Forgotten Days (Fate's Intent Book 6) (12 page)

“Father, I was just—”

“You’re not even married yet and she’s already a bad influence on you. What’s next? Intend to show up late to your own wedding?”

“Of course not. I intend to stay away until tonight. Right after this.”

“Okay, Adele, I’m sure you were told that you need to stay upstairs and out of sight until tonight.”

“Yes, sir. I’ve been completely briefed on the matter.”

He gave me this little smile. I knew he could see that I was trying to be respectful but at least he liked it. “Good. Zayden, you have two minutes. I expect you to be downstairs.”

“Of course, father.”

“No pre-celebrating.” He was out the door in a hurry and Zayden and I laughed.

“I like this mood of his. Are you sure all you did was show him Seth?”

My mouth dropped but playfully. “What are you suggesting? Of course that’s all I did.”

“I was kidding, Love. Relax. I just haven’t seen him this happy much in my life.”

“You’re finally getting married, why wouldn’t he be happy? I only had to explain about Seth briefly but he believed it right away.”

“Or he just wanted to. He always liked to mention grandchildren.”

“He only saw Seth though. I didn’t have the blood to show him the others.”

“I’m sure he’ll hear about it.”

I started to smile and nodded. “Okay. So, what do we do now?”

“Well, now is the hard part. I have to spend most of my time downstairs with the guests and you have to stay up here until it’s time to get ready. No one is supposed to see you until you walk down those stairs to our future together. I’ll be waiting for you.”

I leaned in closer to him and found his lips. “I already miss you.”

“I know but the wait will be worth it. I’ll see you later, okay? Don’t forget!”

I laughed and watched Zayden back away towards the door. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

“I love you.”

“You better. Now just get out of here before I make you stay.”

Zayden left me with one last sight of his smile and went out the door.

Silence hit and I was alone again. It was a better feeling. I felt relief with Izin’s new mood and I became excited for the day.

The Senian Princess crown was still sitting on the bed and I went right over, instantly taking it in my hands. “Now I have you and I’m never letting go.”

I smiled to my own words and sat down, holding the crown in my arms like an embrace. It was finally happening. All I had to do now was wait.

Chapter 23

Zayden

Though it didn’t feel like it, the rest of the day did go by quick. Everyone was getting anxious with every passing minute. Nerves were all shot and the reality of it all was hitting us.

“Are you ready? You don’t look ready.”

I was confused why my father would ask me that and I looked down at myself in my dress clothes. “Why don’t I look ready?” He didn’t say anything but glanced up at my head. “Oh, right.” I walked over to the stand in front of the mirror and opened the box on it, taking out my crown and placing it on my head.

“I know you never liked wearing it but today is a special day. It’s your wedding day and a day you should be honored to wear it. Now it’s time. The wedding of the year. The people will be talking about this for a long time to come so Zayden, limit the drinks tonight, would you?”

“Yes, father. Consider them limited.”

“And leave your fur accessory behind.”

“Rift? Why?”

“I don’t want him shedding all over the guests. Besides, he’s a wild animal.”

“Not anymore. He only listens to me.”

“Then tell him to stay.”

“But father he can stay hidden so no one sees him.”

“No.”

“He doesn’t like to be alone.”

He sighed and put his hand on my shoulder to make sure I was paying attention. “Zayden, just do this one thing and leave the mutt. This is your night, I don’t want anything getting in the way.”

“He won’t be in the way.”

“Of course not because he’ll be waiting for you in this room.”

He left the room with his final word and I looked down at Rift. “Sorry, boy. Looks like you’ve got to stay here.” He whined. “I’ll bring you something, okay? Just take a nap. You’re good at that.” He jumped up on my leg so I could pet him then laid in what I’m probably going to be calling his chair.

“He really does listen to you.” Troy said.

“I know. Come on. Time to get married.”

I turned both of them to the door and Darius grimaced to the word but I knew he wanted to. We were all anxious to see them and have been wondering how they were during this heart throbbing time.

Chapter 24

Adele

My father walked into Kathryn’s room with a box in his hand. “Look at you.”

“Father.”

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

“And you two.” He looked at Ruby and Jaylyn next. “Who would have thought that you three would be doing this all on the same day?”

They smiled and Kathryn held out the box he brought in to me. “You can’t be forgetting about this.”

I opened it and saw the Kaluian Princess crown sitting inside. “Wait. I thought—”

“Oh, no. Not for the ceremony. Izin will be the one to present it to you once you change into your other gown for the banquet.”

“I just got to stare at it all day and won’t even get to wear it?”

“Not yet.”

My father took the crown out of the open box and placed it on my head. “This is to show where the union comes from. No one in the world would have guessed that these two crowns would ever unite.”

“I guess that makes sense. Can we move it along? This dress weighs a ton. I’m being pulled to the floor right now.”

Kathryn smiled. “Just try and remember to keep your head high when you go down those stairs.”

“I see why no one wears it for very long. It takes some strength to do that.”

“All right.” My father said. “Let’s not complain when you’re only minutes away from getting married. You want to do this happy.”

“I am.”

“Then it’s time.”

