Aria swung her legs beneath her chair, her sandals tapping against the stone.
“Why does this feel like a meeting?” she asked, eyeing us suspiciously. “And why are you two dressed so… fancy?”
She was referring to my white chiffon dress with delicate spaghetti straps and open back, reaching down to my knees. It was simple yet special, because it was the dress I’d be married in.
Dimitros snorted, tearing off a piece of bread. “Have you looked in the mirror, sister? You’re dressed the fanciest.”
“True, but that’s not nice to say in front of Mom,” she shot back, swatting his arm. “Tell her she looks beautiful.”
Dimitros shot me a shy smile. “You look great, Violet. Really.”
I laughed, but my fingers tightened slightly around my glass. Beneath the table, Lykos’s hand found mine.
“Is something wrong?” Aria asked, her brow furrowing as she picked up on my nervousness.
“Nothing’s wrong,” Lykos replied calmly. “Actually… we have news.”
Aria straightened instantly. “What kind of news?”
Dimitros leaned back, studying us more carefully now. “That tone tells me it’s either really good… or really bad.”
Lykos glanced at me, asking me silently, and I nodded.
He drew in a breath. “We’re getting married today.”
The words settled over the table while silence reigned.
Aria blinked, then blinked again.
Then her chair scraped loudly as she shot to her feet.
“Today? You’re serious?” I nodded. “Todaytoday?”
I couldn’t help but laugh, some of my nerves dissolving at her reaction. “Todaytoday.”
“But—how—what—don’t you need months and a big wedding dress with a long train and—” She gestured wildly, nearly knocking over her glass. “But… but…”
“You don’t like the dress I’m wearing?” I asked, pointing to my plain white dress. “I think of it as vintage.”
Aria exhaled. “I do, but what about the long train? And the veil?”
I chuckled. “Those take time. Would you really make me wait for those?”
She glanced between her papa and me. “You want to get married as soon as possible.” I nodded, smiling. “But don’t you need… something else?”
“I obtained a special license,” Lykos said, his voice coarse. “We’re allowed to marry on short notice. That’s all we need. Well, that and your mom.” His eyes met mine, his expression dark as sin, and he smiled, satisfied. “I just want to make her happy and make her mine.”
Dimitros let out a low whistle, shaking his head.
“Friends in high places and all that,” he muttered, and a grin broke through.
Aria clapped her hands. “Please tell me we get to be there!”
I leaned forward, my smile softening. “That’s what we wanted to ask you.”
She froze mid-bounce. Dimitros stilled too.
“We want you two to be our witnesses,” Lykos continued. His gaze moved between them. “Of course we want you there as our children, but also as our witnesses. It’ll be just the four of us and the priest.”
