I was ravenous when I eventually woke up and from the position of the sun I guessed it was about midday. I stretched when I got up, surprised that my body didn't hurt from dancing and my head was surprisingly clear. Nesta on the other end hissed as she emerged from the bedroom, her hair messy and her eyes squinting. She looked at me where I sat on the sofa, drinking a cup of coffee and eating a fruit platter and narrowed her eyes.
"How are you not hungover?" She asked.
"I drank a lot of water when we got home," I replied. "And slept incredibly well."
"How is that even fair?" She rubbed her face and suddenly a drink appeared on the table in front of me. It looked disgusting and I wrinkled my nose. "A hangover cure, I hope." Nesta said to the house. She drank the drink and then coughed as it went down the back of her throat. "That was vile."
I laughed and continued eating the slices of melon on my plate.
"All set for today?" Nesta asked as she sat down, pouring herself a cup of tea from the teapot on the table.
"I think so," I pushed her the jewellery box containing the necklace from Eris and she opened it, her eyes widening. "From Eris."
"It's beautiful… and clearly very expensive."
"An heirloom," I sank back into my chair. "Should I have invited him?"
"It's yours and Azriel's day," Nesta replied, "You only invite who you want to be there."
"It still all feels so… weird."
She gave a nod of understanding, "I think I'd feel the same. Will you wear the necklace today?"
"It's a part of me now, I suppose." I replied.
Emerie walked into the room, carrying a large bag with her. I raised an eyebrow and she grinned. "Azriel is taking you away for a few days, he told Nesta and I to pack you some things."
"It's not just lingerie is it?" I asked, turning to Nesta.
"In the mortal lands we'd call it a honeymoon," Nesta said to me with a smug expression, "And you wouldn't really require any clothes. Be lucky we've packed you some."
"Where is he taking me?"
"That's undisclosed information unfortunately," Emerie replied. "But he did say it'll be the same weather as here so that's something."
I took a deep breath as I stood before the mirror in the bedroom I shared with my mate. My hair was carefully pinned back in a half updo and the invoking stone sat atop my head on a diadem. Its weight felt heavy on my head but I supposed crowns were something I needed to get used to. I was lucky Eris hadn't gifted me with one and had chosen a necklace instead. The necklace currently sat against my collarbone, reminding me of my heritage. Then the gown… a simple pale blue chiffon with golden leather straps and a golden leather belt around the waist. A perfect mixture of my two roles- Valkyrie and priestess. I'd let Nesta put a little make-up on my face, but she'd kept it subtle, not losing who I was underneath.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror. The priestess from Sangravah those years ago never would have imagined this day. Never would she have known that the Illyrian warrior who had burst through the doors and destroyed those guards with barely a flick of the wrist was her mate. The one she was destined to be with. The one she'd do anything for and that she'd love more than anything.
"Are you ready?" Nesta asked from behind me, wearing a dress in her signature silver.
I swallowed and gave a nod as a tidal wave of emotion swept over me.
"Cat's right here with us," Emerie whispered from the other side of me and she squeezed my hand. "And just like us, she thinks you look ridiculously beautiful."
I took another deep breath, holding in the tears that threatened to spill. "I'm ready."
Emerie and Nesta didn't let go of my hands until we reached the entrance to the temple and they had to head inside without me. My hands tightened on the small ceramic bowl which held my food to offer Azriel. A garland of flowers draped from my wrists as I stepped into the temple.
Sunset shone through the windows, leaving an orange glow in the temple, the light bouncing off of the pillars. Candles were lit and flowers were scattered across the floor. The priestesses sang as I entered and I looked down the aisle to the front of the small temple, where Azriel was standing, watching. His eyes widened as he saw me and he smiled the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen. I couldn't help but smile back.
I reached the altar and placed down my bowl and the flower garland and turned to take Azriel's hands as Merrill stood beside us. It was hard to focus on the words she spoke as I looked at my mate before me, his eyes completely locked on mine. It was almost an effort to remember to breathe.
"Do you, Gwyneth Berdara accept this mating bond?" Merrill asked.
