Lucas

Nervous is an emotion I’m unfamiliar with. That is until I arrived out in the field today on the back of Talethla, with my entire future ahead of me. You see, I knew Ali was special from the first time I saw her. I dreamt of her standing in the very field I’m in now. The azure flowers surrounded her. Her onyx hair blowing around wildly. She was a vision then, and even more so now that I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know her intimately. I knew the first day she appeared, she was mine. How? Call it intuition, or fate, or whatever you will, but I knew. Now I stand with my brothers by my side, waiting for her to give me her hand in marriage.

My mother had an arbor built and took some of the colorful ivy off of the cottage that holds the portal between our realms. She wove it through the lattice of the white arbor to bring even more color to our wedding. Teal, pink, purple, and blue ivy winds around it in a way, which makes it appear magical. Nowhere else in our land does ivy grow with those colors. Only on the cottage.

We have a small church within the castle’s walls, but Ali said she wanted us to marry in the field. It’s her favorite place, well, besides my bed. Or maybe that’s my favorite place. Either way, I told her we could get married wherever she liked.

On the opposite side of the arbor stands Addi and my mother. Ali and Addi have become close over the last year, and since her own mother isn’t here, she asked mine to stand with her. I still see the sorrow in her eyes when she thinks of her and knew this morning would be difficult without her here to help her get ready.

As luck would have it, one of the items my parents packed for her before they returned was an antique pearl comb. Ali said her mother wore it on her wedding day and wanted her to wear it when she got married. She cried when she saw it. There were also a few photo albums, jewelry, and other items my parents thought she would like to have in the box. It’s too bad we weren’t able to go back and bring all of her things here. The key hasn’t been seen since when my father opened the door with my mother behind him. Fickle thing it is.

As I stand here waiting for her to arrive, I can’t help but think back to when I proposed to her. We went out for a ride on my horse. We decided to explore the woods. It had been raining on and off for days, however we saw the sun was out and decided to chance it. While out, the clouds opened up and we took shelter beneath the canopy of leaves, but were still getting wet.

Taking advantage of the moment, I started kissing her. I’m helpless to resist those plump lips of hers. She wanted to play, though, and took off running through the woods. No match for me, I quickly caught her, but in doing so slipped, and we both ended up on the muddy forest floor. I hovered over her and loved watching the heat build in her eyes. Her nipples puckered beneath her shirt. It took everything in me not to take her right then and there.

Leaning down, I moved to capture her mouth with mine, although I never got there. She took a hand full of mud and smacked the side of my face with it, then started laughing hysterically. There was no way she was getting away with that. I returned the favor, but instead of her face I smeared it all over her breasts. I wanted to touch her so badly, it gave me an excuse to do so.

She quickly bucked me off and tried to get away, but I wasn’t letting her. We ended up smearing mud all over one another, all the while laughing uncontrollably. It was the most fun I’d ever had.

By the time all was said and done, we were both covered from head to toe in mud. I had Ali beneath me again, and I knew it was the right moment to propose to her. I had no ring, no speech prepared, but I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.

I looked down and even covered in mud, she was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. “Marry me, Alison Wescot,” I said with humor in my voice.

She was still laughing. “You’re not serious.”

“I’m very serious.” I steeled my features so she knew I meant it. “I want you forever by my side. I want to spend every day for the rest of our lives with you in my arms. I want to wake to your gorgeous smile and luscious body. I want you to be my wife.”

For a moment, I thought she was going to say no or tell me how ridiculous it was to ask someone to marry them while lying on the forest floor caked in dirt, but she didn’t. She beamed with the most radiant smile. “Yes, Lucas Azure. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

I kissed her hard for a moment before standing and bringing her up with me. Gripping her waist, I lifted her in the air and spun her. Her legs wrapped around my waist, and I ended up backing her against a tree to kiss her once more. I pulled away before we went further. The mud was fun, but I had no desire to get it in more delicate places.

We found the horse and rode back to the castle a mess. The sun had come back out by then and was drying the mud nicely. The looks on the two guards’ faces when we returned was that of worry. They thought we’d been attacked. I explained to them that I was indeed attacked, but it was by my dear fiancé, not someone who was out to do me harm. It took a moment for it to sink in that I referred to her as my bride to be. Once they caught on, they both cheered and helped us from the horse.

After saying their congratulations, they took the horse from me to return him to the stables while Ali and I walked through the courtyard back to our home. It was mid-day and with the sun back out, the vendors returned. They watched us pass with open curiosity. We stopped in the middle of everyone and I shouted, “She said yes! She’s going to marry me!” I was elated and couldn’t resist. I held her hand in mine as everyone around us clapped and cheered.

Now, here I am, waiting for her to make it official; to make her my wife. A few moments later, Storm touches down with my princess on his back. My father is with her and takes her hand once he’s on the ground to help her down. I’m able to see her dress and it sends a rush of heat through me. My dick is very appreciative of her appearance; however, this is not the time nor place.

