by Jasmine Walt
“Oh?” Iannis lifted an eyebrow quizzically. “And how is that, exactly?”
“Well…” I took a moment to collect my thoughts. “Before she kidnapped me, I was feeling trapped by this new high-society life. All of this schmoozing and planning and dealing with responsibility…it felt like a cage, and like I would never be able to take a free day again and just enjoy life. But being held at Ta’sradala’s mercy reminded me of what a cage really is, and it’s not this. My life with you is a blessing,” I said, squeezing Iannis’s hand. “This whole ordeal has really put things in perspective for me.”
Iannis smiled. “Does that mean that the lady mages in attendance tonight do not have to fear for their clothing?” he teased.
“I’m not so sure about that.” I stuck out my tongue. “I know finally tying the knot will help, but it’s still going to take a lot of discipline to ignore all the naysayers. Especially after I’ve gone up against a Tua. I doubt any of these mages have even seen one, never mind gone up against one.”
Iannis nodded. “Now that Fenris has officially been pardoned and is safe”—Iannis had blackmailed the Minister into issuing that pardon by using an old but dangerous secret against him—“there is no more need to hide the extent of your magical knowledge. Perhaps we should just end your apprenticeship now, and be done with all that. I too am getting tired of all the criticism and negativity, especially since I know better than anyone else how woefully they underestimate you.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Does that mean I have your blessing to rattle some cages tonight?” My brain immediately began to conjure various possibilities…scenes I’d fantasized about during past moments of frustration.
Iannis chuckled. “I wouldn’t exactly say that,” he said as we pulled up in front of the manor gates. “But if the situation warrants it, I certainly don’t want to stop you. The last thing I want is for you to become some boring society matron.”
I laughed as the carriage door opened. “I can assure you,” I said to Iannis as I took the footman’s hand and let him help me out, “there is absolutely zero chance of that happening.”
Iannis and I entered the manor arm in arm and were immediately greeted by Balthur ar’Zaronian, the Grand Master of the Order of Master Mages. He was a tall, regal man in deep purple and grey robes that set off his shining silver beard and long hair. His hair was tied back in a low tail, much like Iannis wore his.
“I am very pleased that you could make it, Lord Iannis,” he said enthusiastically. “The way I hear it, the Mages Guild was uncertain as to whether you would make it back in time for your own wedding!”
“Yes, we had some unexpected business come up at the last minute,” Iannis said smoothly. We’d agreed not to talk much about the Tua connection for now, or the true nature of our travels. “This is my bride-to-be, Sunaya.”
“As lovely as your pictures in the paper,” the old mage said, bowing over my hand. I was relieved to see no derision or malice in his eyes—if this man thought I was unworthy of my position, he at least had the good sense to hide it. “Iannis has told me much about you in his letters. I hear that you are already powerful, and will be formidable when fully trained. How is your apprenticeship coming along?”
“Pretty well,” I said, smiling. If only he knew…
We chatted with the Grand Master for a little while, then circulated amongst the rest of the crowd. Grand Masters from several continents were among the guests—two thirds of them male, and all well past their first century. Their interests focused on magic rather than politics, and several conversed with one another in Loranian on esoteric subjects. Even without knowing their backgrounds, I could have guessed that these mages were of a higher caliber than at the other receptions—the air was practically humming with power.
Many of the guests seemed skeptical of me, but they made efforts to be polite, even as they subtly tested my knowledge. I surprised quite a few of them with my grasp of magical theory and fluency in Loranian, thanks to Fenris’s broad knowledge. At the end of each little tête-à-tête, I felt a little more confident. They might be learned and accomplished, but I could hold my own.
“Just look at her,” a thin, elderly mage sneered under his breath as I passed. “Strutting about as if she owns the place. She is a mere apprentice—if not for her husband-to-be, she would not even be allowed amongst us.”
“What was that?” I asked sweetly, turning on my heel. The mage’s face paled—no doubt he’d thought he was out of earshot, unaware of my sharp shifter hearing.
