He had not been surprised to learn that Farah had been spectacular holding court. Her natural calmness and ability to see humor in a variety of situations had transferred to him and something the like he detested—an official royal reception—was something he learned to enjoy.

Regardless of that, he found the past days exceptionally frustrating.

She was in the same bloody building as he, but that building had over six hundred rooms, and her chambers were in an eastern turret.

She had an amazing view of the bridge over the rivers.

But she was as far away from him as she could get.

He missed her.

And he would be glad when this day was done.

For a number of reasons.

One of them being, while they were being wed, the servants would move her to his bloody rooms.

“I have just come from your bride,” Mercy announced.

Oh fuck.

“Mother—”

“She is a vision,” she declared smartly. “The most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”

True blinked.

Slowly.

“Well,” he started carefully, “thank you for arranging that. I’m certain the gown is—”

“The gown is divine, but it pales in comparison with its wearer.”

He stared at her in surprise.

“I was concerned when she demanded the gnomes of The Doors do her hair, but I shouldn’t have been. She knows what suits her.”

He was not surprised at all Farah had made that demand.

She’d bestowed a great honor on those charmed ones.

However, that wasn’t why she did it.

Yes.

She would be the perfect queen.

“How is she otherwise, outside of stunning, which she always is?” he asked.

“Nervous as a rabbit.”

Damn.

“Mother—”

She waved her hand in front of her face. “Elena, Silence and Ha-Lah are with her. After Elena’s suggestion that she do something called ‘meditate’ didn’t work, they’ve plied her wine.”

His brows shot up. “So my bride is going to be inebriated at our wedding ceremony?”

“Never fear. Queen Ha-Lah has a head on her shoulders. I have every faith she’ll stop things before they get out of hand,” she assured.

She moved from where she’d stopped just inside the room, coming to him.

When she arrived, she lifted a hand to brush nonexistent lint from his sleeve.

She also spoke on.

“Though that lieutenant of Elena’s, I believe her name is Jasmine, was there and that was a concern, for there is something not right about that girl. But Elena sent her off to find her seat in the sanctuary, therefore that should not be a problem either.”

Of course she would think Jasmine was not right.

Jasmine knew duty.

But once it was done, she devoted her life to fun.

Mercy ran her finger over the ribbons on his chest while her eyes watched.

“So all is well,” he noted.