Broken Kingdom (Corium University Trilogy 3)

“How are you holding up?” Julian asks. He and Nic will stand with me while Brittney stands with the bride. I don’t know where Lucas is. I had imagined he would want to witness the ceremony.

“It’s a shame you couldn’t have a bachelor party,” Nic murmurs with a grin.

I don’t need a bachelor party. All I need is Aspen. I would do much more than this to ensure her safety, and I have. I’ve killed for her. I would burn down the entire world if it meant sparing her. Compared to that, exchanging vows doesn’t seem like much.

But it’s more than that. I know it. She knows it. As much of a whirlwind as this has been, inside, I know it was always meant to be this way. She was always going to be mine. There was never a choice. She belongs to me.

There’s a commotion at the front of the room, and a moment later, Mom and Scarlet are here. “She’s beautiful,” Scarlet whispers with a wink, but she doesn’t need to bother. I have no doubt Aspen’s stunning. Mom gives me a quick hug and a peck on the cheek before falling back a few steps to stand on what I suppose would be my side of the aisle if there technically was an aisle.

“It looks like we’re ready to begin,” the priest announces. He nods toward the front of the room.

I turn in time to see Aspen enter on Lucas’s arm. The rest of the world falls away, and there’s nothing but her. And they did all this in a few minutes? She couldn’t be more stunning if they had taken all day with her hair and makeup. She’s glowing, radiant. Perfect. Not that she needs the extra work. She’s always perfect.

Brittney lets out a choked sob, and Aspen’s smile widens. She hands over her bouquet before giving her friend a brief hug. She then turns to smile up at Lucas. “Thank you,” she whispers. He responds with a single nod, then moves aside to stand near Brittney.

Finally, Aspen offers me a shy smile. “Hi.”

“You’re beautiful.”

She offers me her hand, and I take it before raising it to my lips.

The priest clears his throat. “You may join both hands,” he instructs in a low voice before raising it for everyone else’s ears. “Dearly beloved, we’re gathered here to join this man and this woman in matrimony. If anyone here can offer any objection as to whether they should be joined, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Aspen’s hands tighten around mine, and it’s as if I can feel her fear. She’s waiting for the other shoe to drop, for someone to burst in and ruin everything. It does seem to be the way our history has gone so far.

Nothing like that happens. She relaxes her grip.

“Then let us begin.” He looks at me, then at Aspen. “Do you both enter into this marriage contract of your own free will? With the full understanding of the gravity of such a commitment?”

“Yes,” Aspen whispers.

“I do, as well.” We share another smile. It’s like something out of a dream, like it can’t possibly be happening to us. I might as well be watching another couple go through this. At the same time, I feel her hands in mine. My fingers brush over the inside of her wrist, and her pulse throbs. This is real.

“Then I ask you, Quinton Rossi. Do you take this woman, Aspen Mather, to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love and to cherish from this day forward? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer? Will you love and honor her as long as you both shall live?”

It’s the easiest question I’ve ever been asked. There’s only one answer, and when I speak, it’s with my entire heart. This might not be the traditional way of going about things, but there’s no question of whether or not I’m fully in this. “I do.”

Aspen bites her lip, cheeks flushing. Mom sniffles while Scarlet lets out a choked sob. I would look over at them, maybe shoot Dad a look to stop them, but I only have eyes for the woman in front of me.

“And you, Aspen. Do you take Quinton to be your lawfully wedded husband? To love and to cherish, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer? Will you love and honor him as long as you both shall live?”

She takes a breath, and for a split second, I fear she’s going to say no. If she’s so determined to face her fate, she would be stubborn enough to refuse now that she’s had a moment to catch up.

“I do.” She breathes before a single tear rolls down her cheek. Paired with a brilliant smile, I know it’s a tear of happiness.