EPILOGUE
Two Months Later
ROMULUS
The castle courtyardis decorated with white roses and fairy lights, and Layden stands at the altar looking like he might bolt at any moment.
“Breathe,” I murmur from our position as groomsman. “This is going to go great.”
“How do you know?” he hisses back.
From behind, Remus jumps in, “Because her grandfather will literally kill you if you backed out now.”
“Not helping, brother,” I say mildly.
But Layden actually laughs, some of the tension leaving his shoulders.
Music starts—something classical that Vlad insisted on—and Phoenix appears at the end of the aisle.
She’s radiant in white, her vampire nature making her practically glow in the evening light. And the way she’s looking at Layden?—
Yep. Like he hung the moon. They pretend they barely know each other but there’s clearly more story there.
The ceremony is beautiful. Layden only stumbles over his vows twice. Phoenix’s lip wobbles but she barely allows herself to show any more emotion than that. Abaddon gives a speech about the strength of family alliances that’s somehow both touching and mildly threatening.
Lo-Ren sits in the front row, glowing softly, absolutely stunning in the dress she picked out last week. She catches my eye and smiles, and I mouth “I love you” across the distance.
She mouths it back.
“Get a room,” Remus mutters, but I can feel his happiness too.
The reception is held in Vlad’s grand ballroom. There’s blood wine for the vampires, regular wine for everyone else, and an absolutely ridiculous amount of food.
When the dancing starts, I claim Lo-Ren’s hand and pull her onto the floor.
“Having fun?” I ask as we sway to the music.
“The most.” She rests her head against my chest. “I still think we should have a ceremony too.”
“We could arrange that.”
“Really?” She pulls back to look at me.
“Why not? We’re already committed for eternity. Might as well make it official.”
“Both of you?”
“Both of us,” I confirm, feeling Remus’s agreement through our bond.
Her smile is radiant. “I want a small ceremony. Just family. Maybe on a beach somewhere.”
“Whatever you want, love.”
“And I want to write my own vows.”
“Of course.”
“And Remus has to promise not to set anything on fire.”
