Though grumbling continued among some in the Demonai, Averill and Elena had dropped their active opposition to a marriage between Han and Raisa. Demonai pride had taken a severe blow. Lord Averill, especially, had been devastated by the revelations about Nightwalker. The warrior had been his protégé, his adopted son, his choice for his daughter’s hand in marriage. The news that he had murdered Marianna hit him hard. Despite the troubles in their marriage, despite the queen’s unfaithfulness, Averill had genuinely loved her.

So, while neither Elena nor Averill were happy to have Han marry into the family, it wasn’t easy to preach about the dangers of wizards from the spot they were in.

The Demonai honored Night Bird with an ábeornan ceremony—a funeral pyre reserved for the bravest and most valorous warriors. She had, after all, saved the queen’s life and likely prevented a civil war.

Han and Raisa chose to marry in the chapel in the rooftop garden—the garden that had witnessed so many secrets. Where Alger Waterlow and Hanalea had trysted. Where Han had tried and failed to persuade Raisa to run away with him.

There’s something about a roof, Han thought, smiling.

Dancer agreed to stand up for Han, and Mellony for Raisa. Speaker Jemson would do the speaking of the blessing.

Magret Gray would read from the Temple Book. She hadn’t exactly come out and expressed her approval of Han, but she had orchestrated many of the details of the wedding, down to their church clothing.

Cat would play the basilka. Nightwalker’s assault in the warehouse had left her with a concussion and a broken leg, but she was determined to witness the spectacle of Cuffs Alister going to temple.

The guest list was something of a challenge. Han and Raisa wanted to be married surrounded by family and friends: they’d be spending enough time with enemies in the future. Some were obvious choices—Averill and Elena, Amon and Annamaya, Char Dunedain, Willo, Gryphon, and Mordra. Han added in Sarie Dobbs. He’d known her since he was a lytling, so she was as close to family as he had.

Raisa, of course, had legions she could have invited, even though they’d decided against extending political invitations to those outside the realm. She invited the Gray Wolves—Mick, Hallie, Talia, and Pearlie, who had sheltered the first spark of their relationship back in Oden’s Ford.

Han and Raisa agreed on Missy and Jon Hakkam and their father, Lassiter, Raisa’s uncle. Though not their favorite people, they came under the heading of family.

They disagreed on Micah Bayar.

“I don’t want him there,” Han had said. “And he doesn’t want to be there, either. He holds me responsible for the deaths of his father and sister. He’ll think I’m rubbing his face in it.”