Chapter 14
She was surprised when he said yes to an Earth wedding. She had thought that she would expected to be on Umora for the marriage, but it turns out the coronation would be enough for the people. She knew she should be excited to be queen, and she was. But she was far more excited to marry Peter and be his wife. Without him, there would be nothing. Marrying Peter meant so much more than just being his lovely wife. She would be healthier, she would have a new life, and she would never have to struggle or think of money again. Like Enya, she would visit Earth on occasion, and her parents would be none the wiser. She would have to pretend that she had a normal life, but it was a small price to pay for the life she was receiving.
She had chosen a vintage lace dress with long sleeves that covered her to her finger tips and a form-fitting skirt that ended out in a long train. She felt like a princess as Enya finished buttoning her gown.
“Was your wedding dress lace?” Yvette asked.
“Yes,” she replied. “A bit simpler than this. But then, I knew I was going to be married to a prince, not a king.”
“It's not about that,” Yvette said, with a wide grin on her face. “It's about being his wife.”
“Sure,” Enya teased her. “Whatever you say. I'd say you're all buttoned up, and you look gorgeous. Should I get Armand?”
“Yes, I think I'm ready,” Yvette said.
Her father had never been a strong presence in her life, and she had asked Armand to walk her down the aisle. Although things had been tense, Armand had been much closer to a father to her than her actual father.
Enya headed out the door and Yvette took one last look at herself in the mirror. She had never expected that she'd be walking down the aisle so soon, but she wouldn't trade it for the world.
“You look beautiful,” said Armand, as he entered the room. He was dressed in a tuxedo, and he looked handsome and put together as always. His eyes were tinted yellow, and it was a stark reminder that she was marrying into dragons. “And Peter is waiting for you.”
“I wasn't going to ask,” she said. “Although I didn't know what I would do if you said that he wasn't there.”
“Come on,” Armand put his arm out. “Let's not keep everyone waiting.”
They had chosen to get married in a church in her hometown. It wasn't the grandest, but it looked like everyone she invited had shown up. She was worried that some of her old friends wouldn't turn up because she had been bouncing around so much. But everyone was in the church, beaming at her as the music began to play.
Peter was at the end of the aisle, his brothers standing behind him in identical suits. They all had their hands clasped together, looking like triplets at the right angle.
She knew she should be smiling at her guests, but she couldn't take her eyes off of him. He was her rock, her stronghold, as she was his.
Once she was at the front of the aisle, Armand handed her over. She placed her hands in Peter's, and he gave her a kiss on the cheek. The congregation sat down, and she smiled at him.
They both turned to the priest to indicate that they were ready. The priest cleared his throat, and looked down at the book and read the vows. They had heard the words in rehearsal, but now it seemed different. This was real.
She squeezed his hands, and he smiled at her. His eyes looked slightly yellow, eager to transform. There had been so many wedding preparations that he hadn't gotten the chance. As soon as the wedding was over, they were leaving Earth to head to the coronation at Umora, where he could have the relief of Dragon form for a while.
“Into this union, Yvette and Peter now come to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not be lawfully wed, speak now, or else forever hold your peace.”
No one said anything, although Yvette was sure that many people could say something. Her old friends had been shocked that she was getting married so soon to someone who wasn't Thomas. The dragons had all the reasons in the world to protest, because she was going to be their new queen. But to her relief, no one said anything.
“Yvette.” The priest turned to her, and she gave a little gasp. She hadn't realized that she would be the one doing her vows first. They hadn't memorized their vows because they had thought that they would be too nervous. She was glad that the priest was going to be feeding her the words, because the only thing she could do was stare at Peter's face.
“Will you have this man to be your husband, to live together with him in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, be faithful unto him as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” she managed, her voice barely audible. There was a very good chance that he would outlive her, but she knew that she would be faithful until the end of her life.
“Peter, will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together with her in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, be faithful unto her as long as you both shall live?”
“I will,” he said. He had already helped her through much already. In her mind, he had already upheld all of those vows. Hearing him agree to them, in front of everyone, though, sent shivers down her spine. This was the man who would be by her side forever, or as long as forever lasted. She didn't know about the future, what their rule would bring. But she was confident that together they would do the best they could.
“Yvette and Peter, having witnessed your vows of love to one another, it is my joy to present you to all gathered here as husband and wife. Peter, you may kiss the bride.”
He dipped her down to kiss her, and the congregation exploded in applause as he brought her back up, and walked her down the aisle, he whispered in ear.
“Are you ready to be queen?”
“Now that I'm your wife, I'm ready for anything,” she smiled at him. Their plans were to go to their reception and then sneak away, landing in Umora before midnight. Tomorrow at dawn, the coronation would begin, sealing her life there. And she couldn't wait.