Page 70 of Leviathan's Song
“Shall we?” Levi’s voice was a murmur against my ear as he pulled me closer, and it made the butterflies in my stomach jump into overdrive. His lure and beaming smile weren’t helping matters, but I couldn’t help but return his grin. We were really going to do this, and frankly, I couldn’t be happier about it.
The building was beautiful, old white stonework with massive columns and high arches, but I couldn’t make myself look away from his handsome face and charming suit as he took my hand and we climbed the stairs. Inside was bustling with people coming and going. I tried to take in my surroundings as we were led to the officiant’s office, to pay attention to the high windows letting light stream over the heavy desk, or to the stocky man with lightly greying hair who greeted us and confirmed our names. Magic buffeted me from every direction, but I barely noticed any of it.
I couldn’t tell you the officiant’s name or a word of what he said. I was too busy staring at my new husband—my husband!The roaring sound of my heart pounding in my ears made it impossible to concentrate. I watched his lips move as he repeated his vows and his magic blanketed me in his ocean mist and warm sand, drawing me in and promising me a forever I’d never known I needed.
It felt likehome.
I managed to repeat the words the officiant directed me to speak, the binding promises and oaths of loyalty and commitment. His directions to place the rings made me blink a few times in confusion, but when I started to correct him that we didn’t have any yet, Levi interrupted me.
“I brought us some place-holders,” he said quietly, reaching into a pocket to pull out a box with two gold bands. “This way you can take as long as you need to make yours perfect.” He plucked the smaller band from the box, and with a trembling hand, slipped it on my finger. My gaze darted to his to find his eyes glassy. He was fighting tears and his expression made my heart burst.
I handed my bouquet to Sidney, and it was all I could do to get his ring out of the box without dropping it and slide it onto his finger. When the officiant proclaimed us married, I dove at Levi. I needed him. I neededthis. And when he scooped me up off the ground with one arm and cradled my face with his other hand to kiss me, everything was right in my world. My face was wet with my own tears, so my makeup was probably wrecked, but my heart was so full.
After a few long moments, Levi had to break the kiss. I couldn’t do it.
Then we had a certificate to sign and forward ahead to Whitewave. The officiant was shaking our hands, Sidney was squeezing me tight and squealing in my ear, and then, suddenly, I was passed to Grim, who enveloped me in the gentlest hug that ever existed, as if I were made of the finest spun glass and he was terrified he might break me.
“Welcome, sister,” he said to me, his first words tomesince I’d known him. Then he switched to perfect Elvish. “May your union be blessed, and your children be many, and may your seventh generation follow you home.” It was a traditional Elvish wedding blessing, referring to when I would eventually greet my distant offspring in Paradise. There was no hope of me stopping my tears. I had silent tears streaming down my face as I clutched a slightly confused reaper’s hands at my wedding.
I don’t know why I hadn’t expected our friends to take this seriously or be supportive of us, but the overwhelming emotion it caused felt momentarily crippling.
At least, until Sidney piped in with, “We’re going out for drinks now, right?” Because that was familiar territory again. I choked out a laugh, but reached over to grip Levi’s hand. Because bond or not, he wasminenow.
* * *
We endedup at a little pub in an older part of Oar’s Rest, and because it was afternoon on a Monday, there were only a few patrons inside. The owner ran the bar and recognized the boys immediately.
“Levi! Victor! Long time, no see!” It took me a moment to realize he was speaking to Grim.
“Victor?” Sidney’s expression held more than a hint of amusement. He slid her a mildly irked glower as we were led to our table, which immediately shut down any teasing she’d had in mind. I guess I wasn’t the only one intimidated by Grim. Hopefully it would hold even after she got a few drinks in her. Probably not.
Introductions were made and explanations given for the dressy outfits, and soon we had a round of celebratory drinks on the way. We settled into a table in a candlelit corner of the pub, and I couldn’t help but scoot closer to Levi as he draped an arm around me and chatted at Grim about the times they’d eaten here in their youth.
I watched him as he spoke, his face animated and cheerful, the sharp line of his jaw contrasting against the stubble on his skin, his lips pursing just slightly before he laughed. Sidney cleared her throat and shot me a knowing grin. I felt my face heat and ducked my head as she raised an eyebrow at me.
As he talked, Levi would reach out and touch me occasionally, as if to reassure himself that I was still close. Just little touches, trailing a finger down my arm or grazing a knuckle along my shoulder, until eventually he just gave in and pulled me firmly against his side. I noticed the barest hint of a smile—I might even call it a smirk—on Grim’s face as Levi tucked me against him.
Luckily, I was saved from any ribbing by our friends as the barkeep returned with our food. He struck up a conversation with Levi and Sidney about the local goings-on, setting down our plates and rambling for a while about the fairy folk rioting in nearby towns. According to him, it wasn’t just the sprites anymore, but other races of fae had begun protesting too.
It made me itchy to get the constructs delivered and get to work on the new defense system for The Deep. I had to remind myself that Rafe and Silas wouldn’t be here until tomorrow night at the earliest, and I couldn’t do anything about a new golem until the council approved my involvement. Levi must have sensed my restlessness because he started smoothing his hand down my arm again as he listened to the waiter talk. I melted into him a little bit, his gentle touches helping to ground me in that moment. It did no good to worry about the future right now. Today was our day, and I wanted to enjoy it for what it was.
I found myself watching Grim as we ate, though I tried to be surreptitious about it. He methodically picked through his food after it was placed in front of him, using his fork to remove any traces of meat and place them off to the side of his plate. I wondered why he hadn’t just ordered it with no meat, but he didn't even seem perturbed, just like he was lost in his own head and doing something out of habit.
Levi reached over to Grim’s plate and stabbed the discarded meat while he chatted with the bartender, popping it in his mouth without missing a beat. His action went completely unacknowledged by Grim, who simply continued piling tiny slices of meat on the side of his plate. It reminded me of the ease that Sidney shared with her siblings.
Sidney, however, watched them with outright fascination. She could be subtle when she wanted to be, but she simply chose not to be much of the time. You might have thought she was watching a soap opera with the amount of open curiosity she showed. I shared her fascination with Levi’s silent friend to a degree, even though he intimidated me greatly, so I understood her interest.
That reminded me, though, that Levi had never given me an answer about what had happened to the men who showed up at my shop. I narrowed my eyes at Grim and swallowed. He might shrug off Levi’s questions, but he couldn’t escape me right now.
“Grim…” I started when the barkeep finally wandered off. I had to steel myself when he raised his pale blue eyes to focus on me. “Will you please tell me what happened to the two guys who—”
“Tsst!” I glanced at Sidney when she interrupted my question to find her shaking her head minutely. I frowned at her. “Nope.” She said it around a mouthful of steak, shaking her head harder.
I sat back, blinking at her, and turned to see Grim observing us with interest. He went back to eating while watching her carefully, but Levi was uncharacteristically absorbed in his food.
“What—”
“Huh-uh. Nope. You’re good.” She made a slicing motion with her hand, telling me to quit. “I don’t think you have to worry about those guys anymore.” Her voice was low, but at least she’d swallowed her food this time.
