**BOOK 1 IN THE TALES FROM DROMISSE SERIES**
Silvia considers herself the luckiest woman in all Dromisse. Her soon-to-be fiancé, Duncan Ora, is a candidate for Light Within, the greatest gift that the Almighty Gale can bestow upon someone. Then a ra...
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"Duncan! You do realize you're not kissing my lips, right?"
Duncan opens his eyes, and a crowd explodes with laughter. He finds his lips glued to Silvia's nose. He retracts with a sheepish smile. "How did I miss?"
"You closed your eyes before you kissed, darling." Silvia rests a silky hand on his cheek and draws him in, putting a proper kiss against his lips. The crowd erupts with cheers and clapping, and flower petals fly.
"May the blessings of Gale guide your marriage into the celestial eternities!" a woman wearing a red sash proclaims.
Duncan and Silvia gather around a plush cake and guide a knife through it. They feed each other the first bites while caterers serve a plethora of desserts.
"It was just like the doorbell." Silvia daubs cream onto Duncan's nose.
"No, it wasn't."
"Yes, it was!" Silvia stands on her toes to kiss the frosting off. "On our third date, when you brought me up to my doorstep and closed your eyes before kissing me, and you kissed my doorbell." Her nose wrinkles as she delivers a snorting laugh, and she tangles her fingers in his long hair.
"At least I got your face this time."
A man in suspenders approaches, his sharp nose carrying a wiry pair of glasses. "Congratulations to the canty couple." He gives a grin entirely of his large front teeth.
Silvia tilts her head back. "What does that word mean, Dad?" She drapes her arms over her father's shoulders, drawing him close.
"Benjamin." Duncan gives a brisk nod.
"Call me Dad, son. You've earned it," Benjamin says as he leans past Silvia's neck. "Canty? It means cheerful. Lively!" He rubs her shoulder blades. "I'm so proud of you, chickadee." He squeezes his eyes shut, the corners folding. He withdraws and produces an envelope from inside his tweed pants pocket. "A little something extra for you two, not included in the registry."
Silvia puzzles over the envelope. "What is it?"
Duncan looms over her shoulder. "Open it."
Silvia tears the envelope with her fingernail. She winces and gasps, yanking her hand away. A small line of red bubbles up against her skin. She shakes her finger. "Paper cut. Clumsy me." She puffs out her lower lip. "I don't want to get blood on the dress!"
Duncan's eyes shimmer with scarlet magic. He cups his hands over hers, and when he lets go, her cut vanishes. He wipes the remaining splotch of blood on his handkerchief, and with another glimmer of magic, the stain fades.
Silvia's fingers prickle with warm pins and needles. She presses her head into Duncan's shoulder, her eyes gleaming. "I'll never have to worry about hurting myself again, hmm?"
Duncan chuckles. "Just don't go out of your way to."
Benjamin pats Duncan's shoulder. "No matter what Susie has said about you, I think you're alright for our Silvia."
