Page 127 of A Legacy of Wrath and Reckoning

Agreed.His gaze settled on her mouth, his thumb dragging across the low back of her gown, barely brushing her skin, an image of precisely what he wished they were doing instead passing down the bond and heating her blood.

Applause broke out across the courtyard, the councillors smiling and shaking hands, and Rose whistled at Zylah’s side, pulling her attention away from Holt. Saphi grinned back at them all as the crowd began to move. Her first meeting had come to a close. And a successful one at that. Beyond the palace walls, cheers erupted, which meant if they didn’t all get moving, they truly were going to be late.

Though it had been the site of so much bloodshed, the palace grounds had been transformed for a wedding, delicate flowers wrapping around every piece of white marble, weaving through every hedge and along every path, rows and rows of seats laid out upon the terrace.

Holt led Zylah past the sea of unfamiliar faces, both human and Fae, hundreds and hundreds of them dressed in their finest. He led her down the aisle followed by Rose and Saphi, Okwata and Ahrek at their backs.

When they reached the first row, Cirelle greeted them all like they were her own, showing them to their seats, an empty space beside Ahrek perfectly sized for Okwata’s chair. The High Lord stood at the centre of an arch of flowers looking wholly out of place, Kej at his side.

Next to Kej, Arlan gave a small, nervous wave. Quiet fell over the rows of seats, a cluster of musicians somewhere amongst them playing a beautiful melody as the crowd stood, most of them stretching up on their toes for any sight of the bride.

Nye led her cousin down the aisle, Kej already crying as Rin approached her groom, despite the fact that they’d already had their Fae ceremony back at the Aquaris Court, despite the fact that this was a very elaborate, very human wedding suggested by Nye to share with the citizens, to give them all something to celebrate together. Kopi hooed from somewhere among the gardens, a flurry of sprites darting up from the trees beyond the archway. Malok officiated as Rin and Arlan said their vows, as Nye handed over rings and Kej bound their hands with silk.

Zylah felt Holt’s attention on her face as she wiped away a tear.You’re supposed to be watching them, not me.She glanced up, her heart squeezing at the softness in his eyes, the warmth. His hand had never left her knee; his gaze had never left her face.

I like this view much better. Besides, this is the memory I’d rather keep.He traced the slit along her thigh, and Zylah swallowed down the tightness in her throat at his words. At the way he treasured every moment together, every memory they made. Just as she did.

Music began again, and Zylah tore her gaze away from his face to see Rin and Arlan kiss, the crowd already on their feet clapping and cheering, Kej whooping the loudest of all.

Zylah caught the way Nye’s attention had settled across the gardens, and she couldn’t blame her friend’s momentary lapse in concentration. The palace looked a little different since the fighting; extensive repairs had changed it from the way Zylah remembered it. But the memories still lingered.

So many had died there, Zack included, and Zylah knew Nye had taken his death much harder than she’d ever admit. Still, she’d made sure to tell her friend how proud Zack would be of everything she’d achieved, of her position as councillor and all the work she’d done uniting humans and Fae. She knew, in part, Nye did it for him. Because he would have no doubt run for councillor, too. But Zylah shoved aside those thoughts for the rest of the proceedings, intent on soaking up the joy of the day, the buzz of the crowd.

After a meal and many, many toasts, the customary human dances Zylah had witnessed so many times before, she stood at the edge of the terrace, speaking quietly with Sira and Arioch. The Seraphim had forgone wearing his new wings, though Zylah knew from Sira’s updates he’d barely been without them since Okwata and the blacksmiths had finalised the design. He’d taken the news of losing his daughter quietly, and despite what she’d first thought, his mind had been affected by his time in Ranon’s maze, his recollection of events prior to his imprisonment not wholly accurate. Self-preservation, no doubt, and still, Zylah marvelled at his strength.

Sira’s integration back into society had not been as easy; she’d had to change her name, had still not quite adjusted to busy spaces. The pair offered up a quiet goodbye, and Zylah turned her attention to farther along the terrace where Kej danced, Daizin’s shadows wrapping around his arms to pull him in for a kiss.

Holt joined her just as Rin and Arlan stepped out onto the terrace, Nye following them with a tray of drinks. Rose and Saphi made their way over, bright smiles on both their faces.

Kej pulled away from Daizin’s embrace to beam at his sister, scooping a glass off the tray and raising it in a toast. “To a perfect second wedding,” he began, raising his glass. “Here’s to many more, with just as much free wine.”

Arlan laughed, but Rin elbowed her brother. “The wine isn’t free, idiot, we paid for all of it.”

“Well then, excellent choice, sis.”

Zylah raised the glass Nye had passed to her. “To both of you. Thank you for letting us share this day with you.”

Arlan’s eyes were on his wife as she drank to the toast.

“And to absent friends,” Nye added.

Kej raised a new glass, the first already drained. “And an abundance of wine.”

“You’ve already toasted the wine, Prince.” Daizin prised the glass from Kej’s fingers and placed it on a passing tray carried by an attendant.

Nye spoke quietly with Rin and Arlan as Kej and Daizin bickered, Rose and Saphi breaking away to dance together. Zylah couldn’t help her smile as she and Holt looked out across the gardens together.

“Does this qualify?” he asked quietly, leaning his elbows on the wall that bordered the gardens.

“Qualify for what?”

He raised his glass, pausing before he took a sip. “For your perfect day.”

Zylah loosed a breath, thinking back to their night atop the belltower and everything she’d described to him. There was nothing looming over them now. No Ranon. No Aurelia. No vampires and monsters. Humans and Fae were working to coexist peacefully, though it would still take some time to get right. Fae were opting to forgo any deceits to hide their features, more and more of them coming out from the quiet corners of Astaria each day. They were truly free, and all of it because he’d had a dream he’d never given up on.

“Close enough,” she whispered.

A few sprites danced from hedge to hedge, and Holt hummed at her side. He held out his hand, the movement tugging his sleeve up and revealing the bracelet she’d given him at his wrist. A ripple of his magic passed over the sprites, but the creatures remained unharmed, and Zylah’s eyes shot up to his.

---