It wasn’t a lot by any stretch, but it was a start. My father was on board now that he had some guidance and realized he didn’t have to adhere to the Council’s cruel proclivities. I was glad my father was taking steps to rectify the power struggle. I was glad he was willing to help.
My belly quivered with unease as I took more steps towards my future husband. He was wearing the most beautiful robes and a smile that made my belly quiver.
This was it! A dream was becoming a reality. The man who’d proven time and time again how much he loved me, was making me his wife.
We reached the edge of the crowd of people and it was an ocean of smiles and brightly colored robes.
My sisters had stopped at the front of the aisle and were now facing me, their faces twin grins of happiness. They liked Tavlor; they especially liked to give him a hard time. And now they would get to do that for a lifetime.
A member or two of the Council had arrived to witness the event but for the rest of the crowd, there were only friends.
I clung to my father’s arm and lifted my gaze to my future husband, standing stoically at the altar, his intense gaze meeting mine.
Happiness pulsed through every part of me. From my eyes, to my heart, to the tips of my fingers.
When we reached the end of our long walk, my father kissed my cheek, took my hand, and passed me over to Tavlor.
That familiar tingle caressed my skin and I gripped my Fae lover’s hand as we both turned towards my father, who was now standing facing us.
“Friends, and family, welcome,” my father said, his voice gentle but booming so everyone could hear him. “Today, we come together, to join two of the most beautiful souls I’ve ever had the privilege to know. My daughter, Ava, and the man who will soon become my son, Tavlor.”
My father went on, and my heart soared. It was strange. I thought for sure I’d be captivated by my father, trying to memorize his words so I’d never forget today. But all I could do was stare at Tavlor, the color of his eyes as he looked at me, the way his lips curved up into a soft smile, the tingle I felt when he caressed the backs of my hands with his thumbs.
This was my husband. I was going to be with him for the rest of my life.
Today was the first step towards getting Tavlor accepted as not only my husband, but as the man who would share the High Warlock role with me in the years to come.
We were on the path to change many of the things that the Council had destroyed, and together we were stronger, bigger, better.
And magic willing, one day, we would have our own family, and I would finally show my half Fae, half warlock husband that I would be truly proud to raise babies of his bloodline.
It would be a lot of work, but I was willing to put in the time and effort.
In fact, I was too stubborn not to.
THE END