It does seem a bit silly to have a ceremony, given that this entire thing is essentially a business transaction. Still, itisgoing to be a real marriage.
I swallow, looking at myself in the mirror.
That's the part that hasn’t actually sunk in yet: after today, I willactually, legally, be married.
My eyes meet my gaze in the mirror, and my face heats as a smile teases the corners of my lips.
Two months ago, even a few weeks ago, today might have felt like a final nail being driven into my coffin. But as I stand here, readying myself to walk down the aisle to becomeMrs. Bane Antonov, I don’t feel any sense of dread.
I’m not delusional, of course. I’ve seen the cold underbelly of the world enough to understand reality when I see it. I’m aware that even though Bane and I fucka lot, in extremely hardcore and you could say extra intimate ways, that doesn’t mean we’re, well…whatever it is when two peoplereallyget married.
But I don’t feel like we’re enemies. And I don’t think of him as the villain anymore.
Well,avillain, perhaps. Maybe evenmyvillain. But not the villain of our story.
I roll my eyes at myself when I catch myself thinking “our story” on my fucking wedding day.
Okay, Lark woulddefinitelyget a kick out of this.
There's a firm knock on the door of the library that I’ve been using as a dressing room.
“Yes?”
“May I come in, Dove?”
I frown curiously as I turn to the sound of Bane’s dad’s voice on the other side of the door. “Uh, sure. Be my guest.”
The door opens, and Nikolai steps in. He’s a good-looking man, probably in his early fifties, with hairjustsilvering at the temples, an athletic, fit build, and the same dark eyes as his son. Different mouth and chin, though—Bane’s come from his mother. I’ve been looking at the few pictures of her in the library as I’ve been getting ready.
Nikolai smiles warmly at me as he closes the door behind, lookingverydapper in his tailored suit. The age lines around his eyes only give him a more distinguished look as he grins at me and slowly shakes his head.
“You look stunning, my dear.”
I smile awkwardly. “Thanks,” I say shyly. I glance down at myself. “It’s not too much? I mean, you know…forthis.”
Nikolai chuckles. “Bythis, you mean…” He cocks a brow. “Afakemarriage?”
My mouth twists. “Well…yeah.”
“Does it feel fake?”
The question catches me off-guard, and I feel myself hesitate as I search for the right words. Bane's dad just shakes his head.
“Didn’t mean to put you on the spot. Anyway, to answer you…” He eyes me up and down—not in a creepy or lecherous way, more like a father who’s proud of you.
Please note myactualfather hasn’t made an appearance to say hi or anything yet. But, par for the course, I guess.
Nikolai smiles. “No, Dove, I don’t think it’s too much. I think you look stunning.” He chuckles again. “Toostunning for my mopey son, frankly.”
I find myself laughing as he winks at me.
“How are you feeling?”
My brows knit. “About?”
He shrugs, looking around. “About all of this. The wedding, marriage, the whole bit.”
It surprises me that hecares. In my mind, this whole arrangement has been a business transaction between him and my father, and people conducting business transactions rarely ask the goods being traded how they feel about it.
