Page 12 of Ties of Starlight

“I’ll… I will explain what happened after we’ve completed the first ritual and there’s time for such a discussion.” Nyrunn took a deep breath. “She'll understand.”

“And when she finds out you're in love with her?” Frode looked over his shoulder, confirming they were alone. “Do you think she'll understand then? Do you think she'll see you as a hero? She’ll see you as an opportunist who tookadvantage of her and swooped in to take her the second you could get away with it.”

Nyrunn whipped around, sending Frode skittering back with a yelp to avoid colliding. Nyrunn’s voice was dangerously low as he said, “I am still your king, and you will respect me. I am marrying her. And I will deal with the consequences.”

Frode stepped back, whispering, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Nyrunn turned back around, leaving Frode a few paces behind. There was much to be done.

Even so, Nyrunn couldn't say he was ecstatic. Frankly, he was terrified.

But he had to believe this was better than the alternative. Under no circumstances could Olaug be found before the wedding, nor could Idonea be told of her new groom.

This morning, Nyrunn had been convinced this would be the worst day of his life, but maybe this was a miracle he’d refused to even let his fragile heart hope for.

Chapter 5

Everything was going perfectly. Idonea took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the Star Lily bouquet in her hands. The thick, voluminous layers of her veil kept her from seeing anything but the fuzziest outlines of what was closest to her. While she couldn’t make out the details of her face, Idonea knew the hand on her shoulder belonged to one of the Constella's servants.

They stood by the door leading outside of the castle and into the courtyard already decorated and almost overflowing with all those attending the Cometa Couple’s wedding. A once in a lifetime opportunity for most.

Idonea assumed they were waiting for the sun to fall in the sky just enough for the first star to appear in the sky to begin, but she couldn't see to confirm whether that was the case. There was no other reason to delay.

Finally, the servant squeezed Idonea's shoulder and turned her in the right direction and opened the door. She said, “Just walk straight until—”

“I reach the arch, I know. It'll be exactly fifty stepsfor me,” Idonea said, taking another deep breath, her heart jumping. Fifty steps to perfection, to a happy ending, to everything finally going right.

“Right...” The servant shook her head. “Off you go.”

Idonea took her first step out the door and started the fifty steps to destiny. She knew she was walking down an aisle between a vast crowd of elves all looking at her. Not that they could really see her beneath the veils imitating the night sky and the voluminous skirts swirling and sweeping behind her. Her sleeves parted at the wrist to drape down and blend into the purple, blue, white, and gold.

Ten.

She made sure her shoulders were straight and the flowers were at the right angle, her bouquet being one of the few things she could make out beneath the gauzy haze obscuring her view.

Twenty.

She would give no one any reason to say that the wedding was anything but perfect. No reason to accuse her of being Inga.

Thirty.

Idonea's heart was about to leap right out of her chest and tear through the expensive, fine silk covering her. She was about to be married. Even if it was to the love of her life, that didn't make it any less nerve-wracking.

Forty.

Idonea could just barely make out the arch she was coming up on. The Constella stood by the Constellation Font, and Idonea had just counted forty-nine when her foot brushed the cushion on the ground.

It was slightly out of place. Idonea wobbled just a little, as she'd already been preparing for her last step, butmanaged to get her balance before falling and ruining everything.

Why wasn't it in the right place? Why hadn't they double checked that it was in the right spot?

Still, Idonea took a deep breath. Everything was fine. It was just a pillow. A slightly askew cushion couldn't ruin this.

Idonea couldn't make out the Constella's expression, but she saw him shift, his gaze going over Idonea's shoulder. It was only her immense discipline that kept her from trying to sneak a look over her shoulder at Olaug as he came down after her. Not that she'd really be able to see anything. So she stayed perfectly still, facing forward, heart swelling as every second brought him closer.

A murmur went through the crowd, and Idonea tightened her grip on her bouquet. That wasn't supposed to happen.

But it wasn't ruining anything. Maybe it was because of how desperately they needed this wedding. They were as excited and relieved as she was that it was happening and their people would be strengthened.

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