When his eyes came back to mine, I knew that whatever he wanted to do, Alessio had given him his permission.
He leaned forward and placed a kiss on my forehead. “You already have all of us.”
He pulled away and showed me his bloodied palm. “You will never be alone again. This blood means we are a family. We are one. If you want to take it like this, then you could say this is our vow to you.”
My heart squeezed and Princess kicked against her father’s hand. A single tear slid down my cheek as I regarded Viktor. I felt choked with emotion. My throat closed as I tried to speak.
I looked over his shoulders at the others. They were all looking at me expectantly. I took a deep breath and then nodded. “Okay.”
Their shoulders sagged in what seemed like relief. As if my acceptance was everything they needed.
“I love you, Angel,” Alessio said in my ear. His words were only for me. I closed my eyes and sank into his arms, letting him support my weight. “I’m so proud of you. You leave me in awe every single time.”
“These types of rituals always make me cry,” I heard Evaline say. There were some chuckles and laughter.
I opened my eyes to see Maddie holding her hand over her mouth. It looked like she was holding her tears in too.
“I guess the only thing left is the wedding ceremony!” she announced loudly.
“We are already married,” Alessio snapped back.
Maddie’s tears were suddenly gone. Instead, she glowered at my man.
Oh no. This was about to turn ugly.
“I mean an actual wedding,” Maddie hissed.
“Are you saying Ayla and I aren’t married?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Actually, it’s not official. Your marriage isn’t legal,” Viktor piped in.
“Excuse me?” Alessio growled.
“You need to sign the papers to make it legal. You had no witness either,” Lyov explained.
“Well, actually, about that…” Maddie started.
My eyes widened when I saw her biting on her lips nervously. Alessio must have noticed it too because he stiffened.
Viktor, Phoenix, Nikolay, and Evaline looked suddenly guilty.
Oh no. No. No. Nope.
“You did not!” I gasped out loud.
“We were only there for half of it! I swear!” Evaline quickly tried to plead innocence.
Maddie nodded. “As soon as the rings were exchanged we left.”
“I’m about to shoot someone,” Alessio snapped.
Everyone took several steps back.
“We just wanted to make sure you stuck to the plan and didn’t mess it up,” Phoenix tried to reason. “You were having a hard time memorizing the lines the night before.”
“Not that you said anything remotely close to what you practiced anyway,” Viktor continued.
“But it was so sweet. If I wasn’t already in love, I swear I would have fallen for you, Alessio,” Evaline swooned.
Viktor’s head snapped toward Evaline. “What did you say?”
Nikolay paled and looked like he ate something huge and it was stuck in his throat.
Not good. Not good at all.
“About that,” I jumped it. “Alessio, you said you practiced. Who did you practice with?”
“Don’t, Ayla,” Alessio started, but it was too late.
“Me!” Viktor announced, his attention back on us. He puffed his chest and smiled a Cheshire smile. “I was his bride.”
I raised an eyebrow and looked at Alessio over my shoulders. He swore under his breath.
“Oh really?” I questioned, hiding my giggle behind my hand.
Viktor came to stand beside Alessio and threw an arm around his shoulders. “We practiced everything.”
“And by everything, I mean…everything. If you know what I mean.”
“What the fuck!” Alessio bellowed.
Alessio let go of me. When I heard Viktor scream in pain, I didn’t have to turn around to know what happened.
“You broke my nose. What the fuck?”
“You deserved that one,” Evaline sighed.
I couldn’t hold myself any longer. My laughter bubbled from my chest, and I let it out, laughing uncontrollably at all of them.
They were crazy. Insane.
But I loved them. They really did make me the happiest woman.
“You guys are crazy,” I wheezed between my laughter.
Alessio was back to my side. He wrapped me in his embrace as I smiled, looking at everyone.
My gaze found Maddie, and I sent her a small smile. “Maddie, it doesn’t matter if we have the wedding. It won’t be official anyway. I’m supposed to be dead, remember? I have no identity.”
Her expression turned sorrowful at the reminder of my previous life. “Okay, no papers then. But can we still have a big-ass wedding? Please? I have been planning this for months! Years even! Please, Alessio. Ayla,” she begged.
It was impossible to say no to her puppy eyes. She pouted, and I saw Evaline doing the same.
“No,” Alessio simply stated.
I sighed and shrugged. “How big?”
“About a thousand people? Only the close ones,” Evaline suggested.
Woah.
“Will I get to wear a wedding dress?” I asked, feeling suddenly excited.
“Yes!” Maddie squealed.
I knew Alessio and I were already married. I didn’t really want another wedding.
But the thought of walking down the aisle toward Alessio, confessing my love to him, making my vows to him in front of everyone…it made me feel slightly giddy.