After the guests were all served their cake and the plates cleared, Kyle took Lana's hand and escorted her to the gift table. There were envelopes and packages. Kyle picked up a small box. He handed it to Lana with both hands and a huge smile on his face. Lana took it with two hands as well. She carefully opened it and found a hair ribbon inside. She picked it up and felt the energy coming off it. One side was black, the other was white.
"I'll tell you what it does later."
Lana nodded. She put the hair tie in her bracelet then reached for a long somewhat narrow box with an elaborate green bow on it. She offered it to Kyle with both hands as well. He took it with both hands; a questioning look on his face.
He carefully opened the two clasps of the mahogany box. Inside were two obsidian swords. Kyle's smile broadened. He still had the other set. For her to give him a new set, these had to be more powerful. He picked up the shorts sword and instantly felt its strength. His head started hurting and he heard voices.
Lana put her hand on his, "take slow, deep breaths. It may take some time to use them without pain. I had Dobin test them."
It took a few minutes of concentration and pushing through the pain in his head, but he was able to discern multiple voices. Listening, he suddenly understood. Somehow, his incredible wife imbued her ability to speak with trees into the sword. The sudden realization caused him to shed a few tears. He opened his eyes and smiled at her with an expression of intense love.
"Now the other one."
She broke him from his thoughts, and he placed the sword beside its mate. He picked up the longsword with reverence. A surge of power which reminded him of Qi raced up his arm, but he could feel something else as well.
Lana looked around, "swing it that way." She pointed in a direction that had a rock jutting from the ground and trees behind it.
Kyle raised an eyebrow. Why is she asking me to swing my sword from this distance at a rock?
He shrugged and did so. Without warning, a climbing rose vine shot out of the tip, flew through the air, and cut through the top of the rock. However, it kept going. It sliced through three trees behind the rock before becoming embedded in a fourth. Kyle's jaw dropped. There were gasps heard from the guests.
The vampires were dumbfounded. "Karlen, how is this possible?" the king asked.
"I'm not sure, honestly, Your Majesty. On the last outing, they went to the back of a cave and came back with similar weapons."
"Her mother's power is in that sword, but Loralei was unable to make weapons or imbue her power like that. I think we need to up the timeline. I want her to come see me over the summer break from school."
Karlen nodded and bowed his head slightly, his eyes returning to the damage of one swing of the weapon.
At another table, Aiden, also known as Chekof had a different reaction. He smirked at the power displayed. The beautiful person at his side smiled, "I'm glad they are on our side."
The other tables were whispering, expressing emotions between awe and fear, though most were positive. Some had concerns about this much power being in the hands of teenagers who have barely begun to make their mark on the world. Erin worried that perhaps she made a mistake with the wedding present for Lana.
Kyle turned to his wife and enveloped her. He locked her in a passionate kiss, mindful he couldn't do what he wanted to do with an audience. They heard thunderous applause from their guests and broke from their kiss, both with flushed cheeks. Kyle reverently placed his gift back in the box. Lana placed it in her bracelet then stowed the bracelet.
Kyle, meanwhile, was looking for someone.
"Dobin?" he said looking around. He then caught sight of him returning from the house, assuming he needed to use the facilities…
As Dobin approached the pergola, returning from the little boys' room, he was shocked as his brother-in-law dropped to a knee in front of him.
"I need to thank you for such an incredible gift. I vow to you, that I will always ensure your sister has what she needs." Kyle stood, them embraced Dobin calling him "the best brother anyone could ask for."
Lana, meanwhile, was giving Gerald instructions, "please make sure all these gifts are taken to our ship. We'll open them tomorrow."
"Of course, Lady Lana. Was the meal to your liking?" he asked while snaping his fingers at the servants and pointing to the gifts. He had already told them the gifts would go to the ship prepared for their departure. He was happy his Lady hadn't changed those instructions.
"Gerald, under your leadership, I don't think anything could go wrong. Everything has been sheer perfection!"
Kyle approached having only heard the word "perfection" and said, "yes, you are!" with a huge grin.
Without waiting for a response, he picked her up bridal-style and carried her into the center of the pergola. The area had been cleared for dancing. Even the hanging bed was taken down for the occasion.
He set her down and whispered in her ear, "ready?"
"As I'll ever be…" she replied feeling quite nervous.
