How to Marry a Warlock in 10 Days (31 page)

She looked to the burning crown on his head.

“What have you done?” she gasped.

“I’ve loved you, Middy. More than myself. More than the cause. More than anything in this world or the next.”

“No,” she cried out and fat tears rolled down her cheeks.

“No, you didn’t have to love me. We’d have been happy.”

“You were going to die. I couldn’t live without you.”

Dred kissed her again with the hope that she’d forgive him for leaving her. “Don’t cry, Middy. I want you to live your life, do you understand me? Be happy, whatever that takes.”

She shook her head. “Not without you.”

“There’s a potion you can take. You’ll forget me. . . .” It broke something in him to say it, but he knew it was the right thing.

“No!” She shook her head vehemently. “I’ll trade my soul, too. I’ll do it right now.”

“Remember the light inside of you? No, you’re meant for something greater than me,” Dred said as he began to untangle himself from her embrace.

“No,” she screamed again and the building began to quake.

“Well, if this isn’t a sodding mess, I don’t know what is. You two have fucked this up almost beyond repair.” Merlin’s voice boomed through the structure.

Middy and Dred turned to the voice, Midnight trying in vain to put herself between the Bigger Boss and Dred. As if they were mortal enemies.

“Midnight, you have to control your anger. That’s you shaking the ever-loving shit out of the building. If this structure falls, it will kill people on the mortal side as well as the warlockian. Settle down,” Merlin demanded.

Caspian emerged from a shadow and put his arm around Barista as she was trying to leave. “Where are you going, love?”

She made a valiant attempt to stab him with the same ceremonial dagger that was smeared with Dred’s blood.

The end broke off like an icicle and Caspian laughed as if he was genuinely amused.

“Dred,” Caspian began.

“You can’t have him!” Middy demanded before Caspian could say anything else.

“I don’t want him. Look at those wings! White? And after Labor Day.” Caspian turned to Tristan. “You, on the other hand, you’re coming with me.”

Joy exploded inside her like a starburst knowing that Dred wouldn’t suffer in Hell. She was happy he’d be in Heaven, Middy couldn’t have lived with the knowledge that he’d traded his life and eternity for her, but her heart had splintered into a thousand pieces knowing he was still lost to her. Dred loved her. Wholly. Completely. Middy had no doubt she would have traded that just to keep him with her.

She looked away from Dred, still hungry for the sight of him, but unable to keep the devastation of loss from her eyes. She saw then that Tristan’s wings had melted into a dark, inky blanket of shadows.

“What do you say? Chicks dig the black wings, man. I promise.” Caspian winked at Tristan.

“Can I be a Crown Prince instead of a Duke?” Tristan asked as if they were playing dress up instead of talking about eternity.

“Sure, why not?”

“I’m in.” He shrugged.

Caspian turned to look at Tally and wrinkled his nose.

“I’m not sure what to do with her yet, but you,” he said as he turned to Barista Snow, “I have just the thing for you. I’ve designed a special Hell for those who try to interfere with true love.” He snapped his fingers and she disappeared.

The lamia struggled against its bonds and Caspian shot it with blasts of fire until it quieted before he turned back to Dred.

“I guess it looks like you’re on Merlin’s team now. All that self-sacrifice and such.” The Devil made a show of acting disgusted, but he winked at them both. “I’ll tie this bitch up and ship her back to the Abyss,” he said as he motioned to the lamia.

“Why not Hell?” Middy questioned, still avoiding the only question that really mattered to her: When she’d have to say good-bye to her husband.

“Are you kidding? I’m raising imps there.” Caspian sounded offended.

“What about Tally?” she asked.

“What happens with her is up to you. You can still save her, but it will be damned uncomfortable. I’ll catch you two kids later.”

Caspian disappeared with Tristan and what was left of the lamia, leaving them alone.

Dred pulled her tightly against him. She clung for a moment before she sank to her knees and cradled Tally’s broken body. “You know I have to try to save her.”

Dred knelt down beside her and took her hand. “
We’ll
try.”

The white nimbus of light that had surrounded Middy surged again with little effort. It was as strong and bound-less as Middy’s heart. She didn’t need his strength this time, but she leaned into him all the same.

