by A. K. Koonce
“I don’t mean to pressure you. It’s just,” he pauses, scrunching his brows as he thinks, “with the bombing… There’s still a chance to unite the mortals and the mystics. The races once worked together against a greater evil… We could do it again…” He can’t seem to find the right words to convey his thoughts. “Everyone’s morale is a little down… You don’t seem taken with anyone really. I know for a fact you have more than enough offers. I watch males flag you down daily, but you don’t give them the time. You have to make friends with the wind if you ever expect to fly.”
I want so badly to roll my eyes at his remark but somehow I remain neutral to his ridiculous words.
“I am not unkind. I’m just…”
“Uninterested?” He finishes for me.
I laugh loudly at his remark. Unable to keep the hysterical noise within my tired body.
His brows rise at my brash behavior and it makes me laugh more. The people cleaning up the fallen limbs and debris pause to take notice of my fit of laughter. Asher smiles into his glass, cocking an eyebrow at me over the brim. Kaino continues to talk to the hybrid as if I’m not sitting before them all like a hyena on laughing gas.
“The finest warriors in our community are funny to you? My son is funny to you?” Raske’s stern voice rises. He is no longer amused by my inappropriateness.
The reminder of Kaino sneaking around behind his father’s back to be with Shane surfaces in my mind and I can’t help but laugh some more, touching my palm to my aching stomach as the uncontainable laughter swirls within me.
“You do understand that these mystics have been watching you with bated breath, for you to take an interest in any one of them and you do nothing but laugh in their faces for their efforts. I’m not forcing you, Fallon, but you could at least have the courtesy to take them seriously.”
My labored breath halts entirely, the laughter is sucked from my body. All the hysteria leaves me and is replaced with anger. The emotional flow is so quick and my lungs can’t catch up. I clench my jaw and raise my raging eyes to meet his.
Asher and Kaino stop speaking, those around us stop speaking. My silence is passing into them and it’s as if they can feel my mood that’s boiling to the surface, threatening to spill over onto them.
“The courtesy?” I ask loud and annunciating. “You think I owe your people a courtesy?” My eyes are wide, my lips thinning between words, pressing tightly together as my mind swirls in a flow of angry thoughts. “Every man here, and a few women as well, have embarrassingly approached me as if I’m a pet to play with. To take home and entertain their lord with.”
“Fallon, this is not how we should discuss this. We should talk privately-”
“No, this is something everyone needs to hear,” I say, cutting him off, my eyes shifting from him to the large crowd around us. The crowd that’s watching me intently. “I am not your entertainment. I am not a chess piece to be played and pushed around the board. I am not an obstacle stopping you from living your lives and I most definitely am not a prize. I won’t join someone who sees me as a piece to be played, an obstacle or especially a prize.”
My narrowed eyes scan the mass of people before me. The males hold my glare and the females nod their heads in agreement. My loud words are shouted into the silence and are absorbed into their minds, to be understood or to be misconstrued but the words are taken all the same.
Asher does his best to remain impassive but I can see how his eyes are lit up with interest at my angry seminar I’m now holding. Kaino’s arms are crossed but he isn’t angry, he, too, is intrigued, his naturally tense features smoothing slightly. Luca smiles widely from nearby, all but cheering me on.
“I am not your opponent and I will not bow to a mystic who does not see me as a teammate.” Luca nods giving me courage. A strange fear and nervousness presses heavily into my lungs as I realize what I am about to do.
“With that being said,” I pause, walking slowly up to Asher, his brilliant silver eyes never leave mine, but search my face for any indication of what I’m about to do so publicly. “Asher Xavier… would you…” My mind searches for the word his grandpa used over a year ago. It’s foreign and my tongue struggles to pull it from my memory. I bend one knee, bowing before him like a servant to her master. “Would you marry me?”
I’m breathing hard but I keep a façade of calm in my features as I look up at him. His lips quirk, tilting up into a small smile. The crowd around us hums to life. Words flow quietly from one person to the next, as everyone waits for Asher’s reply.
