Summoner 16, page 31
I gave the Aunts a friendly grin to show them I was glad to see them, but I couldn’t restrain myself from baring my teeth slightly, so the expression ended up as more of a grimace.
My attention was pulled away, though, when the Wild Reds strolled in. Doc bobbed his head when we made eye contact, Zyg gave me a small wave, and then the group scooted onto a bench on what seemed to be my side of the aisle.
I was surprised to see Tabby, the tavern owner of the Roaring Cat in Njordenfalls where I grew up, among the guests, and the older woman gave me a small smile when I caught her eye, but then many unfamiliar people walked through, and my attention was pulled away.
Suddenly, the music took on an intensified volume, and the idle muttering and whispers around the now crowded cathedral grew softer, but not silent. My heart beat thudded in my ears as I peered down the aisle to the door, but then two people stood silhouetted against the light from outside.
I squinted to see who it was, but then they started to move forward at a slow, ritualistic pace, and a moment later, I realized it was Maelor with Mrs. Kenefick on his arm. My father figure escorted my fiancée’s mother to the front row, and he gave her another low bow before he took his place across the aisle from her.
Then I spotted Erin’s vibrant orange hair in my peripheral vision, and my eyes returned to the entrance. The pilot held onto Orenn’s elbow, and the metallogue’s face was split with an ear-to-ear grin, but they paused for a moment for dramatic effect before continuing down the aisle. Erin’s dress was long, but the design was simple, with two straps on her shoulders and a slit up one side of the pink skirt that revealed the pale skin of her leg. Her short-cropped hair was accentuated with a flower crown that matched the bouquet of spring roses in her hand, but her sweet smile as she looked at me was the prettiest decoration.
Orenn and Erin parted ways at the front of the cathedral, and they took up positions on either side of the dias, with the metallogue standing several paces to my left.
Suddenly, the music screeched to a halt as a few startled gasps echoed from the balcony. I swiveled to see what had caused the disruption, and I saw Mur and Ashla standing in the doorway. The music restarted with an apologetic gusto, but the curious whispers around the cathedral continued.
Ashla smiled radiantly, and she walked down the aisle with a confident stride. She stared into the faces of the onlookers with pride, and she kept her grip on Mur’s scruffy mane. Her long braids dangled over her shoulders, and the ice mage had a rose tucked behind her ear, but her pink dress resembled a sundress, and the loose flowing skirt fluttered around her knees.
Mur eyed the crowd hesitantly, but his step perked up once I finally caught his eye and gave him an encouraging smile. The moose kid took careful steps, and he kept his head held high to hold his wide antlers above the benches. Some of the people crowding the edges of the aisle had to duck to avoid the bony appendages, and startled gasps erupted in the pair’s wake.
I gave Mur a respectful nod after he’d escorted Ashla to her position by Erin, and the moose kid trotted into his place beside Orenn.
Cyra and Braden were next, though, so my eyes leapt back to the entrance. The dark-skinned summoner wore her nest of curly brown hair up in a knot with a rose tucked into the center, and the sight of her unobstructed, smooth neck made my mouth water even more. Cyra draped her arm casually over Braden’s elbow, but my roommate slouched a little to adjust for their height differences. Her dress flowed around her feet like water, and my gaze trailed up the hem of the wrap-style, pink garment to return to her warm, chocolate eyes.
Then Layla bounced down the aisle pulling a stiff-necked Gawain along with her, and the fire mage desperately attempted to maintain a poised expression despite his partner’s urgent tugs.
The petite summoner had a spring rose tucked behind one ear, and like the other girls, she held a bouquet of the flowers clutched in her hand. Her dress had thin straps of pink satin, and the skirt was short and puffy, but she’d paired the outfit with black, knee-high boots, which helped her stomp confidently toward me.
Next, Arwyn lit the entryway ablaze as a perfectly timed breeze swept her flame colored locks across her shoulders. The red-haired adept mage wore a similar light pink lace dress as Layla and Cyra, but the style was slightly different. Arwyn’s dress had a plunging neckline and a sash tied around the waist, but the skirt was much longer, and the fabric swishing around her legs added an elegance to her movements.
