Page 122 of Of Vows and War: Special Edition
“Most of the time I hate her,” I said, crossing my arms.
“You, Bellamy, Genevieve, and the entire world—save Sterling—would agree,” Lian scoffed, smoothing out my dress. “Ray, you and Lara should go too. It is time.”
The two females immediately got up, Ray smiling widely my way. “Good luck Queen A—I mean Princess—I mean Ash—I mean—”
“Thank you, Ray,” I said, chuckling softly. Ray’s cheeks heated, her face almost twin to Cyprus’. The siblings were so different at their cores despite being so similar in looks. Ray stumbled over her feet, waving goodbye and dragging Lara behind her.
“I hope you do not fall down the stairs in your large heels and die,” Lara added as they departed through the door, closing it behind them. I snorted, turning to face Noe.
“I think that is the nicest thing Bubbles has ever said to me.”
“I would wager it is the nicest thing she has said to anyone other than Ray. Not wishing you death is practically a blessing from her,” Noe agreed, nudging me. “She is right though, we will wait until Lian, Nicola, and I get our dresses on and are fully ready before putting those monstrous heels on you.”
With that, the three of them quickly slipped into their dresses, the sage green silk making me smile. From there, I helped them each do their hair and put on their cosmetics, Lian deeming my kohl skills abysmal. And then it was time to put on the wretched heels. Noe had let me know that I would only wear them for the ceremony. Then I would change into my final outfit which involved the most perfect pair of slippers.
Noe leaned down, grabbing my long, sheer veil and holding it up as if to place it on my head. At the last second, I lifted ahand, stilling her. My mind wandered to the time in front of the castle in The Royal City when Bellamy had told me not to hide or cower. Back then, he had promised me that the world would fall to their knees before me if only I let them.
“No veil. I think I am ready to show the world who I truly am,” I spoke wistfully. Noe’s small smile was paired with a nod as she set the veil back down. Pride coated the air, whose I was not sure. It seemed everyone in the area was overwhelmed with emotions, their feelings shaking my mental gates like they might break through them.
In the haze, I heard Padon call out, his voice distant in my mind. I closed my gates tighter, shortening the chain that held the lock. He would not ruin this day for me.
“Last thing,” Noe said as she grabbed each of our bouquets of flowers. I smiled widely, almost sinisterly, at the sight of them, my mind thinking about what lined the aisle outside.
“Only you would choose murderous flowers as décor,” Lian said, catching my expression. I laughed, picturing how appalled Noe had been when I told her I wanted lavender and belladonna to decorate the training area of Pike that would double as our wedding venue. Only I knew that it was a little “fuck you” to Mia. Well, me and Bellamy. I did not keep anything from him anymore. “Thank you for changing your mind about our bouquets, at least.”
Nicola nodded, shaking her small gathering of vanilla, salvia splendens, and baby’s breath at my face. The four of us laughed, taking a few moments to gather ourselves.
Farai silenced our fading laughter, bursting through the door dressed smartly in black trousers and a sage green button-up shirt. “Okay, Ash baby, are you ready to make the most incredible entrance since that one time I walked into a ball wearing all black when Mia had specifically said we were all to wear cream?”
“Oh yes, the very one that you were kicked out of and forced to change for,” Jasper said as he came in behind him, lightly closing the door. His outfit was an exact replica, their black shoes clicking as they walked across the wood floors to me.
“Ready as I will ever be,” I sighed, letting them each take one of my arms and gripping my bouquet tightly in my hands.
“Cold feet?” Farai asked from my right. Jasper pushed himself farther into me on my left, always quick to offer physical affection.
“Sorry, Ash, I cannot let you run. I feel like my loyalty to Bellamy has to mean something every once in a while,” Noe said quickly before pushing Lian and Nicola. The three females gathered in a line ahead of us, Nicola directly in front of me.
“I have seen the future, she walks down the aisle,” she teased, smiling at us over her shoulder and winking.
“Ugh, I am not getting cold feet! Can we go now before I start wiping my gross sweaty hands on the dress?” I begged.
The five of them nodded, all of us getting closer as Noe called to her shadows. We appeared just before the entrance to Pike, completely circumventing the possibility of me tripping and dying. Lara would be so happy. Or disappointed.
Lian reached up and knocked three times on the doors, music quickly following. It was a soft tune, beautiful and optimistic as it rang out through the open area of Pike. With a deep breath, I nodded at the five of them as they stared at me in wait.
“Ready.”
“Showtime!” Noe practically sang. Lian pushed open the large wooden doors, revealing the most stunning sight.
Noe had decorated the area perfectly. A small aisle was marked with a silver carpet, red rose petals running down the length of it. My flower choice littered the area, guests looking down at them in unease that made me giggle. The chairs were allwhite, green garland wrapped with sky-blue tinsel woven around them. Demon light glittered in the air, bright against the pink and purple sky and the fading orange sun. At the very end of the aisle was a large arch that was made of the same greenery as the garlands, also wrapped in sparkling blue.
Just before our friends were the paintings Bellamy had been working on. Perfect depictions of Luca’s blonde hair and blue eyes, Winona’s dashing smile and expertly styled green locks, Pino’s knowing eyes and soft wrinkles, and even Wrath’s wicked smirk were placed at the edges of the small raised altar. And, somehow without me knowing, Bellamy had added a painting of what had to have been Zaib. Her flowing dark brown curls were darker than mine and her eyes were practically black, but her heart-shaped face and sharp cheekbones were twin to mine. My mother. The one I never knew but who risked everything for me. She was here with us.
Adbeel stood just beyond the paintings, his black trousers and silk white top paired with his daunting black crown marking him as both a fierce and loving king. He smiled so broadly that I could do nothing but smile back as Lian began her slow walk down the aisle. Noe followed her, slyly raising her middle finger to Damon, who fanned himself from his spot behind Ranbir as Cyprus nudged at his back with a wink. Henry chuckled in front of the Healer, the four of them matching Farai and Jasper. And then, as Nicola started her walk, Henry nudged the male in front of him, drawing my attention to the one I had been saving for last.
He was dressed in all black, the crisp trousers at odd with his—only slightly open—loose shirt. He wore no chains around his neck, nor did he sport any rings on his fingers, but the lashes below his bright blue eyes were lined with black, and his dark waves were perfectly mussed. He looked at me as if he wasseeing the world for the first time and was in awe of its beauty. Like a male in unabashed and never-ending love.
The male there was my everything.
