Page 99 of The Dark War

Claraintertwinedmyfingerswith hers. Her warm hands calmed my anxiousness. We stood at the beginning of the aisle overlooking the droves of people in front of us. They smiled at my sweet mate, who waved slightly to the small pups who sat near her. White sheets covered the walkway. The wind gently blew royal blue and deep red petals through the sheets and grasses.

Pixies dropped silver glitter as they strode up the aisle waiting for Clara and me to walk to them. Harps played low exotic music, and soft sounds of wooden flutes and stringed instruments followed the beat of the wind as the wisps gathered around.

Sorceress Cyrene, who had remained for the momentous occasion of tradition, beamed and waved her hand for us to follow. Making sure to take small strides, my arm gripped Clara’s tighter. Once filled with rage to protect our land, her precious, soft eyes had me thaw in her embrace. My mate had turned a stone-cold beast into a puppy in her presence. Evelyn was being held by Clara’s mother, a matching gown, to be exact. Evelyn continued pulling at the ruffled sleeves and the ornate pearls wrapped around her neck.

Osirus and Melina were unable to attend due to Melina’s sickness. Still, many of our friends from afar were able to join. Sean, Carson, and Rex, our best trackers and mischievous three, came from the Golden Light Kingdom, along with their new mates to brag to their friends and family. It was even more exciting to show that Sean was mated to a siren, and his parents couldn’t be more thrilled as much as Sean worried for their approval.

Alaneo and his new vampire mate arrived as well. Juliet had been one of many tortured when Sorceress Prinna had control of her Blood Coven. She was meek compared to Alaneo’s sense of humor, but the more he rubbed his mate’s belly let me know things were getting serious fast for the two.

Whisps continued to follow us until we reached the altar, where Cyrene stood with a small book of spells in her hand. The entire gathering would now witness what we had done just two months ago, away from prying eyes to protect not only us, but the pack.

Both previous King Eden and Queen Elijah bowed to us, taking Evelyn along with them, who pouted. Her arms crossed, much like a toddler would do, and she sat quietly with her grandmother.

Cyrene resumed speaking in tongues, her lips traveling from ancient Greek and Latin until we pretended to drink blood from the cup. It would have been a slap to the gods if we took her parents’ blood again.

Cyrene concluded with a prayer to Zeus, but my eyes could not close because they were fixated on my mate. My mate had been through much, and she continued to amaze me with her ability to love, to show compassion and mercy.

Once the prayer was concluded, her eyes met mine, and she smiled, pecking me on the lips. My hungry body pulled her close, wrapping my large hand around her tiny waist. Her arms laid on my biceps as I kissed her fervently. The crowd began to clap, the warriors howling in the background.

Former Queen Eden was none too happy, giving me the death glare behind Clara’s shoulder. I winked at her and grabbed my mate’s ass while she squealed.

She’s mine.

Cyrene led us to two thrones, made of two large oak trees with hollows on the inside big enough for us both to sit. Small carvings of wolves shaped into the armrests. It was simple, made quickly, but its ruggedness only reminded me we were building this kingdom from the ground up.

We held each other’s hand while Cyrene replaced the beautiful flowered crown on my mate’s head with that of a light metal. The crown had intricate designs of leaves, wolves, and a blue crescent moon in the middle.

My crown, being slightly smaller since I was, in fact, not of royal blood, hung like a plain band over my head. Small engravings of wolves, panthers, bears, and shifters of the like run across the steel-like metal.

Clara grabbed my hand and squeezed it. Her gaze landed upon the crowd of elves, wolves, fae, and pixies in attendance. The wisps that continued to bless my mate with beautiful curls and braids twirled above our heads until they came out into a small explosion out of the tornado-like wind.

The light sources, now officially set, brought forth exceedingly bright light from the flame torches that lit the area. “I now present to you, the King and Queen of the Cerulean Moon Kingdom.” The crowd stood, admiring my mate, and I couldn’t help but do the same. She was full of grace and beauty and was all mine to the very end of time.

We rose from our seats, my arm wrapping around her waist, in awe of her, not just her beauty but selflessness. “Now you are officially my queen,” I muttered in her ear. The crowd continued their cries, raining white and gold petals into the air that continued to rain down like snow.

“Does that mean you will take advantage of your queen?” she quipped, still waving into the crowd. I smirked, putting my hand on her ass in front of everyone.

“Absolutely.” I growled, nipping her ear.

“Come on!” Clara pulled me, her blue dress dragging on the grass. The sparkles from the pixies that had rained down on all of us began to brush away at our clothing. I was breathing in so much sparkle I began to cough like a human with asthma.

Clara laughed, pulling my arm again. “Come on, you fuddy-duddy!” She continued to pull me through the crowd of dancing people, saying, “Excuse me,” along the way. I grumbled, having to stumble through the crowd, but Clara was adamant about taking me somewhere.

Evelyn had fallen asleep in Alaneo’s arms. Juliet stroked Evelyn’s forehead as she watched our daughter sleep. She had already eaten twice her fill of meat, cheeses, and cakes to last a few days. Her food coma was the perfect time for my mate and me to slip away.

If only I knew where we were going. Because the people here needed to hurry up and leave.

Clara stepped onto the patio that led straight to the kitchen. Omegas continued to bring out food for the ever-growing number of people that began to show up. It had become a mating frenzy, and all the guest rooms were taken. Many times Marcus had to break up newly found mates from having sex on the dance floor. Eden and Elijah would only stand for so much. The orgasm I gave their daughter underneath her dress during our mating ceremony was their limit.

But it was fucking epic.

Clara giggled, pushing through the kitchen until we reached the downstairs storage closet. She pulled the door open and locked it promptly with a small table. Clara began stripping, pushing down her dress with both hands, but who was I to question? I started stripping too, and her arms were wrapped around me so fast that my cock was standing at attention before she got her fingers in my hair.

“Fuck, Clara, what are we doing?” My mouth reached her neck, sucking on it harshly. My mouth went to the original hickey, and I licked it dry, my breath panting while she stroked my cock. Eden had already made her cover up my hickey right before the ceremony, and that damn well pissed me off.

“Pretty sure it’s obvious.” Clara rolled her eyes. “With Evelyn getting older, we need to have secret spots.” She breathed, moving her thumb over the tip of my cock. “We can hide in closets and have a quicky whenever you want.” I growled, liking the idea. “You have to have sex every four hours to keep you sane, remember?” I smiled into her neck.

“Is that so?” I bit down on her mark, causing her to instantly orgasm. My hand went to her mouth, keeping her cries silent. My cock was already probing her deliciously wet pussy. Letting my hand go from her ass, I tightened my hand on her neck. “Arms around me,” I ordered.

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