Page 69 of Her Royal Blood

As soon as Amadeus saw me in the hallway he nodded to Nan who looked stunning in her purple gown with butterflies floating as she walked. She and I were a vision; my grandmother and me.

“You are a marvel my dear,” Nan said, taking my hand.

“As are you Grandmother,” I offered her a bright smile.

“I love the sound of that.” She squeezed my hand and walked me towards the assembled friends and family with QueenNadine, King Helix, Queen Delia, Cheyenne and Janya sitting in the front row and the rest in the rows behind them.

Lex stood at the alter with Amadeus, looking stunning in his black tux with the light purple shirt. He had one purple and green butterfly on his lapel and like me he had the Redveign Crest on one sleeve and the Norvali Crest on the other. I could not wait to marry that man.

As I walked with Nan down the aisle to the regal sound of live musicians playing the Navarrian wedding march. Bastian stood to the side and put his end up to the sky to project our wedding to all of Voltaire; the entire sky became a replica of our ceremony. As I walked down the aisle I noticed that Bindi was elegantly dressed in a royal blue gown with a shiny silver dagger strapped to a garter belt barely glinting through a slit that went halfway up her thigh. I gave her a nod and a wink as I walked by.

Derringer was sitting next to her looking dapper and well-dressed and by the smile on his face, I think they were happy to reconnect with one another. In fact they both looked giddy and seemed like they must have had a long passionate night. I looked at everyone as I passed them and again felt gratitude for the family Lex and I had created for ourselves.

As soon as I got to the altar I took Lex's hands and stared into his beautiful eyes. We both turned our heads to Amadeus who started to speak as the music slowly drifted away.

“We are gathered here today to bring Prince Lex Redveign of Navarrah City and Queen Aria of Onyx Rah, together in blessed matrimony. By the law of Mages and the Royal seal of Navarrah City I am authorized to officiate the union between these two parties. With the joining in marriage of Lex and Aria, the Raven’s Blood and Midnight Moon Packs unite as do the kingdoms of Navarrah City and Onyx Rah. From now on, the kingdoms shall be joined by the union of their prince and queen. Are there any here that shall oppose such a union?”Amadeus asked as was tradition in Navarrah City, but instead of objections, the crowd clapped and cheered.

“Marry them already,” someone, who I believe may have been Hawk, shouted from the crowd.

“Then if there are no objections, it is time for Lex and Aria to make their vows.” Amadeus nodded first to Lex who stood up taller and squeezed my hand, only a little bit nervous.

“I Prince Lex Redveign of Navarrah City to vow to love, honor, protect, respect, and adore you, Aria Blackbane, Queen of Onyx Rah. You are my sun, my moon, and my sky and I shall never hurt or belittle you, I shall never begrudge your name or your person and most importantly I shall support you as my wife, and stand beside you as my queen. It is an honor and a privilege to be your husband.” Lex then took out a ring and poised it to place on my finger.

“Do you, Aria Blackbane, Queen of Onyx Rah, take Prince Lex, to be your lawfully wedded husband?” Amadeus asked and I couldn’t smile wider.

“I do, I do, I do.” I said wanting to hold him at that moment.

“And what are your vows, Aria?” Amadeus then nodded to me.

“I Queen Aria Blackbane of Onyx Rah to vow to love, honor, protect, respect, and love you, Prince Lex Redveign of Navarrah City. You are my right hand and my left as you are my confidant and my counsel. I shall never begrudge your name or your person and most importantly I shall support you as my husband and stand with you as our king. It is an honor and a privilege to be your wife.” I had no ring to give him, but Nan walked over from where she was standing beside me and brought a ring placing it in the palm of my hand.

“This is the ring your grandfather Duke Ellis Norvali had made for our wedding, and I’m sure your grandfather wouldwant your husband to have it. I gave mine to Lex this morning for you.” At the mention of this, Nan started to cry.

I took the ring from her and leaned down and kissed her sweet cheeks.

“Thank you,” I said, fighting back my own tears again. I was wearing her wedding ring, the one she would have worn to marry the duke, and I was about to give the duke’s ring to Lex. “You will live a life of ease and splendor, Grandmother, I promise. The Duke would be glad to know how well you will be spoiled,” I said and wiped the tear from her eye as she stepped back to the place beside me.

“Thank you, Nana Mavia,” Amadeus nodded to Nan and then finished the ceremony. “Do you Prince Lex Redveign, take Queen Aria to be your wife?”

“I do, oh good god I do with all of my heart,” Lex was nearly bursting with happiness.

“Then with the power of magic and jurisdiction over the Navarrian laws governing unions, I pronounce you husband and wife, you may exchange the rings.”

Lex and I each put a ring on each other’s finger. On mine was Nana Mavia’s wedding ring for a wedding she was never able to have, and Lex wore Duke Norvali’s ring and with them we were wed.

“I present to you, Queen Aria and King Lex of Onyx Rah.” We turned to the guests that were standing, clapping and some, if not all were crying and took a bow.

After bowing our guests shifted into their wolves as did Lex and I. We turned our heads to the sky where we were staring at all of Voltaire who were watching our ceremony and howled with all of our might. It was a display of unity, of power, and of promise.

Just as we did, the projection over the skies above us ended abruptly and from the cliffs of the waterfall just ahead, CryptClaw warriors were hoisting themselves up. Within moments, we were surrounded.

Chapter 23

Lex

Suddenly everything was chaos. We shifted back into our human forms in order to get Queen Nadine, Queen Delia, Nana Mavia, Halo, and Janaya away from the approaching Crypt Claw. I shepherded the women into the chalet and moved as quickly as I could to bring them to an interior room where they could be guarded. Several of the Royal Guards came with me as I raced through the halls to secure them.

“I’m sorry this trouble has come to your kingdom,” I said to Queen Nadine as I ushered her into the room. “This was never our intention.” The guilt was almost overwhelming.

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