Ciara nodded. “Maybe. We’ll see.” She blew out a breath and visibly shook herself free from her thoughts. “What am I doing sitting here thinking about the past when we’ve a ceremony to prepare for? We don’t have time to be chatting. It’s only one hour ’til your ceremony and you’re not even close to being ready.”

I spun to Tessa. “Shit. We were just talking and—” Oh my God. “My ceremony is in an hour!” I raced into the bathroom. “I’m showering. Be out in a sec.” I slammed the door, my heart racing.

I couldn’t believe we’d been talking for so long.

Rushing, it took all three of us to get me ready in time. Ciara calmed me down and did my hair in intricate braids that wound around my head. She’d woven them so that the blue was visible, almost like she’d braided in a ribbon. She stuck in little buds of baby’s breath, so it looked like I had snowflakes on my braids. Between the blue and the flowers, my mom would’ve cringed. She’d probably call it Ren Faire trash, but I loved it.

Tessa did my eye makeup. She used copper, gold, and brown shadows with black liner to give me a gorgeous smoky eye. And then she took it up a notch by adding some gold glitter to the liner. She was a genius.

Before I could breathe, I was putting on a red robe.

It was totally crazy. I never thought I’d get to this point. Not after being cursed. I’d taken the time to mourn my life and everything that I’d wanted for it. But now I was here. It was time.

I took one last look in the mirror. This was exactly how I wanted it. I looked amazing. With my hair and makeup done to make me feel beautiful and confident, I was ready to stand in front of the Irish pack and become Donovan’s mate. My red robe was the most gorgeous material. I wasn’t sure where it came from—it’d been hanging in the closet when I got here—but I wondered if Qusay had anything to do with it. While we were away, I practically lived in the one he’d given me.

This was it. I didn’t need anything else except Donovan.

I nodded at Tessa and Ciara. “I’m ready.”