A soft knock came from my door, and Merlin strode over to answer while I straightened my tie. The rings already graced both of our fingers, but we would still recite the vows.
“Well, look at you.” Vivian came forward, her blonde hair swept gracefully up into a tight bun. “Are you ready?”
Taking her hands, I exhaled, the nerves jumping up to catch me off guard once again. “I am more than ready.”
She smiled broadly. “Your bride looks stunning. If you can keep from crying, I’ll be surprised.”
Her teasing put me at ease, but the image of Alexandria in white closed my throat up with a myriad of emotions.
“I’m sure Arthur will be just fine.” Merlin came to stand beside Vivian, his own suit jacket on and buttons done. “He’s had more than enough time to prepare.”
Glancing back and forth between the two of them, I noticed how Vivian’s face flushed as Merlin took in her peach dress hungrily. They’d always been like brother and sister or father and mother to me, depending on what I needed. But they never once gave up on me, and now, at what seemed to be the end of it all, they both followed me willingly into the dark.
“I need to thank both of you for always standing by my side.” My voice cracked a bit, so I cleared my throat. “You’ve always been there, and I appreciate that more than you’ll ever know.”
Vivian took my hands in hers and gave them a squeeze. “You are our king. We are bound to you not just by loyalty, but by the family we’ve created in our time spent trying to right our wrongs.”
“We chose to stay with you, Arthur, because we believe in you.” Merlin wrapped his arm around Vivian’s slender waist. “And we have faith in you.”
My lips cracked into a smile, and I teased him. “A half-demon telling me he has faith?”
Though he smirked back, his response was dead serious. “You’re the only thing I’ve ever had faith in.”
That admission shut me up immediately.
We fell into a comfortable silence before Vivian let me go and kissed Merlin on the cheek. “Let’s not be late, gentlemen.”
I followed the couple out the door, leaving the solace of my room, and fell in step behind them as we made our way to the chapel. So many different thoughts tangled in my head. The memories of past weddings and engagements gone so terribly wrong plagued my mind. What if this wasn’t the right thing to do? What if this only pulled Alexandria’s expiration date closer to us rather than pushed it away?
“Stop thinking so hard,” Merlin muttered, breaking my concentration. He’d slipped back to walk next to me without me realizing it.
“Sorry, I can’t help it.”
“Focus on the present.” He put a hand on my arm, and we paused just outside of the chapel. “She’s your today and your tomorrow.”
His words imprinted upon my heart.
Taking a deep breath, I nodded and walked into the chapel. John greeted me at the altar, dressed in black and wearing his white collar. My knights stood on either side of me, smiling in anticipation.
Orla entered the chapel soon after I did and sat down at the piano. Merlin took that as his cue and left to go get Alexandria and escort her to me and then we’d be wed.
Man and wife till death and the thereafter.
We’d never be parted again.
Ever.
TWENTY-SIX
Alexandria
The moment Orla left me alone in my room I began to shake with nervous anticipation.
Did all brides go through this?
I longed for my mother to hug me and reassure me, and for my father to take my hand and give me away. Even for my grandmother’s soft smile as I passed her on my way to destiny.
Tears threatened to spill over my freshly done makeup, and I had to struggle to compose myself. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I studied my reflection in the mirror. Magically, Vivian managed to get an idea of what I liked in a wedding dress, took my measurements, and went out in search of the perfect one. She’d done extremely well.
The gown was simple yet elegant with a small train that could be bustled up in the back. She’d gone with ivory and champagne over pure white. The bodice nipped in at my waist, the back all lace and buttoned up from the small of my back. Lace adorned the sleeves, making my arms appear to be tattooed.
The skirt fell loosely to the ground so I could actually move. We’d both scrunched our noses at the thought of a skintight mermaid gown or a curve-crushing A-line. This dress was traditional, elegant, and me.
I’d opted not to wear a veil, but Vivian gave me a square box this morning and a note that read:
For my queen on her day.
Love forever and always,
Arthur
The priceless tiara caught me off guard as I lifted the lid. Ornate white gold twined around small encrusted diamonds and freshwater pearls. Now, it sat atop my head.
This wasn’t just any wedding. It should be a wedding for a nation to enjoy. One of the highest noblemen in the country, infamous, and handsome getting married to an artist would be a day to celebrate. Even the royal family should be invited.
But we couldn’t tell anyone. Everything hinged on our nuptials being a secret. I’d become The Duchess of Avalon in the light, but in the dark, I was a queen.
His queen.
A shiver raced down my spine in excitement at that prospect.
“Are you ready, Ms. York?” Merlin’s gentle voice came through the door along with his signature knock.
I straightened myself and cleared my throat. “Come in, Merlin.”
He stepped over the threshold, keeping the door open a sliver. For this occasion, he wasn’t wearing his glasses, and in a suit, the studious butler and half-demon looked extremely handsome.
“You look lovely, Alexandria.” Merlin came over and took my hands, kissing the backs of my knuckles. “I cannot tell you how happy this makes us all but especially Arthur. This will make his entire life.”
Blushing, I smirked. “Well, he’s my world, so I guess we’re even.”
