A Hopeful Future

*Ainslee*

Sophia and Karl kiss, and the ceremony is over in a cacophony of cheers.

The High Priestess sets the goblet of blood Karl had grudgingly shared with Sophia back on the altar, and the king waves at the crowd to be silent. “I know you are all excited to begin your celebrations. But we would also like to thank the Moon Goddess for the miracle of Paisley Poe’s birth.”

Rafe squeezes my hand and waves while I hold Paisley against my chest.

“And for the fruitful union of Marcus and Lucia Lightfoot,” the king continues. It’s kind of him to do this during his wedding ceremony.

Lucia blushes, and Marcus pats her belly fondly.

“And, let us not forget, Zeke and Annamarie Winters, who were unable to join us today, but I hear are expecting a beautiful baby themselves,” Karl concludes.

Everyone claps.

“Now, you may all adjourn to your celebrations.” The High Priestess waves us all off.

Karl kisses Sophia passionately, and they walk hand-in-hand down the aisle.

“Were we that cute when we were married?” I ask Rafe.

“Absolutely,” he responds. “Cuter, even. We started a trend. This temple is going to see more wolf shifter/vampire weddings than it can handle.”

I look around. The temple is decorated differently from when Rafe and I were mated, reflecting Warfang colors with just subtle hints of Shadowglade. But the ceremony itself was no less beautiful.

I wipe a tear from my cheek, and Rafe kisses the corner of my eye just for good measure. “I don’t suppose we’ll see Karl and Sophia at the party for a while,” he says.

“They’re probably off to work on another ‘blessing,’” I giggle.

“No doubt.” He takes my hand again and pulls me to my feet, sliding his arm around my waist once I’m up. Then we wait our turn to leave the temple. The place is packed with Warfang pack members but also dignitaries from other kingdoms. Queen Cirri Lyte has even arrived from Astaria, something no one expected.

Percival is here, though Llewellyn chose to stay and take care of things in Tormentia. Geoffrey is also in attendance, having become fast friends with his sister.

Sophia stops to kiss him on the cheek as she passes, then Karl apparently gets tired of having to deal with the well-wishers and simply scoops Sophia up and heads for the his house.

“A grand ceremony,” Queen Cirri remarks as she waits next to Rafe and me.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Your Majesty,” he says.

“Quaint, but lovely. I expect the celebrations will last for days.” She puts a hand to her head. “It has been a long time since I’ve been involved in extensive celebrations like these.”

“If you decide you need to retire, Karl did give you a room, did he not?” I ask anxiously.

“Oh, yes, he has been quite hospitable.” Her gaze flicks to my father, who smiles widely at her. “I think I shall have to see this new house in Longclaw. I haven’t been to Longclaw since before it was first conquered.”

I cock my head thoughtfully. “You know, I’m not sure it was the vampires who actually made things so terrible for us. We sort of did that to ourselves. Who knows what might’ve happened if my father had become Alpha.”

“I knew Axel wouldn’t be able to keep Longclaw down for long. Strong people like you two will always rise up and make things right.” Cirri gives us the slightest of smiles and then grins at my father..

“Well, we were under his boot for many decades,” I point out.

“A blink in the life of a fae, my dear,” Cirri says. “If you’ll excuse me, Howard was telling me the most riveting story about living in a cave when he had amnesia.” She moves off in my father’s direction.

Rafe winks at me. “Weren’t you just worried about your father being lonely?”

“I don’t know. I think it would be hard, forming a bond with someone you know is going to die before you do.” I realize what I’m saying too late, and I look up at him with wide, stricken eyes. “Oh, Goddess, Rafe, you’re going to outlive me!”

“Not if your Goddess has anything to do with it, apparently. And I’m honestly glad of that,” he replies. He presses his forehead to mine. “I don’t want to live without you. I suppose I could, with great difficulty, but I don’t want to.”