As I wait for his reply.
“If you don’t marry her someone else will,” Gabriel shouts from behind us making me smile. A flush of red creeps over my face, making me even warmer.
Asher shakes his head, my heart falling a little with each passing second. He drops to his knees before me, a soldier surrendering to his conqueror, lowering himself to my level. Only a foot of space is between us as we kneel in the dirt together.
“I’ll ruin your life, baby,” he says quietly, touching his fingers lightly to the inside of my palms, not holding them but brushing his fingers against the inside of my hands. His touch is reassuring despite his words.
“I can do that all on my own. That’s not what I asked you.” His dimples appear, his perfect smile widening at my words. “I’m asking you to not screw it up any more than it already is,” I tell him.
He nods, leaning in and pressing his forehead to mine. I breathe him in, my eyes held wide open, not wanting to miss a word he says.
This is us. Always desperate for the other to catch up. Always patiently waiting for one to realize what the other sees. The world might always press in on us, but he continues to hold the sky up for me to walk this earth safely. I’d let the sky fall down around us if it meant I could be in his arms in the end.
“Well, how can I refuse a proposal like that?” he asks loudly for everyone to hear.
He presses his lips lightly to mine. I take a deep breath as happiness and reassurance wash into me.
Luca shouts and cheers as the crowd around us erupts in applause, making me blush even more as I smile against his lips.
Chapter Nineteen
The Bonding
The following day is spent in a whirlwind of energy. Not from me. The most I accomplish is a few yawns, exhausted from just watching Luca scramble around with unity items—Wedding items.
In my camp, a unity is completed in document form. Signing, agreeing and moving on with your new lives together.
Apparently, that is not what this is. A unity and a marriage are clearly not the same thing. I’m starting to wonder if a marriage is sleep deprivation, tears and anxiety.
The most beautiful day of my life another mystic told me, as she fought the layers of white material in her hands. She’s made me nervous with all the tearing and sewing and ripping I’ve watched her do for the last few hours.
I take another gulp of my drink, letting it burn the back of my throat as Luca twists and pulls every hair on my head. My head tilts painfully back and forth beneath her strong hands.
“Are you sure all this stuff is needed? Asher already knows what I look like. Changing my hair and clothes for one day isn’t going to make him love me any more than he already does.”
“It’s needed, now sit up straighter or we’re going to be here all day,” she snaps at me.
My back goes ramrod straight at her sharp words.
Okay. Someone is a little more invested in this event than I am.
“Why white? And why a dress?”
I don’t think I’ve ever worn an elaborate dress like this in my life. The flowing material covers the table in front of us in a heap of tulle and crisp white fabric.
The dirt and dry air are going to destroy that pretty thing.
“Well, miss negativity, years ago, white was a symbol of innocence and virginity.”
I spew my drink into my cup and down my chin and neck. I cough as the liquid burns my throat and lu
ngs.
“And why, might I ask, is my innocence and virginity anyone’s business?” I ask still trying to breathe properly.
She snorts loudly, tugging harshly at my thick long hair.
“It’s definitely not anyone’s business. But it used to be. It used to be an incredibly important foundation for a marriage.”
A pause fills the silence as my mind wanders.
“Do you think it’s important to Asher? That I’m not,” I pause keeping my eyes down, inspecting the bottom of my empty cup, “that I’m not experienced?” My voice is shaky and quiet. There isn’t an ounce of confidence in me at the moment.
“Of course not, Fallon.” She stops working for a moment, her hands resting comfortably on my shoulders. “Asher loves you. I promise everyone is just as unsure of themselves at some point in their lives as you are right now. But not everyone has someone who loves them like Asher loves you.” Her words are gentle and fill my heavy heart. “You guys have each other. You guys will discover everything together.”
“Thanks, Luca,” I say in a whisper, tilting my head up to meet her eyes, my lungs breathe easier just thinking about her words.
