They turned to the priest who cleared his throat, looking down at the lines he had said half a hundred times.
“Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony. The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by his presence and first miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. It signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and his Church, and Holy Scripture commends it to be honored among all people. The union of husband and wife is intended by God for their mutual joy, for the help and comfort given each other in prosperity and adversity, and, when it is God's will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord. Therefore, marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God.”
Spencer and Katianna looked into each other's eyes. He was hit with memories of the other three times they had done this. Once had been as grand a wedding as anyone could have wished for. Once had been rushed like this. And once, they had barely made it. She had been so sick then; it was her dying wish that they got married. Each time, he had been honored to be her husband, blessed for the moment she became his wife.
“Into this union, Katianna and Spencer now come to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not be lawfully wed, speak now, or else forever hold your peace.”
Obviously, no one said anything. The altar boys shifted in their seats, uncomfortable. They had planned to be home an hour ago, Katianna had overheard. She knew there were many across the galaxy who might protest their union. She wondered what the conversation was like on Umora just then. Did they think she was making a rash choice? That she had just run from Cole?
She had made a mistake then, having been swept up in the romance of it all. But her real love, her reason for being, was standing right in front of her. She knew that she could never live without Spencer, no matter what others thought. She loved him more than she loved herself.
“I charge you both, here in the presence of God and the witness of this company, that if either of you know any reason why you may not be married lawfully and in accordance with God's word, do now confess it?”
“No,” Katianna replied. “There is absolutely no reason why we should not be married.” There hadn't been a rehearsal, but she felt like she had said these words before. She had, of course, in three other ceremonies. She had also spent half her childhood playing dress up, imagining this moment. Was that what she was remembering? Or was she remembering the moments that she had said it for real?
“No,” Spencer echoed. “There is absolutely no reason why we should not be married.”
She winced then, and he squeezed her hand. She shook her head, trying to smile.
“It's nothing,” she whispered. “Just another headache.”
“Do you need to sit down?” he asked. “Do you need to pause?”
“No.” She was firm on this. “I would like to continue.”
She turned to the priest, waiting patiently, and Spencer took a deep breath. Please, he sent a prayer up. Just a little longer.
“Katianna,” the priest turned to her, “will you have this man to be your husband, to live together with him in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, be faithful unto him as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” she said. “And beyond.”
The priest seemed confused by that answer, but he didn't question it. Instead, he continued with the script. “Spencer,” he turned to the man, “will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together with her in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, be faithful unto her as long as you both shall live?”
“I will,” Spencer promised. “In this life and any other.”
Katianna smiled at him, knowing just what that meant. This felt right; this felt relaxing. This was what they were supposed to do. Maybe if they promised each other forever here, they wouldn't be so burdened by finding each other again and again. Maybe, she hoped feverishly, this would give them forever instead of constantly stopping and starting.
“Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?”
“We do,” the two altar boys said, prompted by the priest. Katianna smiled at them, nodding her thanks. Maybe in the next lifetime, they would be the adults and she would be the child.
“Bless, oh Lord, these rings as a symbol of the vows by which this man and this woman have bound themselves to each other; through Jesus Christ, our Lord,”
Both of them were holding each other's rings. Hastily bought, they didn't have a lot of choice. Katianna tried to make her ring look as different from the one Cole gave her as possible. However, due to lack of sizing in the store, it looked too similar for her liking. She vowed to make this time different as Spencer took her hand.
“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,”
It fit her finger perfectly and sparkled in the candle light. Her long fingers seemed made to wear a wedding ring and to symbolize how she belonged to him.
“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” Katianna said as she put his thick, gold ring onto his strong finger.
“Now that Katianna and Spencer have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings, I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder,”
If there was a congregation, they would stand. However, it was only the two altar boys, and so the priest continued his speech.
“Let us stand and pray together the words our savior taught us. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, they will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
“Amen,” everyone echoed. Her heart rate sped up; for she knew they were almost at the end. It was almost official; they almost belonged to each other.
“God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual grace, that you may faithfully live together in this life, and in the age to come have life everlasting. Amen. The peace of the Lord be with you always.”
“And also with you,” she whispered, knowing what comes next. She couldn't believe that this moment–this moment that she had dreamed about–had finally come.
“Katianna and Spencer, having witnessed your vows of love to one another, it is my joy to present you to all gathered here as husband and wife. Spencer, you may kiss the bride.”
He swept her down into a kiss, and she relaxed in his arms. Now, they were joined for the rest of this life.
