Danika had handed over the reigns of officiating to Jericho, who stood before Aeric with a robe that glittered and sparkled with moon glow. And floating down the isle in a gown of lemony yellow chiffon was his bride.
He recognized that it was Lissa holding onto the Hatter’s arms as she walked to him with eyes never swerving from his face.
The moment her hand slipped into his and Hatter patted his shoulder, Aeric knew he should have been nervous. But he wasn’t.
Because he was finally home. In this strange and wonderful land. And even though some might have wondered why he and his butterfly exchanged vows twice, he knew it was because he promised his undying affection to not one, but the both of them.
Only the rare few among them knew of Chrysa’s duality and no one was talking, she’d gone through enough, now was a time of rest and peace and he for one could not wait to step into that new life with her.
The chuckling warmth of a Cheshire cat faded into the delicate strings of violin’s that suddenly stirred through the trees.
Alice was beaming proudly and Aeric was fairly certain that there was a sheen in the Hatter’s eyes when he placed the stone of veritas upon her chest.
“…the truth is, my love,” he tucked a strand of silky hair behind her ear and nuzzled the corner of her cheek just as Jericho pronounced them man and wife, “you may have thought yourself my prey, but I never stood a chance against you.”
She laughed and her sound filled his heart with light. “No, hunter,” Chrysalis nuzzled him back, “you never stood a chance against us.”
When they turned to walk down the aisle as husband and wife, everyone clapped, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
Holding her close as they danced their first dance, he caged her tight in his arms.
“I’m never letting you go again,” he growled.
Lissa’s eyes twinkled back at him this time. “Then you better hang on tight, because we cats are never fully tamed.”
And turning on her heels she sprinted, laughing joyfully, and he chased her. Not caring that the two of them had ditched their own wedding, because when prey ran, a hunter had no choice but to follow.
And he did, for the rest of their long, lived lives…