The light filled Drusilla Tallow and unlike the backlash with the baby gargoyle, Middy didn’t have to endure any of Tally’s pain. Her body simply knit itself back together, bones cracking and reshaping, muscle and fascia melding together.

As Tally became whole, iridescent white wings burst from Middy’s back and a diamond crown appeared on her head.

Dred was gifted with the knowledge that her sacrifice, her ability to love and hope even in the face of her own death had earned her her place as a Crown Princess of Heaven. And he remembered Caspian’s words about the pinnacle of her soul’s journey.

Yes, this was what she was meant for. She’d bring healing and hope to the whole world, but she could still belong to him. His heart swelled with a deluge of emotions: pride, joy, hope, love.

Middy turned her attention to him, and he knew their connection told her everything he wanted to say but was unable to find the words for because he saw the same things reflected in her gaze.

Tally opened her eyes, tears streaking down her cheeks, and she clung to Middy much the same as the baby gargoyle had. She was so small, and though she’d been made physically whole, she was still broken.

Dred wanted to take Midnight in his arms and assure himself that this was all real, to tell her everything he felt even though she already knew. But Middy was working.

Tally was her friend, but Dred knew she needed the comfort and safety that only a Crown Princess of Heaven could provide. Compassion flared. Dred had eternity with Midnight. He could spare a day to ease this woman’s suffering.

“I know she needs you now. But you’re mine tonight.”

“Yours always,” she whispered.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

A Wedding and a Wake

Midnight Cherrywood stood before a full-length mirror and this time, allowed Drusilla Tallow to do what she would with her dress
and
her hair. The other witch primped and tucked, fussed and snorted until finally she stood back, pleased with the results.

Middy’s hair fell in a cascade of curls down her back and between her wings. Her dress was a pale ivory, and the bodice was wrapped in seed pearl lace. The rest of the dress fell fey and wispy; it seemed to move around her as if it were sentient.

“You know, being your maid of honor with only one functioning arm is a little more of a challenge than you’d think.” Tally flapped her sling like a chicken wing, sending glitter flying into the space around them. She’d used her magick to embroider sequins all over it and doused it liber-ally with glitter in her usual Tally style.

Tally had come through the singular horror of being possessed by a lamia with nothing more than a broken arm.

Middy had been able to heal the rest. All but the memories, and Tally wanted those, she said, so she’d remember to be thankful for what she had every day. She wondered if the arm had been left unhealed by the Powers That Be as a daily physical reminder of all that had happened. Middy knew Tally had a tough road ahead of her to prove herself worthy of her second chance.

Tally sniffed. “Oh, shit. I said I wasn’t going to do this.

Now, my mascara is running.” She sniffed again. “You’re so beautiful, Midnight. I don’t know how you’re going to keep your wings a secret or that glow, but you’re beautiful.”

“It’s my wedding and I’ll wear my wings if I want to. No one will believe they’re real anyway.”

Middy turned to the side and her wings looked as if they’d been doused in glitter like everything else that Tally got anywhere near.

Merlin had smiled on her and Dred both that day. She’d been made a Crown Princess of Heaven, which he’d told her had always been her destiny. Dred’s, not so much. Merlin was sure he’d end up on the other side, but was happy to have him on the team, or so he said. Middy got credit for his re-demption, hence the direct promotion to Crown Princess instead of Grand Duchess. There was a hierarchy, after all.

“I can’t believe my mother isn’t going to meet my husband until the reception,” Middy added.

“I’m sure he’ll charm the piss and vinegar right out of her.” Tally hugged her. “Thank you for still being my friend. For still loving me.”

“We’re more than friends. You’re my sister and I’ll always love you,” Middy said as she hugged her back.

“You know how people are going to look at me. I’m a pariah.”

“Not everyone,” Middy said. “Falcon has been staring at you anxiously all day.”

“He just thinks I’m easy,” Tally snorted.

“Make him work for it and he’ll follow you like a puppy.

All my brothers are like that.”

“So, would it be wrong of me to use Falcon for a one-night stand?” Tally asked hopefully.

“First, you have my blessing. Second, just don’t tell me about it.” Middy grinned.

