Chapter 115

ONE YEAR LATER

"Nervous?" Tory jibed.

"Nope," I said lightly.

"Liar," Gabriel said with a knowing look.

"Definitely," Sofia agreed.

"Okay I'm one percent freaking out," I admitted, wringing my hands together.

Geraldine stuffed a bouquet of wildflowers into them, all of them blue and white. Forget-me-nots, irises, violets, daisies and even some wild strawberries had been placed in there. It was over-the-top, but what did I expect when Geraldine had taken charge of organising the wedding? How could I really refuse her when she'd pleaded with me to let her and had sent a handwritten letter to my door every day for a full week straight to explain why she would be the perfect candidate – I'd said yes on the first day, but she hadn't stopped.

Tory, as my maid of honour, had been well involved in the details too, but she had let Geraldine's organisational flag fly when it came to this. Geraldine had interviewed me about fifty times on my favourite colours, foods, flowers, even my favourite damn textures before I told her to surprise me and Lance with the end result if she wanted to, and she had wept for a full ten minutes then told me surprises were her favourite flamjambles.

I was being prepared for the day in my bedroom at mine and Orion's newly-acquired farmhouse, and as Geraldine led me to a mirror to see the full effect of my dress, my pulse quickened even more. It was like something out of a fairy tale, the ice blue gown stitched with lace over the bodice and onto the off-the-shoulder sleeves. The huge skirt fell in a glorious pool of material, sapphires twinkling in a layer of netting and lace flowers decorating it. My hair was pulled into a loose chignon bun, a few coils of blue curls hanging down my neck, and a tiara delicately placed upon my head with parts of my hair woven around it.

"This is…" I had no words and Tory swept forward in her dark blue satin gown with thin straps and a nipped waist, wrapping me in one of her rare hugs.

"It's perfect," she said.

I squeezed her tight, my heart pounding ever faster as I turned to Sofia and hugged her too.

"Here," she whispered, adding extra shimmer to my dress with the power of her Pegasus, and I thanked her.

Gabriel moved closer, his navy suit jacket hanging open and showing his silver-buttoned waistcoat within. The colours reminded me of our old academy uniform, and I had no doubt that was on purpose.

"You look beautiful," Gabriel said. "We should get going. We're exactly late enough to have Orio freaking out." He smirked and I stole a hug from him before lunging for Geraldine and hugging her too.

"Thank you," I said.

"Oh it was nothing but a namby pamby, all this. My cockles have been as merry as moonflies surrounded by schedules and planners and binders," she said brightly, and I took in her dress which matched my sister's and Sofia's, tears springing to my eyes at how beautiful she was, and how achingly happy I was to be surrounded by all of them. Somehow, we'd made it to this day, the battle long behind us, and despite the scars on our hearts left by the war, I knew today would be a good day. One we deserved after so much heartache, and hopefully just the start of endless more to come.

Geraldine let out a pterodactyl shriek and used her water magic to catch my tears as they fell, sending them flying out the open window into the summer air before they could ruin my makeup.

Gabriel took a bag of stardust from his pocket and Tory carved the wards apart. I knew where we were going. I'd chosen the location myself, but I'd kept it from Orion, and I wondered what he'd thought when he'd turned up there.

The stardust wrapped us in its embrace, dragging us away into a swirl of stars, and their whispers followed us as we went.

We arrived in a small room with a trail of blue petals leading to a door in front of us. The wards on this place had been lifted to allow our guests to arrive with ease, though there were plenty of royal guards keeping the location secure. It was impossible to feel completely safe anywhere we went after so long fearing for our lives, but with each day, it got a little easier to relax. I was in a routine of scouting the land every night before I slept as Gabriel had once taught me, checking the wards were intact before returning to my bed where Orion waited up for me reading a book.

"Ready?" Tory asked, moving to my left side and looping her arm through mine while I clutched the bouquet a little tighter.

"Ready," I exhaled, and Gabriel took my other arm. I couldn't walk up the aisle without either of them, so I'd insisted both accompany me down it.

Geraldine fussed with the train of my dress and Sofia stepped up at her back.

With a flick of Tory's fingers, the door ahead of us opened and she released a silencing bubble I hadn't realised was in place, the sound of a harpist playing a soft melody carrying to us. A carpet of darkest blue ran all the way up between the centre of two masses of seats, our favourite people in the entire kingdom here to celebrate with us.

