by Ann Gimpel
“I like the sound of that.” Aislinn was grinning like a fool, but she couldn’t stop herself. “Hey.” She glanced up and saw an almost full moon peeking from behind the clouds. “It stopped raining.”
“So it did, lass.”
Cries of, “Food. Mead. Whiskey. Cake,” came from all quarters.
“Let’s bring our plates out here, at least for a while,” she said. “That way the dragons can visit with us.”
“I’ll dry some benches with magic,” Bran offered.
“Before we go inside for food,” Bella said, “I’d like a private moment with Aislinn.”
Fionn glanced at his bird. He looked worried, but didn’t say anything as she fluttered to Aislinn’s shoulder and the pair moved a few feet away.
“Thank you for being part of the ceremony.” Aislinn stroked the bird’s damp plumage.
“What I wanted,” Bella said, without preamble, “is to tell you I’m glad Fionn married you. You’re perfect for him, and he is for you.” She pecked Aislinn’s head softly. “I know I’m not easy to get along with, but Fionn’s needed a good mate for a long time. Your mother, she wasn’t right for him, but you are.” The bird tightened her talons. “That’s all. You can go inside and get dinner now.”
Aislinn felt the bite of tears again. She reached up and plucked the bird off her shoulders, bringing her around so she could look at her. “Thank you so much,” she said. “That’s one of the nicest things anyone’s ever said to me.” Bending, she kissed the tip of Bella’s beak.
The bird twisted in her grip. “Now don’t get all maudlin. This is your wedding day. Let go of me.”
Aislinn did, and the raven flew back to Fionn. He angled his head to talk with her, clearly interested in what had transpired. Aislinn got back in time to hear the raven say, “That’s between Aislinn and me,” in her usual smug tone.
Stifling a giggle, she looped an arm around Fionn’s waist. “About that wedding feast? Looks like most of the guests have gone back inside. If we don’t hurry, we won’t get a thing to eat.”
He cast his million watt smile her way. “We could just retire to the third floor—”
“We could,” she agreed and grinned at him, “but it’s not every day a girl gets married, and I’d like to savor a little more of the celebration before we get lost in our own private world.”
“We’d like to savor it with you,” Nidhogg rumbled from a few feet away.
“Indeed,” Dewi concurred and made shooing motions with both forelegs. “Go get dinner and come back and sit with us. There are plans to be made.”
“Like what?” Aislinn asked, genuinely curious.
“Well, for one thing,” the dragon began, “you still need years of practice with martial skills, fighting from my back.”
Rune growled low from the shadows, and Aislinn laughed. “Not today,” she said. “No talk of war, fighting, battle strategies, or any of that. It’s my wedding day, and I want to enjoy it.”
“I couldna have said it better myself.” Fionn threaded an arm around her and together they walked up the steps and into the house.
“Husband,” she said, enjoying the way the word rolled around on her tongue so much, she said it again. “Husband.”
“Aye?” Mild amusement underscored the word.
“Nothing. I just like the sound of it.”
“Would any husband have done?”
She elbowed him. “Of course not, silly. The only husband I ever wanted was you.”
He turned her to face him just inside the front door. “That was the right answer,” he said, and tilted his head to kiss her.
The End of the Earth Reclaimed Series
About the Author:
Ann Gimpel is a national bestselling author. She’s also a clinical psychologist, with a Jungian bent. Avocations include mountaineering, skiing, wilderness photography and, of course, writing. A lifelong aficionado of the unusual, she began writing speculative fiction a few years ago. Since then her short fiction has appeared in a number of webzines and anthologies. Her longer books run the gamut from urban fantasy to paranormal romance. She’s published over 25 books to date, with several more contracted for 2015 and beyond. A husband, grown children, grandchildren and three wolf hybrids round out her family.
Keep up with her at www.anngimpel.com or http://anngimpel.blogspot.com
Table of Contents
Copyright Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Epilogue