421- Beneath the Lilies and Firelight
POV Seraphine Valerian:
It had to be a dream.
That was all I could think as I listened to the lively music playing, the people and wolves gathered around the square. Vibrant colors everywhere, ribbons and bright fabrics fluttering in the wind, children running around dancing and playing.
Long tables overflowing with food Daciana had prepared with Stoica and Ruby’s help, along with everything the Romani women had brought. Endless drinks. Chairs and blankets spread across the ground beneath the blue sky welcoming everyone. And later that evening, a bonfire waiting in the center.
After all, the wedding had begun in the morning and would last the entire day.
I squeezed Viktor’s hand in mine while we walked through the celebration, receiving blessings and stopping to talk with everyone. The only ones absent were the guards still on watch and the villagers too afraid to enter Tharnak territory.
Thankfully, they were few.
He looked more beautiful than I had ever seen him. A perfectly tailored blood-red coat over black clothes, his hair styled neatly, his beard trimmed. Elegant. Powerful. Mine.
Completely mine.
And he never stopped looking at me with admiration, never stopped wanting me close, never stopped telling me how beautiful I was.
My dress was long, red and gold. Gold, diamonds, and rubies adorned my ears, neck, wrists, and fingers. Lilies decorated my hair because he said I smelled like them, and I had always loved those flowers. Some were white, others orange tiger lilies.
Daciana had helped me dress and do my makeup, emotional and teary-eyed the entire time. She and Florian took part in the ceremony as Viktor’s witnesses, proud and happy with the invitation.
Mine were Aldren and Elowen, who helped me stay calm and enjoy my pregnancy. And somewhere along the way, Elowen had become my friend.
I had already danced with Elowen, Lunara, Lana, the duchesses, Raluca, and the Romani women. I pulled Viktor with me, laughing and beating a tambourine while circling him. Edric and Aldren didn’t escape either.
Cezar invited Nerin to dance, wolves and gypsies blending together in a way that should have been impossible but somehow worked perfectly there.
Our happiness would only have been complete if Adelina and Katarina had been there for Viktor. And on my side, my father and my aunt.
Most of that was impossible.
But one impossible thing became possible when a woman with dyed red hair and a bright yellow dress arrived beside one of the guards.
I couldn’t believe it.
Overwhelmed, I ran toward her.
“Aunt Gretel!”
Joy burst inside me when she grabbed me and covered me in kisses. We laughed and cried together.
“You came!”
“My girl… I missed you so much! I can’t believe you’re here with me and safe! Oh, Teo!” She hugged me tightly. “I was terrified. But he called me and promised I’d be safe. He sent a car to pick me up at the airport and bring me here. I couldn’t miss this moment. And I couldn’t bear missing you anymore!”
“I love you, Auntie! I missed you so much!”
My makeup smeared, and she helped fix it before I dragged her over to Viktor and introduced them. I kissed him, thanking him while crying all over again.
He pulled me into his side and greeted her politely. My aunt stared at him, completely stunned, hypnotized.
That was when I realized he had conquered yet another person.
And I kissed him again for giving me that moment.
I introduced my aunt to everyone, and she looked confused, murmuring that the wolves seemed “like normal people.”
Except for them.
Viktor and his brothers were taller, more striking, carrying something undeniably different about them. But she blended in happily, delighted to find other Romani people there.
She spoke a little Romanian too and soon found herself talking and serving food beside Daciana.
“I love you! I love you so much!”
I jumped into Viktor’s arms, and he kissed me deeply before whispering against my ear:
“Not more than I love you. Both of you.” He caressed my gently growing belly. “Are you happy?”
“Does exploding with happiness count?”
“It counts. Look who just arrived.”
“Alzira came!”
I was thrilled that the Romani sorceress who had made the protection charm accepted the invitation. We went to greet her.
She blended in quickly too, especially with Elowen. The two connected immediately, two witches recognizing one another—one human, the other hybrid.
When the consecration ritual began, everyone gathered to watch.
Traditional Romani weddings used to last three days and followed many rules.
Ours would last only one day, keeping only the most important rituals.
Before an altar covered with white lace, Vasile spoke beautiful words about union while Viktor and I held hands. Beneath the open sky, he arranged two daggers, a red scarf, bread, salt, wine, and a crystal goblet upon the cloth.
“The wine symbolizes your eternal happiness, permanently binding you together. The bread and salt represent union. The goblet is for peace to always remain present, and the dagger serves for the communion of blood. Today Viktor and Seraphine unite two clans!” Vasile raised the goblet before handing it to us. “Long live Averwyn! Long live Vila Rósia! May love, peace, and respect remain forever in your lives!”
Together we held the goblet, eyes locked, hopelessly in love.
Viktor guided it to my lips first before drinking after me.
Then he kissed me.
Cheers, applause, and whistles filled the air.
Evening slowly approached when Elowen and Daciana, our godmothers, came carrying colorful baskets overflowing with almonds, candies, and caramels. The musicians began playing while we stood between them, Romani songs rising around us. The bonfire was lit.
To show honor, the witnesses and closest loved ones had to carry the bride and groom on their shoulders, and I laughed when Florian lifted me onto his shoulders. Aldren and Edric carried Viktor the same way, seated proudly above them as we were brought toward the center.
Viktor smiled, his eyes shining brightly, enjoying himself far more than he ever imagined he would.
High above the crowd, we held hands while they danced beneath us and everyone shouted blessings of happiness.
Elowen and Daciana began throwing almonds and sweets at us while the women tossed flower petals into the air so we would have abundance, joy, prosperity, and fertility.
I spun within that overwhelming wave of love.
And finally, still on our witnesses’ shoulders, we kissed once more.
Sealing our destiny at last.
It was the happiest day of my life.