Holding the beautiful professor’s hand aloft to escort her down the aisle was a slick haired, clean shaven Keith Almasy, and the pilot grinned proudly as he flourished Arwyn down the path to the platform. His dark gray eyes showed more emotion than I’d ever seen before, and he gave the redhead a respectful bow when they parted ways.
My eyes lingered on Arwyn for a long moment, and she flushed beneath my gaze. I swallowed down the saliva building in my mouth, though, and turned my attention back to the entrance to see who was coming in next.
Nerha, Nia’s older sister, accompanied by their brother Nayveth paused just inside the threshold of the cathedral to gaze serenely around at all the guests as though granting them the chance to look at the glorious Keneficks up close. Of course, the sibling duo captured every pair of eyes in the room as they strode down the aisle with the grace and poise deserving of their name and stations.
Nerha’s hair hung loosely down her back, save for the two braids on either side of her head running behind her ears, and the world-renowned apothecary wore a light pink, scooped neck lace dress. Nayveth looked dashing in his high collared black jacket, and he cast a subtle wink my way as the pair split in front of me to stand on either side of the platform. Nia’s brother stood slightly behind Almasy, while my fiancée’s sister took up a position behind Arwyn.
I scanned Nia’s sister discreetly for a sign of recent childbirth, but the slightly older mage had the same trim figure as her little sister, and before I could analyze her any further, another gorgeous woman at the entrance caught my eye.
My mouth fell open as I absorbed the image of my beautiful shapeshifting wife, who had one hand placed delicately on Varleth’s elbow while the other clutched a bouquet of pink roses. The warrior princess wore her hair down in her usual wild waves, but a woven ring of spring roses sat upon her locks, and the flowers in her hair perfectly matched the vee necked pink dress she wore. While the lace material brushed against her knees in the front, it swayed behind her at a much longer length in the back, and the entire combination made her appear regal and softly feminine in a way I’d never imagined.
My wife filled my eyes with her captivating presence, and I barely registered the curt nod from the gypsy as he escorted her to the front of the cathedral. Freya’s gold-flecked eyes danced with delight beneath my adoring gaze, and I grinned stupidly at her across the space between us.
Varleth took up a stance to my left, and he cleared his throat to get my attention before he jerked his head toward the entrance, so my eyes followed his gesture to see the next pair in the wedding procession.
However, it wasn’t another pair of people, it was my familiar. The kitten-sized monster roared to announce his arrival, but the sound was high pitched and squeaky coming from his diminutive form. Still, he held his head proudly as he pranced forward, and as he neared the platform, I noticed the silk bag lashed around his neck and decorated with a flower.
I grinned down at the small monster as he plopped himself into a sitting position at my feet, and I swore I saw his lips twitch up into a smile.
Then the sound of the orchestra cut out and left only the musical notes of a single harpist. My heart hammered in my chest, and my palms grew sweaty, but I swiped them discreetly on my trousers as I locked my eyes on the entrance.
This was it.
Suddenly, a collective aww went through the crowd as Nia and her father stood silhouetted against the doorway.
My breath caught in my throat, and my jaw dropped, but I didn’t attempt to restrain or filter my expression. I couldn’t care less what I looked like, or what anyone thought of me. All I cared about was Nia Kenefick, and I struggled to catch my breath for several long moments as I stared like I was hypnotized at my magnificent bride.
Nia’s brilliant blue eyes were bright with joy, and her wide smile raised her round cheeks. Her wedding gown was a pearlescent pink-white, and her breasts heaved beneath a tight corset laced with pink ribbons. The skirt flowed from her tiny waist like a waterfall, but the short skirt in the front revealed the thigh-high white lace stockings and the strappy pink heels at the end of her long, toned legs.
The sound of the harpist emanating from the balcony created the perfect background as Nia and her father walked slowly down the aisle. I couldn’t take my gaze off her, and I lost all sense of the world as I dove into her eyes. Even from a distance, I felt close to her, but a fire in my gut yearned to have her in my arms.
