Gilded Wings(87)

“Are you ready?” he exhaled loudly.

“I am,” I said, linking my arm around his.

He carefully led me down the stairs, and as he did, a few of the male helpers stopped and stared.

“Isn’t my daughter exquisite?” Samuel proclaimed.

“Very beautiful,” they replied, and then headed back toward the ballroom, carrying large boxes in their arms.

“For a second, I thought they were gawking at me,” he laughed.

“Who knows? You do look very handsome in all black. Imagine if you flashed your magical, matching wings. Instant bromance,” I giggled.

“Bromance?” he asked, his eyes narrowed.

“It’s a bro – romance. You know… guy – guy,” I explained.

“Oh no,” he said. “No bromance for this immortal. I’m bonded,” he said. “And here she comes now.”

Alaine came around the corner in an elegant white and golden gown. Her chocolate hair fell in ringlets around her shoulders, and her face had an ethereal glow to it. She looked like an angel.

In her hand she held the perfect bouquet of white roses, wrapped with a silk ribbon.

“Here you go, Emma,” she said, handing it to me.

“Oh my goodness,” I said placing them up to my nose and smelling their sweet floral scent. “They are gorgeous. Better than I could have ever imagined.”

“You look stunning, Alaine,” Samuel said, leaning forward to kiss her.

“And you look as handsome as the first day I laid eyes on you,” she said, adjusting his bow-tie.

“Still keeping me straight and tidy, I see,” he smiled warmly.

Alaine blushed.

“I am going to go out first, and you guys will follow. Lia and Dominic are already in place, and ready to walk once the music starts. Samuel, you and Emma will start walking as soon as you hear the violin play, okay?”

“We’ve got this,” Samuel said, holding her hand.

She quickly glanced at me. “Kade looks… we’ll you’ll see. He’s anxiously waiting.”

Those words immediately brought a thrill of excitement. All I could think about was seeing him.

“How many people are here?”

“Everyone I invited is already here. There are about twenty total,” she replied.

I felt a little sad Michael and Kade’s parents didn’t make it, but they were Archangels, and must have had missions. I was still surrounded by everyone I loved.

Alaine walked out of the front door, and continued until she disappeared around the corner. As soon as Samuel took his first step my nerves kicked in, making me feel lightheaded, and dizzy.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“I’m fine,” I said, pulling myself together and smiling, because in front of us stood a photographer, snapping away with her large camera.

“We’ll take it one step at a time. Together,” he said quietly.

“Together.” I repeated.

In the air I could hear the music start to play, and it soothed me. As we rounded the corner of the house, I froze. I was literally walking into a fairy tale.

The labyrinth did not look the same. It was trimmed down, and at the entrance, adorning each side, stood two glorious trees, filled with white blossoms in full bloom. It was illuminated by thousands of tiny white lights strung intricately around its limbs.

As we stepped closer to the entrance, the sweetest floral smell wafted in the air. I took in a deep breath and smiled. Then, as I was about to take another step forward, Samuel held me back.

“Not yet,” he whispered.

I nodded and exhaled. “I’m so glad you’re here with me.”

“So am I,” he said, kissing me on the forehead. “I can see how mortal fathers cherish this moment.”

The music stopped and a glorious melody of strings swelled in the air. The sound of the violin filled me with such emotion I could hardly contain it. As the musician’s bow glided across the strings, it created the most beautiful ballad of love.

My heart began to patter as we took our first steps down the pathway leading to Kade. The ground was covered in a blanket of white rose petals, and above us hung tall arches, filled with every kind of white flower imaginable.

As we drew near, I could feel him; the bond pulling us together. When we exited the pathway, the dimming sky became our canopy. Beautiful pastel colors painted across it created a picturesque backdrop.

The pathway of petals continued all the way to the altar, ending where Kade stood.

His presence stole all breath from my lips. He looked unbelievably handsome in his all-white tuxedo. His face was ethereal, and his hair was perfectly disheveled.

I wanted to run to him, to hold him and never let go.

As Samuel continued to walk me down the aisle, everyone stood, and I began to recognize most of their faces.