There was a titter of uncomfortable laughter, then someone—Rod, I think—started clapping. The rest of the guests picked it up, and I headed back to the aisle to an enthusiastic round of applause. This wasn’t quite what I’d imagined for my wedding, but as I’d said, it was pretty typical. I figured it would make a great story in the future. It was a pity I’d have to limit who I told it to.
I’d almost made it back to Merlin when someone grabbed me. “Nobody move!” a female voice called out from behind me. I couldn’t see who it was, but based on the angle of the arm around my neck, which bent me backward, I suspected it was Matilda. She began walking down the aisle, dragging me with her. Just walking in that dress had been a challenge. Not tripping over it while in a headlock was nearly impossible. As she walked, she ranted. “Why do you keep choosing the wrong side?” she shouted at Owen. “Do you know what you could be? And yet you choose to work in your little lab, marry such an ordinary person. Why do we hide ourselves away? You’re having a secret wedding so you can use magic. You should be able to have a ceremony like this anywhere. We’re wizards! But instead of helping me, you stopped me.”
Owen moved slowly down the steps toward us. “You’re wrong about so many things,” he said, his voice soft but still ringing throughout the space. “But one thing in particular is going to be your downfall.”
“Don’t come any closer!” Matilda warned. “Or something will happen to your bride.”
He raised a hand and made a casual gesture. A surge of magic hit us. I immediately felt the pressure on my neck ease as she fell away from me. I heard a muffled thud when she hit the carpet covering the aisle. “You said she was ordinary,” Owen said, coming to stand over Matilda. “But she’s immune to magic, which is pretty extraordinary. And that means I could hit you with whatever I wanted without hurting her.” Turning to me, he asked, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I said, rubbing my neck. I hoped she hadn’t left red marks that would ruin the pictures. Not that I’d be able to show the pictures from this wedding to everyone in my life, but still.
Sam directed his crew to haul a still-frozen Matilda away. Gemma then called out, “Can we take five and reset? Let’s start all over again.”
Coming down the steps, she came toward me and took my arm. “You’ll have her back in a minute,” she told Owen as she took me back to my office. There, she poured out the last few drops from Nita’s champagne bottle. “Here, you could probably use this,” she said.
If the tablespoon of champagne I’d had earlier hadn’t affected me, I doubted these drops would make much difference, but she was right. I needed the drink. Even just the moisture in my mouth helped. A sudden giggle burst out of me before I was aware it was coming, and that giggle led to another, and soon I was laughing uncontrollably.
“I know you didn’t get enough alcohol to cause that,” Gemma said. “Are you okay?”
I couldn’t control myself enough to speak, but I gave her a thumbs-up gesture. Finally, I was able to stop laughing long enough to take a couple of deep breaths, and then I could speak. “Sorry, it’s just funny,” I said between giggles. “Even my wedding spirals out of control with magic. And to think, I used to see myself as boring and ordinary.”
“I don’t know that you’ve ever been boring, at least, not as long as I’ve known you.”
“Really?”
“Really. When we were in college, I always admired how you just did your own thing, without worrying about whether or not it was cool.”
“It was that obvious how uncool I was?”
“That’s not what I’m saying. What I noticed was that you didn’t care. When you moved to New York, you didn’t try to fit in. You’re always you, wherever you go. I bet that has a lot to do with why Owen’s drawn to you. When I found out where you fit into all the magic stuff, it made so much sense. You see past all the things that everyone else tries to hide behind.”
I pondered this for a moment. “You know, I think I’m okay with all this—even the magical battle in the middle of my wedding. It wouldn’t have felt like it was really my wedding if nothing weird had happened.”
“And we haven’t even made it to the reception yet. Now, let’s see if I can fix your eye makeup. I used waterproof mascara, but even that might not have been enough to withstand that laughing fit. I hope you have it all out of your system.”
“Yeah, I think I’m under control now,” I said. But my face hurt from grinning, and my abs felt like I’d done a hundred crunches.
Gemma attacked the area under my eyes with powder before touching up my mascara and lipstick, then declared me ready to get married. We went back to the vestibule and prepared to repeat the process—this time, without our enemies showing up, I hoped.
While the bridesmaids moved down the aisle, I stood at the doorway, studying the whole lobby area to look for hidden booby traps or other hazards. I looked around at the guests for anyone who seemed out of place. I almost missed my cue when it was my turn to walk down the aisle, but I hadn’t noticed anything that looked like trouble, so I stepped forward.
