Page 85 of Siren's Search

Epilogue

Velario meant tokeep the kiss relatively chaste and short. Reyn’s parents watched the wedding ceremony from the front row, and he didn’t want to scandalize them. But he and Reyn had also opted not to scandalize them for the entire week they had been in Tryn. Finally able to hold her close and press his lips to hers, Velario forgot all his intentions and kissed her like a starving man offered a feast.

Reyn kissed him back with matching fervor. A loud whoop—Selona—finally recalled them both to their audience.

Velario stepped back. He didn’t mind being reminded of his surroundings. He didn’t even care that he had to stop kissing Reyn. She was his wife now. There would be no more denying themselves for the sake of her mother’s views on propriety.

In fact, Velario leaned back down for another—brief—kiss, just because he could before turning to face the crowd, Reyn at his side.

They faced outward, but his eyes were all for her. She beamed at everyone and tugged his hand.

Velario let her lead them down the aisle. He didn’t have to reply to any of the congratulations or well wishes sent their way. Reyn thanked everyone with such enthusiasm they wouldn’t notice his silence. Eventually, they made it out of the chapel. An open landau waited to carry them to the palace where Velario’s mother would host the wedding feast.

The distance from the chapel to the palace was not far, but it wouldn’t do to have Reyn walk, not with the train on her dress. From what Velario had heard, several modistes had fought over the privilege of dressing Reyn on her wedding day. Whoever had won had done a terrific job, transforming yards of Ferrini silk, a sheer gold chiffon overlaying dark teal, into a masterpiece that was both understated and opulent. Of course, the dress was on Reyn, so anything would have looked wonderful.

The carriage pulled away from the chapel, and Reyn turned to face Velario.

“We’re mar—”

Velario cut off her words with another kiss. Heavens, he had missed this. It shouldn’t have been so hard to last one week.

“You realize everyone can still see us,” Reyn informed him tartly when they paused for breath.

“So? As you said, we’re married. I’ve missed you this past week, Reyn. I don’t want to go to a feast. I want you back home with me, where you belong.”

“I’ve missed you, too. It sounds so silly. We saw each other every day.”

But only during the day. After living with Velario all winter, Reyn had returned to his aunt and uncle’s house in order to convince her parents that all Moialan proprieties had been observed throughout their engagement.

“You’re the one who insisted on this ruse. I still think your mother wouldn’t have been as shocked as you claim to discover we’ve been sleeping together for months.” Although, Aunt Biatra had also supported their little ruse, clearly agreeing with Reyn that it would be best to pretend she had never moved out of her house.

“I told you that I was a wallflower back in Moial. I know you don’t believe me, but it is true. Mama thinks I am a shy, innocent maiden.”

“Maybe you hadn’t fooled her as completely as you think, and she was just letting you pretend, for both your sakes.”

Reyn snorted. “Do you know what she did this morning, Velario?”

He eyed her suspiciously. “What?”

“She sat me down and proceeded to explain the ‘marital acts of husband and wife.’ Believe me, she had no idea.”

Velario laughed. “Was it as awkward as I suspect?”

Reyn groaned and buried her face against his chest. “Worse. She brought Lisca in, thinking it might help if a friend who understood such things was present. Lisca sat there looking as prim and proper as can be, nodding along to every ridiculous thing my mother said, then making faces at me when Mama couldn’t see her.”

Velario laughed harder. “Did Lisca say anything?”

“Not until after Mama left, at which point she expressed her shock that Moialan nobility has ever managed to procreate.”

The landau halted in the courtyard before the main doors of Tryn Palace. Still laughing, Velario helped Reyn gather her train and descend the steps to the ground. But gravel covered the courtyard, and even the few steps into the palace would be enough to ruin the exquisite garment. So Velario picked up the train again, and then Reyn, too. He carried her, cradled in his arms, through the palace doors and all the way to the banquet hall.

“I feel like I’m in a story; carried off by the dashing prince.”

“Lhanaperi doesn’t have princes.”

“Fine, carried off by the dashing son of the king.”

“Now all we need is a happily ever after.”

“I have no doubt we’ll have one.”

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