Page 198 of Fearless

A bead of water splatters Paedyn’s nose. She laughs. Rain drips from the canopy of leaves to sprinkle us in the brewing storm. Damp hair curls atop my forehead. Jax lifts his palms toward the crying sky. Ellie stares lovingly at her queen. Gail’s tears mingle with the rain while Andy rests her head on the cook’s shoulder. Lenny winks at the drenched bride who passes.

This is no grand wedding. We wear no crowns or jewels. This is the gathering of loved ones, and the spirits of those left behind. This is a union of souls that ache to be stitched together.

Lightning cracks through the sky behind Paedyn. Her steps do not falter.

When she stops before me, I nearly fall to my knees.

I am forever awed by the mere presence of her.

She passes her bouquet to Ellie. I grab her hands, willing to let her lead me wherever she pleases.

There is no rambling Scholar, no lengthy vows exchanged.

It is simply us, standing before fate and defying the odds.

Pae’s commitment to me lacks any hesitancy. “I do.”

My heart stutters. It is broken and healing and missing Kitt beside me. But it is full.

She is what my scarred heart beats for.

I tilt her face toward mine before clutching it in my trembling hands. “I do.” My voice is heavy with emotion. “In every lifetime, I do.”

Her lips find mine, sealing the promise between us.

Thunder claps alongside our family.

I breathe in my bride. She tastes like my forever.

We walk from beneath the willow’s canopy, hand in hand.

King and queen.

Shadow and Flame.

Poet and muse.

Tears fill the eyes of those around us, accompanied by clapping and followed with laughter. The small group parades behind, wet branches grasping at our clothing as we push through the leaves. Lightning is quick to greet us. We step into the clearing beyond, damp grass beneath our feet and a raging storm above.

“I have something for you,” I murmur against Pae’s ear.

She smiles up at me. “Oh?”

Jax hands me the dripping crown with a beaming grin. I hold the twining circlet of roses between us, watching Paedyn’s gaze widen. Then I’m placing that delicate crown onto her damp hair.

She gapes at me in shock. “You finally did it. You made a flower crown.”

“I just needed more practice.”

Water drips from her lashes with every astonished blink. “All that hard work for me?”

“For my Queen,” I correct with a soft kiss to her lips.

And then we dance.

Paedyn is spinning in my arms, laughing in the spitting rain. The hem of her dress is muddy, but she can’t seem to take her eyes off me long enough to notice. I push wet hair from her face, straighten her crown of roses, hold the hand that now wears my brother’s ring. We cling to each other while shadowed figures dance around us. Laughter envelops our swaying forms, warming us despite the chilled rain.

I hold Paedyn against me.

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