He dropped my hands and took a step back, a curious expression resting between his brows. “I would like to give you a wedding present.”
“Oh?” I quirked a brow, immediately interested. “What is it?”
“Anything you want, I can give to you just this once.” Merlin opened his palms, and silver and gold hues shimmered on the surface of his skin.
I paused.
Anything I wanted?
“Can it be related to Mordred?”
If I could put an end to his madness before it truly began, I’d wish a million times over that a bolt of lightning would strike him dead.
Merlin frowned. “Sadly no, I cannot change anything attached to the curse.”
My lips pressed together and swallowed the bitter pill of disappointment.
“I can do anything else.”
A dangerous thought crept into the forefront of my mind, and I dared to ask. “May I see my parents?”
Merlin’s lips twitched into a small smile and nodded. “This I can do for you. You have ten minutes.”
The shimmering energy from his palms grew brighter, and a flash of white light engulfed the room.
I blinked against the burst and squinted, trying to regain my focus. When I did, the two people I missed more than anything in the world stood smiling before me.
“M-mum? Daddy?” I hesitated, then reached out a hand to touch my mother’s outstretched hand.
Her warm smile widened, and she nodded. “Hello, my gorgeous girl.”
I didn’t wait for anything else to be said. I sprung into my mother’s arms, sobbing into her shoulder as my father embraced us both. They shushed me, whispering how proud they were of me, and how sorry they were for not telling me about my fate years ago before they died.
“No, please, don’t apologize.” Dabbing at my eyes with a handkerchief Merlin supplied as he stood to the side waiting, I sniffed. “You were protecting me. I understand.”
Wil
liam York cupped my face in his hands. He didn’t look a day over forty, still handsome and mischievous as ever. His blue eyes bore into mine as he reveled in seeing me, his daughter, on her wedding day.
“I am so proud of you, Allie.” He kissed my forehead. “You’ve been through so much.”
I allowed myself to be pulled into my father’s arms. My mother, Rose, rubbed a hand along my shoulder.
“We’re in a great place, love.” She grinned. “Your grandmother is with us and everything.”
A lump lodged in my throat. “I want to be with you.”
“No,” my father replied sternly. “It is nowhere near your time yet, so don’t even think that way.”
“You have to fight, Alexandria.” My mother’s expression narrowed. “You have to win this with Avalon. Not just to save yourself, but also the future of this world.”
Swallowing hard, I glanced at Merlin who nodded my time was nearly up.
“I promise to fight as hard as I can.”
A few more tears were shed, and laughter shared before my parents stepped away from me. Dad put his arm around my mother while she wiped her own eyes.
“We love you, baby girl.” Mum spoke as they slowly faded away.
Through heartache and joy, I managed to whisper, “I love you too.”
Once they were fully gone, I turned back to the mirror and fixed up my makeup as best as I could. Merlin waited silently for me to finish.
“Okay, I think I’m ready now.” I exhaled a breath and wrapped my arms around Merlin’s lithe shoulders. “Thank you so much. That meant everything to me, Merlin.”
Instead of his usual stoic manner, he hugged me back tenderly. “Anything for you, Alexandria. Arthur is the closest thing to family I have, and so are you.”
It both made my heart hurt and swell to know that Arthur and I were surrounded by so many people who cared about us. And those same people relied on us to break the curse plaguing us all. Some of us wouldn’t make it out alive no matter how safely we played Mordred’s game.
Bravely shoving those thoughts to the back of my mind, I lifted my chin and settled my arm in the crook of Merlin’s. “I’m ready.”
Merlin chuckled. “So we shall go.”
The walk to the chapel seemed to take forever yet wasn’t long enough.
We paused just outside the entrance where David stood waiting. He gave a low whistle when he saw me and bowed low.
“Your Grace.”
A flutter of excitement stirred in my belly at the sound of my soon-to-be title, but the title of wife would be the one I cherished most of all. David stuck his head into the chapel and nodded, giving me a wink over his shoulder as he walked inside. “Good luck.”
I gave him a tight-lipped smile.
The butterflies having a party in my stomach wouldn’t let me speak as the tinkling notes of the piano began to play. Merlin moved before I did, and my feet remembered what they were supposed to do. As we came around the corner and stood in the archway of the chapel’s entrance, my eyes locked with Arthur’s.
He was no longer Avalon to me.
We didn’t have to pretend anymore.
Steel-gray eyes widened, and his jaw clenched over and over in only what I could guess was a struggle with his emotions. John beamed from his point next to Arthur, encouraging me without words.
All I saw was the man who’d waited hundreds of years for me come closer and closer. His stormy gaze held nothing but love, adoration, and joy for me.
Merlin came to a stop before Arthur and gently passed my hand to his. The magician took his leave to stand next to Vivian on my side while I closed the final gap between us.
“You look so beautiful. I have no words.” My lover’s voice was laced heavily with gravel and deep with desire.
My entire body became acutely aware of him so close to me. The electric current always felt between us ran endlessly back and forth between our clasped hands. I could feel my face flushing red hot under his intense gaze, but I refused to look away.
