𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐒-𝙖𝙯𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙡

XVI

She was woken up early the next morning, Azriel's shadow gone from her arm where it had fallen asleep last night. The girls brought her breakfast in bed and then it was time to get ready.

The girls thought it would be best to just get ready in Lorelei's room so Nuala and Cerredwin wouldn't have to flurry between all their rooms. Lorelei let everyone else get ready first, mostly because if she saw herself in her dress and her hair and makeup done she wouldn't be able to hold herself together right now.

Her room was loud, but she didn't mind. She joined in the conversations and laughed with them.

It was impossible to believe that these beautiful females could get any more stunning. Nuala and Cerridwin knew their stuff. It was a round of compliments and more laughter and Lorelei smiled to see that even Amren joined in the activities unabashedly, even if she had acted like she didn't want to in the beginning.

Soon it was Lorelei's turn to be prettied. The twins had to basically push Mor out of the room before they started on her hair and makeup. They went back and forth on if her hair should be up or down, so Lorelei suggested it be both.

They braided a crown around the top of her head and curled the bottom half that fell down her back. Nuala placed a band of silver that rested above her eyebrow. It was cold against her skin.

"Okay, turn and look." Cerridwen said with a smile.

Lorelei turned in the vanity stool and her eyes widened at what she saw. Kohl lined eyes, a light pink on her lips and rouge on her cheeks. She looked up at the band that rested on her forehead. It was about thin, but wide enough to fit blue stones the size of her pinky nail.

Nuala put in matching earrings and Cerridwen placed silver bracelets on her wrists. It all matched the blue of her dress. Lorelei turned and pulled the twins into a hug, careful not to ruin her makeup.

There was an impatient knock on the door. "Can we come in yet?" Mor called out. Lorelei looked up at the twins who nodded and disappeared, probably going to get themselves ready.

"Come in." Lorelei stood up from the vanity and held her hands in front of her, immediately blushing when the other girls came in and took in her appearance.

They stared at her with wide eyes and smiled, another round of compliments were passed around for her.

"We should head down now, the Illyrian babies are complaining they're hungry." Feyre said with an eyeroll. Everyone followed her out, except for Mor who noticed that her cousin had lingered back in her room.

"What's wrong?" Mor held onto Lorelei's arms, eyeing the fingers that fidgeted around each other, the shadows that began to pull at her feet.

"It just...doesn't feel real." Lorelei said softly. "I...Is this actually about to happen?"

Mor smiled, looking like she was trying to hold back tears. Trying and failing. "Crap." She snapped her fingers and the tear streak was gone, the make up looking like it hadn't been disturbed. "Listen to me Lorelei. You deserve this. All of it. Finding your mate and happiness. Don't let anyone tell you it wasn't for you."

Lorelei's eyes burned and Mor had to use her magic to fix the kohl that began to streak. She felt her shadows climb up her body, sending comfort to her. Lorelei sniffed and held onto Mor's hand. "Thank you, Mori."

"Of course. Now let's go get you married."

+

Lorelei stood to the side of the sliding door, peeking her head over the threshold out into the garden courtyard where the ceremony was being held. She was able to see everyone but Azriel.