“I told you I don’t want to wait any longer,” Cush answered, the familiar determined edge filled his tone.
“The reverend Tamsin will be presiding over the ceremony. Let’s go, chop chop.” Syndra clapped her hands attempting to hurry them along.
Cush pulled Elora to her feet. She knew the dumbstruck look on her face had to be comical, but truth be told that’s exactly how she felt—dumb and struck.
“Wait,” ―she held up her hand attempting to push Cush back― “you’re telling me that we are going to get married now? Like this?” She motioned to herself. She was wearing her signature black and purple get up: black skinny jeans, black combat boots, and a black fitted tee with a purple raven on the front.
“Oh, for quiver’s sakes,” Syndra huffed as she walked over to her and muttered something under her breath and waved a hand in front of Elora. “It’s not like you’re going to have it on for very long, not with the way he was pawing at you just a moment ago.”
Elora looked down at the transformation she had undergone. She now wore a black fitted corset and long flowing black skirt.
“I didn’t figure you’d want white,” Syndra smirked.
“Now can we go?” Cush asked as he reached for the still raised hand. He pulled her toward him and Elora stumbled a bit before righting herself and walking beside him. Was she really going to marry Cush right then? She’d said yes, but she’d also figured that they’d have a few months to plan it or something.
“Are you feeling overwhelmed?”Cush spoke to her mind.
“What if I said yes?”
“I’d say soon enough you will be too distracted to care.” He sent her a roguish wink as he looked down at her, not pausing his stride in the least. He finally stopped before a door and she realized it was her favorite room in the entire castle. Cassie called it the temple of doom. But to Elora it was peaceful. With its deep purple walls, black candelabras, and velvet black furniture, it was the perfect oasis. It was just a sitting room, or maybe more like a small library because of the shelves that lined one wall. The floor consisted of black obsidian tiles. Each alternating tile beset with a carving of a raven in flight. Cush had done it for her. One of the many ways he tried to meet her needs.
Elora could hear the murmur of voices behind the closed door. Her palms began to sweat and her heart beat a little harder in her chest.
“If this really is too much, we can wait,” Cush finally spoke as he turned to face her. His tall form towered over her, making her feel small but in no way insignificant. In fact she felt covered, sheltered, and safe. Elora tilted her head back to look up at him. She planned to marry him, so why not today? It wasn’t like there was anyone else better for her, nor would she ever want anyone else. Her mind jumped to what else being married to Cush meant—not just being tied to him for the rest her life—but to the intimate parts. Was she ready for that?
“I will wait for as long as you need. Marry me, Elora, but don’t worry about whether or not we will make love. If you aren’t ready, that’s okay. I want you. Make no mistake, my desire is strong, but I will wait.” He brushed his fingers across her lips as he whispered again. “Marry me.”
She knew he was sincere. He wouldn’t pressure her into anything. “Let’s just handle one thing at a time,” she said as she smiled up at him. “I know that I want to marry you. So, let’s focus on that.” Elora let out a deep breath suddenly feeling lighter. She’d made the right decision. She belonged with Cush.
The door opened in front of them without their help and Syndra squeezed passed. “I give it a couple hours tops, and you’ll be begging him.”
“Syndra, you aren’t helping,” Cush rumbled.
She shrugged as she entered the room. “Who said I was trying to help you two? I’m trying to do the rest of us a favor. The tension between you two is wound so tight that you’re bound to snap at any moment, and I personally don’t want to be scarred for life if you finally go at it in the halls.”
“Syndra, behave yourself and get up here so you can be a witness.” Cassie’s voice carried from behind the former light elf queen.
Syndra rolled her eyes. “Good grief, give the girl a crown and she takes the whole damn kingdom,” she muttered as she gave Elora a wink and then turned and walked toward Cassie without a backwards glance.