The elementalist’s light ashy hair hung straight down her back in a ponytail, with tresses sweeping away from her face to meet at the nape of her neck. Her silver tendrils were lined with spring roses, and the bouquet clutched in my bride’s delicate fingers overflowed her hands with trailing vines and ribbons.
Then my bride stood before me, and my heartbeat thudded in my ears as I inhaled a steadying breath.
Gallahar Kenefick cleared his throat and leveled me with his piercing gaze.
“This is my baby girl, Gryff,” the Grand Mage informed me in a firm tone, but his eyes were full of intense emotion. “Take care of her, love her the way she deserves, and we will have no issues.”
“I swear I will, sir,” I replied solemnly. It was a promise I took very seriously, but one I did not hesitate to make.
Gallahar nodded curtly, and then he turned to give his daughter a warm smile. Nia threw her arms around her father in a tight hug, and then she stood on her tip-toes to plant a soft kiss on his cheek.
“Thank you, Daddy,” she murmured, and her eyes were moist as she stepped up onto the platform. Then her soft pink lips trembled, but her smile never fell as she looked at me with love bursting from her eyes. “Hi.”
“Hi, yourself,” I whispered, and I took her hand in mine.
She is breathtakingly beautiful, Dio observed from his position at my feet as he gazed lovingly up at my bride, but then his cat eyes wandered down the line of gorgeous women standing behind Nia. You are certainly a lucky man to have such lovely mates…
Almost as if by magic, the priest suddenly reappeared from the side of the stage, and he quickly took his position between my bride and me.
“Fellow worshippers and citizens of Varle,” the officiant began in a loud voice that echoed across the cathedral, “we are gathered here today to bear witness to the sacred union of these two souls before the Maker. Are there any who contest their petition to be wed?”
Silence answered the priest, but he paused for a long moment before continuing. Someone coughed, then muttered an apology, and the baby on Geheim’s lap began to fuss, but it didn’t seem like anyone was going to object.
I cast a subtle glance at the Aunts, and while I could tell Aunt Decima was literally biting her lip to restrain herself, it looked like they were going to keep their mouths shut.
Good.
I grinned at the priest to encourage him to continue, and the old man cleared his throat.
“Do you have the rings?” the officiant asked in a loud, formal voice.
I bent over to untie the small sack lashed onto my familiar’s neck, and I gave the cat-like monster an affectionate scratch under his chin before I stood back up with the satchel in hand.
“The circular nature of the rings symbolize the wheel of fortune,” the priest proclaimed in a ceremonial voice. “As you exchange these rings, you exchange the promise to share the burden of life’s ups and downs.”
Nia took the bag from my hands, and she dug inside it for a moment, but then her fingers emerged with a silver band. Her blue eyes danced with joy as she slid the ring onto my finger, and then she handed the bag back to me.
I didn’t restrain my gleeful expression as I pulled the matching ring out and slipped it onto my soon-to-be wife’s slender finger.
“Do you, Gryff of Njordenfalls and Hawk Clan, take this woman,” the officiant asked as he swept his gaze to my bride, “as your wife til death do you part with the grace of the One True Maker?”
I took a deep breath. “I do.”
“And do you, Nia Kenefick, take this man,” the priest continued in a monotone voice, “as your husband til death do you part with the grace of the One True Maker?”
My heart pounded in my chest so hard I imagined the sound echoing from the vaulted ceiling to reverberate around the room. My eyes bored into Nia’s, and my heart laid completely open and bare beneath her penetrating gaze.
“I do,” my bride declared in a loud voice, and the tension I hadn’t even realized I was holding fell from my shoulders.
She said yes.
“Seal your vows with a kiss, and join your souls together as man and wife,” the priest proclaimed with a flourish of his hands as he took a step back.
That was the only cue I needed, and I rushed forward to slide my hands around Nia’s cheeks to cup her face. I gently lifted her chin up as I leaned down and softly caressed her delicate lips with my own, and my breath was shaky as I pulled her in close to me.
