bChapter /bb156 /b

Serafine POV

028

Today has been oddlyforting and good. Xander has made today special in so many ways. He’s found ways to show that he’s sorry, and I know that’s why he’s doing so much and working so hard.

He doesn’t need to, though. We both made mistakes, yes, his were worse and caused me a lot of pain, but he doesn’t need to keep trying to make up for what happened. It’s been a nice day, I’ve done things that I never thought I would get the chance to do.

Eryx has been with us all day as well, so he’s got to experience them for the first time as well. It’s made me realise how much I want to give him everything that I never had. I don’t want him to miss out on things that every child should have.

Which, I guess is only possible because I’m back with Xander. If I wasn’t them, I wouldn’t be able to give him what he should have.

A knock has me walking to the door and Helena smiles at me. “I have something for you,” she says.

“Which is?” I ask.

She reaches past the door outside the room, then pulls something in. It’s a garment bag?

“You’re new wedding dress,” she says with a smile.

Wait, it’s happening? “I…” I know he said it, but I didn’t actually think that he was going to go through with it. I assumed it would be something small, like a ring, something quiet. Not a real wedding.

shes actually

“Let’s get you ready for your real marriage,” she says as she walks further into the room.

She unzips the bag and I stare the dress. It’s beautiful, nothing like the first. My first dress was a simple white long gown that wasn’t that great. It wasn’t ba /bwedding dress. There was no way Gideon would have willingly spent money on a dress for me.

This one is stunning, it plunges down between the breastsb, /bbis /btight–fittedb, /balmost like a corset at the top, and the skirt res out wide.

“I don’t know what to say,” I whisper.

“Realise that you deserve this. A new startb, /bsomething built on goodness and love, not deals and money.”

“That doesn’t help with what I should say,” Iugh.

“Nothing, Serafine. Just enjoy this moment,” she says as she begins to help me get into the dress. “How has your magic been today?” she asks.

“Settled,pletely, sometimes I actually forget it’s there. I spoke with the Hollowfang Raven while Xander was getting bEryx /bba /bchange bof /bclothes during the pic. bIt /bconfirmed that the Threads are all woven back into ce. My job is done.b” /bI smile at her.

“That’s good, so now you can focus on you, Xander, Eryx and the new baby.”

My head snaps up. “Excuse me?”

She just smiles softly and tightens the dress slightly, but not so much that bI /bcan’t breathe. I lower my hand to my stomach. Focusing and using bmy /bmagicb, /bI hear it, the flutter. Oh no. I look at her with wide eyes.

“Now, before you panic thinking that you and the baby will not make it like so many other Veyrathi, rememberb, /bbEryx /bdid. bYou’re /bmeant to bhave /bchildren, Serafine, so enjoy the blessings.”

bShe /bkisses my cheek and steps back. “You look beautiful, and you’re ready now bfor /byour weddingb./bb” /b

Opening the doorb, /bshe steps out and waits, and I follow behind her. I stare, shocked bat /bbthe /bsmall candles bthat /bblight /bba /bbpath /bbthrough /bbthe /bbpack /bbhouse/bb, /bband /bthen into the main hall. It’s beautiful, white drapes hang downb, /bcandles light bthe /bbspace/bb, /band flowers bare /beverywhere

b1/3 /b

??b./b??

bSal/bb, /b20 bJUN /b

9

bIs /bthis a real wedding? I’ve never been to one, but it feels like it. I know the ce at Gideons was set up, but that ce was always set bup /bfor events. The flowers were fake, not real. Here, everything is real, fresh and beautiful.

Xander stands at the front, and beside him are Killian and Garrick. Eryx is in Killian’s arms. It feels weird to be walking forward and bgetting /bmarriedb, /breally

married.

I stop at Xander, and he kisses me softly. I listen as the elder talks, or try to, but I can’t focus on his words. I can only focus on Xander, and the way he’s looking at me like I’m the only thing in this room, maybe even the whole world.

His hands capture mine, and he smiles. “You deserve everything, and I’m going to ensure you get it. Mostly though, I’m going to make sure you bare /btreated like you’re worthy of it, while making sure that I prove to you every day that you’re amazing. Every day I’ll show you that you’re lovedb, /band how much you mean to me, and how grateful I am that you’re here, and my mate.”

He leans forward and kisses me softly.

“I want to thank you, Xander, you showed me that people can have bad sides, but that they are also capable of love and care. You’ve shown me everything, but mostly, I’m grateful for the fact that you’re trying to show me what life should be like. Mostly though, thank you for opening up your bheart /band letting me in when you had lost so much already before.”

Smiling softly, he reaches to the side, and I feel him remove the ring from before. When he slides on the new one, something in my heart thunders harder. He hands me the second ring, and I slip it onto his finger.

He doesn’t wait, he grabs me and kisses me hard. Holding me against him with everything he has. The kiss is full force, passionate and like he’s bmaking /bme aware that he’s not ever going to let me go.

The wedding party has gone well, a lot of the pack havee up and congratted me on the wedding and on having Eryx. Many of them call me Luna now, it’s like I’m finally home, somewhere I belong.

Arms wrap around me and I turn to see Xander. He steps back and holds out his hand. “It’s time for us to dance.”

My eyes widen. “Xander, I’ve no idea how.” Maybe some warning or training would have been better?

3

“You’re fine, I’ll guide you. Let me guide you,” he says. Then we’re moving into the centre of the room, his arm wraps around my waist, and he steps ifirst/ii, /iand I follow. Slowly, I begin to understand the steps and move with him.

He kisses my forehead and smiles down at me. “I’m d that I didn’t ruin your first dance, I did some of your other firsts,” he says quietly.

“If anything, I would ruin it by stepping on youb, /bor falling overi,/i” I say with a quietugh.

Chuckling, he shakes his head. “Doubtful, you are gracious, I doubt that you would struggle with dancing.”

I rest my head against his chest, and we move and sway to the music.

“Xander,” I whisper. He makes a quiet humming sound in response. I don’t know how to say it, so instead, I take his hand and bce /bbit /bo focus, and let the magic spread to him. Then I hear the thudding, and I know he will as well.

He pulls back and stares at me. “You’re pregnant?” he whispers.

I nod slowly and reply. “Helena mentioned it, she noticed before me,” I say.

stomachb. /b

His hands hold my faceb, /band he looks down at meb. /bb“/bThank you ifor /ieverything. You’re truly amazingb,/bb” /bhe whispers bbefore /bbkissing /bbme/bb, /bband /bbI /bknow bthat /bbhe /bmeans it. I settle into himb, /band rx knowing that now all we have to do is enjoy our blife/bb. /bbIt /bwill be hectic, bisure/i/bb, /bbwith /bkidsb, /bbespecially /bbwith /bbEryx /bbhaving /bmagicb. /bIt will all be worth it though.