Cush began to lead her again. Elora’s attention was drawn to, first, the people gathered and then the room itself. Only a few were present, for which she was very grateful. Cassie, Trik, Lisa, Tony, Rin, Oakley, Syndra and, of course, Tamsin all stood in a half circle by the one window in the room. It was a stained glassed depiction of a tall tree, bare of all its leaves with ravens resting on some of the branches. The glass had purple, blue, and black hues to it with a touch of yellow from the moon and stars that were a part of the scene. A single, tall candle sat on the sill, causing the glass to glow.
When they’d finally reached the small group, Elora glanced over at her mom. They had always been close, but after her brush with death, her relationship with her mom was deeper. Lisa had shared all about Steal and her life before he died. She talked about what it was like to live in the elfin realm and about how she and Syndra had become such good friends. It was like she was getting to know her mom for the first time. And realizing they were a lot more alike than Elora realized. She let go of Cush’s hand and walked over to her mom wrapping her in a hug. “Thank you for being my mom,” Elora whispered to her.
She felt her mom squeeze her a little tighter before letting go. “It is a privilege and honor, sweet girl.” Lisa gave her a warm, approving smile and added, “Love the outfit.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less,” Cassie agreed. As she held her arms open for a hug, Elora grabbed her arm and jerked her into an embrace. “I’m so glad you didn’t die for good. I would have missed the crap out of you,” Cassie muttered causing both of them to laugh.
Elora pulled back to look at her. She bit her tongue to staunch the tears that threatened to fall. “I love you too, Cass.” Her voice was thick with emotion that she swallowed down as she stepped away from Cassie and looked at the man her best friend had fallen in love with.
Elora had liked Trik from the start, but after the conversation she’d had with him a week after the swamp catastrophe, she liked him all the more. Triktapic, king of the entire elfin race, came to her and knelt at her feet. At first Elora had thought it was a joke, Trik had a wicked sense of humor, but Cassie had been standing in the doorway of the room with a face full of worry.
“What’s going on, Cassie?” Elora asked her friend while looking down at the kneeling king.
“There is no easy way to say this.” Trik’s voice sounded as though he was in pain. “I am the one responsible for the death of your father.” He paused but began speaking again before Elora could stop him. “I won’t make excuses for what I did. All I can do is say that I am so, so very sorry.” He looked up at her and to her utter shock there was a sheen of wetness in his eyes.
Elora wasn’t sure what to do so she patted his shoulder and said, “Stand up, Trik.” He rose to his feet gracefully and met her eyes. “I knew about it, but I also know that you were a different person then. I know that since that time you have changed in many ways, and you have been broken by your past, only to then be built back up a better and more honorable man. If you need to hear it, then I will tell you. I forgive you.”
His eyes widened and after a few heartbeats he let out a slow sigh. “Thank you.”
Trik’s hand on her shoulder brought her back from the memory. “I’m happy for you, Elora. And I too am glad that you didn’t die for good.”
She grinned up at him and then hugged him. “Thank you.”
Trik pulled back until just his hands were on her shoulders. He glanced over Elora’s shoulder and then looked back down at her. “Your future husband is looking at me like he wants to stab me with that sword he’s always bragging about. It might be a good idea for you to go hug him.”
Elora rolled her eyes. “Literally about to marry him and he still feels the need to mark his territory.” She walked back over to her waiting warrior. “Quit glaring at Trik before he decides to whip out his quiver and arrows and shoot you.”
Cush’s lips twitched as he looked at her with a mischievous gleam. “Would you tend my wounds?”
“Yes, I’d cauterize them with a hot poker. Now are we doing this or what?”
“We are definitely doing this.”
Tamsin cleared his throat and Elora looked up at him. “Do you come of your own free will, Elora Scott?”
“Do I look tied up to you?” she asked with a smirk.
“Not yet,” Cassie coughed but the words were not lost.
Cush chuckled and the sound sent shivers down Elora’s back.
Tamsin smiled patiently at her.