Ruby and Jaylyn walked out the door and led the way to the ballroom while Kathryn snuck in some other way to take her seat.

The ballroom was filled with people. Zayden stood at the end of the long isle with Darius and Troy at his side. They stood tall, respectable but were probably more nervous than they’ve ever been. I knew I was. They were forced to keep away from us for the remainder of the day and at this point, we were all more than anxious to see each other.

The trumpets started to sound and the Great Seni Fighters turned around towards the entrance. People came marching down the stairs with dozens of flowers to coordinate with the thousands already laying around and just as soon as they cleared, Ruby and Jaylyn stepped in the doorway. They took the long walk and I waited by even more anxious.

My father nodded to me and we stood in the doorway next. Everyone in the ballroom stood up. I gripped my father’s arm a little tighter and he smiled while giving me a comforting pat on my hand, taking our first step.

All eyes were on us and I tried to keep a smile on my face while I kept my stare straight ahead on Zayden but it seemed everyone had something to say as I passed.

Some commented on how beautiful I looked, not directly to me but to those around them while others mentioned the Kaluian crown on my head and the rarity of this union. I tried not to focus too much on it. Everything I ever wanted was in front of me and I just wanted to get to him but he felt so far away. Each step brought me closer but it never felt soon enough.

When I finally reached Zayden, I turned to my father when he took both of my hands. “I’m so proud of you, my daughter and I know your mother is too.”

He kissed my cheeks and I did all I could to not cry while being handed off to Zayden. He took my hand gently and I stepped up next to him, wanting to say so many things but the moment was enough; we were finally going to be together. It was just moments away.

The minister approached us with a voice that echoed in the high ceilings of the ballroom. “Tonight is a glorious night. Our own Prince and young Lords have brought us all here to take witness to their unions to these three fine ladies. Kaluian born, perfectly chosen to complete their souls through this new time of peace. Their love was created for such a purpose, one that is quite understanding to sharing and forgiving, its loyalty through the good and the bad. Their love is content with the present for it hopes for the future and it does not dwell on the past.

“These couples are indeed blooming as one under the guidance of their devotion to one another and there is only one thing to be done with such a bond. I raise my hands to the skies and the stars shine down their light on their love, blessing them and encouraging them to drink from the ceremonial goblets to eternally proclaim them as the soul mates they were destined to be.” Six goblets of wine were brought over and we each took one, looking at the other. “Drink to each other. Drink to your love and may you share in all the blessings life has to offer you as pairs. Be one.” We crossed our arms with the others and took a drink. “I am delighted to be the first to congratulate and introduce these three couples as united in life.”

The crowd stood up and cheered. Applause echoed even more loudly than voices but I didn’t notice much. My eyes were on Zayden and I leaned in just the slightest.

Zayden tried leaning back as much as I leaned in and barely shook his head. “Not here.”

I didn’t understand but turned when Zayden turned and took my arm. He led me down off the steps and back through the people as they continued to applaud and he took me all the way back up the stairs.

Chapter 25

Ruby

“Well, that was exciting, wasn’t it?” Zayden asked once we made it out of sight upstairs.

I was heated and practically shaking if I could move in this dress. “Someone rip this thing off me.”

Darius laughed and pulled me closer. “But you look beautiful.”

I wasn’t laughing. I moved away so I wasn’t touching him and my eyes turned red. I ripped the dress off me myself right in the hallway.

“Classy.” Jaylyn said.

“Like I care about that. That dress was atrocious.”

Zayden smiled and turned to see Adele’s eyes on him. It was odd that she hadn’t said anything about me standing here almost naked. “You all right, Love?”

“I would be if I could kiss you.”

Zayden kept his smile and glanced at us. “Sorry. That’s not—”

“Tradition.” Kathryn just appeared out of nowhere it seemed and was standing down the hall.

“Mother.”

“You sure do know how to get around.” Darius smiled.

“Many years of practice. Your first kiss as husband and wife is choreographed to be at the most perfect moment when everyone will have their eyes on you.”

“What was not more perfect than that?” Adele asked.

Kathryn just smiled and turned. “You’ll see. Now come. We must get you ladies in your next dresses and Ruby, you just need to be dressed.”

“Another dress? I didn’t agree to that. This was bad enough.” I kicked the shredded mess at my feet.

“I can be a bit more flexible about what you wear next. The only stipulation is that it must be white.”

I sighed. “All white?”

“Majority white.”

“Adele, I’ll need you.” I pulled her with me into the room Kathryn was waiting for us by.

“You three can wait out here. They’ll only be just a minute so you can walk back in together.”

They nodded, respecting her request and let the door close.

“I think it’s going to take longer than a minute to get out of this.” Adele said, looking down at her dress.

“Which is why we have help.” Kathryn replied. She waved her hand and about a half a dozen maids came to us, ready to assist. “They’ll help you undress while I gather your other gowns from the closet.”

I would have been fine with ripping it off them to get it done faster but Adele’s dress was centuries old, so I guess I shouldn’t tamper with that one.

I was done first since I just needed my undergarments unlaced.

Jaylyn laughed. “That was a lot to take off, wasn’t it? I hope the next ones aren’t like that.”