Free The War (Ultimate Power Book 2) by April Margeson Page A

fell open.  I hadn ’t realized that it was getting so close.  What in the world are we going to do now?  With all the uncertainties of the Dark Union’s intentions, how could we be sure there was even going to be a wedding?
    It will all be fine Bailey.  Don t worry , I heard Eric’s voice whisper to me.  His words calmed me instantly. 
    I know.
    Honestly, I wasn’t sure if it was going to be okay or not.  There was talk of war and attacks on the Circle of Light.  Naturally, I was going to be a bit apprehensive about it.  How could I not be?  At any given moment, a member of our Circle could be attacked, even killed.  We had to focus on that and nothing else.  I couldn’t see where the wedding was going to fit into all of this.
    Mom and I walked slowly up the w alkway and to the front door.  “I love you Mom.”  I said looking at her. 
    “ I love you too sweetheart.”
    Eric met us at the door and my mom instantly started yelling a t him like he had the plague.  “Go!  You can’t see the dress Eric!”
    He laug hed as he walked away.  Mom didn’t know that Eric could see if even if she locked it up in a steel vault.  The thought of that made me laugh even though I was still nervous about her seeing our guest.  Which, I had hoped that Eric had dealt with.
    “ Hello, Mrs. Sims.”  Maggie said meeting us at the bottom of the staircase.  “I’m Bailey’s friend, Maggie.” 
    Mom looked around at me taken by total surprise that I had a visitor.  I think it was more like she was surprised that she had never met Maggie before.
    “Hello, Maggie.”  Mom replied with a smile.   “C'mon upstairs with us.”
    The three of us ma de our way to my room.  I couldn’t believe I had let all this get away from me like I had.  Now I was about to be married and my life would be rather mixed up for a little while.
    I looked around my room as if I was never going to see it again.  Every imperfection that I had grown to love screamed at me with sorrow.  The small hole on the ceiling, the discolored spot of carpet next to my closet door.  I looked at it all with a new appreciation. It was almost time to leave it all behind for a new life.
    Mom unzipped the bag and both she and Maggie carefully took the dress out of the protective bag.  I watched as the made sure that the dress did not hang on anything.  I don’t think either of them took a breath until the gown was completely out.
    They helped me try it on for the final time before the wedding.  Maggie was speechless when I turned and looked at her.
    Everything seemed to be in perfect order.  It still fit and I didn’t see anything that needed altered.  Mom and Maggie agreed, but done one last good going over just to be sure.
    All the while, I was concentrating on keeping my thoughts blocked from Eric.  Mom would have a screaming fit if she got the slightest hint that he had seen what the gown looked like.  She was good at catching on to someone when if they were telling a lie.  I suppose that was one of the reasons that she was so good at her job.
    After taking the gown off and getting dressed, I hugged my mother and thanked her for everything she had done to help us with the wedding.  I was sad, but I knew that this was the life that I wanted.  I had to be with Eric, but I was going to miss my parents and after I am married, being in this room will not ever be the same after I left.
    Eric called for me from downstairs, pulling me from my spiraling sadness.  “Coming.” I yelled out the door to him.
    When I went downstairs to see what Eric wanted, I could sense that something was wrong.  It wasn ’t hard to see.  Even Maggie looked a bit frazzled and I really didn’t want to know what was going on, but I had very little choice in the matter.  Everyone was relying on me and the other members of the Circle for direction.
    Nothing seemed to surprise me anymore and I think that was beginning to be a bad thing.  Especially, when