Cheers erupted through the chamber as all the wedding guests leapt to their feet to applaud and whoop out congratulations.
Nia jumped, and she threw her arms tightly around my neck as she kissed me with a fierce passion I hadn’t expected in front of all the watchful eyes. Her ashen hair blanketed my face and hid our kiss from the audience like a curtain, though, so I closed my eyes as her body nestled perfectly against me.
I thought I would explode with happiness, and I spun my wife in a circle as I laughed with wild abandon.
When I finally came back to reality and set my wife down on her feet, Nia’s cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were bright with excitement.
“I’m so happy, Gryff!” the elementalist exclaimed. “You’re my husband! Can you believe it!”
“Trying to.” I smirked.
In my peripheral vision, I could see the priest give me a pointed look, so I hooked my arm around Nia’s lower back, and we stepped back up to stand before the officiant together.
“As you leave this chapel beneath the gaze of the One True Maker,” the priest proclaimed in a loud voice, “you do so as husband and wife. Go forth, and be merry.”
Nia grinned, and her eyes twinkled as she grasped my hand firmly, but then she swiveled and dashed down the aisle toward the entrance, and I had no choice but to run along with her.
I laughed with childlike abandon as the guests standing to either side tossed rice over our heads, and when I glanced back over my shoulder, I saw the rest of the wedding party following in our wake.
It was official. Nia Kenefick was my wife.
Which meant my life was fucking awesome.
Chapter Sixteen
Nia led me down the steps and around the side of the building to a side entrance, and I found myself in a room with low beams across the ceiling and several wooden tables with pink tablecloths spread throughout the space. The entire room was decorated with garlands of ribbon and roses, and the flowers added a strong aroma of spring to the air.
On the far wall, a multi-tiered white cake stood like a beacon of sugar on a table with plates and other serving dishes stacked nearby. Beside the white mountain of goodness was a champagne fountain where the bubbly liquid spilled down a tower of stacked glasses, and I marveled at the intricate architecture used to create the drinkable art.
“That was so fucking awesome!” Layla shrieked as she entered the room behind us. Dio was curled up in her arms like a baby, but she placed him on the floor as she sauntered over to us with a wide grin on her face. “When you started running, the priest guy started sputtering and got really red. I don’t think he’s ever seen anyone have fun before. Probably changed his life.”
The petite summoner pranced past Nia and me, and she hopped up to sit on the top of a nearby table. The rest of the wedding party filtered in behind her, and a moment later, I was surrounded by all my closest friends.
“Mistral marriage ritual is very different from Hawk Clan,” Freya observed as she stepped up to give my newest wife a sideways hug. “I do not think your shaman would like ours.”
“No, I don’t think he would,” I laughed.
“I’d be interested in seeing a Hawk Clan wedding,” Cyra commented with a playful wink. “Maybe we can do their version for our wedding, Gryff.”
“Our wedding?” I grinned. “I like the sound of that.”
“Before you start planning the next one,” Varleth drawled, “maybe you should at least cut the cake for this one and do the party first.”
“The cake does look good,” I allowed as my eyes trailed back to the tower of sugar.
“I knoow!” Layla growled with a fierce hunger. “You’re lucky I love you guys or I would already be elbows deep in that sugar coma waiting to happen.”
“Not much longer,” Nia assured the voracious summoner. “You’ll get the first piece, I promise.”
“Noo,” Layla argued. “You have to shove the first piece into Gryffie’s face!”
“Okay,” Nia laughed. “The second piece, then.”
Layla tilted her head to the side as though contemplating this, but then finally she nodded firmly. “That works for me.”
“What a beautiful ceremony,” Nerha gushed as she approached Nia and me. “You are probably the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen, little sister.”
The ashen-haired apothecary held the baby I’d seen with her husband on her hip, and it blinked up at me with open curiosity while drool spilled over its lower lip.
“Thanks, Nerha,” Nia replied in a pleased tone. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Nerha said as her eyes followed my gaze, and she chuckled as she elbowed Nia. “Has he ever even seen a baby before?”
