Elle Jasper - Darklove

Through the crowd, I see Rhine with his bass, and I have to agree. He’s a great guy.

Ahead, a small line starts to move toward the fountain, where Garr, also an ordained minister, awaits us. Noah is Eli’s best man, and the pair stand at the fountain, on Garr’s left. But Noah is standing in just the right position, so I don’t have a good look at Eli yet. My insides ping with nerves. Ahead of me, Nyx and Luc make their way up an aisle covered in dogwood blooms. Guests are seated in white wooden folding chairs on either side of the fountain.

They’re filled to the gills with people I love.

Next, Phin grasps his sister’s arm and they head up the aisle. He returns for his mother, Elise, who is stunning in a champagne silk gown with a diamond choker. Gilles follows behind them. Luc returns and escorts Estelle down the aisle then, but not before she turns, her eyes wide, and a big grin stretches across her aged ebony face. She’s wearing a soft light dove gray dress that shimmers in the sunlight. It reminds me of Noah’s eyes. She’s my beautiful Gullah grandmother, and she kisses me, then heads up the aisle.

I glance out over the crowd gathered before me, and I’m in absolute awe of my life and all who is in it.

First, my baby brother, who sits on the front row. This whole thing started when he and his silly friends inadvertently set the Arcos brothers free of their graves. What would have happened if they hadn’t done that?

I shudder at the thought.

All things happen for a reason. I’m so totally convinced of that.

Next to my brother, of all souls, is Victorian Arcos. One of the entombed devils, who turned out not to be such a devil after all. He smiles at me, and I’m surprised he’s behaving so well. Not once since our last mind convo has he entered my thoughts. I think Eli must have had a talk with him.

Gabriel and Sydney are here, Lucien and Ginger. Jake Andorra, and he has a date, which makes me slightly curious. Victorian Arcos is next to Jake’s date. My WUP family. Perfect. They’d settled the wolf war in the Highlands, by the way.

And then all of my lovely Gullah family.

Jack and Tuba, Preacher’s nephews, flanked by big Zetty the Tibetan, are nearly taking up a row all themselves. Preacher’s family. Garr’s family, and several of Noah’s Charleston crew have gathered.

It’s all pretty fantastic.

Werewoves. Gullah. Humans. Vampires.

And whatever Gabriel is.

I am not there, Riley, but I can see you. I’m envious of Eli, and I’ll always love you. I’m here to watch over you. All you have to do is call me.

Thanks, Athios. Because of you, this is possible. I’ll never forget it.

I’ll never forget you, my love. And Miles is right, by the way. Your mother is here. She sees. Her happiness for you makes her light brighter.

Tell her I love and miss her so much, Athios.

She knows.

My eyes mist with tears. My mother’s watching. Of course she’s an angel. She was in life. Why would she be anything less in death? A joy fills me, and I know it’s her.

Thank you, Athios. What do you know? My own guardian angel.

My eyes drift to the other side of the guests.

The side that is nearly taken up by the absolute largest men I’ve ever seen in my life. Tristan de Barre of Dreadmoor Keep, his wife and brood, along with Jason, Gawan, and Ellie, and all of their children, have crossed the Pond to attend the nups. Tristan’s men have come as well, and let me tell you, it’s an impressive bunch of once-medieval fellas.

To think of all the lives that have been lived. Lost. Relived.

Shocks me to the core.

“Time to go, baby girl,” Preacher whispers to me.

Rhine starts a new tune—another he’s written—and Preacher and I start up the dogwood-petal-strewn aisle.

My eyes are fixed now on only one soul. My breath leaves me.

His eyes are mostly back to that beautiful cerulean color I love. But there are still flecks of red embedded in them that may never go away. I’d decided that it’s him, and I wanted all of him. No contacts needed. Our gazes are locked as I make my way toward him. The look on his face reveals much. Jaw muscle flexing, and he’s fighting a smile, but soon loses that fight as his beautiful lips stretch into a wide grin.

I think he’s freaked.

He meets me and Preacher in the front of the fountain. Preacher kisses me and places my hand in Eli’s. Then he joins them together and sits beside his wife.

“I can’t stop shaking,” Eli whispers in my ear as we face Garr.

My heart leaps.

Garr goes through the typical ceremony, and I hear every single word he says. Through sickness and in health. Yes, yes, of course. For as long as you both shall live? Is there any other choice? Longer than that, maybe? His words register, and Eli and I both answer. Inside, though, I’m a quiver of nerves. My wedding day. To Eligius Dupré.

How did I get so lucky?

“You wish to say your own vows, dat’s right?” Garr asks.

Eli nods and turns me to face him. He holds my hands and slips a platinum band over my ring finger. It nestles next to the engagement ring he’d given me, before Edinburgh. It feels right, like it’s belonged there all along, and my breath hitches. “All my life, I’ve waited for you, Riley Poe. You’re everything I could ever want, no matter how many lifetimes we live. You make me full, complete, and I’ll spend every single day making sure you never regret marrying me.”

My heart is in my throat, and I swallow past it. Eli’s words sink to my core. Love makes my nerves tingle. My eyes meet his, and I hold his gaze. My heart flutters. “I worked hard to pull out of the dregs that were once my life,” I say, and I ease the wide platinum matching band over Eli’s ring finger. My hands are shaking. The sun beams overhead but is filtered through the canopy of live oaks. Dapples of sun light on Eli’s face, and just looking at him I feel my heart melting. His mouth lifts on one side, fighting a grin. “But to love you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done. I’ll love you till the day I die, Eligius Dupré. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re my life.”

I hear Nyx sniffling behind me, and I fight my own tears.

“Well, den,” Garr says. He’s dressed in a dark gray tux and a slick hat to match. “I think you two belong togedder, forever. In the eyes of God, and all dese folk, I pronounce you wife and husband, for as long as you both exist.” Garr grins at Eli. “Well, den, kiss her, boy!”

My whole body is humming with love and excitement as Eli grasps my face with both of his hands and presses his mouth to mine. It’s a sweet, long, sleight-of-tongue kiss, and I melt into him. He pulls back and looks down at me, and the love in his mostly blue eyes takes my breath away. He smiles. I smile back.

You’re mine, he says.

Nuh-uh, you’re mine, I correct.

“Mr. and Mrs. Eligius Dupré, all hitched and legal!” Garr hollers.

Someone in the crowd whistles, and I know without looking it’s Tristan. The sound pierces the air and rivals that of a screeching falcon. The crowd roars then, clapping and rising to their feet. Eli takes my hand and we make our way right into the center of them all, and we stand there forever greeting, hugging, and rejoicing.

“My God, woman,” a deep voice rumbles at my ear. “I thought you were a vision wearing a battle helm and yielding a broadsword.” I turn and look up—way up—into the strange blue eyes of Tristan de Barre. “But I fancy this dress, for sure!”

I throw my arms around Tristan, and for the first time, meet his lovely wife, Andi. In turn, I hug all of the Dragonhawk knights, Gawan of Conwyk and his wife, Ellie, and all of their children combined. It’s like a small army. Eli shakes their hands, and they’re none satisfied with that. They pull him, too, into a tight bear hug.