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“Oliver, I love you so much,” she whispered as they broke apart.
He grinned. His beard, slightly longer than usual, tickled her cheek as he wrapped her in a tight hug.
“I love you, Lillian. Forever.”
And forever was exactly what they would have.
TWENTY-THREE
EPILOGUE
LILLIAN
The issue with Uziel was a sordid affair. But that was all in the past, a past that Lillian was more than willing to let go of.
That was another life, the one where she was a dedicated, independent artist with a monkey on her back. The monkey turned out to be an asshole stalker, and while the artist part of her was at her core, she realized that it wasn’t being stifled but had expanded.
She had grown like a stubborn orchid, and despite all of her best efforts to avoid it, Lillian had fallen madly in love.
And with a shifter.
It made sense when she took the time to think about it. Shifters were known for their tumultuous emotions. So were artists, and while she knew it wasn’t her job to tame Oliver’s beast, she felt an allure toward settling him down. He had certainly done that for her.
Gratitude blossomed in her body and mind on the morning of the wedding. It felt like a warm, serene glow whispering through her bones.
There was a pleasure and certainty she felt floating from room to room, getting her hair and makeup done, then finally pulling on the dress. It was remarkable.
All of her friends had arrived at the estate and were helping her get ready for the ceremony, which was taking place on hallowed sleuth ground on the mountainside.
Alexis had hired the professional hairdresser and makeup artist while Chloe and Fiona lounged on the guest room bed, balancing champagne flutes between their fingers. They frolicked and giggled like they were teenagers.
Lillian couldn’t believe how fortunate she was to have them.
“Lil, you look incredible!”
She’d come out of the bathroom with the dress on to have the final touches on her hair and makeup applied. She spotted herself in the mirror and felt that glow again, except it danced through her belly and tickled up and down her limbs.
For the first time in her life, Lillian, the wandering artist, felt like a damn queen.
The dress was hand-cut, hand-sewn, and hand-painted by a local artist, who also happened to be a bear shifter. Oliver had suggested her services when they were planning the wedding, and Lillian couldn’t have been more thrilled.
The design was non-traditional by usual bridal standards, but that was what she adored about it. The artist tailored it to her body shape, tightening it with a silk bodice and whimsical lace that adorned the upper arms. It swept out in a flourish at the bottom half. The skirt was tinted in a soft emerald green, which endearingly matched the shade of Lillian’s eyes.
“Damn!” Chloe exclaimed, rising from the bed. “You look marvelous, Lillian. That dress is stunning.”
Lillian was doing everything she could to keep from tearing up. Thankfully, the makeup artist had applied waterproof eyeliner, mascara, blush, and eyeshadow.
It was a dramatic look with thick cat-eye lines, but Lillian liked it. She was a theatrical person through and through and was beyond ready to knock out Oliver’s expectations.
“That man is going to pass out when he sees you,” Alexis said with a wink.
“He can do that on their wedding night,” Fiona joked with a giggle. “Isn’t that right, Lil?”
The makeup artist applied dark lipstick that offset Lillian’s bright red hair. When she finished getting ready, her friends applauded her, encouraging her to give a little spin to show off.
“This is a far reach from your usual paint-stained-overall look,” Alexis joked.
“He’s gonna lose his mind,” Lillian chimed in, biting her lip with anticipation. “I can’t wait.”
