Kenna-
“It’s time to wake up, Kenna.” The voice was familiar, but I was resistant to listening for some reason.
“No,” I muttered weakly. “Leave me alone.”
“Kenna!” the voice sharpened, clearly irritated. “Stop resisting. All of this is being done to make your life better. You’ll see.”
Something cool was thrust into my hand, and my fingers wrapped around it. Immediately, my stubbornness faded away, replaced with calmness and a feeling of peace.
“There you go,” the voice added, clearly seeming more at ease. “Just lay here and gather yourself for a bit. I want you to feel your best for the ceremony.”
“The ceremony?” I asked, confused, but almost immediately, details of my impending wedding filled my mind. “Oh, my goodness! I’m getting married.” I sat up so abruptly that I hit my forehead against my grandpa’s chin.
Groaning, he leaned backward, rubbing his jaw as I massaged my fingers against my forehead.
“What happened? Did I faint?” I looked around the room frantically, seeing my dress spread on the foot of the bed. “I swear I feel fine now.”
Grandpa Damien chuckled. “Calm down, sweet child. Everything will still go as we’ve planned. We’re just offsetting the wedding by an hour, so you feel better.”
“Please don’t. I’m intent on having it right at sunset. Seth and I have so many good memories together from that time of day. It’s important.”
“Are you sure you’re feeling up to it?” Grandpa’s eyes held such concern.
“I’m sure,” I replied, nodding.
“Kenna?” Seth’s voice interrupted from the hallway. “I swear I’m not peeking. Are we doing this?”
Heat radiated through me even though I couldn’t see him. “Yes, if you still want me.”
A low chuckle radiated from the other side of the door. “Wild animals couldn’t drag me away. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I replied.
“Out you go, Master,” Bethna said, entering the room and looking at my grandpa. “It is time for me to get this pretty young girl dressed for the ceremony.”
Damien stood and smiled widely. “You sure you’re feeling okay?”
I nodded, continuing to rub the cold stone hanging around my neck. It had been a gift to me during childhood. Seth had received one at the same time. Grandpa told us never to take them off for any reason because they held strong power that would always keep us safe from harm. Stroking the stone always brought me peace and soothed my worries. I loved the amulet not only because it was a beautiful bloodstone but also because it was a gift from my wonderful grandfather and imbued with his magic. It was special because Seth and I had received them from him at the same time when we were children. Seth’s was carnelian, though, not bloodstone. The crystals correlated with our birth charts to make the magick more potent.
“I feel incredible. Let’s get this party started.”
Bethna laughed. “You always say things in the strangest ways, child. Come. Let me help you with the final touches.” She shooed my grandpa from the room. “I will have her ready shortly.”
Damien smiled. “See you soon.”
“Love you!” Seth added, respecting the wish I had to not see him before the wedding.
“Love you, too!” I said as the door closed.
“Master Seth looks so handsome tonight, milady. I am sure you will be a very happy bride.”
I grinned. “I’m positive I will be. I can’t wait to do this.”
“Well, then. Let us get you dressed and your hair arranged. We don’t want to keep him waiting, do we?”
“Not one minute longer than necessary.” I glanced out the window, checking the light. “We’re running out of time,” I noted.
Bethna smiled. “It is a good thing we have got magic.”
“This makes you my fairy godmother.”
Bethna flashed me a strange look. “What do you mean, child?”
“You know. From the storybook?”
“Storybook?” she said the word as if it were almost foreign to her.
“Yes. It’s called . . .” For the life of me, I couldn’t think of the title or even where I would’ve read such a thing. It certainly wasn’t in any of the scrolls Grandpa Damien had taught me to read from.
Impulsively, I stroked the pendant at my neck, and the memory faded away altogether.
“I must’ve dreamed it,” I explained with a shrug.
“Maybe it will be a tale for your own child one day.”
“Maybe,” I replied, my thoughts still a bit hazy. “I can’t wait to have a child with Seth.”
“The Maker willing, milady,” Bethna said. “Now, let us get started with this hair.”
The small chapel was quiet, the shuttered windows thrown wide to let in the fresh air. The sun’s light was dying, casting its last vestiges of shimmering rays over the low rolling, wooded hills and blooming glades outside. Wildflower petals picked from those fields were strewn down the center aisle, while small bunches were tied together on the end of the few benches and the altar. Large, carved, wooden candelabras held massive loads of candles, illuminating the space with a warm, magical glow.
The room was silent, filled with smiling faces. There were the many priests who lived here in attendance. Seth and I revered them all as dear uncles—even though some of them didn’t speak, having taken on vows of silence. I’d never heard them talk in my life but still had gotten to know and understand their gentle spirits when we’d spent time together.
Bethna, the housekeeper, was also present, along with her two girls who helped run things. All these people were my treasured family members. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect wedding than an intimate ceremony with the people I loved most.
Grandfather guided me forward. A window behind the altar framed the setting sun perfectly, another reason why I’d wanted to hold the ceremony here. I could see all my favorite things in this spot—the keep, woods, and fields I’d played in with Seth as a child. I could also see the giant fiery sun representing my personal powers meeting the earth that represented Seth’s. It was the perfect place to marry the man I loved.
