My simpleton of a niece is fiercely loyal. I think we can use her.
Skyla’s lips twitch, unsure which direction to go in, her eyes still pinned on my brother. “I just might kill your wife and your child.”
His eyes dart to meet with hers, first time since we’ve sat down at this unholy coven.
A laugh bubbles from Skyla a moment, proud to have attained his full attention. “That’s right. I don’t have any regard for human life anymore. Just Factions. Turns out, I’m a lot like you.”
Laken clears her throat, straightens her spine as she takes up my hand, and a warm smile spreads over her face as if I had the power to put it there. Eat that, Coop.
“If you don’t mind, I would love to say a few vows,” Laken offers. Her other hand dips to her stomach. “Especially now with the new baby.”
“Yes.” Everything in me enlivens. “Laken, you were meant for me. I have never loved anyone the way I love you. It’s always been you for me as far back as Cider Plains.”
Eli yelps on cue and Kresley growls out an excuse before leaving the room with him.
Chloe nods my way. “You’ll do it with us. A double wedding. I couldn’t think of anything as romantic. But we’ve done it before, haven’t we, Wes? It’s the way we married.” Her gaze moves to Skyla. “You remember, don’t you? It was quite the spectacle.”
Skyla gives a silent nod. “Sort of the way this is now.” Her eyes widen as she looks to Gage, her pain so very palpable even I want to beg him to put her out of her misery.
We won the damn battle. Who the hell cares if she doesn’t put up a fight? If I were Gage, I’d take her back. Skyla would be up for it. They should be enjoying each other, living life and riding high. Skyla was so very willing to throw it all away and pass the Faction baton to Logan. Why the hell not?
A deep sigh expels from me. I will never understand how my brother’s brain works. He’s forever the shining knight even when it requires the blade to penetrate his own heart.
I pull Laken’s hand to my lips. “I love you so damn much. We’ll go ring shopping in the morning.”
Michelle Miller, Liam’s new nightmare of a wife, whoops up a storm. “And, of course, the entire bridal party will be taken care of by The Enchanted Closet. Not Em, though. She’s about to burst.” A nasty look of satisfaction takes over her features as she feasts her eyes on Skyla. “And we’d never leave you out, Mess. In fact, we’ll give you the pick of the litter. You’ll be there, right? I mean, Logan will be Gage’s best man. Obvs.” She winks Logan’s way.
“No.” Gage drops his knife with a heavy clink, his chest expanding with a breath. “It’s Wes. Small ceremony. No friends.” He glares at Chloe. “Just family.”
Chloe’s lips fidget as she bites down on a smile. Watch it, Gage. That witch gets exactly what she wants, and if Chloe wants friends at her wedding, then Gage be damned, there will be an entire fleet of them. She might have to purchase them for the day, but nevertheless, Chloe will inevitably get her twisted way.
“No friends?” Chloe balks. “But the kids are a must. That’s a hard line for me. Tobie will be there. Wes and Laken will have Charlie and Eli. Will we have our boys? I think we should each hold one as we solidify our family bond.”
Gage shoots a look to Skyla, his features slowly turning to stone. He never thought it would be easy. But he never thought it would be this hard either. Welcome to reality, brother. With Chloe as your bride, she will ensure every damn day is a freaking nightmare. Deeper and deeper you’ll spiral until hell sounds like a day spa you’d love to spend eternity in.
“Then it’s settled.” Demetri offers a weak applause. “Of course, the royal gentry will wish to be present. You are the king, and your kingdom has certainly come. New life awaits us in the new year, a coronation fit for the ages, a new kingdom, a new era. To the beautiful year ahead.” Demetri lifts his glass and half the table feels the need to join him. But Skyla and her loyalists sit this one out.
Emma’s eyes sparkle with tears as she looks to her son with something that supersedes love, obsession. “To my son, the king. You have arrived. Destiny has gifted you the world at your feet. I love you.”
“Hear, hear!” Demetri laughs as they imbibe.
Laken elbows me in the rib. “You’re not toasting.”
I come to, stunned that I’ve momentarily sided with Skyla’s dissidents. I’m quick to rectify the effort and knock back my wine as if it were a shot, quick and hasty.
Dinner wraps up, and soon we’re bundling Charlie for the trek across the street. I kiss Eli and offer Kresley a hearty embrace to appease her before Logan nods for me to follow him to the porch.
“What’s up, Oliver?” I say, adjusting the collar on my coat.
“You tell me.” His piss-yellow eyes glare my way. “You don’t want Gage up on that throne any more than I do. Give him the boot. Put him out of his misery. Take the helm. I’m rooting for you.”
I inch back, amused by his midnight soliloquy. “You’re dreaming. That boy wants to be there.”
“The hell he does.” He squints over at me a moment. “Maybe it’s you who doesn’t want to be there.” His chest heaves as if he came upon an earth-shattering revelation. “Leave the Barricade, Wes.”
“Not on your life. Not on mine. I’m the one that believes in it, remember? I penned the articles of confederation. I’m a founding father of the cause. I’m not going anywhere.”
He swallows hard, his eyes pinned to mine, wide and apprehensive as if I were his only hope.
