“Tomorrow,” I repeated, suddenly realizing that after tomorrow, we’d all scatter back to our regular routines. Sasha and Deklyn would start their married life, probably stationed wherever Inferno Force was based. The thought of losing her so soon after we’d reunited made my stomach gnarl.
“Let’s dance,” Volten said, standing and holding out his hand.
The holographic band launched into “Karma Chameleon,” and Volten spun me onto the dance floor. His hand settled at the small of my back, and when he pulled me closer, I could smellhis distinctive scent that was clean and masculine and made me want to bury my face against his neck.
“You can even dance,” I murmured into his chest. “Is there anything Drexian warriors can’t do?”
“How to propose properly, apparently,” he said, his voice dry. “I seem to have skipped a few steps back there.”
My heart stuttered. “Volten?—”
“I know it was sudden,” he continued, spinning me again. “But seeing your sister and Deklyn made me realize that life is too short not to reach for what you want.”
The song was ending, but he didn’t release me. Instead, he pulled me closer, his forehead resting against mine as the last notes faded away.
“I want you, Ariana,” he said, his voice barely audible over the surrounding chatter. “I want to wake up next to you every morning and fall asleep beside you every night. I want to fly missions together and argue about navigation routes and come home to the same quarters. But most of all, I want to promise myself to you in front of everyone.”
My throat felt tight. “Volten...”
“I know I should have asked properly. I should have planned something romantic and private, but we’re pilots. That’s not our style.”
I laughed. “No, it’s not.”
Then he dropped down on one knee. “Ariana Bowman, best pilot I know, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
I stared into his eyes. He was right about life being too short. We’d all learned that lesson over the past few weeks, watching friends get captured and nearly lost, seeing how quickly everything could change.
“Yes,” I said, the word escaping before I could second-guess myself.
His face lit up like the sunrise. “Yes?”
“Yes, you impossible, arrogant flyboy,” I said, laughing through the tears that had somehow started flowing. “I’ll marry you.”
He jumped up and lifted me off my feet, spinning me around as I laughed and cried and felt like my heart might burst from happiness. When he finally set me down, he kissed me deeply, right there on the dance floor, not caring who was watching.
When we finally broke apart, breathless and grinning, I realized the entire tent had gone quiet. Everyone was staring at us.
“Did I miss something?” Sasha called from the head table.
“Volten just proposed!” Fiona shouted back, raising her champagne glass. “Looks like we’re going to need more wedding planners!”
The tent erupted in cheers and applause. Serge actually squealed with delight, his hands fluttering in the air as if he might faint from the excitement, while Reina clapped wildly.
Sasha was on her feet instantly, Deklyn right behind her as they rushed over to us. She threw her arms around me, still in her wedding dress, laughing and crying at the same time.
“I’m so happy for you,” she whispered fiercely. “I’m so, so happy.”
“A new wedding to plan before this one is even over!” Serge dabbed at his eyes. “This is the most wonderful day of my entire career!”
“So,” I said to Sasha as she finally released me, “looks like you started something.”
She grinned, reaching for Deklyn’s hand. “Good. It’s about time everyone stopped being so careful and started taking chances on happiness.”
I couldn’t have agreed more.
Epilogue
One month later
