Page 51 of Wishing Upon a Monster
We both looked at me in the oval mirror in my momma and dad’s bedroom.
A knock at the door had us both looking to the right. “Are y’all decent?” my dad’s voice called through the door.
“Yes, sir,” I called back, turning my body to the door, my momma stepping aside.
“He is going to lose it,” my momma whispered as the door opened.
My father stood with his hand on the doorknob, taking me in, “When did you grow up?” he asked quietly, tears filling his eyes.
I gave him a watery chuckle and opened my arms for a hug. He came in, sweeping me up into one of those big bear hugs he used to give me when I was little.
“Oh, be careful, Arty, you’ll get her all mussed,” my momma scolded.
“I’m supposed to tell you that they are ready for us to get this thing started if you are?” my dad asked as he put me down.
“I am,” I said, giving his arm a squeeze.
“Not quite,” Aiden said from the door. In his hands was a massive bouquet of sunflowers, large, rusty-red roses, and small white flowers, all mixed in with decorative greenery.
“Oh, those are beautiful, Denny.” I took the large bouquet from him. “Daphne really outdid herself with these.”
“She’ll be thrilled you think so,” he said, looking me over. “You are really glowing today...” his sentence trailing off.
I gave him a look that said zip it. He held up his hands and backed away.
Our group swept down the hall, down the steps, and out to the back. My bridesmaids, Cece, Selene, Isla, Vickie, and my matron of honor, Ainsley, were waiting for me with Olan’s best woman, Rocio, and his groomsmen, Nash, my second-oldest brother, Antiono, and my youngest brother, Adriel. Together, we would take the ridiculously fancy golden carriages across the lawn to the wedding site.
Nash woof-whistled as I came into view.
I grinned, appreciating the compliment, knowing that’s all it was now that he was mated.
Irene had saved his life in that illegal grow farm incident. She said when he was struck down, something came over her, her banshee cry had become a call not just to punish men––but to punish the men who she thought had killed her mate.
“Y’all clean up pretty nice yourselves,” I gestured to my friends and wrinkled my nose at my brothers, “y’all will have to do.”
“Oh, you aresolucky Momma would hex me into next week if I gave you a noogie right now,” Antiono grumbled, his eyes twinkling.
We loaded into the three carriages, the men and Rocio in one, followed by my ladies, and ending with my parents and me.
The carriages pulled themselves across the lawn with a tap from my sibling’s wands. We waited a beat, and then my father sent ours.
We had set up for three hundred guests, and as we crested the hill, I was not surprised to see the seats were filled. There were beings of all kinds, monsters, Magic Users, and gods alike––assuming the other towering Stygian beings I saw were other brøndmands.
The music changed as our carriage pulled up, Aiden’s four little girls and Annaliese had already been through dropping rose petals and gold coins along the path tohim.
Olan stood proudly above the wedding party, dressed in a black tux tailored to fit his frame. He took a step forward before stopping himself. My dad handed my mother down and then me, each taking my arm as I held my flowers in front.
Slowly, we walked down the aisle, and a feeling of contentment and excitement for our future washed over me, as it had been doing for the last few weeks. I had never been more sure of every step I took than I was as I approached my husband.
We stopped at the bottom of the gazebo’s steps, my dad kissing me on the cheek, then my momma doing the same, before I turned and carefully made my way up the steps. Somehow, I didn’t trip, and I happily joined my husband in front of the officiant.
With a nod to the Goddess’ priestess, Mage Bellidair, she began.
“We are gathered here under the grace of the Goddess to bind these two souls together in matrimony. They have, quite literally, been through it all.” She smirked as those assembled chuckled. “Their devotion to one another is a testament to their commitment to one another. They have each prepared vows. Aurora?”
I took a deep breath, passing my flowers to my sister before taking Olan’s hands. “I wish,” I said, my voice cutting through the air, an unnatural stillness taking over the proceedings, “for you, Olan, to make me happy. To be my partner in all things. To share my good days and bad. For me to be your wife and share in all of your days, for you to give me manymorechildren,” I brought his hands to my stomach as gasps sounded around us, “and to care for us until the day we decide to go into the Void.”
Once again, my gold jewelry vanished, along with the gold strewn down the aisle, and this time, I felt the weight of my hair lessen. Olan looked at me with such love that my eyes filled, and emotions bigger than I could name fell down my cheeks.
