Chapter 802: Wedding Day
Another mirror. Another dress. Totally different experience.
I stood on what amounted to a pedestal as at least a dozen or so giggling vampires tugged, pushed and laced me into the biggest, heaviest mass of fabric and jewels I'd ever seen in my entire life. The thing weighed so much I had to have my alter egos help me carry it so it wouldn't drive me to my knees.
This was the punishment I got for picking out my first wedding dress alone.
This one was, at least, the pale ivory I'd requested. White would have felt disrespectful to Liam's memory. And Mom happily acquiesced before losing her freaking mind.
And when I appealed to Sunny for assistance in my mother's sudden loss of sanity?
Yeah.
I was surrounded by vampires, wasn't I?
Shenka hovered, her ball gown sparkling, covered in as many gems as could possibly be stuck to her. Again Mom went with the jewel tones. I guess she figured a good idea was a terrible thing to waste.
And considering only a handful of people had seen the last wedding party...
Did I mention I wasn't in my room? Yeah. The vampire mansion. Put back together with massive help from all sides. I was shocked to discover when Sebastian sent out a request for assistance, almost every single race came to his rescue. I forgave the Sidhe, considering they were now trapped on the other side of the Gate in their own realm.
Good excuse.
I shifted to one side as Sunny prodded me. "Foot," she said.
And held out what amounted to a glass slipper.
Sigh.
She wasn't even being nice about it anymore, all grumpy and snapping at her people like they were failing her somehow. Only her human servant, Chambrelle Strait, seemed amused by the whole thing. Winked one of her pale green eyes over Sunny's shoulder at me, thick, red hair tied back, dark suit impeccable.
Nice to know someone found this funny.
I really wanted to get married in a quiet, private ceremony. To me, my first one had been big enough. The coven was there, my choice friends and family. They were all I needed.
Just made it worse when, the morning after Quaid rejoined the coven, Mom and Dad showed up at the house.
Dressed up. Dad was in a suit, for goodness sakes. Looked like a model for Armani. And Mom in a blue dress showing all the right skin and curves.
Yowza.
I was so floored by their appearance, I missed the fact Varity came in behind them.
Grinning.
"We need a favor." Mom grasped my hands, kissed my cheek before hugging Quaid. Without a word.
"Um." I glanced at my love-no melting-and back at Mom. Beaming Dad. "Okay."
They grabbed us both, Dad muttering, "If you hurt her again, boy, I'll kill you," even as they ushered us out to the back yard.
My father suddenly pulled to a halt. Pointed at Mom and Quaid. "You two, stay put," he said. "You," grasped my hand, "come with me."
Dragged me down into the basement.
Stood in the middle of the pentagram. And pulled free of his statue.
I gaped as he staggered out of it, turned his mortal body to look back at the diamond effigy, smiling at us both.
"Cupcake," he said. "Here's what I need you to do."
Showed me.
I gasped even as Sassafras pounded down the stairs, skidding to a halt. Looked at Dad. The statue. And growled.
"Don't tell me," he said. "After I died and everything."
Dad laughed. And looked at me with hope and expectation.
And I did as he asked.
Wrapped his effigy in a cocoon of power. Searched for weakness. Found it, buried in his feet, where the boy Sassafras was bled his life away to save my father.
"You're sure?"
Dad's grin was boyish, joyful. "Do it," he said.
Sass hissed. Sighed. "Just do it, Syd," he said. "I'm done saving his ass."
I laughed. And shattered Dad's statue into a million pieces.
The shield caught them all, sparkling and spinning inside the wards. I let them drop with a musical, tinkling sound, all of them. All but two pieces. The ones he'd asked for. Floated the pure diamond bands to his hand and let them go.
Dad's eyes sparkled with tears as he kissed me. Then dragged me back upstairs with Sassafras following behind.
Charlotte stood on the edge of the flagstone walk bouncing Gabriel and grinning, Quaid and Mom talking quietly with Varity. But my mother's attention instantly broke when Dad and I appeared.
Who was I kidding. When Dad appeared.
"Lovesick puppies," Sassafras grumbled. "Nothing's changed."
Dad laughed. "You really expected it to?"
Sass waddled across the grass to Mom. "I warned you about him."
She bent and kissed him as he rose to rest one paw on her knee. "You did, silly cat," she said. "And I love him more than I ever did."
Sniffle.
Charlotte stood with us as I took Gabriel from her, my son grinning and staring as Varity hurried through the quick ceremony. Not because she wanted to. But because Mom and Dad, both giggling, kept telling her to hurry up.
Hilarious and sweet. I stood next to Mom, smiling between them and Quaid who grinned like a little kid as Varity finally, huffing in frustration, said, "Give her the damned ring then, Harry, if you're in such a rush."