A hoard of the Oscura Wolf pack sat to my left along with Dante and Leon, taking up most of the rows there, a chorus of howls sounding at the sight of us. To my right was Eugene Dipper and his family, along with so many others of our nearest and dearest. Towering up either side of the rows were bookshelves, beautiful wooden shelves with ancient tomes filling every one of them, this colossal room in the Library of the Lost one of my very favourites. The ceiling was painted with gold and blue murals, displaying all of the Orders between sparkling constellations.

But all of them became a blur as my eyes found those of Orion at the far end of the aisle, standing beneath an ornate wooden arch with books stacked over it and blue flowers weaving between them on little vines.

The intensity in Orion's dark, silver-ringed irises had my breath catching, his gaze scoring over me just like it had the first day we met. And I was no longer nervous, but excited. So damn excited to get to the end of that aisle and announce him as mine, because this was the moment we'd promised each other. A vow to live life to its very fullest if we ever made it to the other side of the war. And impossibly, against all the ruinous fates cast in our names, we'd made it.

Darius stood to Orion's left, then Caleb, Seth, Max and Xavier beyond him, all of them there to play an important part in this day.

Gabriel and Tory walked me ever closer, and my heart thundered as I reached Orion, the scent of cinnamon caressing my senses. Geraldine was there in a flash, grabbing the bouquet from my hand, and ushering Gabriel to join Orion's groomsmen while Tory and the other bridesmaids lined up on the other side of the archway with Geraldine.

Orion took my hand, guiding me in front of him, admiring my dress before his gaze found mine again. He leaned forward to speak in my ear, his breath on my skin sending a shiver down my spine.

"There are no words in this universe that can aptly capture your beauty in this moment."

He pulled away before I could reply, leaving a burning trail of heat across my cheeks.

We readied to declare our love to each other before the stars and all those we adored, and I had the overwhelming sense that I was exactly where I was meant to be. That no matter what path fate had guided me along in life, somehow, I always would have found myself at the end of an aisle facing Lance Orion.

The party was in full swing, and Orion tugged me off the dance floor which we'd been on for a full hour, picking me up and placing me down to sit on the edge of the circular table where our wedding cake was. It was a thing of beauty, made to look like a stack of books with golden flowers dotted all over them and little figures of Orion and I at the top, me with my Phoenix wings out and him with a sword in hand. So freaking cute.

Orion grabbed a bottle of water from an ice cooler, opening it for me and handing it over, and I took two big gulps of it, gazing around the incredible room. We'd moved into an old chamber with brick walls and arches, bookcases everywhere which were protected by special wards put in place by Arnold - the minotaur was patrolling them like a prison guard. Faelights hovered in the air and blue petals fluttered around the feet of all our dancing friends, the atmosphere full of happiness.

"I got you something," I said as I placed my water down.

Orion pushed a hand into his hair which wasn't anywhere near as neat as it had been during the ceremony. His jacket was removed too, collar open, the sleeves of his white shirt rolled up and his waistcoat unbuttoned. This was the true Orion; scruffy, roguish and fucking edible.

"Oh yeah?" he asked, leaning down. "Is it a kiss, wife?"

"Nope," I said, a tease in my voice as I leaned back to avoid his mouth.

He placed his hands either side of me on the table, a hungry growl in his throat. "What then?"

"This place," I said with a mischievous smile.

"Hm?" he grunted, not understanding as his eyes remained on my lips and he continued to chase me for that kiss.

"The Library of the Lost," I said. "It's yours. All yours. You can rename it if you like. The Library of the Not Lost. Or The Library of Orion's Precious Books that No One's Allowed to Touch. Or-"

His palm came down on my mouth to quiet me. "Blue," he warned like I'd done something bad, and heat burned a path between my thighs. "Are you toying with me, because that's a very dangerous game to play."

I scooped up a handful of the cake behind me, keeping it hidden as he dropped his hand and tried to get another kiss, then I shoved it against his mouth, smearing it over his face. I ducked away from him, laughing as I ran back to the dance floor and he chased after me with a burst of speed, licking the frosting from his lips as he gripped my hips and swung me around. I laid my hand on his chest, dancing in front of him while he stood there rigidly, amusement sparkling in his gaze.

"Did you really buy me the library?"

"Really, really," I sang. "And Arnold's not even mad because I set up a fund for the restoration of any damaged or deteriorating books. He was so delighted, he mooed for a full ten seconds."

Orion laughed, wiping the last of the frosting from his cheek on his sleeve. "This is too much, Blue."

