Bhathian gaped at his bride.

For the opening ceremony, she’d worn one of her long skirts and a loose blouse. When they’d gone home to change, he’d expected her to emerge from the bedroom wearing a traditional bridal dress, white, with a big puffy skirt like the one Nathalie had worn for her wedding.

He hadn’t expected her to borrow the traditional wedding attire of another people with another religion.

Eva looked stunning in a red sari, her dark hair spilling in soft waves around her face and down her shoulders. It had gotten longer in the months they’d been together. She’d grown it out because he liked it like that, and he appreciated her doing so for him.

Eva didn’t compromise on much.

“Say something.” She adjusted the long swathe of fabric over her shoulder.

“You are stunningly beautiful.”

“Do you like it?”

“I love it. Red looks good on you, and so does the gold.”

Eva fondled the long gold earring dangling from her right ear. “Amanda went crazy with the gold. Do you think it’s too much?”

“Nah, you look like a princess.” She had at least ten gold bangles on one wrist, each different, one big cuff on her other forearm, a necklace, and two thin gold chains, each adorning one slim ankle. The strappy sandals were also gold.

He rubbed his clean-shaven jaw. “I wish I’d known you were going with an Indian theme. I would have gotten a sherwani instead of a tux.”

Eva gave him an appreciative onceover. “You look very handsome in the tux, and I doubt I could have found a readymade sherwani in your size. We had the sari and the shoes and all the accessories shipped overnight to the keep, and one of the new Guardians brought everything over here.”

“So that wasn’t what you were supposed to wear?”

Eva shook her head. “With Amanda rushing everything to have this wedding while Annani was here for the opening ceremony, I didn’t have time to stop and think what I really wanted. It hit me last night when I tried the dress on and hated how it looked on me and how uncomfortable I was in it.”

He reached for her hand. “Are you comfortable now?”

“Yes.”

“Are you happy?”

She looked unsure for a moment, making him nervous. Maybe he shouldn't have forced the issue. The ceremony was unnecessary, it was just something he wanted, and Eva had reluctantly agreed to.

“Yes, I am.” She squeezed his hand. “Is it time?”

He glanced at his watch. “Almost. Where are your bridesmaids?”

Eva smirked. “Getting ready at Amanda’s. How about your groomsmen?”

“Getting ready at Andrew’s.”

Amanda had been the last to leave their house, letting them have a few private moments before the ceremony as she rushed to change at her place.

A few moments later there was a knock on the door.

Andrew walked in, looking sharp in his tux. “Let’s go, big guy,” he said, slapping Bhathian’s back. “The bridesmaids are waiting for us to clear the way.”

Outside, Kian, the brothers, Onegus, Arwel, and Yamanu were waiting for him.

“I’ll see you at the altar, my love.” He kissed Eva’s cheek.

“You can still make a run for it.” Andrew snickered.

“Why would I run?”

“Not you. I was talking to Eva.”

She shook her head. “I’m done running.”

His groomsmen separated into two rows, marching him in between them as if he was a prisoner being led to his trial or worse. Bad analogy. Perhaps he should think of it as a prince being led to his coronation?

Yeah, that was better.

From behind the wall of black tuxedos, he heard female giggles and caught a glimpse of color as the bridesmaids filed into the house to get Eva.

In one hour, the village square had been transformed into a beautiful wedding reception, with tables covered in tablecloths and beautifully set up. The podium, which Annani had used for her opening ceremony speech, was still there, but someone had decorated it with flowers and ribbons.

Someone started clapping as their procession approached, which must have been the signal for Annani to take the podium.

The goddess had changed into another one of her long dresses, a red one, and Bhathian wondered if it was done on purpose or a coincidence. Hopefully, Eva wouldn’t mind that Annani had chosen the same color dress as her sari.

He loved the woman to pieces, but she was unpredictable, often reacting the opposite of how he thought she would.

As Bhathian and the men bowed to the goddess and took their places to her left, a new volley of clapping and cheering erupted announcing the arrival of Eva and her entourage, all of them clad in beautiful saris.

Dark blue, light blue, purple, yellow, pink, and green, they were all edged in gold. The ladies looked stunning, but none was as beautiful as his Eva.

Her head held high, her shoulders square, she sauntered toward him with the grace and the attitude of a queen.

As Eva and her bridesmaids bowed to Annani, Bhathian stepped forward and took Eva’s hand.

The ladies moved to the right, lining up across from the groomsmen.

Bhathian stifled a chuckle. The guys looked like a bunch of crows, while the ladies looked like colorful, exotic birds.

“Welcome!” Annani said in her singsong voice and lifted her arms.

The crowd quieted immediately. This late in the evening even the birds didn’t chirp. Or maybe they too hushed in deference to the goddess.

“Love is in the air,” she started. “Can you feel it? Can you taste it? Can you see it? Because I can. Love stands here before me, surrounding these two lovely people in a golden bubble that tastes sweet and tangy at the same time.” She winked at the audience.

“We cannot have only sweet. Love comes in many flavors and colors, it changes not only over long periods of time but from one hour to the next.”

She looked down at Bhathian and Eva. “When you first met over thirty-two years ago, the love you felt for each other then was not the same as the love you feel for each other now. And yet both kinds of love produced miracles. May your union be blessed with many more.”

It was the best blessing an immortal could hope for. But did Eva think so too? Did she want more children? They never discussed it because it was such a remote possibility. As it was, they were blessed beyond measure.

“Amen,” Eva said, surprising him.