“Yes, I come of my own free will,” she finally answered when she realized he wasn’t going to continue until she did.
Tamsin nodded and then looked at Cush. “You have the rings?”
Cush nodded as Elora’s head whipped up to look at him. He’d gotten them rings? Just how long had he been planning this?
Cush squeezed the hand he still held in his. “Long enough,” he answered her unspoken question.
Tamsin began to speak as Cush turned to face her and took both of her hands in his. Once again the world faded away and it was only them. She didn’t register most of what was said and yet managed to somehow speak the right words when it was time. Elora wondered if her face reflected even a portion of the adoration she saw in Cush’s face as he stared at her. Then he began to speak and tears began to blur her vision of him.
“I am honored to be your mate, your husband. I promise to cherish you.” His hands left hers as he spoke and cupped her face as he took a step closer to her. “I promise to protect you and provide for you. I pledge to you my heart, my body, my affection, and my love. All of it is yours alone. I take you into my keeping, a precious treasure, and I forsake all others.”
Elora couldn’t speak. No air would leave her lungs as his thumbs caressed her cheeks where he held her. She was captivated by his words and the emotions flooding into her through his thoughts.
“Elora, do you take Cush to be your husband, your mate?” Tamsin’s asked.
Elora’s hands clenched in Cush’s shirt where she held it fisted against his chest. She hadn’t even realized she’d grabbed onto him. She was finding it hard to form her own words when his were saturating her thoughts. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to top that,” she said looking up into his intense gaze.
Cush gave her a crooked smile. “You don’t have to top it, just say yes.” His warm breath blew against her face as he spoke.
“Yes,” she whispered. “With every fiber of my being, yes.”
“The rings now,” Tamsin said and Cush released her face as he reached into his pocket and pulled out two platinum rings. One was a band that looked as though three strands of rope had been braided together and then wrapped into a circle. The other was a thin band with a black gem positioned on the top, with two smaller purple gems on either side. Her warrior had good taste in jewelry, she grinned to herself.
Cush’s hands were steady as he reached for her hand and placed the larger ring in her palm. Elora wrapped her fist around it, afraid of dropping it while he took her other hand and slipped the ring with the three gems onto her left ring finger.
“With this ring, I thee wed.”
It was her turn next. Elora’s hands were not steady. She shook like a junky as she took his larger hand in hers and began to slip the ring onto his finger. “With this ring, I thee wed,” she repeated as she stared at the ring wrapped lovingly around his finger. A symbol for all to see that he was spoken for.
“You may kiss your bride.”
Tamsin had barely gotten the words out when Cush had her wrapped in his strong arms, his lips moving against hers. There was clapping and maybe some whistles but neither of them heard it clearly. They were too lost in one another.
Somehow they made it back to their room. She was in Cush’s arms the whole way, and her lips roamed over his and his jaw and neck as he walked. She heard a door open and close and then felt a soft mattress beneath her. His body covered hers and it was as if they’d never left the room. Just as Syndra had said, they were picking back up right where they’d left off before they’d gotten married.
“We’re married,” Elora breathed suddenly as Cush’s mouth did wicked things to her neck and collar bone. She gasped and gripped his shoulders catching a glimpse of her new ring. “By the way, totally good job on my ring.” Elora was pretty sure he heard her despite the breathlessness of her voice. He grunted something but his mouth seemed quite content to remain busy on other things besides talking.
“You’re in control, Little Raven, you tell me when to stop and I will.”
Elora was surprised to hear his voice sounding so gruff in her mind. It was filled with the passion that he was showing her through his touch and kiss, and frankly, it was doing tantalizing things to her. She wanted to throw herself at him, and, well, she wasn’t even going to entertain the ideas her dark elf side wanted. So, instead of overthinking it, Elora relaxed into her husband’s care. He had said she was in control and she trusted him to stop if she got to that point.
