I shook my head, trying to keep my tears back as Stone said, “Yes.”
My eyes darted to him when his hand left mine.
He reached into his pocket, still not looking at me.
Inside his palm were two wooden rings with intricate carvings.
I picked the smaller one from his palm and spun it around, seeing a lighthouse, the beam, Stone’s name, a spider, a flower, it was all there. A tiny mural of our love story carved into the wood. The other had the same designs, except with my name.
Clarence continued with the ceremony.
I tugged on Stone’s hand, begging him to look at me.
Then he took a breath and lifted his eyes to mine.
As soon as he did, he fought through it, clenching his jaw, his eyes watering.
I wanted to tell him I loved him even more for what he’d shown me, but Clarence was talking. So, I held his gaze, rubbed circles in his palm, and gave him a small smile. All at once, he released a breath, a tear, and a smile.
When Stone slipped on my ring, he pulled me into his chest and dropped his mouth to my ear. Our fingers were tightly woven between us.
“What I feel for you knows no time or place,” he whispered, his warm words ruffling my hair. “My love for you awakened without warning, slowly and in an instant, in one throbbing heartbeat, in a single flashing moment ... and I’m in love with youalways, my darling ... Do you hear me?”
This was what I’d longed to hear from him, and it caused me to unravel at the seams until I burst into tears. I held him tighter, nodding against his neck.
Stone’s hand came around me and held the back of my head, pulling me closer. He kissed my temple and rocked me in place. “I. Love. You ... and these words are perishable, gone as soon as they leave my lips, but Adora, I hope you feel how deeply rooted you are in me. There is only one way you should be loved, and that is with my whole heart and last breath. So, you have me completely.” He kissed the side of my head. And we clung to each other, whispering our vows, too overwhelmed to be bothered by our surroundings. Because this was us.
Eventually, Stone stepped back. My face must’ve looked like a sobbing mess, but I didn’t care. He’d just shown me and told me he loved me, and what came first thunder or lightning? Because at this moment I was both shaken and struck.
From the corner of my eye, Clarence looked up at us.
I could feel Stone’s heart pound when Clarence said, “Stone and Adora Danvers, you are now bound together, husband and wife, two souls, two lives, into one.”
Town Hall Meeting
I twistedmy ring around my finger again, a smile playing on my lips.
“You speak of fairness and equality. This is true for all the people of Weeping Hollow. Including your son, correct?” Ivy asked.
“Kane will be punished accordingly,” Augustine seethed.
“And until Kane’s punishment is stated, Adora is not marrying Cyrus,” Ivy demanded. My gaze darted to her, shocked she’d said this but hope filling me. I moved to the edge of my seat, wishing this would stand in the way of the wedding. “There will be no celebration until justice is served.” Ivy looked around the room, a vein popping in her forehead. “Everyone in favor say‘aye.’”
The room collectively said‘aye.’
Augustine’s angry gaze landed on me, and anxiety crept up my spine.
This was not a gaze of comfort. This was a threat.
“Kane Pruitt will spend six months in the cell,” he ordered, as though with a mouth full of bitterness. Kane’s head popped up from his hands, and a mixture of fear and dread consumed his entire face. “May the gods be with him.”
Like a ripple effect, the crowd gasped.
My gaze flew back to Stone.
I could hear my heavy breathing in my ears.
And then his heavy breathing.
