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Connall grins, and pushes open the doors to the tiny chapel where my friends, family, and the men I love await.
The chapel is filled with the scent of flowers and sunlight, streaming in through the windows behind the altar. I pause at the entrance, taking in the beauty before me, my breath catching in my throat. The pews are draped with white lace and lined with ivory candles, their light bouncing off every surface and creating a soft glow that has me spellbound. My gaze falls to the altar where Carrick stands singingFields of Goldby Sting, his beautiful voice ringing out in harmony and filling me with so much emotion.
He smiles at me as he sings, and there's no pain in his eyes, no trauma. Just love.
Pure, undiluted, love.
My heart lurches as Tom guides me down the aisle towards Lorcan, Arden and Carrick, the soft swish of my skirt wrapping around my legs, my bare feet warm against the cool stone.
Our guests smile broadly as I pass them by. Leon and Konrad are standing either side of Christy, beaming. True, heartfelt smiles pouring over me with their love.
Grim and Beast have their arms wrapped around each other, Connall standing to their left. All of them are grinning. Beast winks as I pass by. "Stunning," he mouths.
Ahead of me Jakub waits at the altar, acting as our officiant. He grins, and his smile has the power to warm even the coldest of hearts. The power of Christy's love shines right out of him as I approach.
But even his smile can't outshine the love I feel from my men as Carrick sings the last line of the song, declaring his love for me with every word and every note. They stare at me intently, tears glistening in their eyes, companions to the ones sliding down my cheeks.
"Take care of her," Tom says, patting my hand and kissing me on the cheek before he steps to the side and takes a seat.
"Every day for the rest of our lives," Arden answers, taking my hand in his.
I can't help but smile through my tears as I look between the three of them, my gaze landing on Carrick. "That was so beautiful. Thank you for the gift of your voice."
"It was always your voice that was the gift," he replies, taking my other hand and kissing my knuckles.
"I love you all so much," I murmur, overwhelmed with emotion.
Lorcan presses a kiss against my cheek, his hand lowering to my chest as he rests it over my heart. Arden lifts my hand to his lips, as Carrick runs his thumb over the back of mine. We stand like that for a long moment, each of us silently basking in the connection we share.
The heat emanating from Lorcan's palm is electric and I can't help but smile up at him when he finally pulls away and takes Arden and Carrick's hand in his, joining us all in an unbreakable connection as we hold hands.
"We're gathered here today to celebrate the joining of these four souls, bound together by history and heartbreak, healing and patience, passion and love," Jakub begins.
"Here, here!" Beast calls out, wolf-whistling and making us all laugh.
Jakub clears his throat then continues. "Love can give us the strength to persevere through difficult times. It enables us to open up our hearts when otherwise we might not have. It is, ultimately, what brings us together and what makes us human." His gaze lifts over our heads and I know he's looking at Christy, at his brothers, the loves of his life, before he returns his gaze to us. "It's time to say your vows."
Arden lets out a shaky breath, speaking first. "I was never supposed to fall in love with an O'Farrell," he laughs, shaking his head, his amber eyes shining like liquid gold. "I pushed you away. I ran from the connection I felt the second you walked into your bedroom at Silver Oaks. I was a kid in pain, who hurt, but thanks to you, I'm a man who can love, and fuck, Cyn, I love you so damn much. I can't wait to build a home here with you. To grow a family so that when we're gone, our love will live on in them."
I give him a watery smile, unable to respond because I'm so filled to the brim with emotion. So utterly in love. Then Lorcan begins to speak, and that love just grows and grows.
"I wasn't strong enough to face my feelings, instead I hid behind Arden's and Carrick's. I let you down, Cyn. I stayed quiet when I should've spoken up," he says, fixing his gaze on mine. "Never again. I love you immeasurably. I love us. We were always meant to be. Soul mates, soul ties, or not. What we feel for each other is real and true and everlasting. I will love you in this life and the next."
A sob rises up my throat, but I'm not sad. I'm so so happy.
"Cyn," Carrick says, his thumb circling my knuckles. I meet his gaze, waiting with trembling lips and a heart bursting with joy. "When I was a kid I wanted to steal your voice. I needed to hear it by any means possible. I believed that in your voice I would find peace because I couldn't find it in mine. The truth is, Ineverhated you. I was afraid of you. Afraid of the power you held over me, over us. You didn't need to scream, or shout to get our attention. You held it with your silence, and you keep it now with your love and affection, your strength and courage. You helped me to love my voice again, and I will sing to you every day until my very last breath."
I blink back tears of joy as Jakub nods in approval before finally turning towards me expectantly. Swallowing deeply, I take a deep breath before speaking; the words pouring out of my mouth like an indelible tattoo upon our hearts.
"My loves," I begin, looking between them all in turn, "The three of you are my family, my lovers, my best friends. We're forever tied together, not by a spell cast by a witch," I say, laughing a little, "But by love, loyalty and friendship. My heart belongs to each of you completely because it knows no bounds when it comes to loving all that is you."
I pause briefly to collect my thoughts before continuing in a low whisper: "My life has been forever changed because of you–for the better–and so today I make this vow. I promise to keep loving and learning the depths of your hearts. I promise to always trust in our love, to be loyal and faithful to what we have. I will water it daily, feed it and nurture it until it grows into a field of wildflowers as beautiful as the flowers embroidered onto this dress I'm wearing now. And when our bodies return to the soil, it will sustain that field of wildflowers so that every year our love will bloom, living for all eternity. That is my solemn vow."
“Cras es noster…” they reply in unison.
Tomorrow is ours.
And so it was.