The orchestra began to play and Middy heard her cue.

She stepped carefully from the bride’s tent and moved to the red carpet where Hawk waited to give her away. Middy took his arm and as they walked, he spoke.

“Raven tried to talk him out of it.”

“What?” Middy growled through clenched teeth and a smile.

“Yeah, told him to run and be free while he still could. Like he was reintroducing a rakehell back into the wild. They are an endangered species, or so Raven seems to think.”

“It’ll be even more endangered when I kick him in the balls. Is he trying to turn this wedding into his wake?”

“How did you get into Heaven again? You’re a mean little crotch puppet.”

“Tough love, baby.” Middy grinned.

When she caught sight of Dred, her grin turned to a shy smile and even though she swore that she had nothing to cry about, her eyes filled with unshed tears.

He was a Heavenly sight, her warlock. He watched her progression intently and with open joy on his face. Dred wasn’t wearing his wings, but he was wearing a suit of armor; shining armor. It was pure silver and fit him like a second skin. The heavy metal seemed molded to his very flesh and he moved inside it with ease.

He accepted her hand from Hawk’s and bowed his head to the other warlock before getting down on one knee in front of Middy. She was aware of no one else but her handsome Crown Prince of Heaven.

Not the cleric, not Tally, not her brothers—no one but the man who was bent before her just as she’d asked on a night that now seemed an eternity ago. They didn’t need the mortal words to bind them, but the ritual meant something to Middy. He stood when the cleric began speaking.

When she looked up into his eyes as they repeated their vows, she knew that Dred’s shining armor wouldn’t rust.

He was everything a fairy-tale prince should be, and her Happily Ever After was real.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

The Credits

The credits are rolling and the lights have come up in the theater. Middy and Dred have their Happily Ever After with the capital letters and . . .

What happens to the rest of them? Where did the wedding take place? Important questions to be sure. Another peek wouldn’t hurt.

Middy and Dred were married on the vast property of the Shadowins Estate. Middy’s mother planned most of the wedding and Aradia paid the bill; both seemed quite pleased with the arrangement. Dred, did indeed, charm the piss and vinegar right out of his witch-in-law. She was so entranced with him that she was angry at Middy for calling him “Dred the Dastard” for all those years with no return scolding for “Miss Cherry-Would-If-She-Could.”

Further, Aradia Shadowins decided since her only son had married, she was entitled to do as she wished. She’d put in her time as a highborn society lady and decided to install the gargoyle hottie from the Harpy Tea, Valerian, as a per-manent fixture in her household. This decision was met with a great collective gasp by society, but it solidified her standing as an eccentric. Aradia and Valerian spend their time antiquing, reading eighteenth-century French poetry, and shagging like bunnies.

Raven is still concerned with the vanishing species known as the rakehell and has made it his life’s work to see that as many as possible are saved and reintroduced into the wild.

Dred’s black book has been the catalyst for many a success-ful release, but Raven blames Middy whenever she brings up the subject. She was the one who relayed Hawk’s smartass comment from the wedding and it inspired him.

Dred’s uncle, Roderick Snow, after being rescued from his own dungeon, has been seen keeping company with one Ginger Butterbean. Most recently they were spotted together at an Italian cooking class.

Merlin was kind enough to gift Dred and Midnight with a tract house on the same block of Heaven/Hell as the rest of their merry band. Middy has been convincing Grace of the joys of World of Warlock on the spelltop and they both have high-level paladins. Sera Ann wanders freely between residences and Middy made her a red cloak that she never takes off.

Dred still dresses up in his wedding armor for Middy, but sometimes, just sometimes, she likes it when it’s black and he carries her off to be pillaged like a captive of an invad-ing knight. Or Viking, even though they didn’t wear armor, but that’s okay with Middy. She likes the imagery just the same.

Dred likes his job, but he works from home a lot. Merlin thinks that Caspian is setting a bad example. Now that he and Dred are both doing it, Nimue has started to expect him to be home more, too.

Middy still allows him to pose for
Weekly Warlock
. She doesn’t even mind the interactive program. She knows that she’s the only one who has the real Dred, and all of the proceeds go to the Gargoyle Masque.