Page 84 of Wedding the Werepanther

“No.”The word appears slowly, but it appears.

“So no more negative talk about the ceremony.”

“But it’s the last wedding.”A shiver of sadness goes through the air.“It should be something I like.”

“How do you know you won’t like it? Hannah and Severin’s handfasting was lovely.”

“Really?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you.” Okay, I would, but only about getting dicked down by Shadow, which wouldn’t be any of her business if she hadn’t tricked us with the fine print, so I don’t feel bad.

The atmosphere brightens, and I give the wall a pat before heading downstairs.

When I reach the entryway, Dewdrop leaps off his living room perch to land in my arms. “You look so pretty! You’re purple like me!”

I press a kiss to the top of his head. “Itisthe best color.”

He flies ahead of me down the hall, and Victoria opens the back door for him.

Shadow meets me there, looking as gorgeous as ever in black leather pants and a linen shirt, his long hair loose. Like me, he’s barefoot.

“My witchy beauty.” He offers me his arm along with a pleased smile. “You are a vision.”

When I take it, we walk arm in arm along the aisle to the arbor.

Our friends and his family fill the backyard, with the extra addition of Naomi’s husband, Wranth, a tall, handsome orc who looks even grumpier than Thorvinn, which I didn’t think was possible. Everyone wears nice clothes that still look comfortable, which is good, since the audience stands for a handfasting.

Dewdrop lands beside the kittens, and they all make excited noises when we pass.

We stop in front of the arbor and stand facing each other with one set of hands clasped. Shadow pulls out a silver ribbon and opens his mouth to—

“I don’t understand why this is fake,” Wisp whispers, but her high-pitched voice carries, so it’s more like a whisper-yell.

“Me either,” Slate says, equally as loud.

Dawn adds, “Bipeds are weird.”

Chuckles ripple across the backyard.

“It’s not fake,” Dewdrop says. “It’s pretend. There’s a difference.”

“Oh, so it’s like a game,” Wisp says. “I love games.”

The other kittens nod, then stare up at us with expectant looks.

Slate whispers, “Why hasn’t it started yet?”

Another round of chuckles goes through the audience at the kittens being so oblivious to the fact that their antics caused the delay.

“See? Weird.”

“Ahem,” Shadow says, then turns his attention to me. He lays the middle of the ribbon over our hands. Victoria scrolls the words of the traditional handfasting across her parchment for him to read. “Kayla, I bind my life to yours that we may be one for the rest of our days.” He wraps one end of the ribbon around our hands. “Through strife and famine, through joy and prosperity, we will together face everything life brings.” He wraps another turn.

Even after the kittens’ reminder that all of this is fake, his words resonate inside of me. How I wish for them to be true! I want that kind of life with him, one that will last the test of time.

Then it’s my turn. Picking up the other end of the ribbon, I read, “Shadow, I bind my life to yours that we may be one for the rest of our days.” I circle our hands with my end of the ribbon. “Through strife and famine, through joy and prosperity, we will together face everything life brings.” I go around again, binding our hands together.

“Now kiss,”Victoria orders.