just enough so that Sierra and I could get on. “Go slow, boy.”

Abrax neighed and took off into the sky.

The look on Sierra’s face was priceless. She looked like a kid on Christmas morning. The ride there wasn’t long at all. Lanterns hung from the trees. We were over the falls, which was flowing abundantly again. The light from the moon was bright enough for us to see. “Rylie, this place is more than I could have imagined.”

“First time I saw it, I knew I had to get married here.”

Abrax circled around and I saw an army of light and dark guards surrounding the area. My winged horse landed and we got off and smoothed down our dresses.

“This is it,” I said to my best friend. “I’m going to be married soon.”

Chapter Twenty

T
he wagons pulled up and Azura and my wide-eyed parents jumped off. My dad looked confused, frightened, and angry, but then his eyes rested on me and all those feelings were replaced with love. I could see it in his eyes. I could feel it when he embraced me. “You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he whispered. “I know I’ve been tough on you and well, just a cranky old jerk, but it was because I love you so much.”

“I know, Dad.”

“You…I…I’m so proud of you, baby. I’m so proud to be your dad.”

“I’ll always be your little girl.”

“You’re damn right. I will never stop loving you and if Kallan ever mistreats you, he will answer to me.”

“He won’t.”

He kissed my forehead. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to walk your mother to her seat.” He walked off, leaving me with Sierra.

A harp started playing. It was the only music Kallan and I wanted. I peeked over to where the music was coming from and saw Drake playing the instrument. The guests included both dark and light faeries, elves, Cyclops, dwarves, piskies, and other woodland animals. Never in a million years when I had dreamed of my wedding, did I imagine this, but it was perfect.

I blew out a long breath to try and stop my body from shaking.

“Hey. You okay?”

“Yes. No. Nervous.”

“Take a deep breath.” Sierra faced me and demonstrated. I followed along. “You love him?”

“Completely.”

“When you walk up that aisle, look at him, and feel his love.”

That helped. “Thanks.”

My mom sat next to Azura and an empty chair that my dad would sit in after he walked me down the aisle. I looked on the ground. There wasn’t exactly an aisle. That needed to be fixed. I squatted down and placed my hands on the ground. Closing my eyes, I visualized two lines of flowers making an aisle to where Kallan stood.

When I opened my eyes, there were two rows of glowing pink flowers all the way to the sagart who was going to marry us. Kallan wasn’t there yet.

A new song started and I watched Kallan walk from the side and stand in front of the sagart. He looked handsome dressed in black suit pants, a teal button-up shirt, and a black vest. The colors of his shirt and my dress matched our wings. He looked right at me and both our wings fluttered.

So beautiful…
Kallan whispered in my head.

Two of my young cousins danced up the aisle I created, dropping flowers along the way. Then Violet and Nessa walked up and stood to the side. Sierra looked back at me and winked and then she glided up the aisle.

The music changed again. Dad offered me his arm and I linked mine through his. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

Together we walked up the aisle. My eyes were on Kallan and only Kallan. The smile on his face made my heart soar. I didn’t even realize we had come to a stop until my dad whispered in my ear. “I have to let go now.”

I glanced over at him and smiled. “I love you, Dad. Always.”

“I love you too, Rylie.” He placed my hand in Kallan’s and said to him, “Treat her right. Love her. Don’t hurt her.”

“Yes sir. I love her more than words can say.”

Dad nodded, shook his other hand, kissed me on the cheek, and sat down next to Mom. He took her hand and smiled at me. The music stopped and Drake took his place next to Kallan.

I turned my gaze to the beautiful man standing next to me.

The sagart smiled at us both and nodded his head. Then he began, “The fey aligns with the elements. Air, fire, water, and earth. May this union be blessed with the gifts of air, for openness, communication of the heart, and to purify the mind and body. May this union be blessed with fire, for energy, passion, and creativity. May you love each other even in the darkest of times. May this union be blessed with water, for you to feel emotion and trust one another. And may this union be blessed with earth, providing sustenance, fertility, and security.”

The words were different than any other I had ever heard, but I loved them.

“Oleander, Kallan, will you please join hands to participate in handfasting, an ancient tradition of tying the bride and groom’s hands together.”

Kallan took my hand.

The sagart placed a pink ribbon around our hands and wrists and said, “With these ribbons, I bind Oleander and Kallan to the vows they make to each other.” He held up three more ribbons, two silver and one pink. Three piskies flew down and took them and continued to bind our hands. “These are the hands of your best friend full of love for you as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These hands will work with each other to build a future, passionately love you, cherish you, and comfort you. These hands will hold you when you’re scared or hurt. They will wipe away your tears of happiness or sorrow. These hands will hold your children.”

Inside my chest, my heart was racing.

“The knots of this binding are not formed by these physical ribbons, but by your vows. You hold your future in these hands. May your marriage be blessed and may you never be parted from one another.”

“Kallan and Oleander, as your hands are bound together now, so are your lives and spirits. Like the stars above you should be a constant source of light and like the earth below, you should be a firm foundation from which to grow.”

The elder then pulled one ribbon and all four were carried up into the air.

“Do you wish to say anything to each other?”

