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“We have our vow. The goddess can accept them or not, but we speak them to each other.”

For a moment I was certain the old man might bluster, but once the look of stun faded, he merely dipped his chin. “As you say, My King.”

Kage cleared his throat, taking both of my hands in his. I knew what he would say, still it did not slow the frenzy of my heart.

“Adira Ravenwood,” he said, soft and gentle, truly speaking to me alone. “My heart is burned with your name.”

I returned a wet smile. “My soul is owned by you.”

“Through the brightest days.” He swiped a tear off my cheek.

“Through the darkest nights.”

“Forever, I am yours.”

I stepped closer and whispered. “Forever, I am yours.”

At the end of my vow the old seer handed Kage his silver arm ring, and to me, the one made of gold, a symbol of our power uniting together.

“The binding of two souls is endless and unbreaking,” he proclaimed to the crowd more than us. “Written in the skies and the earth, the sagas and the poems.” The seer gestured for the two of us to step closer. “And, of course, must be sealed with a kiss.”

Kage’s eyes burned in heat. He wasted no time tugging my mouth to his. We’d argued back and forth on what was anappropriate wedding kiss. Cy and Kage were on the side that we ought to strip down and give everyone something to truly gossip about. Hugo and Gwyn sided with me, a heartfelt bit of passion would serve us well.

For now. Later, I planned to bring this man to his knees.

Our people cheered when we pulled apart. My grandmother dabbed at her eyes on the corner of Cy’s tunic. The former king and queen greeted us both with kisses to our brows. I held tightly to Kage’s waist, heart full, but he gently pinched my side.

“Look.”

On a lone chair where Hakon had perched, a raven now had taken up a place on the seat. A raven with one white eye and one black.

A slow spreading grin tugged at my lips. The raven cawed and tilted its head to one side. I sniffed, hand to my heart. “Hello, my friend. I’ve missed you.”

Kage lockedthe door behind us once we reached our chamber. My feet ached, and my hair was a tangle of braids and clips and glitter from guests tossing pouches of it at our heads as we left.

Be it in the magical world or the mortal, glitter was a nightmare.

“Cy is already cursing Asger since he’s taken up on Hugo’s shoulder, not his.”

I chuckled and kicked off my shoes, wiggling my toes. “He said he would come to keep watch, and I think he always planned to get under Cy’s skin.”

Back to the door, Kage watched me with a dark desire in his eyes. I tugged on the laces behind my neck, releasing the top threads of my gown. Slowly, I eased my hair over one shoulder, baring my skin to him, then I looked back. “Mind helping me?”

Kage’s mouth quirked on one side, and his fingers worked painfully slow down the back of my bodice, unthreading and tuggingthe fabric open. A short gasp slid free when he brushed his fingertips over the serpent brand on my spine.

Each place he touched, his lips followed.

“You are perfect, Wildling.” His voice was rough with need.

I shrugged my shoulders free of my gown, my back still facing him. Kage moaned when my dress fell to my hips. His hands glided around my ribs, coming up to cup the undersides of my breasts.

I closed my eyes and allowed my head to fall back against his chest. With a maddening perfection, Kage used his fingers to pluck and pinch and roll both nipples until I had to reach back and cling to his hips to keep upright.

Kage shoved the rest of the gown off my hips and spun me around. Passion blazed in his eyes. He kissed my throat, the edge of my shoulder, the smooth line between my breast as he slowly kissed his way to his knees.

He removed silk underclothes, stockings, licking and nipping along my inner thighs as he rose to his feet again.

Cool air lifted goosebumps over my skin. “You were worth it all,” he breathed against my neck. “I would wait endless lifetimes for you, Adira.”