I knelt in front of Aurora and tightened the bow around her waist. “Are you ready?”

Aurora blinked at me before smiling and spinning around, showing off her white dress. She tripped on her feet and I put my hand out in case she fell. For a one year old, Aurora had a great balance already. She hadn’t been walking for two months, but now she wanted to run and jump and monkey around.

Today though she wanted to dance, mostly, and it was all because of the pretty white dress and the flowers weaved into her short hair. Sometimes I stared at her, amazed at the little beautiful miracle she was. She had my black hair, but Thea’s fair complexion, her tiny nose, and her pretty gray eyes. I could see her breaking a lot of hearts when older—and I was not prepared for that.

Pushing those thoughts away, I stood and tightened my tie. I had no idea why I was suddenly so nervous. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t seen everyone in the next room before.

When I offered, Aurora slipped her little hand into mine. I opened the door and together, we entered the room.

In the year since the DuMoir battle, all the races had worked together. The vampires helped rebuild DuMoir Castle. The Silverblood witches returned to their manor on the Silverblood estate. The Blackmarsh and the Bluemoon witches also went back to their covens, but kept in touch often.

Thea and Aurora lived with me at DuMoir Castle, but since Thea was the witch queen of the Silverblood coven, she stopped there at least once a week to make sure everything was okay. While she wasn’t there, Elisa was in command—a young Silverblood witch who had proven herself to us in the last year.

Keeran also lived in the castle with us. His real place in our society was still unknown as most of the witches weren’t willing to accept him—but they didn’t dare touch him since he had Thea’s protection.

Luana had gone back to her pack. Despite the tough front she put up most of time, she had expressed her concern over her power to Thea and me many times. Apparently, most of the male wolves didn’t want a female as their alpha. Thankfully, none had acted against her yet.

Despite all the tension we still encounter, the reconstructed ballroom was now full with our friends and the most important figures in our society. Queen Rosilla, Queen Sarah, and their councils. Luana and a dozen of her wolves. All of the Silverblood witches. Keeran and Bagatha. We had also invited the faes and other supernaturals, but hadn’t heard back from them.

Our guests occupied the chairs spread over the floor and turned to look at Aurora and me as we walked down the aisle in the middle of the room.

My daughter and I stopped at the bottom of the stairs, where Keeran waited for us. He looked regal in black tuxedo, and a dark red tie.

Aurora hugged his legs and Keeran smiled at her.

I looked out to the doors at the end of the ballroom and shifted my weight.

“Are you nervous?” Keeran asked in a low voice. In a room full of supernaturals, I was sure at least a handful had heard him. “Lord Drake is nervous. I didn’t think I would ever see the day.”

“Shut the hell up,” I muttered.

He chuckled.

A moment later, the doors opened and my breath caught.

Smiling, Thea walked into the room and I was damn sure I had never seen a more beautiful sight in my entire long life. Her long, blond hair was tied into a thick braid over her shoulder, showing off her perfect face and delicate makeup—except for her blood red lips. Her off-white dress was tight around her chest and waist, but it flared up around her hips, where pieces of off-white lace created a skirt that went down to the floor. Lace covered her collarbone and shoulders. In her hands, she held a bouquet of dark red roses.

With each passing day, I was convinced I loved her more and more.

The guests whispered as she walked past them.

“She’s so beautiful.”

“Love her dress.”

“She’s a real queen.”

“Drake is a lucky man.”

When Thea was close enough, I took a step toward her and offered her my arm. Smiling at me, she took my arm. My chest constricted with pure love.

Thea and I faced Keeran. Aurora played around us while Keeran married Thea and me.

A wedding seemed silly for supernaturals. We didn’t have any specific religion, and we couldn’t register our marriage in any town, but I thought it would be a great way of celebrating all we had accomplished since Thea and I met. After many ups and downs, we had made it. We were together, loving each other, and we had managed to bring the vampires, the witches, and the werewolves together.

I couldn’t think of any way better to celebrate then to pledge my love to the woman who had robbed my dead heart in front of everyone we knew.

After the ceremony, the chairs were pulled to the perimeter of the ballroom, where tables awaited with silverware and drinks. Soon, dinner was served, complete with dessert and blood, and then the party started.

Three songs in, Aurora fell asleep in Luana’s arms.

Seven songs in, my wife made me a proposition I couldn’t resist. We sneaked out of the ballroom and raced to our chambers.

Thankfully, no one was here at this time. Once we stepped inside, I locked the door and hovered over Thea.

With her eyes on mine, she reached for her waist. Then, she unhooked her skirt. It fell to the floor and I stared at her long legs. The bodice of her dress didn’t actually end at her hips. It went down to her thighs, like a shorter dress. Right now, I kind of loved that dress.

“Kiss me,” she whispered.