We laughed, Gabriel's a sweet birdsong. And, after a second, so did Varity.
When Mom saw the rings, she gasped, hand over her mouth.
"Harry..."
He slipped hers onto her finger, pressed his into her shaking hand.
"Forever, Miriam," he said. "For as long as we have. My love."
I was going to collapse in a little heap of helpless tears if they didn't hurry the hell up.
Varity wrapped it up with, "Just kiss her already then. I'll tell everyone I finished."
Dad swept Mom into his arms, dipped her. Breathless, Mom gazed with adoration into his eyes.
There was a time their open affection made me all ewie.
Not anymore.
I let my tears fall on Gabriel's shoulder as Dad kissed Mom.
What could be more awesome?
Someone cleared their throat and we all turned, Dad pulling Mom back up so she could look, too.
My jaw dropped at the sight of Demetrius, dressed in a tuxedo, and my grandmother, her dark hair pinned up in an elaborate 'do, draped in a white lace dress.
"Excuse us," she said, stepping past Mom and Dad who beamed and bowed their way to one side. Gram winked at me. Grasped my hand. "Next," she said. Glared at her friend as Varity sighed. "And make it snappy."
"Gram." I reached out to her. "There's no hurry." She was leaving me again, I could feel it, though this time physically. Moving away from me, moving on. With Demetrius.
She snorted at me, swatted with her flowers. "Girl," she said, "I've been waiting my whole life to marry this man. Don't you dare get in my way." Her face softened. "I'll leave the fuss and waiting for you."
I loved my family.
More tears. Holy. But they were the happy ones at last.
I'd cry as much as I wanted.
When it came time for their rings, Gram and Demetrius drew on their power. Pulled energy from each other, instead of the world around them. And made two shining circles of light from darkness. When the rings settled into their hands, they glowed, platinum and powerful.
Varity set her fists on her hips. "Yada, yada, married," she said. "Kiss her."
Demetrius laughed. Leaned in to peck Gram on the lips.
She grabbed him. And I honestly had to look away.
Or laugh.
Whoa.
When she released Demetrius, he looked dazed and very, very happy.
As Varity hugged her old friend, I met Quaid's eyes.
Wanna?
He grinned. Marry me.
But the moment we stepped in front of Varity, Mom put her foot down.
And continued to.
All the way to this moment. This giant dress.
My wedding night. My circus. Because, wouldn't you know, the minute everyone found out Quaid and I were getting married, they all suffered from collective madness.
Half the paranormal population of this plane wanted to show up. Not to mention a bunch from others. The wrangling of people was massive, scary and, thank goodness, left to Mom, Sunny and Shenka. I think Mom's experience with the world conclave served her well.
I sighed and tolerated it, and the three weeks it took to put the wedding together.
I really wasn't complaining. It meant I got to see everyone again.
And I was totally okay with that.
"She's ready." The vampires backed away, Sunny's grim expression suddenly bright and beaming.
I turned, the massive dress floating under my power, endless diamonds and ropes of pearls, studs of tiny rubies, emeralds, sapphires, black diamonds and amber flashing from the bodice, trailing down into the frothy layers of poof.
Endless, endless poof.
Sunny chased her minions out, paused to help me down from the pedestal as the glass heels, now warmed to my body temperature, slipped firmly into place.
I was shocked. They were actually comfortable.
"I love you." Sunny kissed me on the cheek, dodged my hug. "Don't muss," she snapped. Laughed. "Oh, dear," she said, touching her perfectly updone hair, her pale silver dress a match for Shenka's blue shimmering as she giggled. "Syd, I'm sorry." Then shrugged. "Muss and I'll bite you."
The door opened as I giggled, the dress bouncing with my laughter. Mom and Dad swept inside, Meira behind them, Trill and Charlotte again wrapping up the group.
Though one more beautiful face joined us. Gabriel ran for me. Stopped before he could touch me. Looked up with huge eyes.
"Momma," he said, awe in his little voice. "'Parkles."
Snort. I bent, ignoring Sunny's hiss of worry, and kissed my son's cheek. Straightened his little bow tie, brushed one hand over his tailcoat. "So handsome," I said.
He giggled. Showed me his basket full of flower petals. "Pretties."
"They are," I said. Stood up. Drew as deep a breath as the dress would allow. "Showtime?"
Mom nodded, held out her hand as the girls lined up. Sunny fussed a bit, only to have Meira and Shenka drag her away. Held her in place while she bit her bottom lip and eyed me for faults.
And then, the sound of music reached us, the din I barely heard in my excitement dying down in the distance.
I hooked my arm through Dad's, the other through Mom's. Nodded to Trill who led the way with Gabriel at her side.
"Let's go," I said. "I have my true love to marry and I don't want to keep him waiting."
***