Luca’s an amazing person. Someone I never expected to meet after what I went through. And I don’t know if I could have made it through this last year without her.
“Besides, with a body like his, I doubt you’ll be able to think about anything once he’s naked.”
A smirk fills my lips, my eyes slipping closed as heat flames my face.
“You’re such a romantic,” I say with an eye roll as we burst into laughter.
* * *
Music strums gently into the cool breeze, a noise soft and familiar. The salt of the ocean fills the air around me. A long white curtain separates me from everyone else. I can see the shadows of the people seated beyond the curtain. A figure stands alone at the edge of the cliff.
My fingers push nervously at the white fabric of my dress. The thin material flows intricately, sliver-like pieces caress my legs, exposing tan skin against the stark white color. The bodice is tight against my chest making my unsure breaths harder to take. My hair hangs around me in elaborate twists and a few thick braids at the top before cascading down one shoulder in a tangle of thick curls.
Luca applied a black gel to my lashes making them impossibly longer and more defined. She stained my lips a deep red before finally setting her tools down and looking at me. Declaring me ready to be wed.
I breathe out slowly, the air running quickly over my lips. I fidget with the thin strip of tulle at my waist but my hand is slapped away at my side. A stinging pain bursts over my knuckles as I glare up at my friend beside me.
“Calm down already, you’re making me nervous. I’m not a nervous person, Fallon. It’s not a good look for me,” Luca says smiling warmly at me.
“What will we do once we’re out there?” I ask, my eyes scanning the hundreds of people sitting on the other side of the curtain.
“Well, she’ll say a few words, joining the two of you as man and woman. We’ll do the ceremonial Bonding then you’ll...” She tilts her head back and forth before shrugging.
I glance quickly her way. She ignores my look and stares straight ahead.
“No, I don’t know. What? What will we do, Luca?”
She’s quiet still. Her lips thinning. She says nothing.
“What?” I ask loudly, almost shrieking.
A few people turn in their seats toward the sound of the frantic human screaming over the beautiful strumming music.
“You’ll jump!” she finally yells.
“Jump? We’re going to jump?” She nods her head at me in confirmation. “We’re going to jump… off the cliff? Into the ocean?”
Again, she nods slowly as fear crashes over me. Memories of how hard it was for me to swim in the still unmoving water of the cave rush back to me.
“Luca, I can’t swim. Why didn’t you tell me this? Why would cliff jumping be a part of this? Can we just skip it? I can’t drown on my unity day! You spent an hour on my hair just so I could drown on my unity day?” I ask manically.
“It’s a wedding, Fallon, not a union.”
“Whatever,” I shriek back at her, stomping my bare foot against the dirt.
My eyes are wide and my breathing is fast but unproductive. The pounding of my heart is so loud I no longer hear the music. Is the music still playing?
Through the curtain I see Asher’s silhouette walk toward us, closer to where I stand, having an anxiety attack over something that shouldn’t even be an issue on my unity day.
Luca whips the curtain back, exposing her head but nothing else.
“We’re fine. Everything is fine. It’ll just be another moment. Thank you all for your patience,” she says smiling prettily, Asher stops in his tracks, hesitantly. “I said we’re fine,” she growls at him, baring her teeth menacingly.
His hands fly up in a defensive stance before backing away to stand at the edge of the cliff again.
“I didn’t want to make you nervous. Jumping is the closing of the ceremony. It’s an old ritual done in our culture for centuries. The couple jumps as an offering to the ocean, and if they are not a true match, a perfect match, the water fae will correct the error and whisk away the untrue heart.”
“What? I’m not only jumping into the ocean off of a cliff,” I say slowly, “but then I have to hope water fae don’t drag me under as I doggie paddle my way back to land? Does Asher know about this, about the… the water fae?”
She nods impatiently, peeking back around the curtain at the audience.
Luca drops the drape back down and spins on her heels to look at me, fury and determination in her eyes.
“Do you love Asher?” she asks loudly.
