in his eyes. I handed my bouquet to Sondra and put both of my hands in his. Big, rough from wielding his rock hammer, forever stained from working the vurgsten mines, his hands were as familiar to me now as coming home.
True to his word, Ambrose had not reappeared, nor had Merle—an absence that Ibolya in particular fretted over. We could’ve had Mother marry us, but I could invoke the magic just as well, and it seemed right for Con and I to make our own vows, of our own accord this time. “Ready?” I asked him quietly.
“Always and forever,” he answered with a broad grin, his dimple appearing, a star to guide me.
“We stand here on Ejarat’s body,” I began, allowing my voice to carry to the now quiet assembly, “here on Her sacred isle of Calanthe.”
“Beneath Sawehl’s loving gaze.” Con took up the ancient words, the burr in his voice sensual. “We embrace the gift of their union, to bring two together into one. Do you, Euthalia, enter into this union of your own free will, with an open heart and no other obligations?”
“I do,” I replied with a smile. The first time I hadn’t been sure if that was true. Now I felt that truth shining from my heart like a beacon. “And you, Conrí?”
“I do.” Con grinned. “As many times as necessary.”
I laughed at that, a ripple of laughter echoing through the crowd.
“As Ejarat claimed Sawehl,” Con said, sobering, “unlike Herself and yet like, do you promise to take into your being the entirety of myself, with all my flaws and virtues, ugliness and beauty, weaknesses and strengths, including my obstinate and hotheaded nature?”
He’d added that last, amusement sparking in his golden eyes at surprising me. “I do,” I confirmed, “along with your loving and generous nature, which is the sunshine that allows me to blossom.”
Con squeezed my hands, tears adding a glimmer to the gold, and he nodded, overcome.
“As Sawehl claimed Ejarat,” I said, “unlike Himself and yet like, do you promise to take into your being the entirety of myself, with all my flaws and virtues, ugliness and beauty, weaknesses and strengths, including my obstinate and controlling nature?”
He grinned, shaking his head a little. “I do—along with your radiance that allowed me to live again when I was nothing but ash.”
Oh. My turn to get weepy. I cleared my throat, watching him, as this next part we’d say together. “We promise to nurture and shelter each other, to protect and support, to shed our light so that we might find our best path in life.”
The binding sizzled into place, connected between the palms of our hands. The orchid ring waved, seeming to grow larger, spilling a spectrum of light. Con released my hands, taking the silver blade Kara handed him. I held my right palm up in perfect trust, loving the look of concentration on Con’s intent face as he carefully sliced my skin, blood springing to the call. He winced with me at the bright pain, then gave the blade back to Kara, holding his palm out to me. I drew the tip of my finger along his skin, calling the blood to emerge. Con gave me a wry, appreciative smile for my new skill—though it hurt him just as much as a knife would—and wrapped his bleeding palm against mine, the contact immediately soothing.
I understood something then that I hadn’t the first time, how this aspect of the ceremony symbolized the pain we’d sometimes cause each other, and that we’d mend those wounds in this way. Our hands clasped, blood mingling, Con looked into my eyes—and I knew he’d always be there to salve my hurts. I’d do my best for him, also.
“One flesh, one blood, one mind, one heart,” we intoned together, and the marriage bond snapped back into place as if it had never been severed. It rippled throughout Calanthe and farther, through all the forgotten kingdoms, the orphaned lands waiting to be restored, and through other realities. They kaleidoscoped through my mind, all the times and places that were and that might have been. Somewhere out there, Ambrose’s deep forest presence replied, like summer leaves in an afternoon breeze, Merle’s purple shards of feathers fluttering in good wishes.
Con’s face showed shock and wonder as he felt it all through me.
“As Ejarat cups you in Her hand,” Sondra, Rhéiane, and my ladies said together.
“And Sawehl showers blessings from above,” Kara and Percy added.
“Share the first kiss of your married union,”