The food is incredible—someone must have barbecued all afternoon.
The music is loud and happy. The atmosphere is pure joy.
Shiver and Siren are there, having decided to stay an extra night for the celebration.
Siren pulls me aside at one point, grinning. "Pretty amazing, isn’t it? Your mom did a great job."
"Yeah, she did," I admit.
Banshee's standing off to the side, watching the celebration with a small smile.
I notice he's alone—no date, no partner.
Just him and that gold band still on his left ring finger, catching the light from the string lights overhead.
My heart aches for him. Whatever he lost, whoever he's grieving, it's still raw.
Shadow finds me as the sun fully sets and the string lights become the main illumination, casting everything in a warm, golden glow.
"Dance with me," he says.
"You don't dance."
"I'll dance with you."
He leads me to the cleared space that's serving as a dance floor, and we sway together to some country song I don't recognize.
His arms around me, my head on his chest, moving slowly.
Perfect.
We dance, and everyone is watching us—my father, my mother, my sister, the brothers.
All these people who love us, who fought for us, who are genuinely happy for us.
Dad cuts in eventually, and Shadow gracefully steps aside to let my father dance with me.
"You happy, baby girl?" Dad asks as we sway together.
"So happy, Daddy."
"Good." He's quiet for a moment. "I'm proud of you, you know, even if I don’t always tell you."
"Thanks, Daddy."
"You did good, Grace. Real good. Shadow's a good man. He'll take care of you."
"I know he will."
"And if he doesn't?—"
"Dad." I laugh. "He will. I promise."
The song ends, and Shadow reclaims me immediately. Possessive, claiming, making it clear to everyone that I'm his.
I don't mind at all.
The party continues for hours. Stories get told, drinks get drunk, laughter echoes through the clubhouse and out into the Texas night.
