Of Wolf And Witch
Page 16
“I give you myself, all I have to give, in hopes that you will do the same for me, and me alone. I accept all that you are and vow to cherish you until the end of days, and until my dying breath. Only you shall receive my kiss, and it is your name I shall cry out in the night. I am yours, and you will be mine, from today until death parts us, and even unto the afterlife,” Duncan slid the ring onto Ravenna’s finger.
Ravenna tried tears of joy at hearing those words. She repeated the words back to Duncan. These were the traditional Rivanian wedding vows that almost all couples in the land used at their nuptials.
“With that,” The priest began. “I pronounce you husband and wife in the sight of God and all of Rivania,” he looked to Duncan. “You may kiss the bride.”
Duncan did so. Their lips locked in a kiss as the whole town applauded. The people of Winterport knew Duncan well enough and were happy to see him take a wife, especially after seeing him as such a loner. They would come to know Ravenna in the coming days and years as well, and she would become adored by the people of Winterport.
After the ceremony ended, there was much feasting and drinking. Frostfall Ales were brought in from Frostfall, and the local merchants and fishermen came together to make food for the newly married couple. The celebrations carried on all day, and as the sun began to set over Winterport, Duncan turned to his new wife.
“I love you,” he spoke.
“And I you,” she returned. “Where did you get this ring. It is beautiful.”
“I actually made that ring. I forged it just for you last night.”
Ravenna smiled and took his hand. Together they walked back to Duncan’s home.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to the cold,” She confessed as they walked.
“I’m sorry. We can always move somewhere warmer.”
“No,” She said. “This is home. Besides, I think I'll be ok as long as I have you to keep me warm.”
They reached the house and Duncan held open the door for Ravenna. They settled down inside. It had been a long day, and it had been a long adventure. But now it was over, and I was time to rest. Duncan would still hunt monsters in days to come, and Ravenna would even join him occasionally. Duncan remained cursed, but he could live with that. He could live with the wolf. It was a part of him, like it or not. The things that haunted his past, Asha, Selene, and his hatred of witches, were all dead and gone. He had a new life to live and would be happy to live it, with his mate, the witch Ravenna, beside him.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank my lovely wife, Taylor McGarey, who designed the cover of this book, and also pushed me to do my best while writing. You are my rock and I couldn’t have done this without you.
I also want to thank my Beta-Readers who helped me form the final version of the book. Your opinions and remarks were invaluable to me.