CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
By the time the day of the winter solstice arrived, everyone had arrived in Pennsylvania, except for one last final person. Perhaps the most important person, aside from the bride and groom. The officiant had yet to make her appearance. The High Priestess Bettina, councilor to the Lords of all were and great-grandmother many times removed of the bride’s matriarchal line.
Ray wasn’t too concerned. Like him, Bettina was fully fey. She could port from place to place easily, and considering she had spent the last century or two, to his knowledge, in the mortal realm, she probably could do it with more finesse than any other fey he knew. Still, he figured she would use the standing stones to camouflage and contain the energy of her port.
Which was why he’d decided to keep watch from outside the circle. He wanted a chance to reacquaint himself with her privately, before the rest of the family became aware of her presence.
Sure enough, a couple of hours after lunch, Bettina arrived. Ray saw the flash of multicolored light from within the stone circle, but even though he was looking for it, he didn’t feel the telltale ripple of magic. Her port was near perfection, creating very little disturbance in the surrounding energies. He’d have to ask her for pointers, since he intended on staying in this realm for many years to come.
She turned within the circle and saw him, a smile lighting her petite face.
“Rayburne, it is good to see you again. I had feared the worst when you went missing.” Bettina walked over to him, stepping lightly out of the protection of the circle to face him.
“Lady Bettina,” Ray said with more formality. She was his elder, though she didn’t really look it, and his superior in magic, as well. Bettina was one of the most powerful fey ever to choose the mortal realm over faerie. He bowed his head to her in respect. “You look as lovely as ever, and your magical skill is even more impressive than I remember. Your port here was flawless.”
Bettina smiled up at him. “I’ve had a lot of practice. Especially with this particular set of standing stones. Deena is one of my favorites, you know.” Bettina winked as they turned and began walking through the woods at a sedate pace, making their way toward the house in the distance.
“I didn’t quite realize that, but I can see why. She is lovely and a perfect match for my son,” Ray admitted. “I still can’t quite believe I even have a son, much less one who is a fully grown and powerful warrior.”
“You missed a lot,” Bettina said softly, putting one hand on his forearm.
Even such a light touch let him feel the enormity of her power as their magics met and clashed just the tiniest bit. Nothing harmful. Just the meeting to two energies that were slightly out of synch with each other.
“I did,” he agreed, sighing because he could do nothing about the past now.
“You don’t sound bitter,” she remarked quietly. “That’s good. Even our lives are too short to waste much time on bitterness.”
“Just being back together with Evie has gone a long way toward resolving my feelings on the issue. I regret the wasted time, and missing out on Josh’s youth, but I’m grateful to be here now with them both.”
“It is a healthy attitude,” Bettina complimented him. “And you are looking well after your ordeal. I understand you’ve been given the task of training your son in the ways of Knighthood.”
It wasn’t phrased as a question, but he knew it was one, nevertheless.
“Indeed I have. Josh is going to be a magnificent addition to our Order, and I don’t say that just because he’s my son. His wolf instincts and fey power work together to give him an edge that most of my brethren lack.” Ray could go on and on about Josh’s agility and quick mind, but he didn’t want to sound like a braggart.
“You haven’t been back very long, but you should know that more and more mixed matings and hybrid children have been appearing over the past two decades. I’ve not seen anything like it since the time of the Destroyer, and frankly, it has me very concerned,” she admitted. “There are also unconfirmed reports that Elspeth might already have returned to this realm. If so, she’s lying low for now. No doubt it would have been very taxing to her own personal power to cross such a great divide between the forgotten realm into which she was cast and this one. Perhaps she is recovering. If that’s the case, then our time for preparation grows short.”
Ray frowned. “You really think she could already be here?”
Bettina paused and turned to look at him. “I’m not sure, but there are grave signs all over the globe. We already have confirmation that the leviathan is menacing a town made up of mostly bear shifters in the Pacific Northwest. If the leviathan is here, then someone must have summoned it. It is not a creature of this realm. It does not belong here and could not have come here on its own to prey upon magical folk. If they managed to summon it, they might also have figured out how to open the portal into the farthest realms.”