“You look rather dashing as well,” I teased back lightly.
John chuckled but quickly sobered himself. “Shall we begin?”
We listened to John’s easy tenor speak about love, truth, and eternity. But we never once lost eye contact. The rings already sat upon our fingers, but the vows were said anyway, sealing our love forever.
“And because this is the twenty-first century and I’m American, you may kiss your bride.”
I barely had time to blink before Arthur’s hands cupped my face and his lips crashed against mine.
David gave a loud cheer while Isaac clapped enthusiastically along with Victor. Vivian and Orla brushed their tears aside while Merlin watched on like a proud father.
When we finally came up for air, Arthur’s eyes shone with tears, the bright emerald bursts glowing bright with happiness. The right side of his mouth lifted in a boyish half-grin.
“Wife.”
I flushed but replied, “Husband.”
We lost ourselves for a moment, just reveling in the knowledge that we were wed.
“My king.”
A deep sound, almost like a purr, rippled through Arthur’s chest at my bold declaration.
“My queen.”
Then he kissed me again, pouring love and promises down my throat.
And I believed every one.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Avalon
My bride, my wife, my queen, my life.
I watched Alexandria slowly take the tiara from her head and place it gently back into the velvet box for its protection. Her wedding gown made her appear as though she was an angel. She was my savior and my very own heart in the flesh.
Glancing over her shoulder, Alexandria flashed me a coy smile. “May I get some help, husband?”
My cock thickened at the mention of my new status.
Husband.
She belonged to me—body and soul—and I to her.
I walked over to her, and she swept her hair to one side as my fingers worked each one of the delicate pearl buttons open. My lips couldn’t resist kissing along the nape of her neck, and soft moans encouraged me to continue.
Alexandria’s porcelain skin taunted me the lower I went. The soft lace parted, falling slightly forward on her shoulders. Electricity sparked in the air between us, and her breathing grew heavier as my fingertips trailed back up the expanse of flesh left open for my pleasure.
“I want you.” My teeth grazed over her shoulder, and a growl rumbled through my chest. “Alexandria.”
We moved carefully together in order to get her out of the dress. Silk and lace pooled at her feet, creating an ethereal ring around her. She turned to face me. The only scrap of clothing left for me to peel from her body was a pair of lacy white panties.
“Good God, woman.”
Her hands landed on the lapels of my suit jacket, sliding up until she slipped the arms of the garment off. I allowed her to strip me piece by piece, her lips nibbling the bare expanse of my chest and collarbone. Lithe fingers gently tugged and stroked my pants off and over the erection straining my briefs.
“Take me,” she whispered against my throat, and I didn’t have to be told twice.
I picked her up, her legs wrapping around my waist immediately, and our mouths crashed against each other. Walking to the bed, we sparred with our tongues, begging one moment and dominating the next.
When I rested her back on the mattress, her sapphire eyes grew dark, and I smiled.
We didn’t have to hold back anymore.
No more secrets.
No more lies.
Alexandria arched her back, pressing her breasts up to tease me, and smirked up at me in return. Animalistic hunger took over, and I tore the panties off her body, eagerly falling to my knees and burying my head between her thighs.
She didn’t bother to be quiet. I wanted her to scream. Needed to hear just how much she wanted this. We were finally able to just be. And in our pleasure, we found peace.
For just one moment in time, we were husband and wife. Nothing more and nothing less.
We were inexplicably and irrevocably human. And that was what I’d dreamed of for so long that, as I sunk into her depths, I almost burst into tears.
Tears of joy.
Tears of relief.
Tears of absolute victory.
Alexandria wrapped her hands around the back of my neck and forced me to meet her gaze.
“Now,” she began, her steady gaze never breaking mine as I thrust over and over again into her heat. “Come inside me and let me give you a son.”
My jaw dropped, and my hips lost their rhythm at her demand. My heart nearly exploded in my chest, and I could have come right then and there.
“But … we don’t have time.” I tried to rationalize with her, but she pressed a finger to my lips.
“Give me a son, Arthur.”
Closing my eyes briefly, I fought the fears attempting to ruin this perfect moment. If she were to fall pregnant now, and we lost, could I forgive myself?
“We can’t live in fear,” she whispered, pulling me from the terrors of my mind.
She’s right.
For once, my consciences Arthur the king and man, agreed.
“As you wish.”
AUTHOR NOTE
Hello, all you wonderful readers you! I can’t thank you enough for cheering on Alexandria and Avalon. This book was smaller than the rest because I had some loose ends to tie up and huge scenes to set up. The next two books are going to be the biggest in the series so get ready for action, magic, and more romance.
My husband Eric and I are going to also be starting the audio book version of this series this coming year, and we hope to bring these wonderful characters to life for you to enjoy.
One love,
Kylie Stewart
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kylie Stewart has been writing short stories and books all her life. She was influenced by her Scottish heritage to become an independent British history buff and has a small library dedicated to Tudor history and Arthurian legend. From contemporary, to fantasy, to the historical, she loves to write dangerous, passionate, raw romance that will make you dread to see the pages dwindle.
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