So when I walked closer to the church and threw the doors open, I had zero hesitation for wanting to marry the man of my dreams. I trusted him with my heart and soul and everything in between.
The music changed the second I entered, and every eye looked up at me. The chapel was small, and yet that made it even more amazing. It only seated about forty people, and it was packed to the gills, with others standing outside. The light coming through the stained glass was breathtaking. Pictures of angels were set into the colored glass in broken bits.
A peaceful feeling settled over me.
I’d never been more ready to spend my life with someone than I was right now.
When my gaze went to the end of the aisle, it locked on to Luka.
‘I’ll never forget this,’I told him, looking around the church in wonder.‘This is the best day of my life.’
The grin that swept across his face made my knees go weak. Luka Drake was totally out of my league, yet somehow he wanted to marry me. He didn’t care that I’d hated vampires when we first met, or that I was a virgin, or anything else. He accepted me for me.
When I reached the end, I saw my mom and Maple sitting in the front row and gave them a wave. Maple tapped her mace and winked at me, causing me to chuckle.
Luka stepped forward and pulled me into his arms. “You look stunning, My Queen.”
Queen. Holy crap, I kept forgetting I was going to be queen!
Saying Luka looked stunning would be an understatement. Seeing him now in his black tuxedo made warmth rush between my legs.
Sawyer, Bennet, Walsh, and Talon stood behind him.
Five Crew.
We’d been through hell together, each of us separately in our own way, but we’d all made it out alive. Well, mostly, since I was technically undead.
Astra’s singsong voice pulled me back to the present: “Aspen Rose and Luka Drake … it is my honor to bless this union.”
We faced her, holding hands as she read a beautiful poem about love and declared us man and wife. By the time “kiss the bride” was said, I wasn’t ready for this picturesque moment to be over. I just wanted to take it all in.
We made our way to the reception, which was being hosted in a giant white silk tent that had been erected on the lawn. There were hundreds of people inside of varying supernatural races. When I recognized Milika and Tink, I looked at Luka in shock.
He winked. “They wanted to pay their respects.”
I broke away from him and rushed to give Milika a hug. Tink was looking as strong as ever, and free of his collar, although he still carried some of the scars.
“I’m so glad you both came!” I told them.
Milika smiled shyly, and Tink dipped his head to me, a cigarette tucked behind his ear. “We wouldn’t miss it.”
“How are things? I mean … do you need to come and live here? We’d love to have you,” I told them.
Milika grinned, sharing a conspiratorial look with Tink.
“I’m the alpha now, with a seat on the quorum,” Tink said. “Trolls have a representative too.”
I couldn’t help the grin that splashed across my face. He’d always seemed like alpha material to me.
“I’ve been relieved of my debt. I work for Tink now,” Milika told me.
Tink slung an arm around her, looking down at her like a cherished little sister. “That’s right. And no one messes with my people.” He winked at her and she blushed.
Okay, maybe not a sister.
“Just wanted to officially thank you in person,” Tink added, “Enjoy your night. I’m going to teach this one how to dance.”
Milika squealed and he pulled her onto the dance floor, leaving me with a light feeling in my chest. Knowing what they’d been through, for them to still have such zest for life, it really touched me. I peered around at House of Rose, House of Thorns, werewolves, vampires, trolls—people had come from all over to celebrate Luka and I, and I felt so blessed.
