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CHAPTER NINETY-TWO

Ellery

Tucker’s lips twitched in amusement. “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, thank you for joining us today for this joyous occasion.”

Tucker’s loud, clear voice carried to all the amsirah watching us. As he continued his speech, he spoke of love, joy, and promising futures yet to unfold like he was a professional at this, but he’d never done it before.

In Tempest, anyone could marry a couple. They didn’t have to be ordained, a priest, priestess, or any other figure like some of the other shadow realms used for such ceremonies.

Here, where religion wasn’t a prominent feature like in some other realms, all one had to do was ask a friend to marry them. Once we performed the binding part of the ceremony, it would be official.

The binding part of an amsirah ceremony was the bringing forth of an amsirah’s powers to mingle with their partner’s. Even if the two amsirah getting married had no weathers in common, they brought forth what they possessed to join their lives.

That part of the ceremony had created some tension soon after Ryker asked me to marry him. While we had blended our powers before, this time would be different.

We had agreed to tell the others everything I could do before the magnetic storm, but Ryker had shifted back to being protective and wanting to keep it a secret.

Neither of us was thrilled about the idea of me revealing all my powers, but if the ceremony was to be legal in Tempest, then all our powers had to coalesce.

In the beginning, Ryker was against me revealing everything I could do, but I wasn’t willing to have our marriage voided because we hadn’t performed the ceremony as it was meant to be. Besides, the truth would come out eventually; it might as well be sooner rather than later.

The idea of our marriage not being legal finally swayed him to my side, and a few days ago, we’d revealed to the entire encampment that I possessed all five weathers. We figured it was better to do it before the ceremony rather than during it.

If I revealed it during the wedding, it could bring on a surge of confusion, and even if it didn’t, it would overshadow our day. I wasn’t willing to let that happen.

This day was about us and not just me. I was determined to keep it that way.

To say the occupants of the encampment were skeptical about what we revealed would be an understatement; some even laughed. It took Tucker a few minutes to calm everyone; once he did, Ryker encouraged me to show them what I could do.

Taking a deep breath, I’d brought forth my abilities one at a time until they were all swirling together. When I brought fog forth last, it stunned them into a silence that stretched from seconds into endless minutes.

It ended when Luna’s breath exploded from her and she blurted, “We’re going to win this war.”

Her words brought excitement from the crowd that swiftly went from flabbergasted to hopeful and excited. I didn’t know what to say as their voices tumbled over each other, and some crept closer to see what I’d created.

I hated the idea of being their savior; it was a lot of pressure, but I also understood why I brought them such hope for a better future. I’d never expected to find myself in this position, and I would do everything in my power to live up to what they believed I could be.

“Now for the joining of the powers,” Tucker said.

The crowd held their breaths as they leaned forward to watch our powers combine. I shifted uneasily as their already rapt attention ratcheted up.

Sensing my distress, Ryker squeezed my hands reassuringly. His strength filled me with comfort before he released my left hand.

Our right hands remained joined as lightning flickered at his fingertips. Called forth by his power, my lightning joined his.

Bolts of electricity swirled together as they rose to encircle mine and Ryker’s wrists. With a wave of our fingers, we created a gentle breeze that caused the lightning to crackle before twisting around our hands.

When we created rain and snow, the wind caught them in its current until rain and snow swirled around our hands too. It was a beautiful, chaotic mess that was cold from the snow and hot from the lightning.

Power swelled between us, growing stronger as everyone leaned closer. They all waited breathlessly for my final weather to join the mix.

When fog rose from the ground like a ghost, it mingled with the other weathers to join me and Ryker, and an explosion of breaths came from the crowd. Though they’d already seen what I could do, many had probably started questioning if it was real as time passed.

They couldn’t deny it now.

Tucker cleared his throat again. “Let the weathers uniting you keep you bound in faithfulness, love, and marriage. During times of difficulty, let them always remind you of your connection and devotion to each other. You may exchange rings.”

Mouse stepped forward and, reaching into his coat pocket, proudly pulled forth a large, thicker ring for Ryker and a smaller, more delicate band for me.

When Ryker claimed the smaller band and slid it on my finger, I grinned at the metal ring he’d forged with his hands, just as he’d forged the one I slid onto his finger.

“I now have the pleasure of pronouncing you husband and wife,” Tucker said.

The weathers between us evaporated, and Ryker pulled me into his arms. Cheers erupted from the crowd as he kissed me.