“Do not cry!” She demands, “We are going to walk out of that door, I am going to hold your hand thewhole time, so you don’t fall down the stairs, and I’m going to take you to Abe. He’s going to walk you down the aisle to where Malakaiwillbe waiting, do you understand me?”
“He’d do it, you know,” I point out, “Stand me up just to humiliate me.”
“He’s down there!” I hear Sebastian yell through the door, “I just saw him.”
“See?” Willow rubs the tops of my arms, “It’s going to be fine.”
I nod, more to myself than to her. I mean if he stands me up then I’m free, right? It’ll be fine.
Why am I even panicking about this!?
“There you go,” She smiles, “You ready?”
“Yeah,” I reply, voice wavering.
She grasps my hand firmly, tugging me toward the door. When she opens it there’s no one in the hall and we begin to move down it slowly. Noise filters up from downstairs, but it’s almost drowned out by the sound of my thumping heart, my blood pounding inside my ears.
Don’t throw up. Don’t throw up.I chant it over and over in my head as we descend the stairs, one step at a time, our movements slow, Willow’s grip on me tight as if she knows I’m going to bolt at any second.
Just before we hit the bottom step, Abe comes into view. I can’t help but smile at him. He’d instantly put me at ease the night before with his charm, it didn’t matter that he was related to the devil because he’s nothing like his grandson. There’s a kindness to himMalakai lacks, and he almost reminds me of my father when he wasn’t drowning in work.
“Olivia, sweetheart,” He says when I reach the bottom, “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks, Abe,” My voice shakes, giving away my nerves. He takes my hand from Willow, not giving me an inch to even think about running.
“Chin up,” he taps my chin with a crooked finger, “Shoulders back,” I find myself obeying his words, straightening my shoulders, “One foot in front of the other so you can go knock my grandson on his ass.”
A quick burst of laughter escapes me and some of that tension leaves my chest, making it just that little bit easier to breathe.
“You good?” Willow asks me just as a man steps up behind her.
He’s fucking huge. Dressed impeccably in a blue suit, it stretches over broad shoulders and thick arms. His white shirt is tucked into blue slacks and his dirty blond hair is styled to perfection atop his head. Dark green eyes, thick lashes and he’s clean shaven which highlights how sharp his jawline is, his cheeks high, his brows low.
He throws me a dazzling smile, winking before he takes Willow’s arm and leads her away from me.
“Sebastian?” I ask.
“The one and only,” Abe grumbles, “Troublemaker if you ask me.”
“Is Willow safe with him? Is he… is he like Malakai?”
“Yes, sweetheart,” Abe pats my hand, “We’re about to walk into a nest of snakes, assume everyone is venomous, because they mostly are. Trust no one except Malakai and those he keeps closest to him.”
“So, Sebastian?” I push.
“Yes, as much as I loathe to admit it.”
I’m not about to tell him I’m never going to trust him or Malakai. The only person I can trust is myself.
“You ready?” Abe asks.
“I don’t think I have much choice,” I admit honestly, “Let’s get it over with.”
Chapter Eleven
Soft instrumental music begins to play as the room rises to a stand at the first sight of Sebastian and Willow. They walk toward me, looking quite the pair and acting as if this wedding isn’t between two people who barely know each other.
They make it to the end but just before they take their places to the side, Sebastian leans in, a shit eating grin on his face.