He set his jaw and met my gaze squarely. “I see no need to repeat myself,” he said as the room quieted around us.
“No, of course not,” I said softly. “You’re too much of a coward to say that again to my face, now that the entire room can hear you. But if you really think I don’t belong amongst you,” I added, raising my voice so that everyone else could hear, “then how about a little challenge?”
“You’re not strong enough to challenge any one of us,” he scoffed. “We do not measure ourselves against mere children.”
“Then you should have no problem accepting,” I said with a smirk. “Let’s see who can levitate the largest amount of people in this room. I bet you can do, oh, ten?”
“Ten! Don’t make me laugh,” he spat, raising his arms. As he did, several of the guests began to gasp as they were slowly lifted into the air. Raising an eyebrow, I looked around the vast ballroom and counted.
“Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen…” I trailed off to look at him—beads of sweat had gathered at his temple, and his cheeks were red with exertion. “Twenty.”
His breath came out in a whoosh, and the guests landed on the ground in a heap. “That wasn’t very gracious of you,” I said as the unwitting participants got to their feet, cries of outrage echoing throughout the room.
“As if I care what you think,” he panted, trying to look righteous. “I did far more than ten—I doubled that number.”
“How nice for you,” I cooed, lifting my own arms. The guests cried out in alarm as their feet began to lift off the floor—all four hundred-ish of them, including my challenger. I left Iannis and the Grand Master on the ground out of respect, but sent the rest of them soaring high up, until their heads were nearly touching the ceiling. From below, it was a funny sight—all those feet and shoes dangling in the air. Lucky for them, the robes hid their underwear pretty well.
Finally, when I felt my magic begin to strain under the weight, I gently lowered them back down to the ground. As their feet touched the tiled floor, a hush fell over the room. I met the old mage’s flabbergasted stare as they all gaped at me, many with their jaws nearly to the floor. With the exception of Iannis, and maybe a few of the Grand Masters, none of them would have been able to carry this off without losing control.
“That was stupendous!” our host cried, striding forward. “My dear, I would never have guessed you capable of such a feat. And I confirmed that it was all your own doing—Iannis was simply standing by. How in Recca did you manage it?”
“When Iannis and I went to Manuc, I was sent on a training mission to the Tua realm,” I said nonchalantly, as if I were talking about the weather. “Time passes much faster in there, and during the week that passed in our world, I absorbed years of top-notch training that can’t be received anywhere else.” That last bit was true enough—there were definitely things in the knowledge Alara and Nalan had given me that humans didn’t know.
Astonished murmurs swept through the crowd at that news.
“The Tua?”
“I thought they were just an old legend.”
“I guess it has to be true, after what she just did.”
And on it went. Many of the mages looked at me with newfound respect. I struggled not to laugh at the confounded expressions on their faces.
“Well, that would explain your unusual mastery, though the strength you exhibited is just as extraordinary,” the Grand Master said. “I’ve never seen a first-yea
r apprentice exert so much control over her magic.” Though he didn’t say it aloud, his scent told me he was still a bit dubious of my sensational claim.
“Indeed,” Iannis said, sliding an arm around my waist. “Sunaya will be taking the graduation exam as soon as we return from our honeymoon. As you have all witnessed, she is one of the strongest mages in the entire Federation, ready to claim her robes. She has learned some things, like the Tua language, that were new even to me.”
“Congratulations,” the Grand Master said, snagging a glass of champagne from a nearby waiter and pressing it into my hand. “Let us toast to you now, Sunaya—to the end of your apprenticeship, and the beginning of what is sure to be a glorious and fruitful magical career!”
“I can certainly drink to that,” I said, lifting my glass to him. I drained my drink as everyone else in the room did the same, doing my best to hide the grin on my face. I knew better than to think I’d won over every mage in the room, but I’d managed to impress the Grand Master, and that sure as hell was good enough for me.
