Page 111 of Wilds of Wonder
El’s eyes widened, then she paused, and slowly signed, catching Maverick’s gaze.
He kissed Annalee on the head, keeping an arm roped around her while watching El. “Here? You can’t be serious.”
“What?” My gaze bounced between El and him. “What did she say?”
He looked over at me. “She said we should get married here. Tomorrow. Before we leave. Make a celebration of it.”
Annalee gasped. “Yes, it’s perfect!”
“It is,” Driscoll echoed. “It totally is. You two should get married.”
I frowned. “Tomorrow? But... the watch. Time is running out.”
Annalee shook her head, black braids falling over her forehead with the movement. “You can take a day. The opening isn’t too far from here.”
Every protest I might’ve had never made it out of my mouth as I met Maverick’s gaze, his eyes shining brightly. I wanted to be his wife. And I didn’t want to wait.
“Tomorrow,” I said approvingly.
“We can plan everything,” Annalee said, gesturing between herself and Driscoll.
“We can provide the food and music,” Aron offered.
“Then it’s settled!” Driscoll squealed, and Annalee rushed over to him, grabbing his hands as they whispered furiously.
Maverick held his hand out to me. “So what do you say? Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife tomorrow?”
He reeled me to him, and I choked back a sob. “Of course I will.”
He hugged me tight, and I snuggled into his embrace. Tomorrow I would finally get to marry the man of my dreams.
Chapter Fifty-Two
MAVERICK
The next twelve hours went by in a blur. The moment it was decided we were getting married, Annalee whisked Emory away and said they’d need every second available to find her a suitable wedding gown. We’d agreed we would delay leaving by one day so we could get married and celebrate. One day where we could forget everything that was at stake and just find the joy in us.
I hadn’t slept a wink. No one seemed to care what I was going to wear, so after all the chaos I’d gone back to my room and lay in bed all night, thinking about my little rabbit. My wife. Driscoll had woken me up early, insisting on helping me dress, stuffing me with food, and prattling on about the importance of impressing my wife on our first night together. I mostly ignored him.
Now that the time to get married had arrived, I had no idea what to expect.
I stood on the same balcony as last night, except it had been transformed. Everyone had come together to lay garlands of flowers across the still-standing parts of the railing. Driscoll had used his earth magic togrow wisteria around the columns, and vines with vibrant pink flowers now draped the space between the columns.
Rose petals scattered across the rough, broken stone of the balcony. This was so surreal. Twenty-four hours ago, I wasn’t even sure Emory could ever look at me again. Now she was going to be my wife. Mine. The thought sent a thrill through me.
A slow, romantic harmony filled the air, and I looked over to see Annalee instructing a group of blood beetles as their music vibrated the balcony around us. She winked at me, running a hand over her checkered dress as she swayed back and forth.
Driscoll stood in front of me, and Aron and El stood in the audience.
“We don’t have a priest or priestess,” I said. They were usually the ones who presided over marriages, made sure wedding rituals set in place by the Seven Spirits were followed so that the marriage was valid.
Driscoll hefted up a heavy book that I just now realized he’d been holding. “Yeah, we scoured this thing last night. Knew you and Emory would probably be sticklers about doing it the right way and blah, blah, blah.” He patted it with his hand. “I got you covered. Your marriage will be wholly and fully sanctioned by the Seven Spirits.”
The irony behind that statement wasn’t lost on me. The Seven Spirits who we’d spent centuries worshiping that might actually have been trapped this entire time and if they just so happened to escape would reign terror on us all. I shook my head. Not thinking about that today.
“We’re ready,” Driscoll called to the back of the balcony. The heavy curtain of vines obstructing my view of the doors rustled.
Then Emory stepped out from behind them, and I couldn’t summon a single thought if I’d tried.
