Page 58 of Lycan King’s Claim (Lycan King’s Reign Duet #2)
“D on't let me fall,” I squeeze Javier's arm tighter, having not worn heels since before all the drama with King Vin. I am a little unsteady, learning to walk was one, keeping my balance another.
“Never, my Queen,” I let out a breath as he places his hand over mine, my heart beating like a drum in my chest. I feel the smoothness of my white silk dress as it flows down my body, sliding over my legs.
Along with the feel of the tiny, diamond encrusted buckles of my shoes digging into my skin.
A perfect pain, one I wish to never forget, just like this day.
“Besides, if you fall we'll go down together, you gracefully and I will make a spectacle of myself to ensure no one notices your fall,” Javier tells me, making me giggle as he tries to lighten my anxious mood.
All anxiousness floats away the moment I lay my eyes on my soon-to-be husband.
Standing under the twinkling lights, in his tuxedo, his body muscular and the suit molds around him perfectly.
His black hair swept back, and not a strand out of place.
His eyes sparkle as emotions choke him. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and I love him all the more for it.
As I take a step forward, the world around me begins to shift and change as we move through the open gardens towards the podium with its flowered archway where Xandros stands.
The twinkling lights above us grow brighter until they transform into shimmering specks of gold that dance around my head like fireflies on a summer evening.
Javier's grip tightens on my arm as he too seems to be affected by the sudden burst of magic.
Carina, my maid of honor, stands just off the podium with Tasha, Toby stands on one side of Xandros.
The altar is bathed in hues reminiscent of the evening sun, towering before us.
Candles emit a warm glow, their flames resembling our own fervent heartbeats.
As Xandros takes my hand, Javier moves to stand beside Xandros also playing his best man.
With Xandros' hand in mine, I feel anchored amidst the ethereal beauty, anchored to this world with him at my side.
“You look stunning,” his voice is a soft caress. Warmth spreads across my cheeks.
“So do you.” A depth of emotion I can’t yet voice fills his golden amber gaze.
The celebrant’s voice weaves through the soft murmur of the breeze, embarking on the age-old ritual, so mundane and perfect.
In the hushed ambiance, our loved ones have come to witness our ceremony.
My pulse quickens. Could this truly be our reality?
A stage of our shared pain and joy? A fresh start--our start?
His fingers tighten around mine, echoing my amazement and proving this is not a dream.
Tears prick my eyes as I meet his gaze, realizing the depth of our journey to this very moment. From today, our battles are shared, our sorrows halved, and our joys doubled. And I can't think of a better man to share those burdens and joys with.
Today, I intend to absorb every sensation—the floral fragrance, the warmth of our entwined fingers.
However, the opulence around us dims in comparison to the love I see reflected in his eyes.
I feel as though I'm coming home. Xandros, my pillar of strength, draws a breath as we're told to exchange our vows.
“Sienna,” his voice quivers with emotion, “Today, you become my wife and my Queen. My promise is to cherish, shield, love and adore you for all our days.”
Tears blur my vision as I respond, “Xandros, you’ve been my refuge, my safe haven, my love. As your wife, my pledge is to always stand by you, as your partner and confidante. My heart is forever yours.”
And with that, Xandros and I placed each other's rings on our fingers. When we kiss for the first time, as husband and wife, it's as if my body becomes a conductor for electricity. My nerves tingle, every hair follicle stands at attention, every part of me feels awake for the first time in my life.
Cheers and applause erupt. And once we pull away, my eyes go to Carina and Tasha in their light purple dresses who discreetly wipe away their tears.
* * *
Amidst the clinking glasses and jubilant shouts, Xandros raises our clasped hands triumphantly, and I revel in the sheer euphoria of the moment.
We're enveloped in warm embraces and heartfelt felicitations.
Carina approaches, “You two are a match made in heaven,” she whispers.
Xandros is momentarily ensnared by boisterous friends.
From a distance, I admire his infectious laughter when he eventually makes his way over to me with mischief in his eyes, and asks, “Shall we?”
“Lead the way,” I reply, feeling a rush of exhilaration. The world fades as we dance. My head rests on his shoulder, his heart's rhythm a song in itself, one that beats to the tune of mine.
As we dance, I can feel the heat emanating from his body through his suit. His cologne lingers in my nostrils and stirs something deep inside me. Xandros moves with grace, each step an effortless display of our connection, as if we have been dancing together for years on end.
For a moment, everything around us fades away until it’s just him and me swaying to the music. The way he looks at me tells a story of love that needs no words; those amber eyes of his pierce right through my soul with their intensity.
The song ends too soon, before it does, I take one last look at him in all his glory—this perfect man beside me whom I’ve loved for so long that time has now lost its meaning.