Page 116 of Dark Destiny: The Turning Of The Loom

When Syssi brought it over, Angelica put a hand to her chest. "Those are real diamonds, right? Not zirconia."

Annani laughed. "This piece was made long before zirconia was invented. This is real, and it was given to me as a thank-you for saving a princess's life."

As she launched into the tale, Areana slipped into the bedroom. When Annani was done, she returned in a light blue gown that made her look spectacular.

"Well," Areana said. "What do you think?"

"It is beautiful," Annani said. "Come here."

"No hugs!" Angelica warned.

"I will be careful." Annani pulled Areana down and kissed her cheek.

Angelica stepped back to let them have the moment, and Areana hugged Annani carefully, so as not to disturb the pins.

"Five thousand years," Areana murmured in the old tongue. "I feel blessed to have been there for your first wedding and now for this one."

"The Fates are merciful," Annani said. "You left right after our wedding to marry a monster so that I could have Khiann. I am forever in your debt for the sacrifice you have made."

Areana shook her head. "You have repaid that debt ten times over already. You allow my mate to live despite what he did to yours, and you are building a house for us in your village. No words can describe how grateful I am to you for your mercy and kindness."

A tear escaped Annani's eyes, and she did not try to hide it. She was not wearing any makeup and did not intend to, and today she was a bride, not the head of a clan. She was allowed a few tears.

"Walk down the aisle with me," she said.

Areana straightened. "What?"

"My daughters are my bridesmaids, but you and Morelle should walk beside me, taking the place of our father and my mother. I do not want to be handed to Khiann by anyone, but I would like my sisters to walk beside me."

Nodding, Areana wiped tears from her eyes. "I'll walk with you, sister of mine." She turned to Morelle and extended her hand. "My two sisters."

"Okay," Angelica said. "As tear-jerking as this is, we are here to get ready for the wedding. Let's break it up, ladies."

Once the hair was done in the most elaborate hairdo it had ever been wrestled into, Annani rose to her feet. "It is dress time."

"Dress time!" Amanda repeated. "To the bedroom."

Thankfully, the master suite of the penthouse was nearly as large as the living room, and they all fit inside.

The dress was on a mannequin, and as Amanda removed the covering, everyone went quiet for a moment, then started talking over each other and gushing over the dress.

It was ivory with a pink under-layer, cut low at the back and close at the waist, and the length of fabric that trailed behind it was exactly right, not too long or too short. The embroidery was a slightly lighter shade of ivory, and it was gorgeous.

41

KHIANN

Khiann had not seen the great hall before.

Chandeliers, dozens of them, rows of white, fluted columns, and between them the tables dressed in ivory linen with silver at every place setting, candles, and crystal glasses. A low arrangement of white roses ran down the center so that no guest would have to lean around the flowers to see the bride.

At the far end was a dais set three steps up, with a canopy of white silk on four gold posts with roses climbing them, and beneath it an altar.

Toven, who had left earlier, stood at the top.

The hall was full. Every chair at every table was taken, and every face turned toward Khiann as he walked through the doors.

"The groom," Shai announced from somewhere above. "Welcome, Khiann, son of Navohn and Yaeni, and his groomsmen."