Page 14 of Twilight Echoes (A New Dawn #7)

13

TWO WEEKS LATER…

D arrell sat at the makeshift bar in the barn at the Ferguson farm in Vermont and stared at his bride. The last two weeks had passed in a haze. He’d spent six days in bed, recovering from having black magic cast from his body.

Boy, had that been an experience. One he hoped he never had to repeat.

A couple little wolfairy pups raced between his legs, pausing to tug at his slacks. He chuckled, bending over to pat them on the head. “Who do we have here?” He knelt down. Little Jasper, one of Nico and Isadore’s kids, jumped on his lap and licked his face. “Aren’t you cute.” He wiggled. Darrell set the wolfairy back down and the rest of them raced off as he glanced back at his beautiful bride.

Avery hugged her sister Amanda and then smoothed down the front of her wedding dress. A simple strapless gown that made her look like the royal princess she was. She glided across the room, waving and smiling at everyone she passed. How the hell had he gotten so lucky?

“You can stop gawking now, son. She married you,” Albert said as he handed Darrell a glass of red wine.

“I like gawking.” Darrell raised his glass in a toast. “Besides, I catch you staring at your wife all the time.”

“I know.” Albert laughed. “To soulmates. Fated mates. Or whatever a given species calls them.”

Darrell clinked his glass and then took a long swig, enjoying the rich cabernet flowing down his throat in a slow burn. “I want you to know that I will always do my best to protect her.”

“I know you will,” Albert said. “You’re a good man.”

“I can only hope I’m half the man you are and my father was.”

“Just be your own man and take good care of my little girl.”

“You can count on me for that.” While Darrell missed his father dearly, Albert would make the finest father-in-law a man could ask for.

“Now all I have to do is sit around and wait for two more wolves who somehow managed to imprint on my other girls,” Albert said as Avery stepped closer. “And more double moons will appear in the sky.” He laughed.

“Two of my favorite men.” Avery looped her arm over Darrell’s shoulders, leaning her hip against the barstool.

“You have more?” Darrell asked.

“Um, well, yeah. Like every little male wolfairy that’s running around this place.” She waved her hand over her chest. “I understand now what you and your mother meant by them being almost cuter in their wolf form. I’m getting used to the idea of dealing with puppies.”

Darrell laughed, kissing her shoulder.

“I know it’s not ideal for all of you to be living here and we’ll miss you,” Albert said.

“Dad, you can come visit anytime you want. Chaz and his family have made that perfectly clear.”

“I know.” He kissed Avery’s temple. “While it’s possible we’re being overly cautious since nothing like what happened when Chaz first met Daphne has been going on with this legend, there is still a lot of fear in the witch world about witchcraft and fairy magic mixing.”

“It’s so ridiculous.” Darrell pointed toward Trask and Hollie.

Trask held his little girl, Ali, who was in her human form while she played with her fairy dust, showing off some of her own special brand of magic. She was a unique creature being a wolfairy witch. She didn’t need to command the elements and spells the same way witches did. And her fairy magic was purer than even Daphne’s, one of the strongest royal fairies out there.

“They aren’t evil,” Avery said.

“But there are evil creatures who would like to harness their magic,” Alfred said. “Until the final pairing, and all my grandbabies are born, it’s safer for you to be here. Besides, as you’re learning, your fairy magic needs refinement.” He tapped Avery’s nose. “Now, if you will excuse me, I’m going to go find my wife and take her for a spin around the dance floor.”

Avery glanced up at Darrell and smiled. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Letting them do all this when I know you would have preferred to forgo ceremony.”

He shrugged. “It’s one day out of the rest of our lives.” He loosened his tie. “Although, I do hate these monkey suits.”

“Want to sneak out of here and into your birthday suit?” She waggled her brows.

“You don’t have to ask this wolf that question twice.” He grabbed her hand and tugged. “But we better hurry before someone stops us and starts asking us about names again.”

“My sister wants to stick with tradition and go with Aubry and Austin.”

“What about you? What do you want?”

She paused at the door, palming his cheek. “The girl’s name, you get to pick. But I’m going to demand the boy be named after your father. We can use Albert as a middle name. That’s close enough to tradition. But I won’t change my mind on this.”

“It’s settled, then. Brandon Albert. It’s a good name.” He smiled. “Our daughter will be Twilight Echo. Totally breaking tradition.”

She cocked her head. “Why that name?”

“Because it was the musical piece we danced to when I imprinted on you.”