Page 44 of What Whispers in the Dark
By the confused expression on Thalon’s face, Everly held out her hand.
He took it, and she pulled him to his feet. Those warm palms clasped his cheeks as she explained, “You will never be rid of me, Thalon. I will torment you till my final breath … as your wife.”
He blew out a trembling breath as his dumb, impossibly stupidly-in-love voice managed, “That’s … that’s a yes?”
Her giggle was nothing short of a Stars Eternal dream. “Yes, my love. That is a yes.” She turned from his face and regarded Garrik. Then swiped her gaze back to Thalon’s face. “I do not wish to wait. Not another year. Not another day. Not another moment.”
Stars, yes.Without question, yes. Thalon about asked Garrik to preside when his brother was already by their side. The look on Everly’s face told him that maybe his proposal wasn’t the only planning that had occurred as of recently.Did she?—
“She asked me a few weeks ago.” Garrik shrugged. “I could not imagine why someone would want to be tied to you, but alas.” His grin grew purely sinister, and Thalon suppressed the urge to tackle him. “I said yes, knowing your idiot ass might coward out. We were all waiting to see who would ask first.”
“I voted for Everly,” Aiden proudly exclaimed as he stepped forward, carrying a white cloak.
Jade flanked him, carrying another. “I had coin on Thalon.” Her grin was purely reptilian.
Eldacar stepped forward next, a small box much like Thalon’s waiting in his hands. The sun gleamed off his round-rimmed glasses as he said, “I didn’t care to vote.” His cheeks reddened a little as he looked at his feet. Those brown eyes lifted as he murmured, “I’m happy you both said yes.”
A tattooed hand rustled the wavy red hair on his head as Thalon gave him a warm smile.
Garrik’s smile was brighter than a sun setting on Airathel’s oceans as he took Everly’s hand and placed it in Thalon’s. “It is my … greatest honor.”
Jade draped the long white cloak around Everly’s shoulders as Aiden toweled another around Thalon’s. Eldacar opened that small golden box where another ring sat. Much the same as Thalon’s, quite the perfect match.
They gazed at one another, wonderstruck, slipping the rings on each other’s fingers. Thalon burned the feeling to memory, marveling as Garrik went on, “The Stars Eternal as my witness. By the power gifted to me by the Almighty Maker of the Skies. I, Garrik, High Prince of Elysian, tie you as one. Tethered forever in a bond that nothing but our stars’ creator can break, not even I, as Tarrent-Garren laws are written.”
Their High Prince turned to the female that only death could tear from him. Thalon’s smile was outworldly as he prepared for that moment he had waited for since the day he met her. The day she strolled into their eating hall at the Keep. Her first day in training. When, surrounded by so many younglings, he stopped mid-sentence to stare at the female who stole his breath away.
“Everly…”
Seconds. Justsecondsuntil he heard the change.
“House of the Second Y. I cut your ties and tie a new.”
One more second. Thalon’s heart hammered. His knees weak.
“Thalon. House of the Seventh N…”
Unleash Michael, Garrik. Get on with it.He was certain he would die at that moment if Garrik didn’t hurry up.
No doubt he heard him. Garrik produced a roguish grin, and the bastard remained silent. Silent long enough that Everly jammed her battle boot into his shin, eliciting a soft growl from his stupidly slow and infuriating lips.
Six voices erupted in laughter. Five coming from the most important half-human and High Fae in his existence.
Garrik’s laughter trembled his entire body as the green of his eyes impossibly brightened. That smile remained as he delightedly repeated, “Thalon. House of the Seventh N … I give to you … the honor of announcing her reborn name to the Stars Eternal and Elysian.”
Liquid lined his golden eyes, much the same as her expectant, enraptured violets. By the stars, he could stare at them all day and never cease from marveling at how the purple feathered into a ring of teal.
Pride—overwhelming pride—bloomed in his chest as he finally …finallygot to say, “Everlyn.”
The heavens stopped breathing, and he thanked Chamuel that his air remained.
“Everlyn House of the Seventh N. My wife.”Mine.Mine, mine, mine.
“You may now?—”
Everlyn’s lips crashed against his, drowning out Garrik’s voice—and his following chuckle. Drowning out the symphony of clapping and cheers and laughter. The wind and trees and every soaring thing in the skies faded until it was her lips and his and his last letter and name as hers—hers.Forever for eternity and far after that, Maker of the Skies willing.
Thalon kissed her with a passion the realm had yet to witness from him. He cupped the back of her head and held tight to the curve of her spine. Something flashed—perhaps the Stars Eternal. A blessing from the Celestials and an invitation, an allowance.