I made it all the way down the aisle this time and gave Owen a smile of relief as I came to stand at his side and took his hand. I tried to stay in the moment and focus on what was happening, but I couldn’t help but replay our lives up to this moment—seeing him on the subway, the first job interview when he’d barely managed to speak to me, learning he was a wizard, all those times we went out together but weren’t officially dating, the first kiss under the spell of the enchanted red shoes, the fairy godmother who kept nearly getting us killed while she tried to get us together even though we were already together, him coming to Texas when I fled in an attempt to protect him, him meeting me at the airport when I returned, nearly losing him in a fight against our enemies, falling in love all over again in the elven realms when we didn’t remember who we were, and breaking the spell with a kiss.
Yeah, there was nothing ordinary about either of us, now that I thought about it. And yet, the times I really treasured with him involved sitting at home, watching movies, and eating pizza. My work was bound to offer plenty of excitement. I’d be okay with our personal lives being nice and dull.
I forced myself to focus on the present when the pastor finished his welcoming remarks and we began our vows. I wanted to remember saying these words that I sincerely meant. Owen’s cheeks flushed a pale pink as he repeated his vows, and his eyes were solemn. I knew he meant every word he said, and I had no doubt he’d live up to them.
Next, it was time for the rings. I hadn’t realized how sweaty my palms had become, and I had to resist the urge to wipe them on my skirt before Owen took the ring from the pastor and slid it onto my finger. It took him a couple of tries to get the ring onto my finger, his hands shook so badly. I gave him an encouraging smile, but then it was my turn, and I found that I was shaking, too. I held his hand steady with my left hand so I could get the ring onto his finger. Once that was over with, I felt weak with relief.
The pastor declared us husband and wife and told Owen to kiss me. I couldn’t help but grin at the wave of red that rose from his collar. Kissing in public really wasn’t in his comfort zone. Kissing while our friends and family cheered us on was a little freaky, now that I thought about it. The kiss ended up being a bit stiff and awkward, but I figured we had a lifetime to practice on getting it right, and I knew it would go much, much better when we were alone. We hadn’t really had problems in that area before.
Something brushed my hair, and I jolted, but then realized it was only the magical flower petals that were supposed to fall at this point in the ceremony. Only when I was sure that it was just the petals and no scythes or snares did I relax and enjoy the sight that looked like a snowfall showering our guests. We made our way down the aisle under the falling petals, which clung to Owen’s hair and my veil.
Rina’s team did their thing, and soon the cathedral in the woods had become a forest glade. I was glad my friends had made me s
nack during the day because it was a long time before I got to eat anything, I was so busy being congratulated and greeted by all the guests. I finally got to sit down when Rod got up to give the toast. “I feel like I’ve been there for every step of this relationship,” he said. “Even before they met. Owen knew Katie was the girl for him the first time he set eyes on her. He just took his time actually talking to her, and then he took his time spending any time with her once they did talk, and then he took his time asking her out. But I guess when you already know you’re meant for each other, there’s no rush. And besides, they had plenty of other stuff to deal with. That bit of excitement earlier? All in a day’s work for these two. I’d have been worried if nothing had happened. So, to Katie and Owen. May you always find joy amid the chaos.”
We cut the cake and posed for a lot of pictures before the band began playing and the dancing started. They played a slow, dreamy number for our first dance, and I was glad Rod had drilled us, though I wished I’d practiced this in a long dress, as well. “You’re doing fine,” Owen murmured into my ear.
“Maybe we should have taken lessons,” I replied.
“And we would have fit them in when? We were a little busy saving the magical world.”
“Oh, yeah. Story of our lives, huh?”
“Good save there, noticing the danger. If you hadn’t . . .” He shuddered, and I squeezed his shoulder.
“Yeah, it could have been ugly.”
“I doubt they’ll let her out again. Even Jabez Jones should be convinced by now.”
I was a little surprised by how many people came onto the dance floor once the guests were invited to join us. At most of the weddings I’d attended, people hung back. “You didn’t, did you?” I said, giving him a stern look as the dance floor filled with couples.
“No! I totally forgot about it, actually. I never got around to finalizing the spell. And it looks like we don’t need it.”
Nita and Jake whirled past. He looked a little like a deer caught in the headlights, but he didn’t seem to object to her enthusiasm. Philip and Gemma moved gracefully together, and I wondered how long it would be before they took the next step. Rod looked uncharacteristically solemn as he danced with Marcia, and that made me suspect he was possibly considering settling down.
“So, Mrs. Palmer,” Owen said with a grin, and I returned my focus to him.
“Yes, Mr. Palmer?”
“How long do you think we have to hang around here? I booked us a suite at the Plaza, and I can have the limo here in about fifteen minutes after I make a call.”
A shiver went down my spine at the look in his eyes. “I’m ready when you are,” I said.