Chapter 13
“What do you mean, it's gone?” Ariel looked at the librarian, trying to comprehend exactly what had happened.
“The graveyard you are looking for no longer exists,” the librarian repeated. “It was cleared to make the canal.”
“What happened to the bodies?” she practically demanded. “Those are people. You can't just move them.”
The librarian raised an eyebrow. “Are you looking for a relative?”
“Sure, if that makes it easier,” Ariel practically threw up her hands
in frustration. She was not having luck with this search, and it bothered her because she was not a person who failed. The first grave that she had been through had been robbed. The second coffin was empty, but she found evidence to suggest that the mortician at the time was quite crooked and often buried empty coffins, selling the bodies to the local medical college instead. Now, her third and final hope was apparently for naught.
“I'm sorry, Miss. There's no evidence,” the librarian replied. “The bodies buried in that graveyard were poor workers, and they mostly disposed of them in the ocean. They didn't treat them with respect, and now they are impossible to trace.”
“Did they keep any records of their work, at least?” she asked. “Perhaps spots where they found bodies?”
The librarian raised an eyebrow.
“No,” she said flatly. Ariel practically slammed her head into the desk. She knew that it wasn't the librarian's fault, but she desperately wanted it to be, just to be able to blame someone.
“Thanks for nothing,” she said, spinning on her heel. That was it; it was over.
Come and get me, she texted Nicholas once she was standing outside. His text came back almost instantly.
Where are you?
She texted him her coordinates, expecting him to tell her to finish up what she was doing and meet him at the nearest vortex. But instead, his reply was quite different.
Get there as soon as you can, he said. You need to be back.
Her heart sunk at that message.
Why? Is it Alexander?
Yes, came the instant reply, and her heart skipped a beat.
The vortex was nearly an hour's drive away, and she took a taxi that cost her an arm and a leg. But she didn't mind paying the three-figure fee with her credit card, knowing it was much less than the cost of her heart.
She only had to take one look at Nicholas' face when she got there to see it was bad. He was pale and drawn, looking like he hadn't slept all night.
“Please tell me we still have time,” she said. “I shouldn't go to him, not if things are that precarious.”
“Sister,” he said, softly, “if you are in the palace, across the hall, you aren't going to hurt him. And, if things get much worse, it won't matter.”
She took his hand, bracing herself.
“Let's go,” she said, her heart hammering.
She hadn't thought that it would ever come to this. When she walked down the aisle to Alexander all those years ago, it had been a deal; a convenience. None of this should have mattered. They weren't even ever supposed to see each other again. And yet, here they were, over ten years later, rushing to each other's side.
She barely felt the whoosh of magic as they hit the chamber floor. Ariel fell heavily because she wasn't trying to be graceful or ready.
Cole was waiting for them, looking equally as tired as his brother.
“Well?” he asked, hoping for an answer.
“Inconclusive,” she snapped. “One's broken into, one was likely sold, and one was likely thrown into an ocean when they were poor. Or all three bodies have become new again. There's nothing to suggest either way, Cole, so we're back where we started.”
“God damn it,” Cole growled. “But what do you think?”
“I can't think one way or another,” she said. “Everything about this case has been one way or another. Does she remember, or is he telling her? Is she guessing? Are the bodies gone because of magic, or because of logic? Can I not feel magic on her because it's different, or because it's not there? I don't know whether she can transcend death, or whether anyone can....” she stopped when she realized she was crying. Her voice was cracking, and the heavy tears rolled down her cheeks. She covered her mouth with her hands, trying to control herself. “Did you figure out who those wolves were?”
“No,” Cole replied. “Either they were the original kings, or they were Father, reincarnated. Unless they show up again and again, I suspect we will never know.”
“So, what do we do now?” Ariel asked. “Can I see him?”
“You can see him,” Cole said. “But, probably not for very long.”
“God, this is my fault,” she said, and Nicholas squeezed her shoulder.
“This is not your fault,” he said. “This is the fault of those who you chose to disassociate yourself with, for good reason. He knew the dangers of marrying a carapace, and he did it anyway. You can't blame yourself.”
“I'll consider forgiveness if he lives,” Ariel replied. “Or if he dies and returns to me. Please, take me to him.”
They started down the hallway, Ariel's heels clicking as they moved faster than they ever had. She was trying to remain dignified, but it wasn't easy.
“If he dies,” she said, suddenly, “the line of succession changes.”
“Precious,” Nicholas said. “You will always be a dragon princess. You married him, and it made you an equal heir. His death will not change that for you.”
