Candace stepped forward until she was standing next to Ray Torra.

He took hold of her hand, and suddenly, Candace felt a huge infusion of power, giving her the support she needed to continue to stand upon that stage, even as her strength was flagging.

“Breathe deeply and stay calm,” Ray Torra whispered into her ear. “I’ll go as quickly as I can so you can get off the stage and get some rest.”

Candace took a deep breath and nodded. The old man looked unassuming and frail, but in reality, he was amazingly strong. No wonder all her husbands were so in awe of him.

“Dante. You first.” He called out to the blue-haired Crown Prince who was standing at the front of the line. “Come up here.”

Dante quickly moved into place and Ray Tora took hold of his hand. He joined Candace’s hand with Dante.

“Are you both in agreement to be married?”

Dante and Candace looked at each other.

“Yes.” They both spoke with conviction.

Ray Torra nodded. “Very good. Candace and Dante Farrah, you are now husband and wife.”

He made a gesture to Dante to vacate the spot.

“Quickly.” Ray Torra whispered. “Your wife is tiring fast.”

Dante grinned and moved to one side, even as Byron came up immediately behind him.

Again, Ray Torra joined Candace’s hand with Byron.

“Now then, are you both in agreement to be married?”

“Yes.” They both said with grins, remembering the stone statue moment they shared.

“Candace and Byron Farrah, you are now husband and wife.” He waved a hand. “Move along. It’s Lucas’ turn.”

Lucas moved forward and Ray Torra joined Candace’s hand with his.

“Are you both in agreement to be married?”

“Yes.” There was no hesitation as they smiled at each other, remembering their time together.

The weather on Marakaran was so very similar to the tropical sea shore of Lucas’ Island that it almost felt as if they were still in their own little paradise.

“Candace and Lucas Farrah, you are now husband and wife.”

He shooed Lucas away and pulled Leonardo towards Candace.

Ray Torra joined Candace’s hand with Leonardo.

“And you. Are you both in agreement to be married?”

“Yes.” They spoke clearly and with much love. Leonardo was a simple man who was very clear about what he wanted and who he loved. There was no doubt in his mind that she was his wife.

Ray Torra cleared his throat. “Candace and Leonardo Farrah, you are now husband and wife.”

Leonardo had barely vacated his spot when Jason and Jared came up together.

“Did I say you both could be up here at the same time?”

“But we’re twins.” Their eyes danced with mischief. “We want to marry her at the same time.”

Jason grabbed her left hand and Jared grabbed her right hand.

Ray Torra sighed. Whatever. It was their wedding, not his.

“Are you three in agreement to be married?”

“Yes.” All three said simultaneously and then laughed as the crowd laughed along with them.

This was real genuine laughter coming from the crowd and not the Lorem canned stuff. They were truly funny guys.

Ray Torra heaved an exasperated sigh. “Candace, Jason, and Jared Farrah, you are now husbands and wife.”

Last to approach the front was Slate. He stood there, trying hard not to shed a tear.

As the youngest, this wasn’t even something that he could have dared dream would happen, but it was actually happening to him.

“It’s okay to cry tears of happiness, Son.” Ray Torra said softly and with gentleness as he joined their hands.

Slate blinked as a single tear fell from his eyes.

“Are you both in agreement to be married?”

Slate and Candace looked at each other.

From the first moment Slate had caught her in midair above the buildings of LA, he had known she was a special woman.

This special woman was now going to be his wife, and Ray Torra was asking him if he agreed? Was he stupid? Why would he disagree???

“Yes.” Candace said while at the same time, Slate spoke emphatically. “Absolutely!”

Ray Torra nodded. “Very good. Candace and Slate Farrah, you are now husband and wife.”

He turned to all the brothers. “Come back around here and join hands with your wife while I speak the final words.”

Dante, Byron, Lucas, Leonardo, Jason, and Jared all gathered around and reached out to touch her hand.

Since there was only one of her and seven of them, she reached out with both her hands and took hold of all their hands, or whatever fingers of hers they could grab onto.

Ray Tora raised his arms up.

“And so, by the powers that have been entrusted to me, without further ado, Candace, Dante, Byron, Lucas, Leonardo, Jason, Jared, and Slate Farrah, I pronounce you all husbands and wife.”

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!! The crowd went wild.

Although it was an expected announcement, it was still something that was highly anticipated, and they were all ecstatic that they had been able to witness such a momentous event.

“And now for the crowning moment.” Ray Torra gave a signal.

On cue, the eight crown bearers came up to the platform with their red pillows bearing the seven Emperor crowns and the one Empress crown.

Each brother approached and knelt on a pillow before Ray Torra so he could place the crowns on their heads.

It wasn’t so much that kneeling showed a sign of respect. The truth was, they were all much taller than normal men and Ray Torra was a rather short man, made even shorter by advanced age.

By the time he reached Candace, Ray Torra shook his head.

“Don’t kneel. I don’t want you falling over with dizziness. I can reach you just fine, child.”

He reached out and with care, placed Candace’s Empress crown on her head.

“I’m trusting you to be a good wife to my boys and a good mother to your babies. Treat each of them with love and kindness and they will love and care for you and your children for always.”

“I will.” She smiled.

Amidst the cheering of the crowd, Ray Torra raised his hand one last time.

“Now that this marriage has been formally finalized, Candace, Dante, Byron, Lucas, Leonardo, Jason, Jared, Slate. I also pronounce you all the new reigning Co-Emperors and Empress of Erenveil!”

Amidst the loud cheering from the crowd, Dante picked Candace up and carried her across the glass platform with his brothers following closely behind.

They all got into the white transport pod that Candace had exited earlier.

In full view of the entire wedding gathering, the pod rose up into the bright blue Marakaran sky and disappeared from view.

Where they went, nobody knew except for their immediate family and a few close friends. For just a few short days, they would halt the galaxy’s demands on them and simply be with each other.

Even demigods needed a vacation once in awhile.

[END OF BOOK TWO]