"I do," I said. I reached for the bowl and passed it to Azriel. It wasn't anything special. A small portion of the simple stew that I'd made hundreds of times with the priestesses, but I'd added a few spices in to make it taste more exciting. The priestesses sang to fill the silence as Azriel ate, his eyes on me the entire time.
After a short while, when he had finished and Merill had spoken some more, Cassian stepped forward, holding a pillow with two rings sitting on it. Azriel's eyes widened in surprise and I smiled. I'd not mentioned that I'd got him a ring but I'd wanted to. He took the ring he'd chosen for me first, a beautiful gold ring with a moon-shaped sapphire set in it.
"With this ring, I mark you as mine," He spoke, his voice shaking. "For I am the luckiest male alive to have found you and to be standing here at your side, now and forever. I promise to guard and protect you and to assist you in your own battles should you call upon me. I promise to love you with every fibre of my being. I promise to always come home to you." He slid the ring onto my finger and then I took mine.
"With this ring, I mark you as mine," I said softly. "And I promise to always fight beside you in every battle we face. I promise to lead you out of the darkness when you can't see the light and I will love you until my dying breath." A spark of magic zinged against my chest and I knew the promise had marked a tattoo there. I slid the ring onto Azriel's finger and his eyes softened.
Then our friends, our family stepped forward as one of each of our hands was bound together with black ribbon.
"May love and laughter light your days and warm your heart and home," Merrill spoke as she bound our hands, "May you brave life's mountains and miles together. May there be no storm your love cannot weather. May your soul's conversation never end." She finished the binding and bowed her head, finishing with a prayer to the mother. Tears brimmed in my eyes and as I looked across at my mate, I saw the emotion in his too. "Gwyneth and Azriel, your souls are bound to one another, a gift not all are lucky enough to share." She took a step back, "You are pronounced mates, or husband and wife, whatever your preference."
Azriel pulled me in and kissed me as our family applauded and cheered from where they sat, as did the priestesses. Magic buzzed through my blood in approval as I sank into his embrace. My husband. My mate.
The house had been decorated when we were out and I had no doubt that Nuala and Cerridwen were responsible, when they crept out of the kitchen to put our food on the table. Flowers and candles decorated the dining room table and more flowers and lanterns hung on strings overhead, over the space by the balcony doors.
I was still bound to Azriel and I knew now why many couples did this in private - so their bonding could be consummated straight away. Nonetheless, we ate with our family anyway.
"I'd like to make a toast," Cassian said when we'd finished eating. Azriel watched him with wary eyes. Cassian had already consumed a few drinks and from the occasional flinch when conversation was too loud, it was clear that he was hungover from whatever they'd got up to the day before. Rhys watched Cassian with an amused expression and Amren, sat with Varian, rolled her eyes.
"Az, my brother from another mother…" Cassian let out a dramatic sigh and Nesta made eye contact with me, shaking her head. "I just want to say how nice it is that you've stopped brooding after all this years." He turned to face me, "Take care of him Gwyn, he's a precious soul even if he's got the biggest wingspan."
Feyre choked on her wine.
"Sit down," Rhys hissed. Azriel raised an eyebrow and I held in a laugh.
"I'm just saying it like it is, Rhysie poo," Cassian continued. "I suppose what I want to say is, I love you. You're the best friend anyone could want and I'm so glad you've found your mate." Cassian's eyes watered as he held up his glass, "To Azriel and Gwyn."
As everyone took a sip of their drinks, I looked over at Azriel and could see that he too was trying his best not to erupt into laughter.
Music started to play from the sphere Cassian had gifted Nesta on Solstice and my mate held out his unbound hand to me. A first dance, just for us. I let him lead me to the open space in the room that had become a dancefloor and we danced together, the lantern light shining on our faces as we smiled and laughed and moved. Our family joined us shortly after that and I was pleased to see Mor and Emerie dancing together.
The dancing lasted around an hour and then our friends were gone, all leaving us to stay in Velaris for the night. The house was quiet.
"Well then, my love," Azriel scooped me up into his arms. "I suppose we should go downstairs."
He carried me onto our level of the house, where someone had been hard at work, decorating. Candles were spread around the living room, along with a trail of rose petals that led into the bedroom. It was beautifully romantic. I let him carry me to our bedroom, where there were yet more candles and rose petals decorated the floor up to the bed.
