Chapter Eight

“Be the light,” I muttered after the Emperor had moved on to another group.

“You are my light,” Rath said.

My head spun to face him. “What?”

“You have been since the day we met. You have a bright spirit, Ember. It's been hard to see that light dimmed by the war. But even dim, you shine, my love.”

“Fuck, Rath,” Kel huffed. “It's bad enough the fucking watcher over there writes him poetry. Now, you're spouting the shit too. You're making the rest of us look bad.”

Xae snorted a laugh. “Yup. You should have heard him the other night, with that fucking flower.”

“What fucking flower?” Taroc asked.

“There is no flower,” Rath growled as he narrowed his eyes at Xae.

Xae chortled and held up his hands.

“Don't listen to them,” I said to Rath. “Say more.”

Rath grinned. “Do I need to?”

“No.” I pulled him into an embrace. “But I still like hearing pretty things.”

“Uh, you have the finest ass I've ever seen,” Keltyr said.

I turned out of Rath's embrace with a horrified expression to find Kel grinning at me. “ You're an ass. Stop ruining our romance.”

“You've had enough romance with Rath,” Taroc said as he took my hand. “And the ceremony is about to begin.”

Taroc was good at redirecting people while gaining the upper hand. It was one of his many talents. He was also correct. The guests were indeed heading toward the clearing that had been designated for the ceremony, just outside of the village.

There were no seats, only an aisle of flower petals straight through the center of the meadow with a wood platform at the end of it. The clearing wasn't big enough for all of us, but people didn't seem to mind that. The overflow stood among the trees, some of them behind the platform. The Emperor and Sally were up front, of course, and we managed to get pretty close too, thanks to Taroc giving us a head start.

Once everyone was settled, the music began. There was a man near the platform playing a stringed instrument. A violin, I think. I wasn't sure because the thing looked so small compared to him. He was as big as Nex and the gold scales at his temples told me why. Same clan.

“Is it just my imagination or does that guy look like Nex?” I whispered.

“His father,” Rath whispered back.

“His father is alive?”

“Why does that surprise you?”

“I don't know. I guess because Nex never talks about his family. I assumed something bad had happened to them.”

In my opinion, it was a fair assumption. A lot of wraith lords went through the grueling process of joining our illustrious ranks because something terrible compelled them.

“He does talk about them. Just not often. They didn't like him joining us.”

I lifted my brows at Rath.

He shrugged. “They wanted him to settle down and have babies.”

“Ah. Which explains why his father is here now.”

“They're all here. His parents, brothers, and the rest of the Gold Clan.” Rath nodded in the direction of the platform.

Behind it and in the trees were burly men and tall women, all with temples that glittered gold when they caught the light. Out of their midst strode Nex, looking even more magnificent than usual in a gold-trimmed, cream linen tunic and brown leather pants. He had his long, blond hair braided back, showing off the dramatic angle of his Tytra jaw, and his amber eyes shone with pride and joy as he stepped onto the platform. He nodded at his father.

“Holy shit,” I said.

“Yeah, the Gold Clan doesn't come out in numbers like this for everyone. His parents may not have approved of his decision, but his clan did. They're damn proud of him.”

And then a hush fell that silenced our whispers. Everyone turned to face the opposite direction. There was Evina, even more beautiful than Nex. Her dark hair was swept up into a crown of white flowers and a sheer length of white silk draped that, creating a haze over her that made it seem as if she walked forward through mist. She wore a pale pink gown that molded to her lush upper body before flaring out at her hips, and she held a bouquet of pink roses and peonies. A massive man stood beside her, his arm lifted to support her hand. He was even bigger than Nex's dad, with shoulders broad enough to set Evina on—on one side. His long, dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail so that nothing hid his big grin as he marched Evina toward her intended husband.

The pair of them was so striking that no one made a sound. There was only that sweet music played by Nex's father.

And then a child shouted, “Evina! Aunty Evina! You're so pretty!”

Instead of being upset, Evina smiled so brightly that it could be seen through her veil and the fabric fluttered with her laughter. She stopped just before she reached the platform and turned to the orphaned kids of Fress who'd been given the prime spot beside the Emperor. When she crouched and opened her arms, they all rushed to her, and Sally went with them. Evina didn't care one whit about her mating garments. She hugged every one of those kids, cooing sweet things to them before she straightened and went back to the grinning man who I assumed was her father.

As the children cheered for her, Evina reached the platform. Nex rushed forward to meet her but first, he bowed deeply to her father. The man slapped Nex on one shoulder and offered him Evina's hand. Nex took Evina's hand as the music trailed away, and Nex's father drew back into the trees with his clan.

“Thank you for giving us your blessing,” Nex said to Evina's dad. “And for raising such a wonderful woman.”

“I know you will look after her with the same ferocity that you do the rest of the world, Wraith Lord.”

“With even more than that, sir.”

The man nodded at Nex, then kissed Evina through her veil. He stepped down from the platform and joined his wife and clan, across the aisle from the Emperor. Meanwhile, the Emperor stepped up onto the platform, leaving Sally with the rest of the children.

