“I love you,” I say. His lips move, matching mine.
“I love you too, Angel.” Then he stands up fully, his gaze drifting over me one more time from head to toe like he's photographing this instant.
“Can you… Can you ask Erin to come, please?” I sign.
“Sure.” He nods, kissing me one last time. “See you in an hour, Angel,” he says as he heads for the door. I give him a small smile, and he slips out of the room like a man who just stole the moon.
“Your hands are shaking, hon,”Erin says gently. She catches them before I even realize how bad it is. We are standing in front of the dresser mirror in our bedroom, and I have just finished fastening the small pearl earrings Vox gave me for my birthday. Two tiny white pearls that match my necklace and sit against my skin like little drops of light. I meet her eyes in the mirror and try to smile.
“Nerves,” I sign, hoping she understands. Even if she doesn’t catch the exact word, the tremor in my fingers is probably enough explanation.
“I know,” she says softly, giving my hands a squeeze. “I was the same the morning of our wedding.” Her long, dark nails rest lightly on my knuckles. I remember pieces of the story she told me before. How her father forbade her from marrying Shadow. How they did it anyway, choosing each other over everything. “It was just the two of us and a Priest,” she says with a small smile. “I was shaking so hard I almost dropped the ring.”
“Everything will be alright,” she adds. “He loves you so much. Never seen him like this. The man’s whole universe orbits around you.” Her words ease something tight in my chest. I nod and try to breathe more slowly. My cream satin robe is still tied loosely at the waist. My hair is done in long, soft curls that fall over my shoulders and down my back. Erin curled each strand with patience, humming under her breath while I watched her in the mirror. It looks like something out of a magazine. She did my makeup too. A little foundation, a touch of blush, mascara to darken my lashes, and a soft champagne shimmer on my eyelids. I still look like myself, just a slightly more polished version. Under the robe, I’m wearing a light blue lace set she helped me pick out.
“Rose?” Erin’s voice pulls me back. I blink up at her. “I think… I think it’s time to put on the dress,” she says, her smile kind and excited at the same time. She looks stunning herself. Her dress is a soft green that flows all the way to the floor, cinched at the waist and moving easily when she walks. Her hair is sleek, parted to the side, the length resting over one shoulder like a dark waterfall. Diamond earrings catch the light when she tilts her head, and her burgundy lipstick makes her look like something out of an ancient painting. She reminds me of a mermaid I’ve seen in a movie. Beautiful and otherworldly.
My dress waits for me on the bed, my hand reaching out instinctively and gliding over the fabric. The last dress I had wasplain and awful. This one is the opposite and I can’t believe it’s mine.
Erin makes her way to me, “Alright, let’s get you into this masterpiece.” I untie the robe and let it slide off my shoulders. Erin helps me step into the dress, lifting the fabric so I don’t trip. The material pools around my feet first, then climbs my body as she pulls it up. “Okay,” she says, stepping back. “Turn around.” I turn slowly, and her reaction is immediate. “Oh. My. God,” she breathes. “Stunning, just…stunning. Vox is going to fall on his knees.”
I step in front of the mirror, hands tingling, and when I look up, I'm overwhelmed with my reflection. Not because of the dress, but because of the journey it represents. I went from being a girl wearing a shapeless cotton dress to this…woman. The fabric is a soft, creamy beige made of silk that catches the light when I move. I didn't want white. The purity connotations hammered into my brain since birth didn't match who I was now. I needed everything to be different, even the dress. My hourglass shape is draped with the fabric, the bodice strapless, the neckline straight. Graceful and feminine. Tiny pearls are sewn through the silk, shimmering against the light. I knew this was the dress from the moment I saw it. But seeing it now with my hair done, earrings, and knowing that in an hour I will be marrying the love of my life is sending butterflies in my belly. I guess that's what they call a pinch-me moment. Erin comes to stand beside me, handing me a tissue before my tears ruin everything. I dab carefully under my eyes. In her other hand, she holds a tiny purse and a slightly bigger bag that I recognize as mine.
“I’ve put your phone in here, the legal papers just in case, and your cream cardigan,” she says. “Just in case you get cold.” She winks. “Wait, don’t forget your flowers.”
I turn and grab the small bouquet of white roses from the nightstand that I made yesterday in the kitchen while Harley was trying to eat the petals. I make my way down the stairs, careful not to break my ankles since I'm not exactly used to wearing heels. Erin peeks through the front window. “Chauffeur’s here,” she says. “Do you want the cardigan? It’s bloody cold outside.” I shake my head immediately. No way I am hiding this dress under anything. She laughs. “Yeah, I figured. I would have done the same.” She glances at the door. “Oh, look, he left you a note.” She plucks it from where it has been taped neatly to the wood and hands it to me. My heart thunders when I recognize his handwriting. I unfold the paper.
Love of my life, angel of my nights.
Thank you for choosing me, for giving me your trust and your love.
I will always cherish it.
See you at City Hall. I’ll be the one in the black tux.
I love you.
Your husband.
I pressthe note to my heart and close my eyes for a second.Husband. It’s already familiar, as if I had said it a thousand times before. Erin opens the front door, and I see the car parked outside. I grip my bouquet a little tighter and step forward.
“Ready?” Erin asks and I nod with a bright smile.
Yes,I'm ready.
Vox
“Relax. You’re acting like she’s not gonna come,” says Shadows.
“I’m not,” I snap.
“Then why are you pacing like a lunatic?” he asks, scoffing. He stands there in his black suit, his tattoos the only thing visible on his hands.
“I’m not pacing,” I lie, even as I stride from one side of the room to the other again.
“Yeah, alright.” He drops it and moves to stand beside me. The ceremony room is small and plain, a few rows of empty chairs placed for formality. They’ll stay empty. It’s just the four of us. That’s how we wanted it. The mayor fidgets in front of us, a fake smile plastered on his face. He knows he has to do this right if he wants to keep his position. He’s in his mid-fifties, bold, a little soft around the edges, the buttons of his shirt fighting for survival.
“She should be here by now,” I mutter, checking my watch. The damn suit itches everywhere. I don’t know how Ares puts up with wearing this kind of thing regularly. Focus. This is just a formality. Rose is already mine and I’m hers. That’s been true for months. Nah, I’ll admit, it is a big deal. And waiting for her feels like counting grains of sand in the Sahara when I just want to hold her hand and make sure she’s okay. A feminine voice echoes behind the double doors. Erin. The door cracks open and she peeks inside, letting out a sigh of relief when she spots Shadow.
