Page 77 of Dark Witch: Entangled Fates

YAMANU

As Mey turned to face Yamanu, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears of joy, his heart swelled with love. He had never seen her look more beautiful than she did at that moment, and it had nothing to do with the expertly done makeup and hair or the exquisite wedding gown. It was the radiance of her spirit and the love that shone through her eyes.

Mey took a deep breath and squeezed his hands lightly. "Yamanu, my love. When I first met you, I knew that my life would never be the same. You were like a bolt of lightning, a force of nature that swept me off my feet and showed me what true love was all about."

Yamanu's throat tightened with emotion as he listened to her words.

"You have been my anchor and my staunchest supporter," Mey continued, her voice growing stronger with each word. "You have loved me unconditionally and believed in me even when I doubted myself. You have always put me first, even when it meant sacrificing your own needs and desires."

Yamanu swallowed hard, his heart so full that he thought it might burst. It was true that he had always put Mey first, but he had never seen it as a sacrifice or felt like he was giving up anything. Loving her and being loved by her in return was the greatest gift the Fates could have ever given him.

"I promise to love you, to cherish you, and to stand by your side through thick and thin," Mey said, her eyes locked on his. "I promise to be your best friend, your lover, and your soulmate. I promise never to take you for granted and to always remember how lucky I am to have you in my life. And I promise to spend every day showing you just how much you mean to me and how deeply and completely I love you."

Mey let go of his hand and reached to her sister, who handed her a ring.

"With this ring, I bind my life to yours." She slipped it over his finger.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Yamanu lifted Mey's hand and kissed the back of it while collecting his thoughts. He had written a dozen different vows, but after listening to so many others, he'd decided to keep it simple.

"From the moment I first saw you, my love, I knew that you were the one. You walked out of that room in the modeling agency, and I felt like I was zapped by high voltage. I was burning, and you were the only one who could save me." He smiled. "Luckily for me, you didn't shy away from the wreck that I was and embraced me, faults, warts, and all, with open arms and a wide open heart."

Yamanu lifted his hand and cupped her face, his thumbs brushing away the tears that had started to fall.

"I promise to love you, to cherish you, to stand by your side through the ups and the downs and everything in between. I promise to be your best friend, your lover, your greatest cheerleader, and your rock. I promise to always put you and your happiness first. And I promise to spend every day of forever showing you just how much you mean to me, just how deeply and completely I love you."

As he finished his vows, Yamanu leaned in and pressed his forehead against Mey's, their breath mingling in the space between them.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a ring and slipped it on her finger. "We don't need rings to bind us to each other, so think of it as a symbol of my everlasting love and devotion."

The Clan Mother stepped forward and placed her hands on their joined ones. "Yamanu and Mey. By the power vested in me by the Fates, I now pronounce you bonded mates. Two souls united for all eternity."

She smiled. "You may now kiss."

Yamanu needed no further encouragement. He pulled Mey into his arms and kissed her with all the love and passion he felt for her, pouring his heart and soul into that most important kiss that served to seal their vows to each other.

As they broke apart and turned toward the cheering crowd of their friends and family, the love, happiness, and support that surrounded them led Yamanu to feel as if the Fates themselves were celebrating with them at that very moment.

57

JASMINE

As Jasmine stepped into the transformed dining room of the luxury ship, she was struck by its grandeur. She'd seen the place when it had been set up for lunch, but she'd been so overwhelmed by her newfound freedom and talking to Amanda that she hadn't noticed the details.

Above her, multiple crystal chandeliers hung from an intricately designed ceiling. The dining area stretched around a large dance floor, where several couples were already dancing.

The tables were draped in white linens and topped with fine china, sparkling silverware, and polished crystal glassware. Rich wood paneling lined the walls, contrasting beautifully with the soft, opulent decor, and one side was all glass, overlooking a large terrace and the ocean beyond.

A buzz of conversation filled the place, accompanied by the clinking of cutlery, while soft music was playing on the hidden loudspeakers.

"Would you like to dance?" Edgar asked. "Or do you prefer to sit down first and munch on some appetizers?"

She was hungry, having only eaten a snack in the staff lounge, but the dance floor offered her a great opportunity to look around and search for celebrity faces in the crowd of guests.

"Let's dance first." She smiled up at him. "Are you a good dancer?"

He leaned to nuzzle her neck. "I'm an excellent dancer."

As they walked by the tables, Jasmine smiled and made eye contact, but although everyone was incredibly good-looking, she hadn't spotted any celebrities yet.

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