Page 203 of I Ran Away to Evil
They had arranged today’s wedding around Her Eminence Feliwyn, who still lay napping beside Lake Loria. The ceremony would take place near the belly of the curled-up dragon. The aisle stretched betweenhundredsof people from all around Valaria, many who were in the process of taking their seats.
It was almost time for them to process.
They got into position, and Chloe walked Keith up the aisle.
Rufus escorted Bronwynn, and Chikli escorted Lilith just behind. Julia’s brother was supposed to be in the wedding party, but a monster surge in the north had prevented him from attending, much to his mother’s frustrations.Calisto hadnotbeen pleased, but he was expected to come to Julia’s wedding during Summer Masquerade or there would bewords. The duchess and her daughter were seated in the front row.
Gimtak kept popping back and forth from the Dark Enchanted Forest castle to be sure that everything was fine after they had all abandoned work for the day.
Their Royal Highness Rowen of Peldeep was the officiant chosen by the council to approve the proceedings, and they were in fine form. A stately gentleman wearing all pink arachne silk.
Lady Amy cried into the arm of a young Lamia woman to her left, then she straightened, then she sniffed, then she burst into tears again and turned toward the guest to her right. Derilla Vane looked at the elf with confused, restrained violence as she blew her nose in his direction. Keith watched his arachne friend choose to offer her a new handkerchief instead of just eating her, for which the Dark Lord was grateful.
Keith wasn’t looking forward to the inevitable spar Ria would have with Derilla before he returned to the mountains … but maybe it would give Keith a show of the arachne’s new abilities before their own fight that winter.
Baby griffins flew overhead with aid from the Pixie Prim, dropping flower petals on everyone. They were an unexpected addition as well, and finding perches for their parents had been a fun last-minute [Crafting] on his part.
Bronwynn strummed her new lyre harp and began to pluck a delicate tune.
Keith hadn’t visited Feliwyn in all these years, and he had argued holding the ceremony here. At that moment, he was glad they did so, as even a napping godmother at his wedding felt somehowright.
He leaned down to whisper, “Good job, Chloe.”
She squeezed his arm hard. Not as hard as Henrietta, of course, but enough to show that she appreciated the compliment. They reached the front and took their positions before the napping dragon.
The music changed slightly, and Havork was there, escorting Henrietta up the aisle. She was beautiful, like always. Sweet and soft and lovely. Her dress had a corset-roped bodice and pleated skirts that fell to the knee on her right side but cascaded in waves down the floor over her left leg. She wore knee-high white leather boots. Keith swallowed thickly.
His princess, now his queen.
Hiswife.
CHAPTER 123
Happily Ever After
Henrietta
The reception was in full swing, and I was appreciatingmy husbandfrom a distance as we both greeted guests.
The fact that Keith had let me rip out all of the buttons in his shirts the day we arrived home from North Sumbria reminded me why I loved him so much.
Not just because his clavicle was incredibly attractive, but that helped.
It was wonderful living with a person who celebrated all the things I loved. It was wonderful celebrating all the thingsheloved, even if that meant staying away from the inner sanctum for three days while he worked on interesting magical constructs.
I was distracted thinking aboutmyhusbandwhen Sithli and Milith approached.
“Princesss.” Sithli was beaming and holding a small bundle that was making adorable hissing noises. “May we introduce you to our first offspring? Her name is Ettalith.”
“Henrietta doesn’t really follow lizardkin naming conventionsss,” Milith explained. “But we shortened it. As a thank you for sssaving our village from assassins.”
“I did almost nothing,” I protested, looking down at the tiny lizardkin babe. “She’s beautiful, Milith.”
“Thank you!” Sithli answered, pride written all over his face.
“Now we shall be off and let you get back to your big day.” Milith dragged her husband away.
Chloe chose that moment to let me know it was time to cut the cake, so I grabbed Jacqueline and wandered over to findmy husband.