We danced until the song ended, then left the dance floor. Our quick escape didn’t happen very quickly, though, since we were greeted by more well-wishers. Some of our friends claimed dances with us, and next thing I knew, it was at least an hour later, but it was fun, and nothing had blown up, which was nice. I was refreshing myself with a cup of punch after a vigorous dance with Jake when Sam swooped down and landed on the table. “It turns out they did have something planned for during the wedding,” he reported. “But we busted it up, no problem. Looks like we got all the ringleaders this time around, so I doubt we’ll have to worry about this particular group again.”
“That’s nice to know,” I said. “Maybe we’ll actually get a honeymoon without a crisis.”
“Well, if you wanna get out of here now, I can get you some drivers.”
I remembered the drivers Sam had provided in the past and decided I didn’t want to go on my honeymoon driven by a team of wacky gargoyles. Flying carpets were also out of the question. “No, thanks. Owen has something booked.” At least, I hoped that the limo Owen had mentioned wasn’t driven by Rocky and Rollo.
Finally, the party seemed to be winding down, and Owen called for our car. I threw my bouquet, and Marcia caught it. Rod went a little pale, but he stayed by her side and when I winked at him, he winked back. I’d actually been aiming for Gemma, but fate must have kicked in. We ran for the door under yet another shower of flower petals, which I expected, and when we darted out from under the awning we ran into a shower of sparks, which I didn’t expect. My first instinct was to slap at my skirt to make sure it didn’t catch fire, but they seemed to be magical sparks. I looked up to see a portly figure draped in layers of clothing hovering nearby, sparks spraying from the end of her wand.
“Best wishes to you on this joyous occasion,” said Ethelinda, my fairy godmother. “I never seem to fail to bring about happy endings.”
“Thanks,” I said, even though she’d had nothing to do with it.
“Oh, but this chariot of yours is so drab,” she said when our limo pulled up. “Let me just turn it into a golden carriage for you.”
“No!” both Owen and I cried out. We’d never get to the Plaza from here in a horsedrawn carriage. And, knowing how Ethelinda’s romantic schemes usually went, I wasn’t even sure the carriage wouldn’t turn into a pumpkin by the time we got there. “We’re good,” I added. “I mean, we’re together and married, so your work here is done.”
“Well, in that case . . .” She waved her wand and vanished, much to my relief.
The limo driver opened the door for us, and I crawled inside and collapsed gratefully against the seat. Once we were moving, we had another kiss, one that was a lot nicer and less formal than the one in the wedding. “I guess this is happily ever after,” I said with a sigh.
“The start of it, at any rate,” he said, and then he kissed me again.
Acknowledgments
And so ends the Enchanted, Inc. series, at least for now. I may return to these characters or this world someday, but they need to rest and move on with their lives, and so do I. I first came up with this idea in early 2002 and wrote the first draft of the first book in late 2003, so I’ve been living in this universe for a long time. When I started writing that first book, I don’t think I even imagined that I’d end up writing nine books or that I’d still be writing this series nearly sixteen years later.
So many people have had a hand in making this series what it became. My agent, Kristin Nelson, has been with it from the start, ever since she responded to my initial query for the first book. Allison Dickens, then at Ballantine Books, was the editor who bought the first books and brought them to the world. Signe Pike took over to get the next two books published. Martha Trachtenberg has been the copyeditor on most of the series. Nina Berkson provided the now-iconic cover art.
I owe special thanks to the Japanese readers and my Japanese publisher, Tokyo Sogensha, for allowing the series to continue beyond four books. When the U.S. publisher decided to end the series, Japan wasn’t ready to give up and asked for more books. That meant I had already written more books when independent publishing became a viable option. I don’t know if I would have written more books without that encouragement.
And thanks to all the readers over the years who’ve fallen in love with these books and these characters. The first books are still in print and selling steadily after all these years, which is a good sign that readers are still telling other people about them and new readers are discovering them.
I hope you’ll follow me on more magical adventures in new worlds and with new people, and I may still revisit the world of Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc. In the meantime, I hope you all enjoy many magical moments.
About the Author
SHANNA SWENDSON earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas and used to work in public relations but decided it was more fun to make up the people she wrote about, so now she’s a full-time novelist. She also writes the steampunk fantasy Rebels series and the contemporary fantasy Fairy Tale series. She lives in Irving, Texas, with several hardy houseplants and too many books to fit on the shelves.
Also by Shanna Swendson
The Enchanted, Inc. Series
Enchanted, Inc.
Once Upon Stilettos
Damsel Under Str
ess
Don’t Hex with Texas
Much Ado About Magic
No Quest for the Wicked
Kiss and Spell
Frogs and Kisses
* * *
Enchanted, Inc. Stories
Paint the Town Red
Criminal Enchantment
* * *
The Rebels Series
Rebel Mechanics
Rebel Magisters
Rebels Rising
* * *
The Fairy Tale Series
A Fairy Tale
To Catch a Queen
A Kind of Magic
* * *
Twice Upon a Christmas
Enchanted Ever After Page 28