Chapter 422: Surprise wedding.

Zyra was surprised to find Hunter at home. He and his team were supposed to be beyond the veil, secretly searching for Ava and Kirsten and the other soul maidens in the group that had crossed sides. But Zyra knew deep down that this search had very little to do with the missing soul maidens. Hunter was looking for a way to contact his Somnivore father.

As much as her husband said that he had no plans to reconnect with his birth father, he could not run from the fact that he was half Somnivore. Everything he needed to learn about that side of himself and any dangers that came from it would have to be explained by his father.

As she walked further into the main residence area, she noticed the streets were way more lively than usual. Bright silk streamers flapped in the breeze, glowing colorful lanterns dangled from every eave, and red and white paper flowers covered the wooden pillars. The mouth-watering aroma of roasted meat and sweet wine filled the air, making her stomach rumble.

Somewhere in the distance, she could hear music playing and a choir of voices accompanying the tunes.

"What is going on?" She muttered.

Alessa strolled up to her with a sly smile. "There you are. Hunter’s waiting for you in your quarters," she whispered, nudging Zyra’s shoulder.

"He’s back? Why didn’t he give me a call?" Zyra asked, looking around at the commotion of people running around with big smiles. Even the half-life beasts she bumped into had ribbons tied around their necks! "What are we celebrating?"

Malia walked past her carrying a giant basket of steamed sweet red buns. "It’s Yaya’s fourth birthday!" she shouted over her shoulder.

"Ooh." Zyra replied, as the curiosity in her mind was quelled. All her thoughts traveled to her husband. She had missed Hunter terribly, so she practically ran to their room. The moment she pushed the door open; she threw her arms around his neck. They shared a sweet, breathless kiss before she pulled back, staring at him in disbelief. "I really didn’t expect you back today."

Hunter let out a heavy sigh, resting his forehead against hers. "I had to come back. Achilles gave me a call saying Grandfather’s desk is literally overflowing with marriage proposals for you. How could I concentrate on tracking down my father knowing some random guy might steal you away from me?"

Zyra giggled, reaching up to tuck an unruly strand of black hair behind his ear. "We really have dragged this matter out for way too long, haven’t we?" She smiled softly. "How about we just pass by the magistrate’s office this evening and sign the papers?"

Hunter smirked, shaking his head. "No need."

"What do you mean?" Her voice was colder as her body stiffened. Didn’t he want to marry her anymore?

"I invited the magistrate to our home," Hunter said smoothly. "We’re having a wedding tonight. A real one."

Zyra’s eyes widened to the size of teacups. "A real wedding? Hunter, do you have any idea what it takes to organize a real wedding?"

"Honestly? No," Hunter confessed, rubbing the back of his neck. "But somehow, Achilles has pulled it off in ten minutes. The dress, the suit, the cake, the feast, the decorations_ he has handled everything."

Zyra chuckled, her brain finally connecting the dots. "Wait... so the decorations in the courtyard... those are for our wedding? I was just told it was Yaya’s birthday!"

Hunter winked at her. "That’s what everyone thinks."

Zyra winced, looking down at her plain traveling robes. "Well, I better go and get ready then."

Hunter wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close for another quick kiss. "You’re already beautiful. You don’t need all that fancy glam anyway."

"Pfft! Keep talking and you will earn your prize as husband of the year." Zyra scoffed with a grin as she slipped out of his embrace. "But, today is my wedding day, and I plan to look like a goddess. I am famous you know. Can’t have ugly pictures of myself floating out there."

He chuckled while she raced from the bedroom to find a makeup expert.

The second she stepped out of her quarters, Alessa pounced on her like a hungry tiger. "There you are! We have so much to do!" She grabbed Zyra’s wrist and dragged her across the main house toward one of the empty guest houses_ except it wasn’t empty at all. Inside, a dozen service providers_ nail techs, and beauticians were waiting.

"Sit, sit, sit!" Alessa shoved her into a chair. "Start with the hair and toenails."

Zyra grimaced as she was forced to lean back. As her boots were ripped off, she closed her eyes, hoping to enjoy the service.

An hour later, her makeup was finished and she was struggling to breathe because the corset Alessa had insisted she needed was squeezing her ribs like it was auditioning for a boa constrictor role.

The wedding dress itself was a paradox--white as now yet streaked with faint tiger strips. The fiery fur like texture along the hem gave it a wild, untamed grace.

Spice, who had shrunk down to the size of a baby snake, was casually wrapped around her neck like a necklace! Bianca had said at least it saved them the cost of jewelry. Zyra had not laughed at the joke.

[Host, I love the details of the dress.] Beauty chimed.

"Of course you do Beauty." Tiger stripes, fur and a live snake necklace, what was not to love!?

By the time evening fell, the courtyard was packed.

Guests sat around banquet tables, happily chewing on meat and sipping wine, completely convinced they were there to sing "Happy Birthday" to a four-year-old child.

Even the talking beasts were present. Kitty sat on a cushion, wearing a party hat strapped hilariously between its ears. Next to it, Red sun perched on a pole, shouting, "Where is the birthday girl? Bring out the little brat! I want cake!"

Suddenly, the music changed from birthday tunes to a wedding march.

The doors of the main house swung open. The Grand Elder, wearing his finest ceremonial robes, walked out. But he wasn’t holding a birthday cake. He was walking side-by-side with Zyra.

She looked absolutely stunning. The dress hugged her figure perfectly and a delicate veil covered her face.

The entire courtyard went dead silent.

Scotty dropped his chicken leg straight onto his plate.

"Wait a second..." Taylor muttered, squinting. "Is... is this a wedding? Who authorized this?"

"You idiot!" Big Vince slapped him behind the head. "That’s Zyra! It’s not a birthday party, it’s a wedding!"

Tyrant gasped so hard it choked on its own saliva. "A wedding! I thought they were already married!"

"Are we still having cake!" Red sun asked, flapping its wings wildly. "I was promised a four-tier mango-banana salt cream cake!"

Amidst the hilarious chaos, Hunter slipped to the front, under a floral arch where Yaya was supposed to do her birthday dance.

He wore a sharp black suit with silver trim that made him look like a majestic prince, but right now, his mouth was slightly open.

As Zyra stepped closer, his heart slammed against his ribs like a war drum. He had always known she was pretty but seeing her like this_ walking toward him to become his legal wife_ made him feel like the luckiest man in the entire world.

"Finally, he can stop whining about being an illegal husband." Bullet shouted, firing a few rounds into the air to add to the excitement.