"Nothing is too much for the man who bled for me," I said, my tone dipping to something darker, an echo of our shadow-torn past.

He pinched my jaw between his finger and thumb, leaning in for a kiss that rocked the foundations of my soul.

"Babbadoodby!" Geraldine exclaimed, racing from the crowd to clean Orion's sleeve with water magic and the two of us broke apart, grins finding our mouths again, the moment of darkness quickly washed away. "You're already unbuttoned and as couth as a crab on a cornsack," Geraldine cursed. "Do not be-spoil yourself too, dear Orry."

"I think the uncouth crab look suits him," I said, and Orion smirked, his dimple popping out in his right cheek and making me want to grab him for another kiss. We were off on our honeymoon tomorrow morning, heading to Maresh to stay in a hotel that was behind a freaking waterfall, and I was excited for us to have two whole weeks in paradise to just be. But for now, the party reigned, and I was more than happy to let loose, celebrating with all the joy in our hearts.

Someone knocked into me from behind and I glanced around, finding Dante there apologising as Leon and Seth broke into a dance off beyond him, Seth blasting out a bubble of air to widen the space for them on the dance floor.

Caleb shot to Orion's side with a beer, sipping it casually. "I'm backing Seth, but my money's on Leon. The Lion took centre stage with the band a minute ago doing some Shakira hip-shaking shit that I've never seen in my life. A guy that big shouldn't be able to move like that."

"The Leone defies all logic, sì," Dante agreed with a chuckle as Seth began the battle with a break dance, using air to spin himself around and around on the floor. Geraldine shrieked at the sight of him dirtying his suit jacket, but Xavier held her back, laughing and insisting she watch instead.

"Where's Rosalie tonight?" I asked Dante, not having seen his cousin at all.

Dante's eyes darkened as he looked my way. "In Darkmore Penitentiary."

"What?" I gasped as Tory appeared from the crowd, a dress strap slipping down one shoulder and a big ass smile on her face as she led Darius after her by the hand.

Geraldine dove on her, pushing the strap back into place and Tory waved her off.

"Why do you look like someone just tit punched you?" Tory asked me, her smile falling.

"Dante said Rosalie's in Darkmore," I explained.

"It just happened yesterday, in fact," Dante said heavily.

"Then we'll have her released," Tory said, and I nodded.

"No need, piccole regine," Dante said, his eyes crackling with lightning. "Rosalie is always right where she intends to be. She is there by no mere coincidence, I assure you."

"What is she thinking? That place is a pit of sin," Orion growled, a touch of horror in his eyes at whatever he had experienced there, and my chest tightened.

"She seeks a long-lost love from her past." He nodded to Leon who was now doing something akin to an Irish jig, fire blazing at his feet which were moving at a wild pace.

"She has gone to Leon's brother, e il mio buon amico, Roary Night," Dante said.

"Then we'll pardon them both," I replied.

"No such luck, purtroppo," Dante sighed. "Lionel Acrux left a parting curse in this world, condemning Roary to Darkmore with magic that cannot be undone, even by two queens as powerful as you. He cannot leave until his sentence is served, or perhaps another way, but none you can assist in…" He shrugged, not finishing that sentence and I suspected whatever Rosalie was up to, it was something Tory and I were going to happily overlook.

"Come now," Dante said, slinging his arm around my shoulders. "It is your wedding day. It is not a time for frowns. Let us be merry. A morte e ritorno." He raised a golden chalice in the air and Geraldine swept between us, handing out fizzing glasses of some pink Arucso wine that had been supplied by the Oscuras from their vineyards in Alestria. I didn't know how she'd gotten hold of the tray so quickly, but she was so prepared for this day, I suspected the entire A.S.S. were on standby around her in the crowd.

We clinked our glasses in a toast and watched as Seth backflipped over Leon's head, aided by his air magic before catching his arms with vines that dangled from the ceiling, starting up some sort of aerial routine that looked well-rehearsed. Caleb's eyebrows rose, seeming like he'd changed his mind on who might win this, his Moon Mate clearly both amusing and impressing him.

My smile was soon back in place, my cheeks aching with how much happiness I felt today. It was all I could feel; a pure, eternal kind of joy that filled up all the spaces inside me, leaving no room for shadows or strife. It was the fiercest form of magic, I realised. This love between us all, these bonds that would never falter. Nothing in this realm compared, no Elements, no power, no crowns, or thrones. Just us. Family. And a love that would never die.