“Let me take care of you, beautiful,” he whispered to her. “It is my privilege to love you.”
Elora let out a shaky breath. The room grew dim as the candles around them began to burn out but still he loved her, never pausing in his pursuit of her. He talked to her, laughed with her, and made her his sole focus.
Hours later they lay wrapped in each other’s arms, the sheets tangled around their bodies, and all of the candles had long gone out. Cush had kept his word, slowing down when she asked him to. She never once told him to stop, but she’d been nervous, and a tad self-conscious. But passion had eventually overshadowed all of that and the need to be a part of him had won over the fear and insecurities.
“I love you, Elora,” Cush whispered against her hair as his fingertips trailed along her bare spine.
“Of that I have no doubt,” she teased but then looked up at him, resting her chin on his chest. “I love you back,” she said meeting his eyes. They laid there quietly, staring at one another both overwhelmed by what the night had brought and excited about what the future held. Whatever it was, they would face it together.
“I can’t believe my best friend is married,” Cassie said as she sat on their bed while Trik brushed her hair as he did every night before they went to bed.
“We’ve been married for a while now, beautiful,” Trik said from behind her.
Cassie rolled her eyes. “You know who I mean.”
“If you mean your best girl friend, then yes. But since I am your best friend, I was a little confused as to why you’d still be surprised.”
“Glad to see that being king of an entire race hasn’t made you humble,” she said dryly.
“I’m confident. You can be humble and confident at the same time,” he pointed out as the brush was replaced by his fingers. The gentle tug against her strands was sensual and he knew what it did to her.
“Don’t try to distract me,” she scolded and attempted to move out of his reach but he was much faster than her. His arms wrapped around her waist from behind as he rested his chin on her shoulder next to her ear.
“I don’t want to talk about Elora and Cush. I want to talk about us.”
Cassie turned her head so she could see him from the corner of her eye. “What about us?”
“Are you happy?” He paused and turned her more toward him. “I mean here, in this realm.”
Cassie’s brow bunched together as she attempted to understand why he was asking her such a silly question. “Of course, I’m happy. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”
“I know, but I just don’t want you to feel like we have to stay here. If you want to live in the human realm with y
our family, we can.”
“Trik, we’ve had this conversation before. You are needed here and I belong with you so the simple answer is we live in the elfin realm and visit my parents when we can. I promise you that if I―at any point―become unhappy, you will be the first to know.”
Trik stared at her for a few minutes longer before leaning forward and placing a soft kiss to her lips. “Thank you.”
“Now can we talk about Elora?” Cassie asked attempting to hide her smile.
“No, now you will tend to your mate.” Trik tugged her down until she was splayed across his chest.
“Tend to my mate?” Cassie asked laughing as he smacked her bottom.
“Most definitely,” he purred as he rubbed his face into her long locks. “I’m very deprived this evening. I had to go and watch my warrior get hitched to that dark little ball of trouble you call a friend and then I had to wait while you and Syndra chatted about throwing her an after wedding shower and then—”
Cassie placed a finger over his lips effectively halting his rant. “You poor, poor neglected quiver boy.”
“Finally, we’re getting somewhere,” he said around her finger. “You understand that I have a neglected quiver.”
Cassie threw her head back and laughed. “You will be the death of me, Triktapic,” she teased.
“Hmm,” Trik moaned into her neck. “But what a sweet death it will be.”
Epilogue
“Often people think that a second chance means you did something bad on your first try. What they don’t realize is that sometimes a second chance is just a different kind of good than the first chance. I like the idea of a different kind of good and I’d like to believe that just maybe my different kind of good is coming.” ~Lisa Scott
6 months later…
“A little birdy told me that you turned Tony down, again.” Syndra stepped out of the mirror and into Lisa’s storeroom, like she’d done a thousand times before. And like a thousand times before, Lisa gave her a glare that said, stay out of my business. Syndra wondered if she’d ever realize that glares didn’t work on her.