Page 118 of Crown of Wings and Whispers

“If the spirit of Father or Afi goes back, if the Hestians are no longer immortal, will the Fae, here, become mortal as well?”

Bridie shook her head. “As long as the Naming Powers remain on Earth, your immortality is promised. Just be sure no one takes them away. I’d prefer both of ye outlive me.” She suddenly sucked in breath and pasted a wide smile on her face. “See now, I’ve been without yer father for seven years. I’m ready for some comp’ny. How old is this Wickham fellow?” She suddenly checked her watch and cursed. “Time to baste or Christmas will be ruint!”

44

Hidden Scene 2—We Haven’t Thrown The Rice Yet

(Picking up where the intended bride confronts her would-be groom in the aisle of St. Mary’s Church.)

Wickham took one look at my face and stopped. With only a few steps left, he refused to hand me over. Griffon looked from me to Wickham and back again, trying to figure out what was going on.

Father Donne waited patiently, all smiles.

Archer, the best man, looked like his head might spin on his shoulders if I didn’t keep moving. He gave his brother a shove from behind, and Griffon closed the distance and took the one hand available to him.

“Griffon?”

“Lennon, what is it, pet? What’s wrong?”

I forced up my chin and searched his eyes.Thiswas the man I loved. He couldn’t have betrayed me…but he had.

He grasped my hand to his chest and pressed it against the plaid sash over his heart. “Tell me what’s amiss, my love. None of this matters. Whatever it is, we can deal with it together. Trust me.”

Trust me.

It was the last straw. Tears leaked from my eyes and Wickham finally let go of me. Griffon grabbed my freed hand and waited. I couldn’t tell which of us was shaking, him or me.

“Griffon,” I said quietly, “I need to ask you something.”

“Anything.”

“You’ll tell me the truth?”

“I swear it.”

“Whose idea was it to marry me?”

Off to Griffon’s right, Archer groaned. But I didn’t have time to worry about him.

“My idea. Why?”

“All yours? No one suggested it was the best way to keep me from being seduced by Orion?”

Griffon’s jaws flexed. “Who suggested that was even possible?”

Archer came forward, pushed his way into our space and into our conversation. “I did. I happened to say somethin’ stupid to Persi a while ago. She dragged me out of the chapel…and apparently, Lennon overheard us.” He closed his eyes and groaned again. “I swear to ye, Lennon, I never told Griffon what the fairies told me. I never had a chance. When he came home on Christmas, he announced he was goin’ to marry ye before I could say a word.”

“And just what did the fairies say?”

“Those Queevna. They had me pretty riled up. Tellin’ me they saw more than Moire did. Making me swear to warn ye, Griffon, that Orion would win her heart if ye didn’t bind her to ye any way ye could.”

I’d heard enough. I turned and grabbed Wickham’s hand, then headed back the way I’d come, dragging the witch Wickham along with me.

Despite the sacred setting, Griffon shouted. “Lennon Todd, where do you think you’re going?”

I kept marching but turned my head to shout, “Cue the music! I’ll do it right this time!”

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