Kallan nodded and stared into my eyes. “When I first met you, you drove me crazy. Looking back I think it was because I had fallen in love with you already. Every day since, I’ve loved you more. You’re my beginning, my middle, my end. Mian mo chroí. I will spend the rest of my days making you happy.”

Tears were rolling down my cheeks and I swallowed before softly speaking, “My heart knew it loved you before my mind had a chance to process it all. I love you as gentle as a soft wind tousling your hair and as fierce as a hurricane. I promise to love you for eternity.”

The sagart held one ring in each hand. “Will you honor and respect each other?”

Together we answered, “We will.”

“Will you share each other’s pain and seek to ease it?”

“We will.”

“Will you love each other unconditionally and for always?”

“We will.”

“You will now seal the vows you share with each other by exchanging rings. The circle of the ring symbolizes eternity.” He handed us the rings.

Kallan took my hand and gently placed a rose gold diamond flower wedding ring on my finger.

I placed a rose gold ring on his finger.

“Kallan and Oleander, I now pronounce you married.”

Kallan gently touched his lips to mine. The passion increased and the kiss became more intense until he pulled away just in time to see piskies flying quickly around us leaving a glittery dust behind. He had a sparkle in his eye and a smile on his lips that melted my heart. I couldn’t believe I was married to the man in front of me. I. Was. Married!

The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon. The sagart began talking again. “Let the faery stone that once joined our land together be whole again just as the Aurorian and the dark prince have been united.” He motioned to the two stones. “Now.”

Kallan and I picked them up and touched our halves of the stone together. The last rays from the light of the moon and the first rays of the sun touched the stone. Suddenly a bright white light shone out of the stone, causing me to squint. It got brighter and brighter and then the ground rumbled. The stone vibrated in my hands and sent out something that could only be explained as a
whoosh
.

Immediately the colors of the faery realm were more vibrant. The smells were more potent. The flowers were humming louder. The land was once again united. Even my body could tell the difference. I felt alive, warm, and happy, but I’m sure most of that was due to being married.

I examined the stone. It was whole. There was no evidence that it had ever been broken in two.

Azura stood and faced us. “Please kneel.”

Even though I was confused, I obeyed and knelt down.

Azura raised a dainty tiara made of tiny golden leaves and flowers. “The Aurorian crown. Given to the Aurorian on her wedding day.” She placed the crown on my head. “Lead the fey well.”

I stood up and answered, “I will.” And then more quietly, so only she would hear, I said, “Thank you, Mamaí.”

She grinned, took Kallan’s and my hand, and stood between us holding our hands up as we faced the guests.

The fey, other creatures, plus three humans, erupted in cheers.

And then the party began. I clung to Kallan’s hand as Azura, my parents, Sierra, Drake, and everyone else wanted to hug and kiss us. A band started playing and faeries started dancing. Some very long tables were pushed together to make a buffet for the food. Breads, jams, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and desserts covered the tables.

The music started and Kallan led me to the designated dancing area where we had our first dance as husband and wife. That was so weird to say in my head.
You doing okay?
Kallan asked.

Yes. I’m still processing everything. The ceremony was so different, but I loved it. I wish we had a photographer.

I saw Sierra and your parents snap a few pictures.

Oh good!

You’re happy then?

I grinned.
The happiest I’ve ever been.

Kallan pulled me close and pressed his lips against mine for a long, lingering kiss.

The song ended and then the band played a song from the human realm about dads and daughters and I got to dance with my dad. His eyes glistened with tears. “My daughter…the queen of some fantasy land…who would have thought?”

I shrugged. “Still seems unreal to me sometimes.” I rested my head on his shoulder and let a couple tears slip down my cheeks, not because I was sad, but because I was worried about how he felt.

The next dance was for Kallan and my mothers. He switched between the two of them halfway through. The final special dance was for the wedding party. Sierra and Drake danced as well as Violet and Tiern and Nessa and Ronan.

A big cake was on one of the tables. Traditional white, with edible flowers cascading down the cake. Kallan and I got a piece and fed it to each other, then everybody else dug in.

We spent hours at the waterfalls dancing, eating, partying, visiting, and even sneaking off for some kissing. The sun was getting lower in the sky and I knew I’d have to say goodbye to my parents. Sierra had talked my cousins into giving her another fruit, so she’d be staying another day. Violet and Nessa had taken a liking to Sierra, even though she was human.

Kallan and I walked my parents home. When we got to the tree line, Dad hugged me first. “You make one gorgeous bride. I’ve never been prouder than I was today.” He took a deep breath. “I never thought I’d say this, but you do belong there.”

“Thanks, Dad. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“You are beautiful, Rylie.” Mom embraced me. “The faery realm really is magical. I wish I could stay here with you. I’m going to miss you so, so much.”

“I’ll visit often.”

“You better.” She squeezed me tight, kissed my cheek, and said, “I love you.”

“I love you.”

I watched them cross the yard and go in the back door. For the first time since dawn, I thought about Satine. My parents were home now, safe and sound.

Kallan took my hand. “You can go visit anytime. Every day if you want. I won’t stop you.”

“I’ll visit. I just think as time goes on it won’t be as much. I wish there was a way for them to visit me.”

“We can arrange it whenever they want.” He put his arms around me. “Ready to go home?”

Home. I wasn’t even sure where that was. “Where’s home?”

He sent me a mischievous grin. “You’ll see.”