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Epilogue

I didn’t wear diamonds on my wedding day, or emeralds or rubies or anything other than a simple white dress with a plain veil. But when Jet saw me coming down the aisle, you would have thought that I was dressed in all the wonders of the sultan’s cave.

I knew what it felt like to be lightheaded, and Jet was displaying all the signs of a man who needed a glass of water.

He swallowed hard, steadying himself as he blinked the mist from his eyes.

The longer he looked at me, the more I felt heat rush to my cheeks.

He was so unapologetically in love. His golden eyes were full of heart-thudding desire, and his hands were twitching to be entangled in mine.

Kipu trotted behind me, proudly holding a few inches of my veil off the ground as he walked down the aisle with me.

The palace courtyard was decorated with dozens of desert lilies, their sweet honey-like smell almost intoxicating as it filled the humid air.

Monkeys still chattered overhead and the peacocks had mingled in with the guests, but the only thing that had my eye was my husband-to-be.

When I finally reached the end of the aisle, Kipu dramatically fluffed out my veil, tossing it three inches to the right before flying up onto Jet’s shoulder. Technically, he was supposed to go back to his perch in the first row, but it was hard to separate him from Jet even on the best of days.

Everyone laughed at the bird’s antics, and aside from slightly tilting Jet’s posture, you would have never guessed that he even noticed. He took my hands, gently stroking the backs of my palms as the sultan addressed the crowd.

The ceremony was short and sweet, and honestly, I don’t even remember anything other than wishing I could finally kiss my husband. When it came time for the rings, Jet pulled a beautiful, very familiar diamond ring from his pocket.

“Is that...?” I breathed, unable to finish my question as he slid the diamond on my finger.

“Your wishing diamond,” he said with a cheeky smile. “I want you to have it as a reminder that no matter what you wish for, I’ll always be by your side so we can make it happen together.”

I beamed more brightly than the glittering gem, my heart beating out of my chest as I pulled Jet close and he slipped his arms around my waist .

“Just one problem,” I whispered. “All of my wishes just came true.”

“You may now kiss the bride!” The sultan announced us husband and wife, and Jet wasted no time fulfilling the sultan’s orders.

He pulled me into a kiss, and the cheers of the crowd all blurred behind us, all except for the shouts of one mouthy bird.

“ Jean love Kya!”