I couldn't believe how beautiful the chapel was, all the windows were made of stained glass, some with scenes from the histories of the five great women. In the front was a large circular window with the image of a golden shoe, representing Cinderella. Grandpa, Mama, Kevin, and my Uncle and Aunt all entered first and took their seats. Music started flowing from the front of the large stone building as my cousin and her fiancé entered followed by my brother and Brenna who made their way up to the front of the chapel. My younger sisters were next, carrying baskets of purple rose petals which they dropped on their way down the aisle where Mama sat. I had been standing to the side of the doors to hide myself from being seen too soon by Ash, but they had been closed as soon as my sisters were half way down the aisle.
"You make a beautiful bride," Papa whispered, as wrapped my arm behind and over his, waiting for the doors to open again, "Just as pretty as your mother was on our wedding day."
"Thank you Papa." I smiled at him through the veil that now covered my face.
The doors swung open and the sound of music greeted us as everyone stood, many whispering to each other about their surprise at seeing a wedding rather than a coronation taking place. I ignored the comments and the rude looks, focusing on Ashton, who stood flanked by my brother and cousin's fiancé, grinning like a Cheshire cat who just ate a mouse. It seemed to take forever, and practically no time at all before Papa was taking my hand and placing it into the hand of the man who would be my husband in a short time.
The wedding itself was no more than an extremely formal hand fasting. Blessings were bestowed on us by the priestess as she bound our hands together with golden cords explaining the refining process of gold is not unlike the refining of our hearts when we marry, we are tested by fire over and over again until our relationship, like the gold threads in the cords are without blemish. She then tied a silver cord around our wrists saying that it was to remind us how precious life and love are, and that we needed to remember both to prosper in marriage as well as in our journey as the next leaders of the country.
The priestess then stepped back, and I was surprised to see an old Wolven shaman stepping forward, his robes swaying as he stiffly made his way towards us. "This is an important day to be sure," The old wolf's gruff voice announced to the congregation, "It isn't often that the lives two people of such great heritage are bound together as mates." Turning to Ashton, the old man continues, "Do you, Ashton, descendant of the great Cinderella, accept this she-wolf as your wife and life mate? Do you promise to love and care for her and her cubs and protect them with your life if that is ever asked of you? Do you promise to bind yourself in equal partnership to her, putting yourself neither above nor below her in estimation, so long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Ash solemnly answered each of the elder man's questions, his hand gently squeezing mine as he looked lovingly into my eyes.
The older man nodded and then turned to me, "And do you, Christina, daughter of the noble Wolf, accept this man as your husband and life mate? Do your promise to love and protect him and his children with your life, if that is ever required of you? Do you promise to live in equal partnership, neither placing yourself above or below him in estimation, so long as you both shall live?"
"I do," I softly answered each question softly, but loud enough for Ashton, the shaman, and my family to hear.
He raised a shaking vein-covered hand over our heads saying in a strong voice. "May the moon bless you and strengthen you. And may the memory and wisdom of your Wolven and human ancestors guide you and protect you through your lives. I proclaim these two to be life-mates until their dying day. No man nor beast shall ever come between them. You may kiss your bride."
Ashton beaming at me, gently touched my cheek with his free hand and lifting my chin, lowered his lips to meet mine in a sweet kiss that became deeper as the cheers and howls from my family and the shaman grew louder. As we broke the kiss, Ashton smiled at me before turning towards the priestess who had once again taken her place before us. Silently indicating to us that we should take the seats on the dais, she proceeded with the coronation ceremony. Ashton was questioned on bravery, wisdom, and humility, as was the tradition, and passed all three tests.
The priestess then stood by Ashton's chair indicating for Wendell to take his place next to me. The tiara that had sat upon my head was removed and Wendell held a larger version of my tiara inlaid with diamonds and sapphires in his. The crown intended for Ashton was held by the priestess, was circular with tiers raising up from the base. It had the same jeweled and carved gold design but with a larger stone set at the front of the tallest tier. "If no one has an objection to it, I pronounce Ashton Rupert Michael Pierre Cole, son of Amber and William Cole to be King of this realm, and his wife Christina Anna-Maria Wolfson Cole, daughter of Lady Virginia and Lord Warren Wolfson the First, to be his Queen!" As my crown was lowered onto my head, Ashton's larger crown was lowered onto his.
"All hail the King and Queen of the First Kingdom!" Cried the master of Ceremony, "King Ashton and Queen Christina!"
Loud calls of our names and "Happy Ever After" were called throughout the chapel as Ashton and I stood, bound hands clasped and raised over our heads. We soon made our way out of the chapel. Knowing we had some time left before the coronation, and now wedding, feast was to start, we made our way to the royal chambers. Opening the double doors to his personal chambers, he swept me in to his arms. Having never seen his room before, didn't know what to expect and gasped when I realized the room he had brought us into was identical to the one in my dream.
"What's wrong?" Ashton asked, seeing the perplexed look on my face.
"Nothing, I dreamt of this room, of this night several times over after I returned from Ireland." I said looking out the window to where the full moon glowed softly in the night sky.
"Oh, you did, did you? Did I do something like this?" Ashton asked his voice taking on a deep sultry hum as he gathered me into his arms and lowered his lips to my own, I hummed my approval against his lips as he kissed me sweetly and then with more fervent passion. Before taking a half step back to gently removed his crown and then mine, placing them on velvet cushions on a nearby table before returning to where I stood and kissing me again as his fingers slowly worked the buttons along the back of my dress, one by one, slowly releasing me from the confines of the bodice. Reaching the last one, he slowly slid the yards of satin and lace down my body, leaving me wearing nothing but my strapless 10th Kingdom style bra and a white slip with a slit up the front of one leg, nearly all the way up to the top where it hung low on my hip. Kneeling, he helped me step out of the yards of fabric now pooled at my feet. His hands warm against my naked calves as he helped me lift one foot then the other free of my heeled shoes. Running his hand slowly up my bare leg, he stood.
"Now this will never do." I smiled coyly at the uniform he still wore. I just as slowly undressed him, starting with untying and removing his shoes. I then stood and helped him out of his sash and jacket before slowly and deliberately unfastening his belt and letting his trousers fall to the floor, leaving him in his shorts.
"You are such a vixen," He growled softly in my ear as he pulled me closer to himself.
"No, I'm a wolf," I teased.
"You know what I mean," He smiled kissing me as he hooked his thumbs beneath the slip and letting it fall to the floor with all our other discarded clothing. He then swept me up in his arms and carried me to the vanity where he sat me on his lap and, lifting a brush from the table, began the process of brushing my tail. He eventually replaced the brush with his own fingers running down my tail form the base of my spine all the way down to its tip.
"Do you have any idea how good that feels?" I whispered in his ear.
"I might have an idea," He murmured, kissing me again, lifting me and laying me gently on the turned-down bed joining me. Pulling me to him, his hands studied every curve of my body as we were slowly, sweetly, and finally mated.