“I'm not concerned about myself,” she answered. “Your line will be one weaker.”
“That it will,” Nicholas replied, softly. “And my daughter will be one step closer to a throne that is dangerous and has nearly killed each of us.”
“I wonder if Father felt the same way for us,” Cole said, softly. “He was not one for compassion, nor empathy, but did he think about the burden we would inherit?”
The words hit Nicholas like a shot. “Are you suggesting that's why he's returning? To force us out and drag us away? That this is his roundabout way of saying I love you?”
“I don't know what I'm suggesting,” Cole admitted. “I don't know what is going on anymore.”
They stopped outside the medical bay. Ariel tensed at the lack of magic she felt inside. Peaking around the corner, she found Alexander flat on his back, a position he never slept in. He looked dead already, had it not been for his chest rising and falling.
She let out a tiny squeak, and to her relief, he opened his eyes. They were clouded and a pale yellow, which indicated a lack of magic.
“I'm going to stay right here,” Ariel said, standing as close as she dared on the other side of the room. “I don't want to get close.”
Alexander raised one shaky hand, reaching out to her, and she shook her hand.
“Alexander, don't,” she said. “As much as I want to, I don't want to hurt you.”
“Go to him,” Cole give her a little push. “It's okay.”
She squeaked at him. “It's okay, or it won't make a difference anymore?”
“Go to him,” Cole repeated. She couldn't resist temptation anymore, moving toward the bed. She took his hand, and Alexander closed his eyes, reveling in her touch.
His brothers only stayed long enough to make sure that he was all right. His chest continued to rise and fall, and they exited, leaving the husband and wife alone, save for the beeping of the machines and a bustling medic.
“What did you find?” he asked, licking his dry lips. She looked around for a moment before she found a water glass.
In the process of helping him sit up, she spoke. “I don't know,” she admitted. “On one hand, everything is explainable. All three of her graves were empty, but it doesn't have to be logical. It could just as easily have been magic. I don't know.”
He took two sips of water before pushing it away, watching her eyes.
“What do you want to believe?”
Her eyes filled with fresh tears.
“I want to believe it,” she said. “If you vanish into the Other, you may or may not come back. And even if you do, we aren't sure if you stay. But if reincarnation is real and you can come back, I'd find you again and again. It seems so eternal.”
He gave her brief smile. “Do you think that's what Spencer is doing?”
“What?” she asked.
“Wanting to believe?” he asked. “Wanting to believe so badly that he makes it true? I have always believed that, and now, I think we understand his position.”
“God,” she closed h
er eyes, “we were just supposed to have hot sex, and that was going to be it.”
“That was never it,” he reached a hand to her face. “I know you thought that in the beginning, but I always knew it was going to be something more. I knew I just had to wait it out.”
She looked at him in disbelief.
“You knew I'd love you?”
“Ah ha, so you do love me,” he teased her softly.
She blushed bright red. “Never something I thought I'd say in my life. But I'll say it if you promise to take the secret to the grave.”
“That I will do,” he said. “But I may bring it back.”
She perched onto the edge of the bed, knowing that the clock was ticking down the minutes that she could be there. “I hope so,” she said.
“Ariel.” She turned around to find her sister-in-law, Rosa, standing there. “You're back.”
“I am,” Ariel said, getting up to give her a hug. “How are you?”
“I'm all right,” Rosa said. “Alexander? Any better today?”
“Perhaps a tad,” he said, glancing at his wife. “But that could be the change in attendance”
“Such a romantic,” Rosa rolled her eyes. “Ariel, I love you, but I need you to leave.”
“I know,” Ariel said, and then stopped. “What? Why? Are you trying something?”
“Halloway magic is the oldest and most powerful magic,” Rosa reminded her. “And it grants dragons immortality, if you remember.”
“I do,” Ariel answered, looking between the two of them. “But I understand you needed a full life force of Halloway magic.”
“In the case of Cole, it's only half,” Rosa shrugged. “I don't know if this will work, but I'm trying to give him as much magic as I can stand each day. It might make a difference.”
“Please,” Ariel said. “Try anything. I'll go away, so I don't disrupt the process. Call me if anything changes.”
“Ariel.” Alexander reached his hand out, not quite ready for her to leave. “A kiss, my love.”
She obliged without a word, leaning down to place her lips on his. They had kissed thousands of times over the years, and she always enjoyed it. This time, though, she tried to remember every aspect of it. How he responded; how it felt; how they knew when to nip. She was far too aware of the fact that it may be the last time she ever kissed him in this lifetime.
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