Page 105 of Bianca and the Monsters

My jaw tight, I continue, “I’m awkward, bumbling, grumbling, angrily knitting, fussy, and occasionally feral. The acceptance you’ve shown me changed my life, but that doesn’t mean we have to be forever. I never want you to feel forced into aforeverwith me.”

Tenderly, she asks, “Do you love me?”

“With all that I am.”

I think she’s grinning, but I can’t see her face. “Ask me if I love you.”

The tenor of my deep baritone voice sounds wounded. “Do you love me, Lady Bianca?”

She leans back and stares into my eyes. “Withallthat I am. Please, marry me, Archie. I know this is right for us—you and me—and also our family. When Nico first brought up the idea of this unconventional family structure, I was worried I’d disappoint the whole crowd, after mucking up all my relationships. But now that I’m here, I know exactly where I belong with all of you. And all those things you feel, weallfeel that way sometimes, but together, we’ll get through everything.Please, don’t let your doubts be louder than our love.”

She places her small hands on my cheeks. “Archie,you’remy husband—I know it—and I want desperately to be your wife.”

I sniffle but hold it together. “What of the others? Won’t they be your husbands too?”

“Nope, you’re it. You are my husband and the head of our family.”

I’m scowling again and Bianca’s smiling lopsidedly at me, while I work it out. “Nico’s your mate. Bastien is just plain yours. But what of Pennie?”

“He’s my sexydreamboat—don’t worry, he’s totally thrilled and keeps telling his pool about theboatpart of his title.” She rolls her eyes. “Don’t ask—he’s got this weird banter going with someone named Gerald. It’s a thing. I’m not asking. The day I start talking to the pool, it’s time for us to take long hikes, breathe fresh air, and possibly climb some trees.”

I cup my hand under her chin. “You have no doubts about me?”

“Not one, but I do havelotsof ideas about the wedding night.”

I blush so violet I match my ridiculous suit and suddenly understand exactly why she selected this particular shade. She plans to make me blush all day… during ourwedding.

“Beautiful Bianca, will you be my wife, to love and cherish all the days of our lives?”

“Finally, and an epicyes.”

Chapter67

Bianca

Our gorgeous wedding takes place in the courtyard, with Archie and me dressed to the nines and surrounded by our family,myfamily. It’s challenging to even remember how lonely I was, how isolated in such a populated city. My old job seems like an absurd nightmare I once had, and all the one-syllable doofuses just a sideshow I wandered through at the wrong circus.

My life back there feels like the true fairy tale with hungry wolves and snarky witches. Myhappily ever afteris here in Monster Land, not in anything that happened before I stepped through that portal.

My dad performs the wedding like a stuffy—sometimes weepy—professor. Bastien is my flower Taran. Pennie and Nico escort me down the aisle, and my mom’s joy seems genuine. Best of all, Archie owns the moment, a proud and worthy Clumberton claiming his happiness.

As I suspected, the second Archie and I exchange our vows and declare our unending love and devotion, our song explodes into a symphony orchestra performing during a Fourth of July fireworks show. More than that—our five-part song is suddenly free flowing, like an internal intercom. It’s going to be chaotic for a while, until we become accustomed to living in a rowdy musical or find the mute button. One thing is certain; no one will ever grieve alone again.

Archie is so beside himself to finally be included in our littlesong worldthat he bursts into tears right on the spot and we all comfort him. When you’re alone, it’s easy to think that you are the only one feeling the touch of that cruelty, but Archie’s response is proof that no one, not even the biggest, strongest, kindest monster, is without his doubts about his place in this life. We’re all searching for our home in this world, and for the family Clumberton, that search is over. We’re here together and we’re planting roots.

But my folks are leaving for the queen’s castle in the morning. I don’t know what exactly went on between them while I was in the cavern, but they blush a lot now, they whisper to each other, and my father discreetly asked Pennie if there was any way he could get a horn upgrade, in case my mom is into that kind of thing now. Pennie thankfully put the brakes on that. My dad can take out every painting and sculpture without horns, so any add-ons are a bad idea.

Our reception is delightful, with food prepared by Remy and his knights, who are excellent bakers. But my favorite part of the evening is Archie’s delight in presenting his ancient record player—it’s as big as a cabinet—and his truly impressive vinyl collection. We dance all night, all of us together and in pairs, visiting some dances from yesteryear that are quite amusing. Of course, Pennie excels at all of them, especially one from the 90s named after an animated rabbit.

My mother is overwhelmed at hearing music for the first time since she was taken. My sympathy, empathy, and budding emotional attachment get riled at seeing her so affected. It will take time to deal with the enormity of what she went through, the loss of the sister I’ll never know, and what my life might have been if my mom had been there for any of it. Thankfully, we’ll have time, and I suspect we’ll have regular visits from my parents, considering we have the only electricity and music in the realm.

Our wedding night isn’t the fabulous orgy I thought it would be. We’re all just so happy to be together and so freaking tired that we form the loveliest cuddle pile and sleep more soundly than ever, our combined song a lullaby that manages to drown out Archie’s hearty snoring.

We’d wondered how we would all fit, but when the time comes, we just do. Nico, me, Bastien, and then Pennie in a line, with Archie above us, the literal head of our family. It just works. Pennie reaches over Bastien to maintain contact with me, which makes Bastien feel even more protected. It’s perfect.

In the morning, before my folks set out, my monsters and I gather for a formal meeting with the queen to clear the air about a few topics, during which Sir Sebastien Theodore Weston Clumberton becomesQueen’s Special Envoy on Taran Affairs. He’s beaming, brighter than normal, but he’s also wary of my mother, which is fair.

We don’t share a single word about our new arrival—though we’ve spent every free moment holding her and telling her how intelligent she is. The feather designs on my skin, which are faint now, shimmer when I’m near her. I feel incredible love for her, but she’s really Bastien’s, exactly as she should be, and he floats with pride every time he thinks of her.

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