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“Did I do it right, Daddy?” Ayla skipped into my arms as I bent to catch her and placed her beside me beneath the driftwood arch complete with white ribbons, shells, and sprigs of cherry blossom.
I hadn’t gotten used to having money, but...I had become adept at spending it. It pissed me off that so many doors that’d been firmly closed to me when I had nothing were now flung wide as a billionaire. Those standards weren’t fair. The way society treated those less fortunate than others’ grated on my temper.
Our wedding was a good example of the powerful being favoured over the poor.
All it had taken was a phone call to the custodians of the lighthouse and a hefty donation to the upkeep of the island. Within a few days, we had permission to wed on the shore, sleep on the beach in luxury tents, and rent the entire space until dusk tomorrow.
No one else.
Just us, our celebrant, and our loved ones.
Anna smiled at me as she blew a kiss at Ayla beside me, her tiny hand tucked safely inside mine.
Teddy and Eddie held hands.
Honey and Billy blinked back tears.
My skin prickled, and my heart fisted, ripping my head up to the end of the sandy aisle as Neri and Jack appeared.
I would always know when she was close by. Always sense her. Feel her. Hear her soul and know her spirit.
Our eyes met across the short distance.
No music apart from the constant lap of waves, chirp of roosting birds, and swish of palm trees.
No one spoke as Jack led my moon-given wife toward me. He looked dapper dressed in black shorts and silver shirt.
Beach smart had been our dress code for everyone.
I wore the same: black shorts and white shirt with my cuffs rolled up to my elbows, revealing two bare forearms. Next week, I had an appointment with the same artist in Townsville who did Neri’s lion. I would get my second replica, and then...we were catching a flight from Brisbane to Istanbul. I was needed back home and would spend a few weeks wearing the Kara crown, striking the fear of obedience into my generals.
Part of me had no interest in playing that role, but the other was fucking excited at taking Neri and Ayla. I could finally show them my home. Show them my culture. And I knew I’d fall even harder for them as they spoke like locals and fully stepped into their bilingual belonging.
Jack and Anna hadn’t wanted me to take Neri and Ayla with me, but...there was nothing to fear anymore.
I was the one to fear.
I had no intention of taking them to Cem’s mansion, where I’d spent five years being tortured. I’d fly them to Izmir where I’d lived happily with my Avci family. I’d take my girls to the sea there and walk on the sands of Diamond Beach. I’d show them the bazaars and introduce them to my people and pile their plates with every delicacy.
My thoughts fell quiet as I drank in Neri. Her bare feet and elegant ankles vanished and reappeared beneath her white gown as she padded toward me. The heavy silk rippled from her shoulders like spilling moonlight, following her curves, shimmering over her belly and breasts. The bow secured behind her neck trailed down her back with the ends sliding through the sand behind her.
Her gorgeous chocolate hair had caught some sun over the past few weeks of spending time together on The Fluke and the loose waves were the same salt-teased tangle that I adored.
Anna let out a quiet sob as Jack finally stopped before me, kissed Neri on her cheek, then passed her hand to mine. He gave me a nod as I squeezed my wife’s fingers, then he stepped back to join Anna.
I didn’t speak as I fell into Neri.
What was there to say?
What was there to do apart from stand in this wonderful moment and fall head over fucking heels all over again?
We’d opted for a simple beach wedding rather than follow any Turkish or Western traditions. To us, this was just an affirmation of the vows we’d already said.
But that’d been before Jedda—Neri’s godmother and the woman who’d tried to save my life at the hospital—had visited last month when Anna told her I’d survived and was back home.
She’d overheard our wedding plans. She’d mentioned she was a celebrant as well as a nurse, and offered to wed us in the spirit of Australia. An honour that both Neri and I could not refuse.
Ayla let my other hand go so I could take both of Neri’s.
Our daughter giggled under her breath as Neri sighed heavily, tears sparkling on her eyelashes.
A heavy hush fell over us as Jedda raised her hands, gathering everyone’s attention. She stood before Neri and me, short and grinning, her brightly painted dress somehow capturing the wind and ocean in its swirls.
