And at her neckline, which was far off the shoulder, was another line of rosettes, doubled at her breasts, single where they rounded her arms.

She wore something brilliant as studs at her ears.

Other than that, there was no further adornment.

Just that…

Bloody…

Huge…

Frothy pink…

Magnificent.

Gown.

And thus, Prince Cassius, the Regent of Airen, the Liberator of Women, the Equalizer of all Peoples, stood at the top of the sweep to the Combined Cathedral of the Gods in Sky Bay of Airen, the thunder of his laughter pouring down, as an honor guard of his men and her women surrounded her, and Queen Elena of the Nadirii lifted her resplendent skirt and ascended the steps in order to go about the business of marrying her prince.

Queen Elena

Combined Cathedral of the Gods, Sky Bay

AIREN

There was much I found odd about the Airenzian.

Including the fact that a bride and her groom led the guests of their wedding into the sanctuary, rather than them being seated and waiting for the bride and groom to appear, as happened in Wodell and Firenze, and it was my understanding (for sadly I’d missed Aramus and Ha-Lah’s nuptials), Mar-el.

Thus, when I met a still-laughing Cassius at the top of the ridiculously long flight of steps (for negotiating my skirts was far from easy just walking—climbing, it was a nightmare), he took my face in both his hands, kissed me soundly (still laughing), let me go, then tucked my hand in his elbow.

He then offered his other elbow to Dora, which she took. I clasped Aelia’s hand. And we walked in with everyone filing in behind us.

Once inside, Cassius’s waning laughter waxed, reverberating around the sanctuary so loudly, I almost didn’t hear Aelia’s, “Golly.”

Hmm.

All right, so perhaps I’d gone a bit mad with the plethora of pink roses, orchids, lilies, hydrangeas, carnations and astilbe.

They were everywhere.

Indeed, tall poles shafted up from both ends of every single pew atop of which was a gargantuan floral display with blooms floating down and even larger sprays of these decorated the altar.

Heavily.

And that did not get into the bunting.

Maybe it was too much.

But a queen only became a princess once in her life.

“Papa, I want a wedding just like this,” Aelia declared.

“Now you’ve done it,” Cassius muttered.

“Gads, but Ellie’s gone pink mad,” Dora said.

“That she has, bean.” Cassius didn’t mutter that time.

“I like pink!” Aelia stated, and I looked down at her.

“So do I.”

“I know!” she breathed. “I can tell,” she continued breathing.

It was then, I started giggling.

Aelia giggled with me.

Then Dora chimed in.

And that was when I felt it.

We were almost to the alter, and I looked to my right, and up, to see Cassius gazing down at me.

His eyes were a starry night.