24
“By the Ur-God,” Annia exclaimed as our six-horse carriage drew to a halt. “How the hell have I never known this temple was here? It’s not exactly tiny.”
I grinned, the ball of nerves in my stomach lessening in the face of Annia’s awe. “It’s a closely guarded secret amongst mages,” I said as she stared at Solantha Temple, which had just shimmered into view. Inside, hundreds of mages from all over the Northia Federation were waiting to witness the wedding of the decade—the scandalous wedding of a Chief Mage and a shifter hybrid.
And amongst them were my closest friends.
“Don’t worry,” Rylan called to Annia as he slipped out of one of the temple’s side doors. His eyes sparkled as he looked her up and down, admiring her outfit. “I had the same reaction when I first saw the place. Best kept secret in Solantha, eh?” He winked at me.
“And good morning to you too,” I said, my lips twitching as he offered me his arm. “You ready to give me away?” Rylan was the oldest male in my immediate family, so the duty fell to him despite the fact that he was so close in age to me.
“I was born ready,” my cousin said, leaning in to peck my cheek. “You look stunning, cousin. Classy and sexy at the same time, with all that black lace. You’re going to knock their socks off in that dress.”
Grinning, I looked down at myself one last time. The seamstress had been furious when she’d learned I’d lost even more weight during my time away, and I’d promised her I would gain it back in time for the wedding. Luckily, I’d been able to keep my word—I filled the gown out nicely, and she’d only had to take it in half an inch at the waist. Gaining back ten pounds in a week was no mean feat, but Cook had helped me out in that regard, serving all my favorite dishes day after day.
But in the end, appearances were unimportant. I was about to give my solemn, irrevocable pledge to the love of my life, and receive his in turn. That was important, not the dress, or the number and importance of our guests. Inside that gleaming temple, Iannis was waiting for me.
“I’ll go on ahead,” Annia said, smiling at me. She gave me a quick hug. “You’ve got this, Sunaya.”
I nodded, drawing in a deep breath through my nose as I watched Annia disappear through the doors. The scent of dew-covered grass and late-blooming flowers filled my lungs, calming me a little. Iannis and I had decided on an early morning wedding—to start our life together as husband and wife with the dawning sun, which was cresting over the horizon even now, painting the sky in gorgeous shades of gold and pink.
“Come on, hot stuff,” Rylan said, nudging me a little. “Let’s get you hitched.”
I tightened my grip on Rylan’s arm as we slowly walked through the doors and into the temple’s packed interior. All eyes turned toward me, and I straightened my spine and held my head high, gliding across the runner as if I had all the time in the world. So much attention was a little nerve-wracking, but I was determined not to show it. I was thankful that at least no journalists or cameras were allowed in this sacred place.
The wedding party was waiting ahead, directly in front of Resinah’s statue—Fenris stood proudly at Iannis’s side, and Annia was waiting for me near the priest’s elbow, looking gorgeous in the deep green sheath gown I’d commissioned for her. Iannis was dashingly handsome in his ivory wedding robes, his long hair falling loose around his shoulders. His eyes shone with loving pride as our gazes met across the aisle.
My own heart was in my throat as I finally reached the appointed space and Rylan handed me off to Iannis. I gripped his hand tightly as we turned to face the priest, and Iannis gave me a reassuring squeeze.
“You look good enough to eat,” he said in mindspeak. “I hope you’ve come prepared for a feast after this.”
I choked back a laugh at the blatant innuendo in his tone, and my nerves immediately evaporated. “Maybe I’ll eat you first,” I suggested, resisting the urge to stick my tongue out at him.
“I wouldn’t object to that in the slightest.”
“Family and friends of the bride and groom,” the priest intoned, his voice echoing through the dome as he addressed the crowd. “Welcome to Solantha Temple, where we have gathered today to witness the joining of these two souls in holy and eternal matrimony. In this sacred place, before the Creator and the First Mage, we are privileged to share this unique moment in the lives of Iannis and Sunaya, where the two finally become one.”
