They were both aware that was usually a father’s duty. River had nearly as many terrible memories of the man as she did. Eager to shuttle all thoughts of Bill Kendall today, her brother stood in his place. Neither of them would give the violent sociopath who had torn their childhood apart another ounce of their energy.
River gave her a smile and patted the fingers she’d wrapped around his forearm. “I wouldn’t have missed it.”
“Let’s do this.” Raine pushed open the door that led to the rooftop access above Shadows.
Evening approached, just beginning to color the perfect blue sky with shades of yellow and orange. A gentle breeze kicked up, brushing her dark curls over her bare shoulders. The flowing silk of her white dress swished around her ankles with each ruffle of the wind, exposing her thigh through the dress’s slit. The warm air caressed her torso through the transparent lace of her corset-style bodice.
She couldn’t marry Macen and Liam both legally. But they weren’t a conventional family, so they’d chosen to commit themselves to one another in front of the people who meant most to them in the way that made their hearts glad. Not quite a traditional wedding, something beyond a collaring ceremony, everything about this permanent handfasting had been planned as an expression of their unique love.
Raine had worn her Valentine’s Day gift from Hammer and Liam—with her mother’s heart pendant attached—as her something old. The something new was her dress, which she’d chosen because it paired traditional elements with very sexy details she hoped would keep her grooms squarely focused on her. The something borrowed was a beautiful pair of dangling pearl earrings Bryn had lent her for the ceremony, since she’d married Duncan wearing the same jewelry. Something blue… The strings holding her corset together were a beautiful peacock color that held her post-pregnancy body in tight while flowing all the way to her bare feet.
The music started, simple guitar strands. Everyone rose.
As she looked toward the altar, her breath caught. Liam and Hammer waited for her with wide smiles and eyes filled with naked love, standing shoulder to shoulder under a towering arch of white, blush, pink, and pale yellow hydrangeas and baby roses. All the flowers had been tied together with flowing white, gray, and peacock ribbons.
A pair of gauzy pale drapes had been swept back from the center of the altar, framing her men. They looked so masculine and beloved, each in gray tuxedos. Hammer wore a peacock-hued vest and a black tie. The colors suited his warm skin and rugged face. Liam wore the inverse, and she loved how spectacularly handsome he looked with that rich blue tie setting off his dark eyes.
Despite her shaking legs and teary eyes, Raine managed to put one foot in front of the other and walk down a trail of peacock silk trimmed in shimmering gray, floating on a cloud of white petals.
The venue was beautiful, everything she had dreamed. Heavenly—bless her—had helped Raine create this magical vision. But it was even more perfect to her because the two men waiting for her at the end of this momentous walk filled her entire heart, owned every single day of her future, and worked together to securely cradle her soul.
Their wedding song played on. The singer’s heartfelt voice vowed that he belonged to her from this moment on, before he invited her to take his hand and share forever. He promised to give her his love completely. The sentiments swelled and resonated inside her. She gave it back to them with every expression and heartbeat, every touch and kiss she couldn’t wait to bestow on them.
Damn, she was going to start crying in earnest.
As River escorted her to them, Macen and Liam parted to make room for her between them, where she belonged. She caught sight of a framed chalkboard that had been propped on an easel in the center of the parted curtains.
A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
Raine hadn’t expected that, and her heart melted all over. She glanced at her men, pressing a hand to her trembling lips. They both beamed proudly. She’d arranged the ceremony, and reception in the club below, as a labor of love. But Liam and Macen had added this meaningful detail all on their own.
It utterly described their relationship.
She gripped her bouquet, her smile watery and full of joy.
River handed her off, each holding one of her hands in theirs. Then he kissed her cheek. “I love you, storm cloud.”
“I love you, too, big brother,” she managed to choke out.
He clapped Macen on the shoulder, gave Liam a brotherly nod of approval, then took his seat in the front row of silk-draped chairs, dwarfing the pink bow across the back.
Raine turned to face the future with her men.