Davina (Davy Harwood #3)(88)

“You should get your dress on.” Pippa came forward. Her hands were already up and she was smiling at Saren. “I’ll take the little one.”

Brown jumped beside her. “I can’t wait. A bridesmaid. I’m a bridesmaid. I’ve never been a bridesmaid.”

Pippa slid her hands under Saren and stepped back with her. She grinned at Brown. “You’re a Bright bridesmaid.”

“And you.” Brown clapped her on the shoulder. “You’re a werewolf bridesmaid. I can’t wait till I get drunk. You’re nursing, Davy—in a . . .” She trailed off, glancing away.

That was another transition.

I told her, “It’s fine, Brown. You’re not the only one. Trust me.”

Pippa groaned, rocking Saren back and forth. “Oh yeah. I’ve been calling her Davy since I arrived.”

Both sobered and gazed at me. Brown sighed. “It’s not that we don’t want to call you Davina. It’s just . . .”

They were torn. They loved Davy. I was alive. I reached for both of their hands and squeezed them. “I’m different. I know, but I’ll get back to my old self.”

The Immortal.

Lucan.

Losing my humanity—the last year before Lucas broke me free had been hard, but I felt the old me coming back. The old me would come back. I squeezed once more. “I love you guys, and you are helping the old Davy spark to life again. Thank you. And thank you for being a part of my wedding.”

“Well, hell yeah. Of course.” Brown gestured outside my bedroom window. We were back at Lucas’s house, the one by the cliff where Lucan captured us in the first place. There weren’t great memories, but each night Lucas helped push those bad ones away as he made new ones with me. And there was land. There was lots and lots of land. I didn’t feel so ‘constricted’ here. The cliff was where the wedding would take place. Emily was the wedding planner and she was utilizing everyone to help. The entire backyard was transformed so it looked like a magical forest. Trees had been relocated and spelled to grow tall. Flowers hung everywhere. Logs made up the seats. It didn’t look like it was next to a cliff at all. And within a few hours, it would be filled with vampires, werewolves, witches, and a few humans (those who were either clueless or brave.) There would be a few slayers as well. A group of them were waiting for us when we returned. They took Kates with them. I knew they were going to help her heal. Her time in captivity had been the worst of all of us. There’d been a few correspondents between the two of us. We were both getting better, and I was excited to see her again. She’d been my childhood nolstage. I wanted to get to know my best friend once again, well not my real best friend. That was Lucas now, but Kates held a special place in my heart. She always would.

Brown said, “This wedding is a dream wedding and hello, Roane in tuxedo.” She fanned herself. “Swoon right there.”

Pippa frowned. “He’s going to be her husband.”

“But he’s gorgeous. I can see. I can appreciate.” Brown nudged Pippa with her shoulder. “Just like I can appreciate the hotness of your brother. Hubba hubba. Come to me Christian Christane.” She leaned over and grabbed Saren’s thumb, but paused and asked, “Does he have to be betrothed to another werewolf? Is that a thing? What about a witch? You think I got a shot? He can be my Alpha any night of the week.”

Pippa’s frown deepened and she turned, giving Brown a curt response. Brown retaliated, another laughing joke. It had been like this over the last few months and I sighed, listening, but I loved it. The teases were flying. The jokes were sent back and forth. Pippa would huff about something, and Brown would follow with one more outrageous suggestion, all the while trying to hide her grin.

This was normal. This had been my life, and I knew it would be again.

The old Davy was rearing up. She wanted to join in, but the slight tease I had was held back. If I joined in with the joking, they would be quieted in shock. Then, they’d want more. They’d start looking for the old Davy every minute, every hour, every time they were around me and she wasn’t there. Not yet. But she was coming. I felt her in me again.

I turned back to the window and gazed down. Roane was there, listening to Emily who was pointing at a post that was covered with flowers. Her hand movements were sharp, and his frown grew, even as I watched.

Emily never wanted to bother me with anything, so she bothered him. I thought it was hilarious.

“Having fun?” I asked him.

He looked up, knowing exactly where I was. He thought back, “Your old roommate still drives me crazy.”