Page 94 of Crimson Kingdom
Mine.
That single thought propelled me out of bed and had me going through the motions of the morning wedding preparations. Mamá and my sisters were the only other ones in the room with me as Taisiya dressed me in my gown.
I heard their voices, returned their smiles, and laughed or cried with them when the moments came. All of it, though, was through a haze of disbelief.
I was unrooted. Untethered. I was free falling, and I wasn’t ready for what would happen when I landed back on the ground.
My mother wiped away the tears that pooled in her eyes, wrapping her arms around me as we looked at my reflection in the mirror. Somehow, the gown was even more beautiful than it had been at the fitting yesterday. The bodice was perfectly fitted, hugging my curves before flaring out into fuller skirts with a long train.
The scalloped bust was made of delicate lace that connected with a sheer, gauzy material. It rose up to form an elegant, fitted necklace. Not only was it gorgeous, but it effectively hid all of my scars.
Avani helped Taisiya to smooth out my curls and pin them into an updo before applying my cosmetics. When they were finished, Mamá added a sparkling, diamond-studded tiara that came to a single point.
Her eyes glistened with tears as she pressed a kiss against my forehead. “You are a perfect bride, Row. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” I threw my arms around her.
Then Mamá and my sisters left me at the study next to the Great Hall, where Da’ was waiting. All of my resolve to hold back my tears gave way when I saw the way his face crumpled as he took in the sight of me.
He wrapped me in his strong embrace, careful to avoid my hair at Mamá’s insistence. His cedar scent enveloped me, and I felt the weight of every unspoken word these past few months. All of his worry, his despair, and even his joy when he brought me home.
Everything we had said, and all the things we hadn’t.
I squeezed him back for several long breaths until the music of the pipers began.
It was time.
When we reached the imposing doors of the Great Hall, my heart sped up, fluttering within my chest faster than a hummingbird’s wings. I knew what awaited me at the end of the room.
I do own you, Lemmikki.
The massive doors groaned open, and the musicians played us forward. I barely registered the green and blue banners waving high above us, or the petal-strewn aisle.
With each step, we slowly passed faces I knew I should recognize, but I only had space in my head for one person.
But you own me, too.
Evander stood at the end of the aisle in a formal black jacket and tie, accented only by the white tunic he wore beneath them. True to Lochlannian style, he had donned another kilt, but this one was black and white.
I smiled at the combination of the ceremonial garment worn by my people, in the colors of his clan.
His silver gaze raked over me appreciatively, sending the faintest chills running up and down my entire body, as though he was trailing his fingers along my skin in a featherlight touch.
He was the most handsome man I had ever seen. Carved by the stars themselves into this painstakingly perfect creation.
And he was mine.
The rest of the room fell away completely when our eyes finally met. I took a staggering breath, exhaling slowly as I thought of every single thing that led us here, to this impossible moment.
We stopped at the end of the aisle once we reached him. Da’ kissed my forehead before placing my hand in Evander’s.
I was finally forced to wrench my gaze away from Evander when the magistrate began speaking, signaling for us to face him. Evander’s fingers were laced in mine, his thumb rubbing a slow circle on my hand, anchoring me in this moment with him.
By the time we turned to say our vows, my voice felt too quiet, too small for such grand promises.
And then it was Evander’s turn.
His tone was clear, confident, mesmerizing.