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“I understand.” He nodded. “Just… keep it in mind.”
I met his gaze. “Absolutely. We’re keeping it in the chamber.”
A moment later, we got the signal that it was our time. I swallowed the last bundle of nerves keeping my feet from moving and… walked. Through the halls to get to the entry doors where attendants were waiting to give my grand reveal, and then… down the aisle, on my brother’s arm.
I hated that it was so beautiful.
Every single detail, every little touch, was impeccably done.
From the fabric draped along the exposed wood beam ceiling to the fairy lights to the sun starting to set in the background, the timing we’d been waiting for.
It was gorgeous.
And…grudgingly… so was my husband.
In a different life, I would’verundown the aisle to marry a man standing there looking like he did—immaculately groomed, wide-shouldered, in a bespoke charcoal suit whose fabric justscreamedluxury.
Once I saw him, I sawonlyhim, and the attention was mutual. His gaze was intense, drinking me in, his expression one of pure admiration.
And then our eyes met, and… things got really,reallystill.
I was moving, somehow, but it was like… nobody there but me and him.
Which was aninsanething to feel.
I blinked, taking the opportunity to look away as Soren and I reached the exquisitely decorated arch where Orion and the officiant waited.
I had to chalk this strange sensation up to being swept into the moment.
It was a wedding, after all.
And I loved weddings.
I just happened to be in a starring role in this one.
“Beloved family and friends and board members,” the officiant started, garnering a little round of laughter. He was a man probably the same age as our fathers, maybe a little older. With an opening like that, I had to assume he was very familiar to the Sterlings. “We are gathered here today in the snow, among the vines to witness the matrimony of Ms. Nalani Stark and Mr. Orion Sterling. Who affirms this union today?”
Soren shifted a little beside me, stepping slightly forward as he spoke. “With the blessing of our late mother’s legacy and our ancestors before us… I do.”
I glance at him, surprised by that wording, but… pleased.
I accepted his hand again to walk me forward to face Orion head on.
So we could get married.
Orion pinned me with a new gaze, a self-satisfied smirk that made me want to roll my eyes, but I decided not to. I knew when and where to exercise a bit of decorum.
The ceremony itself wasn’t long—they never were—and it didn’t escape my notice that neither the generic vows nor the declaration of intent was very… traditional.
Probably because we both knew we weren’t planning to be in this very long.
Before I knew it, we’d said the “I dos”, and were slipping rings onto each other’s hands.
And he was kissing me.
Like we were really in love.
It was…crazy.
