Page 153 of The Curse of Golden Blood
Near midnight, we reached the traditional throwing of the bouquet. Miralyte stood at the edge of the platform, her back to the assembled unmarried fae, while someone handed her a bundle of the glowing flowers.
"You know," she said, loud enough for everyone to hear, "in my world, this was just a fun tradition. A silly game."
"In ours," I called back, "it's binding. So aim carefully, little dove."
She shot me a look over her shoulder that promised retribution later, then launched the bouquet high into the air.
It arced beautifully, spinning end over end, petals glowing like small stars. The crowd of unmarried fae surged forward, hands reaching, but the bouquet seemed to have a mind of its own. It drifted past grasping fingers, past wings and outstretched arms, and landed squarely in the hands of a young woman who looked as shocked as everyone else.
She had fiery red hair that cascaded past her shoulders, and wore a dress of deep crimson that matched her hair perfectly. Her eyes were wide with surprise, her face flushing as the crowd turned to stare.
"Who is she?" Miralyte asked me as the girl stood frozen, clutching the bouquet like it might bite her.
"That's Cherilda of Fog Court. Youngest daughter of Lord Hasin." I watched the girl with sympathy. "Poor thing."
"So she now has to marry? To whom?"
"The Snow Court's heir. Daeson." I kept my voice neutral, but Miralyte knew me well enough to hear what I wasn't saying.
"Poor girl," she echoed, understanding immediately.
We both watched as Cherilda was surrounded by her family. The girl looked like she might faint or flee, and I made a mental note to have Miralyte speak with her later. Offer whatever comfort could be offered to someone facing an arrangedmarriage to a prince known more for his cold cruelty than his charm.
But that was a problem for another day. Tonight was for celebration.
I pulled Miralyte back onto the dance floor, needing to hold her close, needing to feel the solid reality of her in my arms. She came willingly, resting her head against my chest as we swayed to music that seemed to come from the stars themselves.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"For what?"
"For giving me this. For choosing me. For making me believe in happy endings again."
I tightened my arms around her, my wings folding around us both, creating our private world in the midst of the celebration. "You gave me those things first, little dove. You saved me in every way a person can be saved."
She tilted her head back to look at me, and the love in her eyes was so intense it stole my breath. "I love you."
"I love you too. Forever."
"Forever," she agreed.
And as we danced under stars that seemed to shine brighter just for us, surrounded by every court in the realm, bound together by vows that would last beyond death itself, I knew I had found something worth more than any crown or kingdom.
I had found home.