“Though you may not have known each other your entire lives,” he said, turning to address us next, “you have nevertheless been gravitating toward this day since you were born, and your union will last as long as you both shall live. As is our ancient custom, you pledge yourselves to each other and move forward into the future as one. Before you declare your vows, I want to hear you confirm that it is indeed your intention to marry today.”
“Sunaya, do you come here today, freely and of your own will, to give yourself to Iannis in marriage?”
“I do,” I managed to say over the swell of emotion in my throat. By Magorah, this was really happening. We were finally here together, beneath the eyes of the Creator and Resinah and whoever else was looking down at us. I wondered if my mother could see me now, and I blinked back tears at the thought of her. I hoped she would be proud of me today.
“Very good. And Iannis, do you too come here today, freely and of your own will, to give yourself to Sunaya in marriage?”
“I do,” Iannis said solemnly.
“Very good.” The priest smiled at us. “Iannis and Sunaya, now that you have declared your intentions to marry, please face each other and hold hands so that you may declare your marriage vows.”
Iannis and I turned toward each other, and my heart flipped over in my chest as he smiled broadly at me. “I, Iannis,” he said, reciting the vows we’d spent weeks agonizing over, “bind myself to you forevermore as your loving husband. I promise to spend each day working to become the truest version of myself, for you, for us, and for our family. I vow to stand by your side throughout the rest of our long lives—to warm you on cold winter mornings, to watch our love grow during the soft days of spring, to work and play hard together in the light of the summer sun, and to hold you close in the days of autumn, when the leaves fall and we begin to look toward yet another year together. I will love you for all of our days together, and cherish you above all others in my life.”
“Dammit,” I sniffled, swiping at the tears running down my face. I’d told myself I wasn’t going to cry, but my vision blurred, and my heart swelled so big in my chest that I thought I was going to burst. Thankfully, I wasn’t the only one—I could hear other people sniffling too.
The priest conjured a handkerchief, and I carefully dabbed at my eyes. Somehow, I managed to get the words of my own vow out without my voice breaking, gripping Iannis’s hands tightly the entire time.
“I, Sunaya,” I said in a clear voice that only trembled a little, “promise to live with you for the rest o
f our lives, as your loving wife. I shall strive to honor our union with steadfastness, truth, and courage. I look forward to spending the seasons of life at your side, as your equal, best friend, and, I hope, the mother of our future children, in good times or bad, wealth or adversity. I will love you for all of our days together, and cherish you above all others in my life.”
His steady gaze kept me grounded, and by the time I got out the last of it, I was calm again. I hadn’t expected this occasion to be quite this emotional, but I’d gotten through it. I’d committed, and to my surprise, all I felt was relief and happiness. This was a responsibility I accepted with no reservations, no second-guessing.
“Now that the two of you have exchanged your vows, it is time to seal this pact with the marriage spell,” the priest announced when I was done. “Best man, bridesmaid, do you have the rings?”
“Yes,” Annia and Fenris said, coming forward. They handed us the white gold bands, which we carefully slipped onto each other’s ring fingers before turning to face the priest again. He took our joined hands gently in his, then began to chant the Loranian marriage spell that would bind us forever. His sonorous voice echoed through the chamber, and my skin began to tingle as the air around us buzzed with power. I’d seen Fenris and Mina go through the same thing just a few days ago at their own wedding, but I had no idea it was so powerful—it felt like a live electric current was running through me. Did this happen at all mage weddings?
Suddenly, a flood of emotion swept through me, so brilliant and intense that I had to grip Iannis’s hand tighter to steady myself. I felt Iannis tense next to me as an invisible bond snapped between us, and I sucked in a sharp breath as all of Iannis’s feelings—the joy, the pride, the sharp edge of relief—crashed into me. I turned toward him, and his wide-eyed expression told me he was feeling the same thing from me. The bond that had been forged between us with the serapha charm was now strengthened a hundredfold.
