Page 75 of Reapers Don’t Ride

Chapter

Twenty

It was the sort of wedding I’d never known existed. No humble chapel with a few close guests, and me in a simple dress that was my best. Instead, I was wearing a fortune in pearls and diamonds, embroidered over clouds of silk that billowed as I walked down the aisle clinging to Ever Storm’s arm, six months after Gavriel’s love brought me to life.

“A lot of nonsense,” Ever grumbled, but his eyes were filled with peace. He’d been a constant in my life, like Gavriel, both of them with me every slow and stilted step of recovery.

I was still slow, but I wasn’t going to collapse on that long walk down the enormous cathedral’s aisle to the broad landing where Gavriel waited with our wedding party.

I kissed Ever’s cheek before he helped me up to stand next to Gavriel, who was looking like an untouchable sculpture. Gavriel gave me a slight wink that warmed my heart. He was still mine even if I’d never be able to carry him up the stairs.

Lorien stood behind him as his best man, and Richard stood behind the stand holding his notes, a gleam of trouble in his eyes. Now would be the perfect time to kill him, when his guard was down and he was distracted by trying to make Gavriel uncomfortable.

His parents and grandparents were here, looking as perfectly untouchable as he was. I was dressed for perfection, thanks to an entire team of angels who told me over and over again how lucky Gavriel was to have me, and how beautiful I was, and how happy everyone was that Ever Storm had a family.

They were all so very kind, sincere, genuinely happy for me, like spite hadn’t ever occurred to any of them. They really were angels.

It was strange to sit and let people touch me. Only Gavriel’s touch was perfectly natural.

“We have come here together to marry these two incredibly beautiful people, Gavriel Hartshorn, and the lovely Louisa Storm. Yes, that Storm. Of course Gavriel swept her up out from under everyone else’s nose before they had a chance to woo Ever’s long-lost daughter.”

Richard shook his head at Gavriel while someone murmured in the back of the incredibly elaborate cathedral.

Someone stood up in the pew, someone who was sitting between a small ogre and the Grand Commander. “Rich, if you don’t give this occasion the dignity it deserves, I’m going to knock you unconscious and marry you off to the first person who volunteers.” Mirabel, the music master of Singsong City was at my wedding. Ah. Gavriel’s ex fiancé. That wasn’t awkward at all.

“Like anyone would volunteer for that,” Lorien muttered not very quietly.

Richard rolled his eyes and continued. “Do you, Gavriel, promise to love Louisa, Ruby, Blood, Barlow, Stone for the rest of her life, and beyond should she accidentally become undead? Of course, you will. And do you, Louisa, Ruby, Blood, Barlow, Stone take Gavriel Hartshorn the fifteenth or something ridiculous like that, to love and respect, to allow to worship you with all the devotion his heart can hold?”

Gavriel sighed heavily. “I Gavriel Hartshorn, take you, Louisa Storm, to have and to hold, for better or worse, in sickness and health, as long as heaven will stand. My heart and soul are yours permanently. It has been sealed by Tranquility.”

The crowd oohed at that announcement.

“Yes, we all know,” Richard said.

Gavriel gave him a good glare. “She’s thinking how many ways she could kill you. There are many, many ways, and many, many who would be extremely willing to help.”

Richard shrugged. “I’m not sure how that’s relevant, although having a wife who is thinking about other men…”

I stomped on his foot, making sure my heel did as much damage as possible.

Richard gasped and looked at me in outrage. “The delicate flower has spoken. She has put her foot down. But what does it mean? Do you take him or not?”

I stared into Gavriel’s eyes. “I love you. You have my heart forever. It beat for you alone and it always will.”

“Beautiful. And now, by the power…”

Gavriel pulled me into his arms and kissed me in a shockingly impolite way, his hands crushing me against him, his lips burning against mine, and his heart beating so hard I could feel it thudding against my own racing heart. He kissed me until I was drowning in his kiss, his love, hanging onto him for dear life.

Finally, he straightened, pulled a ring out of his coat pocket and slipped it on my finger. It was a simple gold band without a single interesting thing about it, except that he’d given it to me. That made it the most exquisite thing in the world.

“That’s the ring?” Richard asked, shocked. “It’s so small and insignificant.”

Lorien nudged him. “Understated, but not insignificant. Can’t you see its spelling?”

“Ah. That’s all right then. Are we ready for the cake and dancing? There’s angel food cake, which is the most bland, dull, flavorless cake imaginable, which is why it’s so perfect for an angelic wedding.”

Gavriel tucked my arm in his and led me out the side door to the large beach with the broad ocean stretched beyond. “Do you want to fly away now?”