Page 249 of Gift from the Source
He crosses the few steps over to us and holds out his elbow for her. “Look at you, little dragon. You did so good on the dress.”
“You like it?”
“I do. You look just like her.” He smiles and she leans her head to his arm.
She gives herself a moment to soak up the moment between them, then she straightens her shoulders and slides her hand into the crook of my arm.
“Okay, Aurora, lead me to my men.”
With a giggling line, Aurora, Aria, and Oakly lead the way through to the central foyer and the music begins playing. The voices that drift in from outside quiet down and Willow releases another breath.
Each of the girls walks ahead and the doors shut behind them as we step up to wait for our cue.
“Elementra, I’m so nervous. Why am I so nervous?”
“It’s a very exciting moment. This is your bonding ceremony, and the realm is witnessing it. It’s completely normal to be nervous.”
“If you’re having second thoughts, let me know now so we can haul ass,” Lyker offers.
I scowl at him while Willow glows.
A mischievous smirk crosses her face. “They’d hunt us down.”
His grin melts away at the excitement in her tone. “Yeah, and your dragon man would eat me. I’ve changed my mind. You’ll be walking down this aisle like you’re supposed to.”
“You’re right where you’re meant to be, filia mea.”
She sighs deeply and I choke on my breath as CC’s voice enters our minds. The sheepish grin she gives me tells me she didn’t mean to shock me.“I was getting worried you were going to miss it. What took you so long?”
“I’m sorry, my girl. I wouldn’t miss this for the realm. Your mother is sitting right here with me. We just had our hands full.”
“Can you really have that much going on in the beyond, my boy?”I ask once I compose myself.
“Here lately…yes. A good full, though. I’m so happy you’re there to witness this, old man.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
I smile down at Willow and pat her hand as the cue to her music starts up.
All heads turn to us, and I keep my eyes on the boys.
If each of them doesn’t shed a tear over how gorgeous she looks, I will turn us around and we will start again.
Willow’s chuckle filters through my mind.
Even as a slow tear rolls down her cheek, she smiles brightly. Through her mind, I reassure CC of it and I inform him the boys are blubbering messes over her.
“Elementra, we come to you today to ask for your continued blessing over this union between Willow Vito and her Nexus members. Corentin, Tillman, Caspian, and Draken Vito. You’ve guided and aided them thus far and in return, they have guided us all. We ask you to continue to do so as they make their bonding official to the realm they serve fiercely. Who will bear witness to that today?” Ry announces loudly as we walk her to the open center spot between her men.
I thought the brute was going to die when she asked him to officiate their ceremony.
He’s doing good so far, though.
“I, Alpha Lyker Quinn, brother of Willow Vito, will witness Elementra’s blessing and give my own to this union.”
“I, Gaster Ducere Cato, grandfather of Willow Vito, will witness Elementra’s blessing, give my own to this union, and pass on theblessings from the beyond given forth by her mother, Iris Quinn, and her father, Orien Caduceus Vito.”
Her brother hugs her to his chest, then turns her to me.
