Audria and Darby took up the long train of her dress as Helly led the way to the palace throne room. Belcourt Palace was at the heart of the Bryonican capital, Rosemont. The venue was a true honor bestowed upon them by the crown. It helped that March’s great-aunt was the queen. That their union would likely mean they would ascend to the coveted royal position. Fae were long-lived, but after one to two thousand years, their will to continue faded and thus they moved on. Many believed the king would enter the abyss as soon as a replacement was clear.

“Breathe,” Helly reminder her.

Then she disappeared to her seat inside.

Littlings scattered the golden sunflower petals that bloomed all over Rosemont during the summer. A string quartet played the opening notes to the famous wedding tune. The double doors opened to reveal Kerrigan in all of her splendor and the crowd rose to their feet, facing her with awe on their faces.

The awe was warranted. Her dress was a delight. Layer upon layer of white fabric gave her an impressive empire waist with a full skirt to the floor and a train that cascaded behind her. The bodice fit to her like a glove with careful boning to hold it up, a V in the front and back, and a bow wrapping tight around her waist. The sleeves fell off of her shoulders, revealing her pronounced décolleté. But the mesmerizing thing about the entire ensemble was the magic threaded through the dress. It had no ornament. No diamonds or rubies or sapphires to make it glow. The dress shimmered from top to bottom as if pixie lights danced under the surface. Parris had imbued it with so much of his magic that it dazzled. Every person in attendance was going to want a gown from his commission. All those years of not paying for dresses and calling it advertising was finally going to pay off for him.

A hush fell over the crowd at the sight. Her father, Kivrin, stood in the front row. It was customary for him to walk her down the aisle, and though he had offered, she had declined. She wouldn’t bring him into this sham.

She stepped forward in the heeled slipper and tried to forget that she was entering an arranged marriage. That she hated her future husband. That there was nothing she could do to stop this.

That…there was only one person who could do anything about this.

And he’d left.