“What's happening?” I asked.

“The Emperor is conducting the ceremony,” Taroc said.

“Whoa.”

“Thank you all for coming today to help Lord Nexhavaren, one of my Goddess-blessed Wraith Lords, and Evina.” He paused to smile at her. “One of the most generous, kind souls I've ever met, celebrate their love today. We are not only joining two people but also two clans and two races—Ladrin and Tytra. So, instead of focusing on the mating traditions of either race, the couple has asked me to unite them in a ceremony of their own creation.”

This wasn't news to me. I'd heard all about Nex's mating ceremony from the start. Usually, he was whining about it. None of the Tytra or Ladrin seemed shocked either. So, I assumed they'd been prepared. Good. This could have gone poorly if some of them had taken offense.

“Love is hard to find in our world,” the Emperor said gravely. “Especially for my Wraith Lords. But Nexhavaren and Evina found each other amid tragedy and violence. Their love sprouted in darkness. But that is where the most beautiful plants live. The strongest.” He looked around at the gathering. “The rarest. That is what their love is, and I am honored to be the one to unite them today.” He looked at Nex. “You may speak your heart now, Lord Nexhavaren.”

“Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty,” Nex's deep voice rang out, then he took a breath and stared at Evina. “I never wanted love. I didn't want to tie myself down to one person for eternity. I thought that was foolish.”

Even as people murmured in affront, Evina smiled at Nex. She knew her man better than anyone.

“But then this woman stormed into my life. A force of nature. A mama bear come to protect the young who had no mothers.” Nex made an annoyed sound. “I didn't even like children before I met you. But you opened my eyes to many things, Evina. A lot of it beautiful, some of it painful, and some of them were damn right annoying.” He growled the last bit and made a face at the orphans.

The kids laughed and waved at him.

Grinning, Nex looked back at Evina. “I never knew what truly loving someone meant. I didn't understand that it's not a weakness but a strength. That love can make eternity seem like an instant.” He snorted and shook his head. “You turned my world upside-down, woman. My friends made fun of me. I had terrible nightmares. Nightmares! Me! I knew what was happening but I couldn't stop it. You snatched my heart right out of my chest and refused to give it back.”

People chuckled at that, the sound moving like a happy wave through the clearing.

“That's my girl!” Evina's father called out. “Take what you want and never give it back!”

The Bear Ladrin cheered.

“Dad, please,” Evina said, but she also grinned. Then she looked at Nex. “I didn't like you when we first met.”

The Bear Ladrin hooted in laughter. The Tytra, not so much.

“You were arrogant, prideful, and flippant. Still are.”

“Two of those words mean the same thing,” Nex said dryly.

“Don't interrupt me,” Evina said.

“Yes, my love.” He grinned. “Go on. You were about to say how handsome I am.”

Evina laughed brightly and waved at the crowd. “You see? That is what disgusted me.” Her expression softened when she looked back at Nex. “But then I saw through it. I found a caring man beneath the strutting dragon. I saw your honor and dedication to fighting for what's right. I got to know the man who left his home and the safety of his clan to train brutally and risk his life to meet the Goddess, only to continue risking himself to save others. Over and over. Every day. You think your heart was buried inside you, but you've always worn it out on your chest like a medal, Nex. Out there for anyone to see if only they'd look. But in spite of its vulnerability, I never stole it from you. You gave it to me, piece by piece, slowly luring me to you with the choicest morsels until you had me tamed.”

“Never, love,” Nex said. “No one can tame you.”

“You have, Nex. But in the best way. The fiercest way.”

Nex grabbed the edge of Evina's veil and yanked it up to toss it over her head, then pulled her into a kiss. As they kissed, the gathering cheered (and the children giggled).

The Emperor waited for the couple to ease away from each other before saying, “I don't believe that was the kissing part of the ceremony, Lord Nexhavaren.”

“I improvised, Your Imperial Majesty,” Nex said, earning a round of laughter.

“Yes, well, now that the couple has exchanged their devotion, I shall bless this union with words from the Goddess.”

The clearing went still and silent.

“The Goddess came to me in a dream and spoke to me about many things.” The Emperor glanced my way, then went on, “One of those things was today's ceremony. She is greatly pleased that you have found love, Lord Nexhavaren. And she wants you to know that she is here today, blessing you and Evina. As I lay my hands upon you, she also touches you.” The Emperor placed a hand on each of their shoulders. “Feel her loving presence and know that you are united through her as well as the laws of this land and your undying love for each other.”

Sighs and gasps came as the elements swirled around the couple, one after another. Ribbons of Fire, then Water, then Earth, and, finally, Air. The magic sparkled, then burst apart, but only to rain down on the couple, the tiny sparks sinking into them.

“I now declare you mated!” the Emperor shouted. “May all recognize that Nexhavaren of the Gold Tytra Clan and Evina of the Frenhal Bear Ladrin are now one. Equally Dragon and Bear. The two have merged without diluting either.”

Everyone cheered and applauded as Nex kissed Evina again. And then he picked up his mate, whooped in joy, and ran off with her, down the petal path.