“This is grim news, indeed,” Ray replied, his mind already working on what they would have to do to prepare. He fully intended to accelerate Josh’s training. No way would he let his only son go out to meet such evil unprepared.
“Indeed,” Bettina agreed, but then, she seemed to shake off her serious demeanor. “But thankfully, today, we can put that aside for now and concentrate on the joyful festivities to come. I never expected that our families would combine in this way, but I can’t say I mind. You have always proven to be a man of great integrity. If your son is half the man you are, my granddaughter will live a blessed life with him.”
“I’m honored you would say so,” Ray told her as they broke out of the woods and into the clearing where various members of the two families were setting up picnic tables and chairs.
It was cold out, but the werewolves didn’t mind a little chilly weather, and Deena’s somewhat more fragile relatives were bundled up in winter coats, hats, scarves and gloves. They all looked like they were having a fun time decorating the backyard. But when they caught sight of Bettina, a hush came over the previously boisterous gathering.
It was Gabe who defied convention and came over to them, lifting Bettina right off her feet and hugging her as he grinned happily. “Grandma! It’s been too long.” He placed a smacking kiss on her cheek as he set the High Priestess back down on the ground.
Everybody seemed to be holding their breath. The wolves, in particular, were waiting to see what the all-powerful High Priestess would do to the young scamp who dared behave so familiarly.
“Gabriel!” Bettina called out loudly. “You haven’t changed a bit.” She winked at him and smiled. “That’s good. Don’t ever change,” she stage-whispered, at which point the avidly-watching werewolves all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
The rest of Deena’s family came out to greet Bettina, and then, it was time to introduce the Stony Ridge Pack to Deena’s rather formidable great-grandmother. Josh and Deena were around the front of the house, so as it happened, they were among the last to greet the High Priestess.
Deena, of course, gave her great-grandmother an uninhibited hug. It was clear the two women were very close, even though many years and a vast difference in experience existed between them. Still, they appeared to have more in common than not, and there was a very obvious bond of love between them. It was clear Bettina took a deep interest those of her family line.
Ray watched closely as Bettina met Josh for the first time. Would the High Priestess give his son a hard time? If so, what could he possibly do about it besides just be a reassuring presence watching over him from the sidelines? Perhaps that was enough. Perhaps it was just good for Josh to see his family there, observing and supporting.
That was probably a novel enough experience for him, considering he’d grown up with only his mother for support. Now, he had Ray and an entire wolf Pack to watch his back. Perhaps Josh didn’t need their help, but it probably still meant something to him to know it was available.
Regardless, Ray needn’t have worried. Bettina greeted Josh with a wide smile and a big hug.
“It’s so good to meet you,” Bettina said as she drew back from the embrace. “I’ve never seen my Deena so happy before, and I think that’s down to you, young man. I’m so glad you’ve found each other.”
“I am too, milady,” Josh said quietly, returning her smile as Deena snuggled into his side, his arm around her shoulders.
“Now then.” Bettina clapped her hands together, smiling brightly. “We’ll do the ceremony at moonrise, in conjunction with the solstice celebration. We’ll do the rituals, and then, it’ll be time to party.”
A little cheer went up from all those who had gathered around to unabashedly listen in. What looked like nearly the whole Pack was watching and almost all of Deena’s relatives too. They’d crept in from all directions while Ray had been intent upon the first contact between his son and the High Priestess. Those wolves were silent, but the humans hadn’t done too bad either. Ray had barely noticed their arrival.
Evie sniffled at the ceremony. She couldn’t help it and felt a kinship with Deena’s mother and aunt, who were sniffling right along with her, even as they assisted the High Priestess with the rest of the ritual. Not only were they calling down the blessings of the Goddess on the newly mated pair, but they were raising prayers to the heavens in celebration of the solstice. The time when the sun was at its weakest point and it made the turn to start growing stronger again.
Little by little, each day now, the days would get longer and longer until they reached Midsummer, six months away. Even though winter was only really just starting in this hemisphere, it was a time of joy and rebirth. A time of increase. Of restoration.