I do. I haven’t said it yet, to anyone, not even him. But I do.
I nod my head slowly, forcing air into my lungs, fighting the tight bodice for air.
“Then trust him. Believe that when you leap, he won’t let you fall, and he would never let anyone take you away from him. Because he won’t, Fallon.”
I take another shaky breath and nod stiffly at her. She’s right. Of course, she’s right. I’m being dramatic. I’ll be fine. It’s fine.
“Are you ready?” she asks, her hand already clutching the curtain.
I tilt my head up, smoothing my dress and wiping the sweat from my shaking hands against the nice fabric, forcing my nerves away.
I nod at her again, my head bobs with vigor.
She smirks at me and laces her fingers through mine. Her hand is cool and steady against mine.
The music hums through the air again. It’s possible that it never stopped but I really have no idea.
Luca slowly pulls back the curtain and leads me into the crowd of Wanderers. There are hundreds of them. Kaino stands at the front, near the edge of the cliff. Lord Raske smiles broadly at me from the front of the crowd. Gabriel waves his bionic fingers at me, his eyes focused intently on Luca, who smiles shyly at him.
And then I see him.
Standing at the edge of the world, the ocean dark behind him, the sun surrounds him, sinking low into the water. The sea breeze lifts his dark hair, like a whirl of emotions flowing around him. And his beautiful silver eyes are glistening as he looks at me. His eyebrows rise slightly, his lips parting, his intense eyes drifting over my exposed body.
The nerves that were drowning me just seconds ago are washed away under his gaze. I walk confidently toward him, closer and closer, wanting to ambush him where he stands, among all the people. My bare feet pick up the pace against the dirt and I realize the music is strumming around us.
I look for the source of the perfect melody. My eyes drift over the crowd until I realize, next to Asher, at his right-hand side, is his grandfather.
Jim stands smiling at me, his fingers moving effortlessly against the cords of his guitar. The gray hair that was so disorderly when I first met him, is now neatly combed back from his lined face. Shae stands p
roudly at his side, the wind ruffling her long silver hair, piled high on her head. They look so out of place against the ocean side but I can’t imagine this day without them.
Asher smiles at his grandpa, who beams back at him, their features matching, the two looking similar for only an instant.
It’s perfect.
Everything is perfect.
He’s perfect.
Luca leads me to the front of the standing crowd, my legs move without thought, the crowd falls away. Luca slips my palm into Asher’s. His fingers wrap around mine, strong and warm and assuring.
Luca slips away to stand at Gabriel’s side. At the head of the crowd, just before me stands… my mother. The breath is knocked out of my lungs and a gasp slips from my lips as my eyes lock onto the Infinity witch, her bare feet practically teetering on the edge of the rocky cliff before us.
Lines crease around her olive eyes as she smiles down at me, knowing exactly what I see. Today I’m doing something my mother never could; marrying the person I love. I bite my lip and look away, into the white clouds as tears sting my eyes. My chest aches as a shuddering breath fills me and I wipe quickly at the corners of my eyes.
Asher gives me a curious look but takes my hands in his again, giving me a half smile as he leans closer to me, pulling me toward him, his hands seemingly begging to hold me.
My eyes rake over his tall frame. His lips are set in this half-open smile like he isn’t sure if he should celebrate yet. Like our fate might fall away from us again, tumbling over the cliff before we’ve even started.
His hair is combed, neatly parted but ruffled by the wind. He hasn’t combed his hair in all the days that I’ve known him. It’s different. It makes him look… responsible. Less like the reckless pike I gawked at through the compound window, not anything like the hybrid who stormed into this community, nothing like the hybrid who nearly died at my feet a year ago. He looks… confident and clean but also… like he can take care of me. Strong and strong-willed, but also calm and gentle.
He squeezes my hand. My eyes flutter down his crisp white button up shirt, he holds both of my hands lightly in his. My gaze scans over his clean black jeans, to his bare feet. His typical heavy boots are nowhere in sight.