Page 63 of Wedding the Werepanther

Victoria cranks up my party playlist, and Rune and Luke carry empty picnic tables from the side of the house and spread them across the lawn.

The Witch Bitches surround us, offering congratulations and hugs, followed by the men.

Once we work our way through all of them, Dewdrop flies over but can’t land on my shoulder because of the ring, so I hold out my forearm for him. “Did I do good?”

“You were perfect.” I rub his little forehead and take back the bouquet. “There are fruit cups on the table. I put pineapple chunks in them so you’d have something new to try.” He’s like my own miniature Yoshi, and having fruit for him totally fits with the Mario theme.

“I have a present for you, Dewdrop.” Shadow reaches into the breast pocket of his tuxedo jacket and pulls out a silver chain with a small purple crystal mounted on it. “This is a special necklace made just for you. If you get it caught on anything, the clasp will release so you won’t get hurt.”

His green eyes meet mine, and I give a grateful smile and a nod of approval.

Shadow fastens the necklace around the dragonet’s neck.

“It’s so pretty.” Dewdrop cranes his neck, tilting his head to look down at himself. “It’s purple like me!”

“It’s exactly your color.” Shadow laughs. “It’s also a translation crystal that lets you talk to anyone.”

“So you understand me?” Dewdrop flaps over and throws himself at the werepanther’s chest. When Shadow catches him, the dragonet rubs his head against Shadow’s jaw. “Thank you!”

Dewdrop takes off, flying circles around the yard, swinging sideways to avoid hitting the floating power-up stars. “Everyone! You can talk to me, and I can talk to you! I’m Dewdrop!”

“Where in the world did you get the crystal?” I ask.

“I had Jace make it for me.”

“Thank you.” I meet his eyes. First the cat tree, now this. He’s really going out of his way to make my familiar happy. It’s so amazingly sweet and caring. “That’s the best present you could ever give me.”

His fingers curl around my cheek.

“I got you something, too.” I crouch and pull a small package from behind one of the decorative mushrooms.

He rips off the paper to expose a game controller box.

“It’s a special one for people with really fast reflexes,” I explain. “And I figured if you have your own, you can program the various functions so they’re exactly what you want.”

“I can’t wait to use it,” he says.

“Was this okay, all the gaming stuff?” I wave to take in the whole backyard. “I know it’s kind of… different.”

“It’s a lot of fun, and you know how I feel about fun.” He grins down at me. “I love it. Even if I didn’t, it would still be okay, because this is whatyouwanted, and you deserve to have things that make you happy.”

His words make me tingle all the way down to my toes, my heart beating against my ribs as if to join Dewdrop in flight. No one’s ever said anything so sweet to me.

Then Luke yells at Shadow to come run the grill, the Witch Bitches surround me, asking about Dewdrop’s new necklace, and we’re swept up into the party.

Being here as Princess Peach, surrounded by so many gaming things, frees me. I have so much fun, from dancing with my besties to Beyoncé, to taking a cupful of cider from the grumpy Thorvinn, to helping Shadow grill his first burgers.I even set up a special gaming rig that projects the visuals onto Victoria’s exterior wall, so everyone can play the Mario 2D-platformer game that’s great for newbs.

But no matter how amazing all of it is, the part I keep tucked close to my heart is Shadow’s achingly sweet words declaring I deserve to be happy.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Kayla

All my plans for girl talk fall apart as soon as I step inside I Touch My Shelf the next evening to find the rest of the Witch Bitches already enjoying cupcakes and cocktails.

“Sorry I’m late. Victoria wanted me to put away all of the Mario decorations, and I had to talk her into letting them stay up another few days.” I think they make the backyard look magical, especially the floating power-up stars.

Dewdrop launches from my shoulder to loop over the display tables, tucking his wings close whenever he gets too near a bookshelf. “Look at me! I can talk to everyone now!”