But gods, the doubt claws at me. Did we miscalculate? Miss a word? A measure? Did I lead us this far just to fail?
Then—
A crack.
Soft at first. Then louder. Lines splinter across the stone like lightning. Flakes drift to the floor, brittle as ash. Fingers twitch. Eyelids flutter. And then—eyes. Alive.
“Gods,” I whisper, my chest hollow, weightless.
It worked.
The room erupts. Groans split the air, then cries—raw, broken cries—as stone peels away in sheets. Flesh, breath, life where there was none. They embrace, sobbing like they’ll never let go again. The sound of it tears through me, sharp and beautiful, more powerful than any spell.
Jethro’s hand lands on my back, solid and heavy. He doesn’t say a word, but the nod he gives me carries more weight than anything he could speak.
Tallulah and Serafina collapse into each other. The sight of it knocks something loose in my chest.
Esmerelda’s parents rush forward. They clutch their family close, whole again at last, and then her mother turns to me. She throws her arms around me and presses a kiss to my cheek. Her voice shakes against my skin.
“I knew you’d save us.”
The words nearly undo me. My throat tightens, my chest feels like it’s splitting. No one has ever said that to me before, not like that. Not with that kind of certainty. I want to tell her it wasn’t just me, that it was all of us, that her daughter carried me through this. But the words stick in my throat.
All I can do is stand there, heart hammering, eyes burning, and hope I can be the man she already believes I am.
Esmerelda clings to her parents, her brothers, laughing, crying. My father finds me through the chaos, eyes wet withtears I never thought I’d see on him. He grabs me into a hug, voice breaking, “Son, I’m proud of you.”
The alpha approaches, head bowed. “We wronged you. I decree your marriage annulled. You are free.”
Free.
The word rings hollow. I look at Esmerelda. She isn’t smiling. Her jaw is tight, her eyes sharp with something fragile, something that cuts straight through me.
And suddenly, clarity hits.
Before I can think, I’m already moving, dropping to one knee. Gasps ripple through the hall. A ring glints in my hand, firelight sparking off it. I’ve carried it for weeks, hidden, waiting for a moment I didn’t believe would come.
“Esmerelda.” Her name steadies me, even as my hand trembles. “They can annul whatever they want. Tear up decrees. Call it void. Call it freedom.” I draw a breath, my heart in my hand. “But I don’t want to be free of you. Marry me. For real this time.”
Her eyes widen, her breath catches, hand flying to her mouth. “Marcus… are you serious?”
“The most serious I’ve ever been.”
Tears spill onto her smile, breaking me wide open when she whispers, “Yes.”
For a heartbeat, the world fades away. It’s only her. Her voice. Her yes.
Leonard pushes his way through the crowd, smirk already tugging at his mouth. “I called it.”
“Seriously, Leonard?” Minerva rolls her eyes. “Now is not the time.”
Esmerelda and I glance at each other and shake our heads. Typical. They bicker more than siblings.
“You didn’t let me finish,” Leonard pouts, hand to his chest like he’s been mortally wounded. “I was going to say—I called it ages ago.”
That earns a round of laughter, breaking the tension that still clings to the room. My gaze catches on a few scowls in the crowd—people who clearly think this is a mistake—but their opinions don’t matter. Not now.
My father appears at my side, pressing something into my palm. A cigar. “I know you don’t usually partake,” he says, his voice thick with emotion, “but it would be an honor to share one with you tonight. After what you’ve done.”
