Page 100 of Wedding the Werepanther
“To family.” I drink, hoping with everything I’ve got that we’ll still be one by this time tomorrow.
The next afternoon, we stand in the entryway watching the final seconds of the marriage contract tick down on my phone screen, the tension ratcheting tighter the closer it gets.
Dewdrop perches on the staircase banister, staring at us with big, concerned eyes.
The pictures on the wedding wall start to move, as if Victoria can’t hold still either.
In sync, Shadow and I count down the last seconds out loud. “… three, two, one!”
Nothing happens.
“Why didn’t I feel any magic?” I ask. “I expected a burst of power or a weight lifted orsomething.”
“I didn’t feel anything either,” Dewdrop chirps.
“Because Victoria didn’t dissolve the contract yet.” Shadow points to the fuzzy burgundy lines of tiny text still present at the bottom right of the wall. “The fine print is still in place.”
“Victoria! You promised!” I whirl to face the parchment.
“Iamgoing to do it! You simply had your timing wrong,”she spells out.“It’s three, two, one…”
A burst of magic ripples through the house, and the velvet flocking of the fine print swirls across that section of wallpaper to form the original floral pattern.
“I felt it that time!” Dewdrop spreads his wings and bobs up and down in a little dance of happiness.
“We’re free!” Relief melts my muscles. I have full freedom to choose what I want, and so does Shadow. We can finally see what this is between us without anyone controlling us. I start to throw my arms around him, but he ducks.
A shiver of anxiety goes through me, and I freeze in disbelief even as my mind starts to race. Is he already pulling away from me? It’s the worst-case scenario, the one I thought might happen, the one I tried to make myself stop worrying about. But oh, god, it’s happening. I was right all along. He’ll leave, and I’ll be all alone, and—
No, wait. He’s not pulling away. He’s…
My hands plaster to my mouth as an even bigger shock hits me right in the heart.
Shadow sinks down on one knee, holds up a small wooden box, and flips it open to show a gorgeous square-cut amethyst ring nestled in a tiny bed of moss.
“Kayla, my witchy beauty, now that we’re free of any external pressures, I ask: will you be my wife, my mate? Will you be the love of my life?” He lifts the ring higher. “I love you. I love your strength and determination. I love your beauty. I love how you’ve survived to become the amazing woman I see standing before me. One who’s wildly creative and shares that creativity with the world to make so many people happy with your games.”
He loves me! I was right all along. Shadow loves me!
Happiness fizzes and bubbles in my chest until I feel like I’ll pop. It’s overwhelming and amazing and the best feeling ever.
“Will you marry me, my witchy beauty? Shall we win the courtship game together? Will you play with me forever?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Shadow
My question hangs in the air as Kayla stares down at me, her eyes large and shining with emotion. It takes her a moment, but that’s all right. She can take all the time she needs. I’ve waited a year. I can wait a few moments more—she’s worth it.
Her hands fall away to reveal the most stunning smile. “Yes.”
It’s such a small word, so simple.
It’s also the best damned word in all the realms.
I surge upward, my arms wrapping around her as my mouth takes hers, hot and insistent, pouring everything I’ve held in check into this kiss.
When we break apart, her voice rasps with want. “Shadow, I love you. I love you more than I ever thought possible. I love how underneath that gorgeous exterior, you hide the biggest heart, always doing such lovely, thoughtful things for others. I love how much you love your family.” She cups my cheek. “And I love howmuch joy you’ve brought into my life. Yes, I’ll marry you. I want to play with you forever.”
