I open my eyes slowly as I feel something tickling my chest. A crown of silver hair moves down my body as hands push aside my robe. I groan as a tongue teases the bundle of nerves between my legs.

The little deviant sits up when she hears me, licking her lips as she meets my eyes. “Good morning, Lou.”

Not unless you finish what you started. “Why’d you stop?”

“Because they are waiting for us.”

“Waiting? Who?”

“Everyone.” She rolls off me and then offers a hand to pull me to my feet. We’re on the second floor of Morgene’s tree, which is one huge bedroom. One wall is dominated by a giant window where murky light is streaming in from. “Dawn is fast approaching. That means the ceremony will be happening soon.”

She grabs me by the arm and nearly drags me to my feet. The early hour pushes at me but the excitement for what’s to come beats back the sleepiness. I can’t believe this. I’m getting married!

This is crazy. Whenever I imagined my wedding day, I pictured some slightly older guy with more money than charm who my father dragged before me. Now, I’m on the elven continent being led through an elven village by the elven huntress who I’m going to be unified with.

Amazing. I’m pretty sure someone’s going to want to write a song about this. Does this mean I’m going to be a legend? And to think I wanted to fade away into history as some lazy drunk who hangs around dungeons. “With that stunt earlier, you better have something great planned for the wedding night.”

Kierra looks back at me. “Wedding night?”

“You don’t know what that is? Um, noble girls are usually married off to eligible husbands. One of the conditions is that they’re still virgins. The night of their wedding is the first time they are, you know, intimate with another. It is spoken of with wonder and awe.”

“Is that what your father had planned with you?”

“I’m sure. Later, after I’d established myself as a renowned summoner.”

“And did you speak about your wedding night with wonder and awe?”

I wince. Saints above know I dreaded it but not too much, as I was sure I’d get out of my father’s clutches before it ever became an issue. I never thought of it as anything more than something to escape from. Still, a girl wants to hope. “What if I told you yes?”

Kierra grabs my arm, pulling me to a stop. “My tree still stands in the Enchanted Forest. We will have to pass through it to reach the human continent. If you like, we can stop there and have as many wedding nights as you wish.”

I love it when she looks at me like that. “You bring the wonder, I’ll bring the awe?”

“Mm. Deal. Come on.”

We start walking again. She leads me to a large clearing. The robed casters are here again, along with a row of armored elves. I’m surprised that Rondel is among them, smiling softly. Morgene, Marjoram, and Javil are there standing off to the side along with a dark green elf wearing white robes lined with violet. That elf is holding a knife so I’m guessing they’re important.

Kierra leads me in front of the said elf, turning me so that they are to our left, the two of us staring at each other as she holds my hands.

The green elf walks up to us. “Kierra, you know me, but for the pleasure of your dedia, I will introduce myself. I am Fiona kor’Yggrasil, one of the ten gardeners who care for the Sacred Tree. By presiding over this union, I give you the blessing of the Great Savior. Our Savior asks only two things from us. Strength and loyalty. Strength to survive and loyalty not only to our principles and our traditions but to each other. Can the two of you promise that same strength and loyalty to each other and your union?”

“I swear it,” Kierra replies, nodding her head to me.

“I swear it.”

“Is there any who would offer their blessing for this union?”

Morgene steps forward. “Morgene D’Atainna offers her blessing.” Wah. She actually said that with a hint of warmth and, dare I say it, pride. I think my eyes are tearing up. Maybe there’s a chance my relationship with my mother-in-law won’t be completely terrible.

Unless I become strong enough to challenge her and she kills me for fun.

She steps back and the queen steps forward. “Marjoram D’Atainna offers her blessing.” Still finding it hard to believe that I’m related to royalty.

Hold on. Does that mean I’m rich now?

It’s probably not a good idea to ask that during the ceremony.

The queen steps back and her consort steps forward. “Javil Duskman offers his blessing.” His voice is as pleasant as the rest of his demeanor. I wish I could have had a conversation with him. Doubt it would have lasted very long but it might have been insightful. He has that feeling about him.

Fiona nods her head. “Then let the knife bearer step forward.”

Rondel comes forward from the line of soldiers. Fiona hands him the knife and steps back. Kierra lets go of my hands and turns toward him. “I’m grateful that you came, my friend.”

“Of course I did, Kii. This seems sudden to you but I knew this day would come. Since we were children, I knew I would be with you at your union, in front of a gardener, your mother, and the queen. I knew the day would come…”

Something’s wrong. I can’t tell what it is but a horrible feeling clenches my stomach as I watch him lift the long, ceremonial dagger and Kierra’s hands rise to take it from him. The feeling is realized as he turns the knife around expertly and slams it down into her chest, twisting it.

Rondel smiles sadly at her stricken expression. “I knew the day would come when you offered your heart to me.”