It was an auspicious time to celebrate Josh and Deena’s mating.
As the High Priestess called Josh and Deena forward, magic started to visibly shimmer inside the stone circle. Since the circle was small, compared to the much larger stones in North Dakota, most of the Pack and Deena’s extended family was outside, looking in. There was only room enough for Deena’s parents, Ray, Evie, Josh’s grandparents, and Deena’s aunt and uncle.
Duncan had shown up right before the ceremony was to begin, much to Evie’s surprise, and evened up the numbers. Even more intriguing, he stood with Bettina by the altar, facing Josh and Deena. The remaining four couples ranged along the cardinal points within the circle.
It was clear to Evie that Bettina and Duncan knew each other well. There was a mutual respect easily visible between them as they worked together, Duncan acting as sort of an acolyte, assisting Bettina with the water, fire, earth and air symbols needed for the ceremony.
Evie watched in awe as she saw a true manifestation of magic within that small stone circle. She’d attended such rituals before, but seldom had she encountered so much power in such a small space.
As Bettina called down the blessings of the Goddess, certain people within the circle began to glow. The three Knights were revealed first, Duncan and Ray wearing glowing golden armor as they stood respectfully. Josh’s armor was made of pure white light, different but still as powerful and luminous as the others.
That settled that question, then. The Goddess had decided to reveal the status of all three men as Her Knights to everyone gathered here tonight. Evie would worry about what that might mean for the future later.
For now, the spectacle was breathtaking. Bettina glowed, as well, with a special iridescence that was unlike anything else within the circle or without. Evie thought she even saw a hint of gossamer wings behind the ancient fey priestess, but she couldn’t be absolutely certain. Deena glowed with the purity of her spirit, as did her mother and aunt. Deena’s glow was white and sparkly, like her mate’s. Her mother and aunt showed that same slightly golden hue of the two older Knights.
Deena’s father and uncle showed only sparks of energy swirling around them in subdued shades of blue, some kind of reflection of their personal magic. Evie looked down and realized she too had a slight glow of golden brown and forest green. The colors of the earth magic that was part of her soul, she knew.
Evie was entranced by the intensity of the magic that had gathered here this night. She was so happy for Josh and Deena, to have their mating celebrated in such a way. Nobody had done anything like this for Evie and Ray. Perhaps if they’d had the support of their families and friends, they would’ve had an easier life. But Evie was just glad to have him here with her now. She counted herself blessed to have him back in her life, no matter what.
When the ritual had turned from the acknowledgment of Josh and Deena’s new bond to the celebration of the solstice, Evie reached up to wipe away the single tear that had escaped her control. Ray took hold of her other hand, squeezing it gently, reassuringly. She looked up at him and was lost for a moment in the beauty of his eyes surrounded by the golden glow of his magical armor.
When she heard the High Priestess say her name, Evie was caught off guard. She turned to find everyone looking at her and Ray, encouraging smiles on all faces. What had she missed?
“I asked Lady Bettina to say a few words for us,” Ray told her in a whisper only she could hear. “Words that should have been said decades ago and acknowledged by your Pack.” He leaned down to place a soft kiss on her forehead. “I didn’t want to steal any of Josh and Deena’s thunder, but this opportunity was too good to pass up. Who knows when we’ll see the High Priestess again and have all our friends here to witness it?”
Evie’s heart melted right there on the spot.
As she walked toward the altar with Ray holding her hand, she let the tears fall this time, knowing it would be useless to try to stop them. They were tears of happiness. Tears of emotion, because her mate had touched a deep part of her inner being that had needed this public acknowledgment in front of all their friends and family.
With Josh and Deena standing beside them and the entire Stony Ridge Pack looking on in approval, the High Priestess spoke powerful blessings over their mating and the renewal of their commitment to each other. When it was done, the Pack sent up a howl sure to startle every neighbor within earshot. Deena might have to field a few questions come the morning about the wolf Pack, but Evie didn’t let that stop her from enjoying the moment.