Our weddings are similar to the ones Ali described that took place in her realm. She said her father would have walked her down the aisle, but since hers was dead, she asked mine if he’d do the honor. He proudly accepted. Do I regret killing Rafe? No, not in the least. It was a long time coming. Him holding a sword to my love’s throat was the final straw.

Her brother and Oliver are in attendance. Reid offered to walk her down the aisle, but she said she would rather my father do it. She’s become close to him and he, in turn, treats her like one of his own children.

Reid and Oliver are the only ones from the Pine Kingdom that came. Well, and guards for their king. Ali went back and forth about inviting Oliver, but I said inviting him is a sign of trust and alliance. We are two kingdoms united by blood now, and I may have wanted him here so he can, once and for all, stop pining for my princess. Although, I don’t know if even the wedding will keep him from desiring her.

All of the men in the wedding are dressed in formal wear. Black slacks, white shirt, black jacket. We also wear an azure sash over our chests, but beneath our jacket. My father has his crown on and a cape that matches the sash. On my and Elliott’s jackets are the crest that marks us as Elite, the lion head.

Ali spent weeks going back and forth with the tailor working on her dress. She wanted to combine her more modern style with an element that represented her life with me. I wasn’t allowed to see it before today. She said it was bad luck, but it was well worth the wait.

As she walks toward me with her arm looped through my father’s, I slowly look her over. Her hair is twisted up on top of her head, and she’s wearing the crown her brother gave her prior to the ceremony. He had it altered for her. It’s small, simple, and subtle. Perfect. In the middle of the crown it comes to a high peak with smaller peaks down either side. Each peak has a diamond at the top. In the center of the crown is a large, teardrop-shaped emerald to represent the Pine side of her. Evenly spaced away from the center, below each smaller peak, are square sapphires to represent the Azure side she’s marrying into. Teardrop shaped diamonds hang from her ears.

Her dress is a crisp white with silver vines of leaves across the bodice down to her waist. The silver embroidery continues at the bottom of the dress with more vines. At the top of her breasts is a wide, royal blue sash which wraps around her chest to her back and falls to a wide panel of blue with more silver embroidery all the way down. The tie in the back crisscrosses then narrows into small buttons down to the end of the train.

She’s a vision with eyes only for me. The sun is high in the sky without a cloud in sight. It’s beaming down, illuminating her in a stream of light. Ali truly is an angel walking amongst us. Ever since she stepped into my world, nothing has been the same. She’s made everything better, including me.

Before her my life was ruled by violence, hatred, and the duty of protecting my land. Ali showed me love and compassion; that fighting isn’t the only way to resolve things. She showed me kindness by helping my family out when she hardly knew us. My princess risked it all and none of us will ever forget it.

With every step her smile grows. When she and my father stop before me, I have to try my hardest not to allow everyone to see how badly my hand shakes when I take hers in it. We turn, stand before the priest, and listen as he speaks of love and marriage. Then it’s our turn to say our vows. I’m asked to go first.

I take a deep breath, face my beloved, and clasp both of her hands in mine. “Alison, my princess. Our journey began when you entered my dreams. Even from afar, I knew there was something special about you. With every dream I woke to the hope that one day you’d appear before me. Then you did. I couldn’t believe you were real. Every day since then has been nothing short of magical. I’m the luckiest man alive to get to spend the rest of my life with such an amazing woman. I promise to protect you with my life, to love you like no other, and to give you everything your heart desires. I love you, Ali. Always.”

She lets go of my hand for a brief moment to brush tears from her face. Then I watch as her chest rises and falls with her own deep breath. “Lucas, my prince. My world was dull before I met you. The first day I saw you in this very field, it was as if I had seen in color for the first time. You’re strong, where I’m weak. You’re brave, where I’m afraid. You know what I need without ever having to voice it. And you accepted me as part of your family long before you asked me to be your wife. I vow to spend my life cherishing you as you cherish me. You’re my forever, Luke. I love you.”

Tears begin to sting my own eyes and I blink quickly to keep them at bay. Not that I would mind if everyone sees me cry, but I don’t want to release Ali’s hands. I need her touch; to feel her warmth as a reminder that this is real.

We face the priest again and listen as he finishes the ceremony. At his words, I wrap an arm around my bride’s waist and kiss her with everything I have. I pour all of my love and lust into the kiss. This is our first kiss as husband and wife. I dip her back and don’t let up until I hear Elliott hooting and hollering beside me. We break apart and I smile like a fool. Ali’s face has a blush creeping over it and it’s adorable.

As we begin to walk down the aisle, I look to each person in attendance. My family, Ali’s brother, my Elite, royals from other kingdoms. Everyone came to wish us well. To see different kings and queens sitting together is a sight to behold. The peace treaties are holding strong. I can only hope we maintain these alliances for many years to come.

Storm and Tali are waiting for us when we reach the end of our guests. I sweep Ali up into my arms, lifting her to Tali’s back. I step up and settle myself behind her. Tali turns to us and I mentally ask her to take us home. She gracefully takes flight with Storm on our tail. Together we fly off toward the castle and our future.

Keep reading for a preview of

The Pine Forest, Iridescent Realm, Book 2