This was the New Orleans she loved, and who loved her back—where friends, neighbors and family had enough faith in each other to put their differences aside and celebrate life—share life.

This was so different from all the turmoil they had gone through this past year, which, at this moment, seemed a thousand years ago.

It had been four months since Nicole, Simon and Teddy’s death, and the nightmare Shauna had lived through in that warehouse. It had taken two of those months for Shauna to feel some semblance of normalcy and stop looking over her shoulder every time she walked down a street.

Kara had been tracked down not that long ago. She had been found hiding out in a deserted cabin out in a pine forest in Alexandria, Louisiana. August had been the one to take her to Atlanta, where she faced the were-council and magistrate, both of whom were responsible for the were packs living along the entire southern rim of North America. August had returned from that trip alone, and when he did, he looked as though he had aged a hundred years. No one asked him about Kara, and he never offered any information. Judging from his haggard face, and the haunted look in his eyes, it wasn’t hard to imagine the severity of the magistrate’s sentence and Kara’s punishment.

Two weeks following Kara’s capture, Gris Gris’ body, or what was left of it, was found floating in the marsh by three local fishermen, just north of Lake Pontchatrain. The cause of death had yet to be determined, and Shauna suspected that with the handful of wolven who worked for the coroner’s office and as filing administrators for the Clerk of Court, it might never be. Either that or the death would be labeled accidental. After all, considering the enormity of the man, it wasn’t hard for one to imagine Gris Gris falling out of a skiff…unable to swim…

Some things in life simply had no direct answers. And some had no answers at all.

As for Banjo, Danyon had had to stand before the vampire council, which included David Dulac, and give an account of all that had transpired that day in the warehouse. After only a few hours of questioning, the matter was dismissed, and Danyon had been free to go.

As the jazz band grew louder outside, everyone gathered in the center aisle of the cathedral, ready to head outside and take their place in the second line. Every woman here looked so beautiful dressed in their finery and the men very handsome, especially Jagger in his black, long coat-tailed tuxedo. Amidst the tangle of suits, tuxedos, taffeta dresses, and ball gowns, Shauna caught only a glimpse of the satin, beaded chapel train before the bride was whisked away.

Shauna didn’t know how weddings were celebrated in other cathedrals around the country, but old St. Louis seemed to relish the clapping, whistling and joyous chatter.

As everyone filed through the front doors of the Cathedral, Rita Quinn, August’s assistant, handed each attendee a white, linen handkerchief. The handkerchiefs were a customary and necessary part of a wedding’s second line, for celebrants waved them in the air as they danced their way to the reception.

So much happiness on the heels of so much pain.

It seemed like the universe had a way of balancing out the good and bad one had to experience in life. Sometimes it felt like the scales tipped too far to the left and stayed that way too long. But sooner or later, without fail, the universe shifts, and tips that scale in the other direction. Maybe the key to finding peace in life was understanding that times were not always good, but they were not always bad. And if you can learn to straddle the center of that scale as it tips first one way, then the other, life might feel much more balanced.

Trailing the procession out of the church, Shauna squinted against the brilliance of a cloudless June day.

The jazz band had already started its march, the musicians bouncing, dancing and swaying as they played their instruments.

Following directly behind the band, were the happy bride and groom, both dancing and clapping, determined to celebrate this day for all it was worth. Shauna felt like her heart would burst with joy as she watched the two of them from the top step of the Cathedral—the new Mrs. Lurnell Clarice Johnson and her long awaited new husband, Tyree.

Trailing the newly married couple was Jagger DeFarge and Fiona, who looked stunning in her satin, emerald green dress. As it turned out, Tyree was in his second year of training as a detective for the NOPD’s eighth precinct. Jagger had been his supervisor since day one, and the two had become close friends. Since Tyree had no biological brothers, he had asked Jagger to be his best man.

Behind the best man and his beauty were Caitlin and Ryder, both waving handkerchiefs in the air and bouncing in time with the music.

Not remembering a time when she had felt this happy, Shauna danced her way down the steps of the Cathedral and waved her handkerchief. Sunlight set the two karat diamond on the ring finger of her left hand ablaze, and sparkles of light danced to their own tune.

The stone was indeed magnificent.

But not nearly as magnificent as the precious Stone dancing beside her.