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Mor raised the paper to read Cress’s vows before the whole church. He cleared his throat, and read, “Kate, you’re so simple…” He paused. Mor’s eyes scanned the rest of the vows on the page, and after a moment, he seemed to think better about reading them. He folded the paper and tucked it into his own suit jacket pocket. Then he looked up at Kate and said, “He loves you, Kate. That’s all.”

“I love you, Katherine!” Cress growled it for the entire human realm to hear, and people shrieked and threw their hands over their ears as the pews rattled and a large crack formed across one of the stained-glass windows.

Kate’s jaw dropped, and her hand flew to her forehead as she took in the ruined glass. “Unreal, Cress!” she said, but her mouth tugged at the corners. Then, against her better judgement, she burst out laughing, because she only had herself to blame for thinking this day might actually happen normally. She grabbed her stomach and lost her balance as her laughs filled the stage, and Cress almost didn’t catch her before she would have hit the floor.

“What’s wrong with her?” Cress demanded. He set Kate down on the dais stair, stood, turned, andglaredat everyone in the pews with menacing, cold eyes. Clouds formed in the sky outside, blotting out the sun and blanketing the church in darkness. “Who fed her enchanted laughing weeds?” he growled. Then, he pointed through the crowd, right at Luc. “Was it you, Fox?” he asked. “You look awfully suspicious!”

Luc lazily raised both hands. “Wasn’t me,” he promised in a bored voice.

“Cress…” Mor warned. “You’re turning your wedding into a trial.”

“Great! Is the wedding over then? Is it time for presents yet?” Shayne asked. He reached past Mor and poked Cress in the back of his shoulder. “I broughtlotsof pie as your gift. You’re going to love what I have planned,” he said.

Kate sighed as Cress reached down and lifted her, draping her over his arms without difficulty, even with the extra weight of her dress, like he planned to march her right out of the church. His jaw was set when he looked into her eyes, but even though he was scowling, Kate smiled and planted a deep kiss on his mouth in front of all their friends. A few whistles and cheers lifted from the nervous guests.

The hardness melted from Cress’s face. After a second, he dropped her legs and pulled her tight against him, molding into the kiss like it was suddenly the only thing that mattered in the universe.

When he drew away, he gazed at Kate. She flashed him one more smile for good measure, and she said, “I love you too, Cress. Happy wedding day.”

Cress burst out crying.

“This is the greatest day, ever!” he shouted. “Let’s go eat Shayne’s pie!”

The Happy Faeborn End of Everything