Page 111 of Wedding the Werepanther

“By the power vested in me as mayor of Ferndale Falls,” Hannah says.

“And in me as King of the Shadow Fae,” Severin adds.

They chorus together: “I pronounce you married! You may now kiss!”

Shadow pulls me close and grins before dipping me into a dramatic movie kiss that has me laughing and clutching at his shoulders as the crowd cheers.

Victoria starts the music, and we walk up the aisle arm in arm as the crowd throws flower petals and the hearts float above us.

The rest of the bridal party follows, the werekittens running with tulips and pumpkins, while Dewdrop and the pixies fly overhead.

Naomi and Mist link arms and walk up the aisle. Then come the remaining bridesmaids and groomsmen. Two of the pairs are as expected: Skye with Luke and Autumn with Rune, but the other two…

Violeta practically dances up the aisle on Jace’s arm, her wide, infectious smile capturing his attention so fully that the blue dragon stares at her, stunned.

Thorvinn escorts Jasmine, his usual frown firmly in place, but I can’t help noticing the large hand he’s laid over hers, locking her to his arm.

Exactly as I suspected, as soon as the music stops, Slate’s furry little hands strip off his tiny waistcoat, and he runs shrieking into the side yard, with the rest of the little ones giving chase.

I laugh. “We didn’t even get a wedding party picture yet.”

“I’ll round him up,” Shadow says, ready to unwrap the handfasting ribbon.

“Wait.” I tug at him. “I want a few pictures like this to remember the fae side of the ceremony.”

We pose in front of the arbor so Jared can take pictures. Then we take another set without the ribbon in order to show off our wedding rings, with my amethyst engagement ring back in place.

Mist corrals the werekittens, and we take pictures with Shadow’s family. Moonlight pulls me into a firm hug. “Welcome to the family, daughter of mine.”

Stunned happiness overwhelms me until I don’t know how to speak. After so many years despairing that I could never be what my parents want, Moonlight’s love and approval feels like a balm. “Thank you.” I hold her tight. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”

We break apart with a laugh when the werekittens clamp onto my legs and yell, “Family!”

Then the Witch Bitch bridesmaids surround us, offering so many hugs and congratulations that it takes several moments to get any pictures. The groomsmen join in, and after a couple of group shots, Jared has them break into couples.

“What do you think?” I whisper to Shadow and tip my head toward where the new couples of Violeta and Jace and Jasmine and Thorvinn stand.

“I think some very grumpy fae are about to meet their match.” He smirks.

I call Dewdrop to me and ask for one final set of pictures. “Gotta have one with my best guy.”

The dragonet rubs his cheek along my jaw. “And my best witch.”

When the pictures are done, I ask Jared to email me the best photo he took of me and Shadow.

While Shadow helps everyone set up the yard for the reception, I head into the house. Once in my office, I turn on the computer and send the picture to my photo printer. While it prints, I read congratulations messages from Xena4Eva and Ipwnedurass, who’s already at work on my new game, which Morlano Games bought last week.

I slip the photo into a frame and head into the hallway. “I thought you might want to have a copy.”

“Yes!”Victoria writes.“I need it for my photo wall.”

The pictures swirl in excitement, and when they finally settle, Victoria’s made an open space right over the magical parchment.

I hold the photo against the wallpaper for a moment, and when I pull my hand away, it stays. She’s still got that super sticking power working for her.

Shadow and I beam from the photograph, captured in a moment of perfect joy. To think that this chapter of our story started on the day I thought I needed to dismantle this photo wall, and here I am, with my own wedding picture joining all the happy couples.

“Thank you! That was a lovely ceremony.”