"Was this you?" I asked as he carefully placed me on the ground.
"I've been with you," He smiled innocently, signalling to where our hands were still bound. "But I may have had an accomplice or two."
I smiled up at him and moved forward, pressing my lips against his. He sighed into the touch, his free arm wrapping around my waist as our bound hands held each other.
"I love you," he whispered, as the kiss ended. "I'll always love you."
"I love you too," I told him and he kissed me again. This time more forcefully, more passionate. Sparks spread through my body and goosebumps prickled across my skin as we kissed and when his lips moved to my neck, I shivered as a moan escaped my lips.
"Az?" I asked as his lips moved to my collarbone.
"Mmm?"
"How are we supposed to take each other's clothes off if our hands are bound together?"
He laughed against my skin and I watched as he tore the shirt from his body.
I blinked, "that'll do it." His hands reached for the strap on my dress and he smiled as he found the buckles on the leather straps. Well-designed it seemed. He unfastened them and the dress fell to the ground, revealing my bare chest. My cheeks flushed as my mate looked at me, running his teeth over his lips. Despite the lace knickers, I felt completely bare.
His free hand moved to cup my breast and I gasped at the contact as he ran his thumb over my nipple and kissed me again. My blood heated. Then his hand moved down, slowly, leaving a trail of sparks in its wake. He reached my lace undergarments and moved them down until they were low enough to completely fall to the floor. His nostrils flared.
This time I reached for his trousers, unfastening them despite my shaking hands. Nervous, but also ready to have him. His trousers fell to the floor and he stepped out of them before I did the same with his undergarments. I swallowed as I took in my mate fully. His beauty, his muscle, even the shadows that danced around him and brushed against my bare skin. Yes, we'd done this before, but something about this time felt different. More intimate. As I ran my hand over him, it was clear he was ready. His fingers did the same and he smiled at what he found.
I reached for the diadem atop my head and he shook his head.
"Leave it," he said with a sly smile.
I let Azriel back me gently towards the bed until I sank into it, him over me. My breath caught in my throat and he kissed me, gently, tenderly, as his bound hand squeezed mine. Then he slowly, carefully joined our bodies.
"You're mine," he murmured against my lips, taking his time, my body shuddering against his.
"And you are mine."
He didn't rush and he sent me plummeting over the edge more than once when we moved together, his weight gently pressing down on me as we both moaned in pleasure. I was glad no one else was in the house when he finished and I wondered if the room would collapse on us. Azriel gently unbound our hands and rolled off of me, both of us struggling to breathe.
I moved to rest my head on his shoulder, my fingers tracing the tattoos on his chest. There, over his heart was a new one to match my own. An eight -pointed star. The light and hope in the darkness. Our promises to each other.
He put his hand up in front of him, looking at the ring on his finger, "You didn't have to get me one," he said, softly.
"I wanted to," I told him, "And I saw the waves and I knew…"
"I am the rock against which the surf crashes," he murmured.
"That and our date at the beach was wonderful." I told him, "The ocean will always remind me of you. Of home."
"Your eyes remind me of the ocean," He said softly as he looked over at me. "That's why I took you there. They remind me of the water on a summer's day. Perhaps we need a house by the ocean."
"Really?" I asked in surprise.
"If you'd like," A small smile.
"Nothing big," I told him. "Something small, just for us, with a few bedrooms for one day when we have our own little family."
He tensed and his eyes turned sad. "Oh, if you don't want a family, then that's okay."
"I'd love children," he said, "But… the wings." His brow furrowed. "Feyre nearly died and I can't-"
"My nymph blood makes my bones more pliable," I told him, reaching up to caress his cheek. "So when the time comes, we're going to be just fine."
Relief flooded his face and he gently kissed my forehead. I kissed his shoulder and ran a finger over a wing. He twitched and I reached for the black ribbon.
"You know," I said, taking his hands in mine. "I can think of some multiple uses for this ribbon." His eyes darkened and he gave me a wicked smile as I tied his wrists together and made love to him, but this time I was in control.