Intended Series Collection: Books 1-6 by Abigail Grant (best summer books .txt) 📗

I return Camilla’s side hug and breathe in the scent of the evergreens and whatever the gorgeous pink, fluffy flowers are that line everything in the yard.

“Hey El. I’m so glad you’re here. Don’t be too weirded out by our customs. Our bonding ceremonies don’t look exactly like the weddings you’ve been to before.” She gestures with an arm to the front of the long white aisle.

A circle of rocks lays ahead of us and small white flower petals are sprinkled all over them. I assume that is the place where Cy and Amalia will be bonded. “I’ve never been to a wedding in reality, but I’ve seen enough movies to get the gist. Isn’t there usually an arch and a minister?” I ask Camilla.

She shrugs. “Normally, yes. In a Bonding though, we have a circle that surrounds the couple and symbolizes eternity, just as the ring does. It’s the same with the vows. They aren’t about life and death, but more about an eternal bond that will never end.” Her eyes become glossy and she clears her throat before turning forward in her seat. “It’s a beautiful thing,” she says in nearly a whisper.

Alexa and Neo appear on the other side of Camilla with Gram. They give their usual hugs and take their seats. I turn to Gavin and he is just watching me with love in his eyes. I smile back at him and tilt my head. “Why are you looking at me like that, Gavin?”

He shakes his head and chews on his bottom lip. “Why would I ever stop looking at you, Aella?”

I roll my eyes at his cheesiness, but inside my heart is pulling on the string that ties us both together. That heart of mine really wants to touch Gavin in front of all of these people. I lean into my Intended and lay my head on his shoulder as the rest of the Cole family show up around us and take their seats with big smiles and even some happy tears.

Cy’s mom, Danielle is especially blubbery as she waits for her son to take his place in front of the crowd and become a husband to the beautiful Amalia. I look around for Cy but don’t see him anywhere. I grow concerned and turn to Gavin again.

“Gavin,” I whisper to him. “Why isn’t Cy standing up front waiting for Amalia to walk down the aisle?” I ask.

Gavin smiles at me like I’m a kid learning math for the very first time. His face says newbie and he’s not wrong. “In a Bonding, the bride and groom enter the ceremony hand in hand. They don’t do anything without the other.”

I sigh. “Oh my goodness, that’s the cutest thing ever.”

The group around us falls silent and all of our eyes turn toward the Intended couple heading down the white aisle to the circle of rocks at the end. They are both dressed completely in white and their golden eyes shine at one another as the two hold both of the other’s hands.

Amalia is a vision in a long white gown that is embroidered with flowers from her bodice to the hem at her feet. Her dark skin seems even more ebony-colored against the white dress and her black curly hair is woven into a thick braid behind her head. She stares up at Cy with such admiration that I can almost feel what she feels just by looking at her face.

Cy is wearing an all-white tuxedo and his black hair is parted to the left, perfectly combed as usual. His smooth jaw is tight with internal emotion and I can see his father’s intensity on his handsome face, but much more tender.

Hagan stands from the chair he claimed in front of me. He walks up to the couple and stands behind the circle as their officiant. His eyes are wet with unshed tears and his normally intimidating frame is more relaxed and gentle than I have ever seen him.

He places a hand on each of the couple’s shoulders and begins to speak with a true heart. “It amazes me that these two beautiful souls found one another. I’m always taken aback at the magic that brings Intendeds together.” He sniffles. “And I could not imagine a better woman for my son than the one standing here holding his hands and his heart.” He looks down at Amalia and a small smile graces his lips.

The crowd “awwws” and I can’t help but throw my own in with them. Hagan clears his throat and growls slightly, causing everyone to chuckle softly at the weepy alpha male. He throws a faux glare at the crowd before him. “Stop. I’m trying my hardest to make words here.” A smile follows his words and another chuckle sounds around me.

He looks from Cy to Amalia and his eyes land on the bride again. He urges her to repeat after him and she does so in her beautiful, elegant english accent.

“I acknowledge you, my Intended, for all that you are as the other half of me. The power that I have within, will be the power that we both share. The soul that holds this body together, will be the soul that mingles with your own for all of time and through to eternity.”

Amalia’s voice cracks at the end of her vow and a tear slides down her cheek. Cy reaches one of his hands up to wipe her tear away and places his hand back in hers again before repeating the exact same words back to her.

The couple kneels in the circle where they have been standing and they lay their foreheads against one another’s. Both of their eyes close and Hagan grabs a bag at his feet where he pulls out a handful of colorful dust and throws it over the couple. They are covered with the mixture and I am curious what it could be made of.

Hagan puts the bag back on the grass and steps back