in that timeframe,” I point out.
“I have the dress, which is enough. Plus, Zaid can do a cake.”
“You won’t be able to find a minister—”
“Zaid’s a minister, and he said he’d officiate,” she replies, her eyes now sparkling with excitement that there are no barriers.
But I’m shocked about Zaid being a minister.
Wait… no, I’m not.
Zaid is a master of so many things that this should not be shocking at all.
“You’ve clearly talked this through with him,” I say, giving her a chastising look. “I’m the maid-of-honor, you know.”
“Yeah, I know,” she sighs, stepping out of my embrace. “But you were busy getting kidnapped and then traveling to the Underworld.”
I cross an arm over my stomach, rest my elbow there, and tap my chin with my finger as I study my friend very critically. After a moment of reflection, I say, “Let’s do this. We can totally pull off a wedding in one day.”
“Really?” Rainey squeals with excitement.
“Really,” I tell her assuredly.
Besides, it will be nice to have just one day where we can let all our worries go and have some true happiness.
And also, Rainey isn’t wrong to worry. There’s no telling what the rest of this month is going to look like or if I’ll survive long enough to make it to the prophecy.
CHAPTER 11
Carrick
Carrick would never admit it to anyone, but he rather thought it was a good idea to have Rainey and Myles’ wedding tonight. Despite loving his Eireann—now Finley, and one day to be named something else—he wasn’t what anyone would call an overly romantic man.
Sure, he had built her a rose garden long ago, but he was more the type to sit and listen in rapt attention as she yammered about something of no importance than someone who whispered poetry. He’d hold her while she cried over something that broke her heart and he’d break the bones of anyone who hurt her. Those weren’t necessarily romantic things, but they were the ways he showed his love.
And the one thing that Carrick respected was the notion of true love.
Of having a soul mate.
Of being devoted to one and only.
While Rainey and Myles admittedly didn’t have the history that Carrick and Finley had, what they had was real and special and a wedding should not wait.
Also, Carrick acknowledged they were all living minute to minute, so the sooner-rather-than-later scenario applied here.
The affair was informal, held in his condo. Zaid baked a beautiful cake, and Maddox created a magical floral arch under which the two could exchange their vows. He also conjured blooming, fragrant sprays of flowers in vases all over the living area and cleared most of the furniture for the nuptials.
The group of wedding guests was small but tight-knit.
Carrick, Finley, Maddox, Zaid, Titus, Boral, and Zora.
Myles was in a dapper suit, and Rainey in a simple strapless white gown made of silk and chiffon she had bought off the rack because it had fit so perfectly. The rest of the group dressed casually, per Rainey’s insistence. She wanted this to be fun, casual, and with no formal rules.
The one rule they did abide by was getting their marriage license. All Zaid had to do after officiating the ceremony—which was really just Rainey and Myles exchanging personal vows they had written—was add his signature to the bottom and they were officially Mr. and Mrs. Lareva.
And now… it was time to celebrate and party. For the moment, Carrick was very much enjoying Finley and Rainey attempting to teach Zora how to do the Macarena. Maddox and Myles were engaged in a lively debate over whether it was better to get married or stay resolutely single.
Carrick could tell them the answer, but they needed to figure it out themselves.
Zaid was busy refreshing platters of food he’d prepared and Boral sat by himself in a corner, a glass of Scotch in one hand and his phone in the other as he scrolled. Carrick didn’t even bother being put out by Boral’s attendance. Rainey wanted him there and the Dark Fae had proven on more than one occasion he was loyal to the team. He’d just probably never be considered a friend.
“You know… your girlfriend has no rhythm whatsoever,” Titus drawled from the side of his mouth as he came to stand beside Carrick. He had a beer in hand and he watched the ladies dancing with amusement.
“Better not say that to Finley’s face,” Carrick warned Titus with a chuckle. “She’s liable to kick your balls up to your throat.”
“Duly noted,”