Glancing at him, I grinned. Today was bittersweet. I never thought I would get married. And if I ever found the one to take me on, I envisioned my brother as my best man. Kestrel wasn’t there in body, but he was in spirit. I felt his pride on the sea air. I saw his smile in the sunset. And my new brother stood in his place. My brother-in-law.
“I know. Believe me, I know.”
Jasmine sat opposite, in the maid of honour position. Her eyes reflected the colour of her beautiful bridesmaid’s dress of purple and black. Nila had designed the gown, as well as my suit and V’s best man’s outfit. We all matched. A family.
The soft music stopped playing as Nila ended the procession within touching distance.
Tex wiped away a tear as he hugged his daughter. He’d lost the weight he’d carried ever since I’d taken Nila and looked like the distinguished gentleman from the night I stole her.
We’d had a private chat a couple of months ago. I’d apologised to him for what my family had done and sworn on the graves of my ancestors that Nila was forever safe in my arms.
Nila stood before me.
I blinked, drinking in her incredible perfection.
Her tiny hands slotted into mine, and I squeezed her so damn hard.
The celebrant I’d hired clasped his fingers together, looking at the small congregation. There weren’t many of us. Flaw represented the Black Diamonds. Tex represented Nila's family. There were no business partners or friends, no assistants or organisers.
Just the people who mattered.
“Do you have your own vows or would you like to repeat after me?”
Nila smiled softly. “We’ve already said what we needed to.”
I nodded, thinking about the newly framed Sacramental Pledge hanging in my office. The figurines from my boyhood and the contract for my happiness as an adult, side by side.
“Go ahead with traditional. The sooner she’s my wife, the better.”
The celebrant smiled, his dark hair catching the sunset as it kissed the ocean. England was behind us. The Greek isles and Santorini nestled us, floating on the turquoise ocean.
Our honeymoon would be spent here. Relaxing on the beach and making love in the moonlight. V and Tex had planned to source some local cotton and silk, while Flaw had meetings with jewellery shops to stock our diamonds.
Work and pleasure.
A perfect combination.
“Do you, Jethro ‘Kite’ Hawk, take this woman as your lawfully wedded wife, for now and forever, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”
I didn’t need to think. “I do.”A thousand times, I do.
“And do you, Nila Threads Weaver, take this man as your lawfully wedded husband, for now and forever, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”
Nila shook her head.
Shook her head?What the fuck?
Smiling, she murmured, “I take him now and forever but not for as long as we both shall live.” She squeezed my fingers, her eyes glinting. “Far beyond that. For eternity.”
I couldn’t wait for the ‘you may kiss the bride’ part. I grabbed her shoulders and yanked her forward. My lips met hers, and I forgot about the world and witnesses. I forgot about everything but soldering my soul to this woman who’d captured me as carefully as a net captures a hawk.
Speaking into her mouth, I whispered, “Seeing as you changed the rules, I have another one to add to your vow. I swear to love you forever. You are no longer indebted to me. I’m indebted to you. My heart is in your debt. My happiness. My very life is yours.”
Nila melted, holding onto me as I dipped her and deepened the kiss.
Laughing, the celebrant spoke to the gathered crowd. “Seeing as you just sealed your vows, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
The cheers crested, and for the first time in my life, being in a crowd didn’t hurt. The overwhelming sensation of everyone’s emotions was of happiness, fulfilment, and joy.