My eyes locked with Seth’s as we moved down the aisle toward him. Emotion welled up in my heart so strong that tears filled my eyes. I loved him so much! There was no way anyone could love a person more than I loved Seth. He was my rock and stability. He kept me grounded, much like the earthy powers he had. He tempered my explosive and outlandish ways, and I helped him push his boundaries. We were the perfect match, and tonight, our love would finally be officially sealed. It was like a dream come true; I’d waited so long for this day.
Seth looked handsome in his best clothes, clearly designed by the Fae. His tunic hung nearly to his knees and was the palest blue, with raised patterns stitched into the fabric. It was belted about his waist, and a short sword had been placed at his hip. His dark blue pants were tucked into his tall, soft leather boots. Blond hair slightly ruffling in the breeze, he pushed it back, and his green eyes sparkled as they roamed over me.
For a moment, I felt self-conscious, wondering if he liked my gossamer white dress. Bethna had been quite put out with me insisting on white for my dress. She said it simply wasn’t heard of. She recommended several other colors she thought would serve me better, but my heart was set. I’d dreamed of my white wedding dress since I was a girl, the first time I saw my parent’s pictures.
Confusion flitted through my mind, causing me to stumble slightly. Grandpa quickly grabbed my arm.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice full of concern.
I nodded. “Yes. I just had another moment of dizziness.”
Immediately, my grandfather pushed my stone into my hand. “Here. Rub this. You know how it always makes you feel more grounded.”
Gripping the stone, I took a deep breath, and suddenly the world righted and seemed in perfect order.
“Do we need to stop?” Grandpa asked.
“No!” I replied a little too forcefully. “No more delays.”
This elicited a giggle from everyone else in the room, and we continued to the front. Seth reached for my hand, pulling me close to his side. “You look beautiful,” he whispered.
“So do you,” I replied with a wink, and he chuckled.
Damien moved around us, taking his spot as officiant in this event. He’d been given permission to marry us, and I couldn’t think of a better person in the world to bless our union. A moment of sadness pierced my heart as I wondered what it might have been like to have my parents with me today. Would they have been as happy as the rest of my family was about this union?
“Welcome, everyone,” my grandfather began. “Tonight, we celebrate the joining of Kenna and Seth in holy matrimony. They’ve asked to keep this ceremony simple. Each of them has prepared something to say to the other. Kenna will go first, and when she is finished, Seth will take over.”
Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Why hadn’t I thought to write something down? My thoughts were all over the place.
“Relax. It’s just you and me now,” Seth said in a low voice, taking both of my hands, his thumbs rubbing my skin in a soothing motion.
All I needed to do was focus on him. “I love you,” I blurted out, and the younger girls present giggled. Smiling at him, I felt my eyes fill with tears. “I’ve loved you my whole life. You’ve been my best friend through everything. You are my everything. I . . . I love you.”
I felt so blasted tongue-tied for some reason.
“Don’t ever stop saying it,” he responded with a smile. “I’ll never get enough of it. You’re my heart, sun, flame, and light of my life. I can’t wait to spend the rest of it wrapped in your arms. I love you, too.”
At this point, my grandfather wrapped a braided cord of ribbons, fabrics, and flowers around our joint hands. Seth and I had made them together before the wedding, putting all our wishes, hopes, and magick into every twist and turn.
“Seth and Kenna have pledged their love to one another,” Grandpa said. “Their hands have been bound together in the bonds of love of their own making. I now pronounce them handfasted, man and woman, one belonging to the other in heart, mind, and soul. By the gods, so be it!”
“By the gods, so be it!” The guests who spoke joined in the shouting. Immediately, cheers went up, and we were bombarded with hugs and well wishes.
“Let’s move to the courtyard outside for the wedding feast and music!” Grandpa said, raising his voice to be heard over the others. The crowd eventually made their way out, and musicians from the village began playing a robust jib. Servers in matching tunics streamed from the kitchen with loads of food to the waiting tables.
“Wait a minute,” Seth said, suddenly sweeping me behind one of the pillars.
“What are you doing?” I asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
“I just want to kiss my stunning bride one more time before the others tear you from me.”
“That’ll never happen,” I whispered. “I’ll never let anyone come between us.”
“Promise?” he asked, smiling as his eyes traveled hungrily over my lips.
“On my life,” I whispered.
“Hey. Don’t go giving your life away to things. I’m gonna be needing that.”
“You are, huh? Whatever for?”
“I’d be happy to skip these festivities and show you exactly what I mean if you’d like.” His hand slipped around my waist, and he dragged me closer.
“Hmmm. That is tempting.”
Grinning, he lowered his head, his mouth capturing mine. “I’m totally serious.”
“Are the bride and groom going to join us?” my grandfather’s voice boomed, interrupting our spontaneous cocoon of magick we were creating. We broke apart laughing.
“Guess you’ll have to wait until later.”
“Pfft. Me? Wait? You’re the one who’s missing out. I could be rocking your world right now.”
I snorted, unable to help myself. “Stop it. Be good.” I pursed my lips, trying to hide my grin unsuccessfully.
“Oh, I promise you, I’ll be very, very good. Just you wait and see.”
Heat stained my cheeks as we moved toward the table to join our guests for our wedding feast. While I was excited about this celebration, I’d be lying if I didn’t acknowledge that Seth had lit something inside me that would be burning all evening.
I couldn’t wait until I had him all to myself.