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There was no traditional bridal party. Iryna and I were supposed to walk down the aisle first, but she refused to stand up there with me. No, my darling sister wanted a front row seat to the whole show. Adrian, as best man, would follow us down the aisle, then take his place by my side. The ogre, Claude, was the only member of the bride’s entourage, which in itself was interesting. I was surprised Talia had no female friends or relatives to stand by her.
Crossing the gothic hall, we emerged into the vestibule. All guests were already shepherded out, and there were only guards, the wedding planner, and the two witnesses present. Adrian and the man-child, Beaumont, were standing off. My cousin was casually draped over a stone bench while my soon-to-be brother-in-law tried to menace him from the opposite side. Since there wasn’t an ounce of manliness about Claude aside from his size, it was a pathetic picture.What a sniveling brat.
Adrian slid his gaze to us, and those dark chocolate eyes flared in surprise. He straightened and dramatically clapped his hands over his chest. “O beauty of the rising sun, marry me!”
Iryna gave him a choice finger. I hid my smile behind a mask of indifference. These two were my life.
I made to stop, but with a gentle press of her fingers, Iryna directed me forward. We walked to the central doors of the sanctuary, where the wedding coordinator stood. Ms. Webber had started as the bane of my sister’s existence, but Iryna quickly and efficiently made the woman her bitch. It wouldn’t surprise me if my sister had fucked the coordinator already. If not, she still might. My little sister could be a dominatrix when the mood suited her, and I was sure to hear about it if she dominated this little wedding coordinator.
“We’re on in five,” Ms. Webber said, chin tipped up.
“But we’re ready now,” Iryna purred.
I watched the wedding coordinator’s tongue dart out to lick her lips. “But—but—!”
“I said now, darling,” Iryna cooed in a whisper. I only heard it because I was so close.
“Dear God, keep it in your pants,” I hissed, but I buffered the comment by squeezing her fingers lovingly.
Iryna shrugged. “It’s my entrance, and I say the time is now.”
“Now,” I commanded. And the lady jumped to say something on her headset.
Music started, and the double doors were opened by security.
Behind us, caught off guard, Claude yelped and jabbered a string of nonsense. Adrian shot back a laugh and quick rejoinder before coming to stand behind us, waiting for his cue.
I said under my breath as we proceeded down the aisle, “You’ll always be my queen,louloudi mou.”
Iryna smirked. “What will you call your wife when you make sweet love to her?”
“Viper.”
The term caused a chorus of sweet laughter to erupt from my sister. I even caught myself smiling.
There were murmurs throughout the crowd, and even though my eyes were on the front, I remained aware of what was happening all around.
The priest bolted out of the vestry, adjusting his robes. Upset with our indifference to his religion, his skin was red as he glared at my sister and me.
“We took away his processional and now we ruined his entrance,” Iryna whispered. “I’m surprised he’s not dousing us with holy water.”
“Roman prelates and their exorcisms,” I scoffed as we stopped in front of the first three pews on the right. Iryna had insisted on the location as she hadn’t wanted to sit near anyone. I leaned in and faux kissed her cheek, a small thrill running through me when she didn’t flinch. “Thank you,louloudi mou.”
She knew how much this display of trust meant to me. And I knew how much the confidence to hide the discomfort of physical touch from a male cost her, even if it was me. She’d been through enough that if she didn’t want to be touched, she shouldn’t be.
“It’s not too late,” she returned quietly. Her deep blue eyes were the size of saucers. “Please,adelfós.”
I gave a small shake of my head and released her. Iryna folded into the front pew, arranging herself artfully. I stalked to the front and turned in time to see Adrian finish sauntering down the aisle, all suave grace. Any one of these spectators would swoon to have him.
“I can never tell if your brother-in-law is more of a swine or a baboon,” Adrian whispered as he stepped behind me.
I cut my gaze to Beaumont junior. With his bottom jaw stuck forward, and his black hair shaved close and military style, he lacked both grace and beauty. A brutish creature rather than a man. “It’s hard to say. Troll or swamp creature might be biologically closer.”
The minister coughed.
We ignored him. Claude puffed his chest, which really made any neck he possessed invisible. Those meaty hands were swinging aimlessly at his sides as his goopy eyeballs roved over the sanctuary. It was as if he was trying to watch for danger but lacked the ability to be subtle about it.
The music changed, a direct shift that had all the guests rising. My sister turned slightly, but out of defiance didn’t bother to stand.
