My fingertips tingled with excitement and nerves. This was really happening. It felt like I was dreaming, but Iknew it was real, and I couldn’t wait to get going.
Clapping a hand on Rasp’s shoulder, I said, “Grab Vince. You guys have to walk those ladies down.”
He gave me a maniacal grin and hurried off to find our friend. Once he was gone, I caught Kaskawan’s eye and gave him a thumbs-up. He nodded, then whispered to the string quartet.
As the tent filled with music, the crowd quieted. A few moments later, Dad gave me a nod, and we walked down together, shoulder to shoulder, striding toward the raised dais where Elle and I would exchange vows. Once we were in front of Kaskawan, my father hugged me, then took his seat in the front row. I shook Kaskawan’s hand, then turned and watched the aisle.
Rasp walked Sophia down. The girl looked happy, and Rasp, for once, managed to look dignified and regal rather than like a preening peacock. Behind them, Vince escorted Collette. From the corner of my eye, I saw Sahalie wave at him. Vince grinned, his cheeks taking on a rosy hue as he walked the rest of the way.
Collette took her place behind Sophia, and Vince behind Rasp. The bride’s side of the room wasn’t as full as the groom’s. The Laurent family was still bitter about how things had gone down, but many had seen the writing on the wall and had relented in their condemnation of their house being led by a woman who couldn’t shift. Most, if not all, were in attendance. Many hadn’t survived the battle, and her parents were now in exile. Even if they weren’t, Elle wouldn’t have wanted them here. Personally, I’d have sent them to Antarctica to freeze, or maybe to live in a hut in the Saharan Desert. Instead, Elle had allowed them to retire to some Caribbean villa they owned when she’d have had every right to make their lives miserable. She’d chosen mercy and kindness. It showed me, for the millionth time, how good of a person she was.
It was nice to see all the wolf shifters sitting alongside dragons. It hadn’t happened in many centuries.
Finally, Freddy stepped out with Delphine on his arm. Freddy’s fiancée was in attendance at the wolf side of the room. Their own wedding had been postponed. Even when Elle had tried to get him to change his mind, Freddy and his lady love had been stern in their assurance that they were fine with it, and that they wanted Elle to get married first. Something about how she’d been denied her birthright for much of her life, and as the eldest sibling, she deserved to have a special day first. That alone had sealed the deal for me, and I’d asked Freddy to be one of my groomsmen that afternoon.
Freddy gave Delphine a slight kiss on the cheek, then shook my hand. “She looks gorgeous, Aurelius. You’re not gonna believe it.”
Freddy grinned and joined the other men. The quartet ceased playing for a few beats, then struck up the Bridal March. My heart thundered wildly as I waited for the woman I loved more than anything in the world. When Elle finally rounded the corner, all the breath left my lungs in a rush. She was glowing, and beyond gorgeous. Her hair was adorned with ribbons and flowers. Her dress, a flowing white with a long train, shimmered under the chandeliers hung from the roof of the tent. The lights caught on the crystals embedded in the gown.
Seeing my face, Elle grinned, then stopped beside my father. I frowned, and a murmur went through the crowd as Elle leaned down to speak to him. This wasn’t part of the plan.
“Since my father doesn’t want to be here today, would you do me the honor of giving me away, Cassius?” Elle said.
My father’s face brightened, and tears shone in his eyes as he stood. I’d be lying if I didn’t feel the backs of my own eyes begin to ache with unshed tears of my own.
Dad held his arm out and cleared his throat. “It would be the honor of my life.”
Elle hooked her arm through his elbow and allowed him to lead her up the steps. When they stood in front of me, Dad raised his voice to be heard across the tent.
“I, King Cassius Decimus, do bestow Brielle Maire Laurent to be wed to Crown Prince Aurelius Decimus.” He slipped her hand off his arm, and placed it in mine. “May you treat her like the queen she will one day be.”
I nodded. “I will, Father.” I squeezed Elle’s hand, running my thumb along her knuckles.
Dad took his seat again, and I turned to Elle. Our eyes met, and neither of us could stop smiling.
Kaskawan raised his hands toward the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, we gather here today to join this man and this woman…”
“Let’s party
!” Rasp shouted as Elle and I walked through the door of the ballroom for the reception.
The crowd roared, and a dozen pops sounded around the room as the staff opened bottles of champagne. Now that the vows had been said and the rings exchanged, even the wolves looked more at ease and happy about joining their house to the dragon king’s. Elle and I took our seats at the head table, nibbling on canapés, our hands entwined beneath the table. I glanced at her, and the grin she gave me in return told me she was thinking exactly what I was. We couldn’t wait to get our hands on each other, but that would need to wait a while longer.
After our guests had enjoyed a few glasses of champagne, Rasp tapped on a microphone.
“Hi, everyone.” He raised his glass. “I think it’s time the bride and groom come out to the dance floor for the first dance, right?”
The crowd clapped and cheered. I put my lips against Elle’s ear. “I promise I won’t step on your toes.”
“Oh good,” she said. “I wish I could say the same.”
She was much better than she let on, and even if she’d been terrible, I’d have enjoyed feeling her body against mine. After a few minutes, others joined in, filling the dance floor. Elle rested her head on my chest as we swayed, and I couldn’t help but smile watching Vince and Sahalie drifting across the floor.
“Elle, I’m really happy for you,” a woman said.
Elle gasped and turned to hug her. “Lorraine!
Oh my gosh, I’m so glad you came.”
The woman patted Elle’s cheek. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I’m at a table with the other girls from the store. Will you stop by and say hello to them? They’d love to see you.”
“Oh, of course. I’ll swing by after dinner.”
Lorraine poked Elle playfully in the ribs and pointed at me. “No offense to my grandson, I love him dearly, but you definitely did good with this one. I’m glad you didn’t let me pawn him off on you.”
Elle snorted and hugged the woman again. “I’m sure he’s a fabulous guy, but yeah, I don’t think I could have done much better than this.”
Lorraine’s eyes narrowed, and she lowered her voice. “What exactly is he a prince of? I heard his father say he was a king.”
Elle’s eyes went wide, and she glanced at me, then did her best to cover it up. “Um, well, it’s more an honorary thing. They’re family goes way back, and, uh…” She glanced at me, a silent plea for help.
“Like she said, more an honorific than anything,” I said.
Lorraine frowned, but she patted my shoulder. “You rich people are sweet, but very weird. Well, I’ll let you get back to enjoying yourselves.”
The woman gave Elle a brief hug and vanished back into the crowd.
“Do you think she bought that?” she asked.
“Maybe.” I shrugged. “Come on, they’re gonna serve dinner any second.”
The food was fantastic, but what I enjoyed most was sitting beside Elle. I had a sense of pride knowing she was mine. Up here, I was a prince, soon-to-be king, but what I was most proud of was having this beautiful, smart, caring woman as my wife. Surreal as it was, my mind buzzed with excitement at the prospect of a future with her.
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