Kyle nodded to the band hired for the event. They started playing the only song Lana had been taught how to dance to. They only had a few days, so Kyle and Blaine did their best at teaching her in the amount of time they had. He ended up having to skip classes with her and teach her in between the decisions she needed to make throughout the week. In a way, he was adding to her plate of worries, but he knew she would want this to go off flawlessly.
They got into position. As the music began to play, those watching were surprised this was not the normal slow music a couple would dance to.
Bianca turned to Cere, "is Lana an experienced dancer?"
Cere shook her head. "They've been practicing something when time allowed all week. I guess we'll see what they came up with."
Bianca replied, eyes glued to the dance floor. "Are you sure she just learned? Oh, she did miss the cue there for a turn… but she kept going like a pro."
Cere smiled proudly, "I've been told she's really special. The more time I spend with her, the more I agree," she flinched as Lana stepped on Kyle's toes doing a cross over.
"Halfway through the song and she's done remarkable. So much so, no one has joined them yet! She's even doing that with a beast on her shoulder," Bianca said adding her pride to Cere's. "She truly is a special addition to our family. I wouldn't expect anything otherwise from Kyle. The fact she even knew about him is impressive enough!"
"I heard his identity was a secret; that she knew he was there and drew him out without even trying."
They watched as Lana turned, then Kyle did. She almost stepped on his feet again, but she stopped herself. They chuckled to each other. Though the song was almost over, Dobin and Dilly joined them as did Almin and Kattie, Alto and Rene and Sam partnered with Marie. The couple didn't even notice.
As the song came to an end, Kyle leaned in, "ready to get out of here?"
Lana nodded, "but we have to thank our guests for coming, so we may want to, but we can't yet."
Kyle leaned lower and groaned into her shoulder.
Lana chuckled, "you'll have me all night…"
"Exhausted…" he finished her sentence in a way she wasn't intending.
She sighed, "then let's make it quick."
He nodded and they started shaking hands and spreading thank you's from the closest people who weren't on the dance floor. Soon they got to Karlen and his party. Lana had wanted to greet them since she saw them seated earlier.
"Karlen! I wanted to thank you and your friends for coming. Is this beautiful woman your wife?"
Karlen chuckled, "yes. She's been dying to meet you since she heard about you. This is Bella."
Lana smiled and offered her hand, "it's nice to meet you, Bella."
"And you, Lana! I've heard so much about you." Bella returned. "I was wondering if you would do my husband and I the honor of visiting us over the summer? We would love to host you and a few of your friends in our home."
"It would be our honor! Of course, we accept such a generous invitation! Karlen has been incredibly helpful on our outings. We would likely have died without him. Thank you for letting us borrow him."
Bella chuckled, "I wish I could say it's been a pleasure, but I really have missed him."
Lana nodded, "I understand. I think I'd go crazy if Kyle was gone for so long!"
Karlen but in, "Lana, Kyle, I'd like you to meet Vesper, Reese and Christopher."
Lana and Kyle nodded and shook hands with each as their names were shared.
Vesper was the first to speak, "those were interesting swords. May I ask where you got them? I'm greatly interested in owning something like that for myself."
Lana smiled sheepishly, "They are one-of-a-kind creations. Perhaps we can discuss it when we visit Karlen and Bella over the summer?"
Vesper smiled charmingly, "of course. We will see you then. For now, we must return home. I'll leave Karlen in your care until then," as he turned to leave, the others followed. Bella stole a quick kiss from her husband before vanishing from the area.
Kyle pulled her closer as they left, "I don't like him. It feels like he's trying to steel you from me."
Lana chuckled, "I don't get that sense at all. There is something special about him, though. I aim to see what it is."
"Against my wishes?" Kyle sounded hurt.
Lana chuckled softly, "You have my love and my loyalty. We know why Chek… Aiden was in the school but not Karlen. Did you see their postures? Karlen works for him. They all answer to Vesper."
Kyle frowned but nodded, "I see now. Okay, we'll find out what's going on together."
Lana smiled then guided him around to more guests they had not greeted yet. Soon they found Aiden and his wife who were heading to the dance floor.
"Aiden!" Kyle flagged him down, "thank you for coming and participating in our wedding."
Lana smiled brightly, "you must be Divina! You truly are angelic in person. I'd love to hear the story of how Aiden caught your eye."