“Then I suppose she is a very merciful Goddess,” I sigh. “Even though that separation period was excruciating! I mean, I would have liked to have explained to her that we weren’t planning on being separated forever, and if we could just complete our individual missions…”

He laughs. “I guess being mates means more to the Goddess than missions.”

“I guess so.” I spot Scott rocking Drake in his arms and tap Rafe on the shoulder, pointing. “I wonder if the little man is upset?”

“If he is, it’s not for lack of affection,” he laughs. We walk over to Scott, who is indeed rocking a fussy Drake.

“I think he’s hungry,” Scott informs us.

“Then we’d best get to the celebrations so we can feed him,” Rafe says.

The five of us walk out into the light of the setting sun. Bonfires are going up all around, with musicians already beginning to tune their instruments.

Drake becomes fascinated by the firelight and stops fussing, his little hands making grabby motions at the sparks that are flying in the air.

Scott keeps him prudently away from the heat. “I don’t think you’ll like them as much if you catch one, my little Prince.”

Drake snorts, but keeps watching the sparks like fireflies in the air.

We go over to a buffet table, and Scott gets Drake some applesauce. He’s really starting to enjoy his solids, and it’s fun to watch him gnaw away at different things and discover new tastes.

My father and Queen Cirri are standing between the drinks table and the chocolate fountain. Queen Cirri laughs at something my father says, and I feel warm and relieved inside. I hope this blossoms into something. That Queen Cirri said she would visit Longclaw was a good sign.

Karl and Sophia, predictably, are nowhere to be seen. Rafe and I feed the children, talk with Percival and Geoffrey, Marcus and Lucia, and are just about to join the dancers out on the lawn when Karl and Sophia show up, looking flushed and suspiciously mussed.

Rafe cackles, and I elbow him in the ribs. “I’m sure Karl was thinking a thing or two when we got married and disappeared.”

“I know the High Priestess was,” he responds with a grin.

I remember her having to tell us not to have sex in the temple, and my cheeks flush. “You were a bad influence.”

“Still am.” He plucks Paisley from my arms and hands her to Scott, who deftly juggles both children. Then he holds out his hand to me. “Would you care to dance, my lady?”

I smile and take his hand, still cooler than mine, but refreshing in the summer air. “I would love to dance, my King.”

He leads me out onto the lawn between the bonfires where others are already dancing to light, happy music. He pulls me into his arms close enough to be indecent if we weren’t married, and wraps an arm around my back, the other holding my hand.

I place a hand on his shoulder, and we dance as the sun sets and well into moonrise.

“Are you wonderfully, blissfully happy, my dear?” he asks me as I finally rest my head on his shoulder, too tired to do more than sway with him but not wanting to stop.

“Yes,” I reply. “I am happier than I ever thought possible.”

“I suppose all this was worth one spoiled loaf of bread?” he teases.

I swat him. “That’s the only thing we had to eat, you clumsy oaf.”

“I think my apology was sufficient,” he responds with a smile.

“Your apology fed the whole neighborhood for several days.” I look up at him and sweep some stray wisps of hair off his forehead. “It’s a good thing you came around when you did. Lenny was almost convinced he and I were mates.”

“I’d have to say he’s the lucky one because if I’d learned he ever had you, I’d have had to kill him,” he growls possessively.

“Jealous much?” I tsk, but I say it with a grin.

“Minx.” He holds me impossibly closer, and I can tell from where our hips are pressed together that he won’t be interested in dancing much longer.

I kiss him soundly and step back but stay in front of him as I take his hand so that no one else can see what I will claim as mine in a few minutes.

“Scott, we’re turning in for the night,” I say as we pass him. “We will leave the children to you.”

“Yes, absolutely,” he replies. “Have a good evening, Your Majesties.”

“Thank you.” I try not to giggle as I sneak into Karl’s house to our quarters with Rafe, who is practically dragging me along in his haste.

We make it down the hall and to the room we’ve been assigned without groping each other too much. As soon as we’re inside our room with the door securely closed behind us, he grasps onto me hungrily, kissing a trail up the side of my neck.

I smile and close my eyes.

This. This is happiness.