A raucous cheer filled the air, and I took hold of Theo’s hand, smiling at him before we walked through the archway and into our outdoor reception.
It was stunning. String lights were draped over the courtyard, giving the night a romantic feel that was entirely at odds with the formal royal wedding. Here, champagne flowed like a river, guests drifted around the gardens’ stunning flowers and marble fountains, and our band of brothers all stood, some grinning, some smirking at us from one side of the dance floor.
This was like a royal fairytale, one I’d never imagined I would be a part of or even dreamed of wanting. I’d just happened to fall in love with a prince and made him my husband.
Even thoughthisfairytale prince was a menace, because he kept brushing his fingers along the inside of my wrist like he wanted to drag me into that closet for a repeat.
“How long are we required to be here?” I said under my breath as I smiled at those greeting us.
“I would’ve left five minutes ago if you hadn’t stopped me.”
“Dammit.”
“You’re in it now,” he said, shaking his head as a steady stream of well-wishers surrounded us.
I tried to keep close to him as we shook hands and thanked people for coming, but it wasn’t easy. Then again, these events were never for the couple as much as they were for everyone else. Which was another good reason to run off and elope.
“Damn. You two actually look the part of royals today,” Lachlan said before giving a low whistle as he, our brothers, and their dates all finally joined us.
Alessio shot us a wink. “Some could even say...Kings.”
“The wedding was beautiful,” Lucien said, his arm around Kai’s shoulders. “But this…”
“Resplendent,” King said, smiling proudly at the two of us.
Theo straightened his cuffs. “Yes, we do clean up rather nice when we have to?—”
“We just don’t like to have to,” I finished, wondering how long we’d been at this already.
Theo leaned in by my ear and, like he’d read my mind, said, “Only twenty minutes.”
God, that was all? It felt like an hour.
“So, newlyweds…” Lachlan waggled his brows, and that look had me bracing myself. “Did you ever get your first dance?”
“Please tell me it wasn’t to Elvis giving you a private performance in Vegas.” Benoit shuddered.
“You don’t get a first dance when you elope,” I said, and looked at Theo. “What would we have even chosen?”
“About that…” said Lucien, smiling mischievously along with the rest as they began to back away and the soft sounds of a slow song began.
A hush fell over the crowd, who moved off the dance floor, leaving me and Theo alone and with all eyes on us.
“Enjoy your first dance,” the announcer said like he was in cahoots with our brothers.
The lights above the dance floor began to twinkle, and then I heard it. The first line of the song, something about it so familiar though I’d never heard it before.
Or had I?
“Oh my God,” Theo said, grinning broadly as he turned to face me. It took me a second, but then I realized what song it was.
“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles),” the one I’d chosen for Theo to walk down the aisle to, only this version was something else entirely. Something slow and beautiful and romantic, sung in a heartfelt way that had the words taking on a new meaning.
My throat tightened as I looked past Theo to our brothers and back to my man, and just like that, everyone around us vanished. There was only my husband, as breathtaking as the day he’d married me, and I took his hand, drawing him in close.
His hand slid around my waist, steady and sure, and we began to move.
“How did they know?” I wondered out loud, curious how they’d figured out our song. Miraculously, our wedding video had stayed private, the chapel owner doing his part in honoring the NDA.
