No matter what Willow said about the situation, it was hard not to feel a touch of jealousy. After all, Harland had taken her on a date. Heath had not had the opportunity to spend time with her that wasn’t on the run.
At last, they reached the main courtyard.
It was hard to believe it had been set up for his execution just hours ago.
Now it was strung with twinkling lights and winter flowers. The air was filled with the scent of the delicate blooms. A line of candles led to the center where they would be wed.
A crowd had already gathered below to witness the event. He wondered how many of them had also been at the execution, but pushed those dark thoughts away. Today was a time for joy.
“I’ll see you afterward, my friend,” Harland told him, clapping him on the shoulder. “Good luck.”
Heath nodded and headed into the flowery courtyard to await his bride.
Time seemed to stand still as he waited, and he wondered how he had managed to live the eternity before meeting her to make it to this night, when minutes turned to hours as he longed for his Willow.
The sky had gone a glorious deep blue, and the full moon added its light to the courtyard by the time the lutes announced the arrival of his beloved.
He nearly gasped when he saw her.
Willow wore a gown so icy white it seemed to glow in the soft candlelight. It clung to her breasts and waist, beads and gemstones accentuating every curve, and it flared at her hips, billowing out in swaths as if Willow were rising from a foamy sea. Pearled combs held her dark hair away from her face in front, but allowed it to spill long down her back.
She smiled at him and he felt as if his cells were rearranging. Her love was changing him, making him better, stronger, more patient.
The words of the ceremony seemed to go on forever as Heath lost himself in Willow’s beautiful dark eyes.
At last, they twined their hands together, vines twirling around each other, and he kissed her with everything he had.
She let go of his hands to embrace him, pressing her soft body against his hard one, filling his heart.
The crowd cheered and she pulled back with a sheepish smile, as if she had forgotten they had an audience.
The dancing began as soon as the ceremony was over.
Heath managed to enjoy himself, though all he wanted was to get Willow alone, and he was somehow expected to share his bride as a dance partner.
The Winter Court was clearly uncivilized in this way. It made him long for home, and the company of his own family. But Willow was his family now, and that was enough for him.
He was leaning against a stone wall, watching her dance with her brother, Torsten, when Sterling approached.
“I hate to talk politics at a wedding,” Sterling said.
“But?”
“But I know you’ll want to know what’s going on,” Sterling replied. “My brothers and I expect you’ll want to bring Willow back to the Autumn Court to meet your family. So we’re splitting up to deal with the business at hand so you can do that.”
“What business?” Heath asked.
“I’m going to the mortal realm to find Ashe,” Sterling said. “Apparently, our parents sent a bounty hunter after her already. And you know how far they can be trusted.”
Heath nodded. He’d dealt with bounty hunters in the past, and they were a nasty lot.
“Our parents have fled the kingdom,” Sterling continued. “But we already have a few leads. Torsten is taking a contingent of elite guards to find them, and bring them to justice.”
“And Duncan?” Heath asked.
“He’s staying here, to look over the Winter Court,” Sterling said.
“He seems like… a man of few words,” Heath pointed out as judiciously as he could.
“I expect that will help,” Sterling said with a wink.
Heath laughed out loud. His brother-in-law was probably right.
“I’m leaving now,” Sterling said. “Ashe’s been gone too long already. I just wanted to tell you the plan and say good-bye. We appreciate you bringing our sister home. I’m glad to have you in the family.”
“I am happy to be a part of it,” Heath told him sincerely.
Sterling nodded and headed over to where Willow and Torsten were dancing. They stopped for a moment while he murmured to Willow.
She embraced him, looking relieved.
Then Sterling disappeared into the night.
The dancing and merriment went on and on for hours.
At last, the servants began snuffing out the candles and dimming the magic lanterns.
“It figures they shut it down when we’re finally dancing with each other again,” Willow whispered to him, her eyes sparkling with laughter.
He smiled down at her.
“What?” she asked.
“I just can’t believe how lucky I am,” he murmured.
“No thanks to us,” she replied. “Iona gets all the credit for shooing you away and keeping our luck intact.”
He laughed and swirled her around in his arms.
Suddenly, the music stopped.
A guard ran to Torsten and Duncan, panting, his face grim.
Willow and Heath hurried to join them.
“The bounty hunter Varik has been spotted beyond the gates,” the guard gasped.
“That’s the man our parents sent after Ashe,” Torsten told Willow. “Is she with him?”
“Someone is with him,” the guard managed. “They are still climbing the rise and we cannot see who it is.”
“Let’s go, then,” Willow said instantly, and Heath loved her all the more for it.
“Sister, it’s your wedding night,” Torsten said gently.
“That’s your sister, which makes her my sister, I guess,” she replied. “Either way, there’s no way you’re keeping me from her.”
“I don’t advise you try to dissuade her,” Heath said. “There’s very little point in that. Let’s go.”
Torsten grinned and Duncan nodded in respect.
The four of them headed for the gates.
Heath took Willow’s hand and squeezed it, and she smiled up at him, ready to meet their next adventure head on.
Their souls were bound forever now.
But he knew that nothing about their lives together would be boring. They had to make sure Ashe was okay. They had to help rebuild the Winter Court and prepare it for their child and the children that would come after this one.
And Heath had a funny feeling there would always be something interesting to keep them busy. He was a second son, but with a princess like Willow, he had no doubt they would always be busy doing something wonderful and important.
“Are you still smiling because you feel lucky?” she asked.
“Yes, I am, my wife,” he told her.
“So am I,” she said, squeezing his hand. “So am I.”
***
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