White Rabbit

Chapter 66: Eternal Vows

Several years later...

REECE

"Right," I breathe out as I adjust my tie in the mirror and run a hand through my hair, "no pressure."

"Dude, you're the most nervous I've ever seen you," Jace chuckles from behind me.

"Shut up," I turn my head in his direction, glaring, "this is a big day, okay?"

"Marrying your fiancée is scarier than everything that we've ever faced?" Jace muses, raising an eyebrow.

"You know what," I whirl around, crossing my arms, "you can talk whenever you're the one getting married."

"That actually might be pretty soon," Jace smiles sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Really?" I raise my eyebrows, smiling slightly, "congratulations, man."

"Hey, she hasn't said yes yet," Jace sighs, shoving his hands into the pockets of his dress slacks.

"Well, you haven't asked yet either," I say pointedly and Katsuro stifles a laugh as he stands opposite of Jace.

"What're you laughing at?" Jace frowns.

"Both of you are so worried," Katsuro smiles, shaking his head, "but it's actually not that scary. How about you focus more on enjoying it?"

"Okay, okay," I roll my eyes and refrain a smile, "just because you married Juniper last year doesn't mean you get to be a wise guy."

"I'm serious," Katsuro sighs, "don't stress out so much. Neither of you. It'll all be fine, trust me."

"Guys," Lucian says, knocking on the door as he leans against it, "are you almost done in there? Ink can't provide the entertainment the entire time, you know. He'll eventually run out of room to paint. Everybody knows he'd continue on forever otherwise. Not that the guests would mind much. Besides, Aeryn is going to give me hell for being gone for so long."

"Seriously," Kazuki adds from beside Lucian, "hurry up. Waiting on you three is irritating. People keep coming up to me and walking to talk. It's disgusting."

"Be nice," Caliber frowns as she stands outside with the two boys, frowning with her hands on her hips.

"Anything for you, Sweetheart," Kazuki winks and Caliber sighs, shaking her head and smiling nonetheless.

Katsuro, Jace, and I walk outside, pushing open the doors to find Lucian, Caliber, and Kazuki waiting for us before we head towards the giant ballroom that was converted for a wedding. Multiple white tables fill the room with round glass vases that hold candles and red and pink rose petals within them, lighting up the evening lit room. Dark blue curtains with black designs on them and golden trim frame the dark, wooden entrances and compliment the dark polished floors nicely, as well as the tan walls. Meanwhile, golden streamers lay scattered with rose petals along the white carpet that leads throughout the room, up the stairs, and to the alter. The alter itself is white with vines and pink and red roses growing on the vines, complimented by fairy lights that were strung throughout the room by the alter and woven in the alter itself.

As we walk through the rows of tables, Lucian goes over to sit with Aeryn, Rai, and Daemon, Caliber and Kazuki return to their seats next to Mitsuko and Ryouichi, and Katsuro runs up to the alter to help Juniper with adjusting some of the roses that she grew. Meanwhile, Jace wanders over to Clattonia, who is over adjusting the microphones. I smile as I watch Ink entertain the guests as he paints a giant mural on a hanging canvas and Indigo hands him the paints and brushes that he requests. I spot Clattonia's parents sitting next to my mother in the audience and I sigh, relieved that my father didn't show up to ruin things. Meanwhile, Kai, Simon, and Valentina are sitting opposite of my parents, Azriel and Raphael are sitting at another table with Aiko, Basil, Shido, and Katsuki, and Asylum is sitting at a table behind them with Cassidy, Misa, Antillies, Larissa, Baelyne, and Bennett.