A Vow Of Forever (A Vow Of Hate Novella)

It wasn’t the first time Killian tried to convince me to open the door through texting. He almost succeeded a few hours ago, when he decided not to play fair by sending me dirty texts and getting me aroused.

Since I was pregnant, my libido was all time high. So I quickly figured out that his goal was to get me to come to him by having me all excited for his touch.

He almost won if it wasn’t for Mirai catching me trying to sneak out of the room.

Neither Killian nor I believed in superstitions. But if we could avoid any bad luck from hereafter, I wasn’t risking it.

Me: You can kiss me at the altar.

Killian: I want more than a kiss. Can’t do that at the altar.

By now, I was grinning so bad my cheeks were beginning to hurt. I had been so touch deprived, so love deprived for the last four years that I was now practically swooning at every little attention. Romantic Killian was my favorite Killian.

Me: You can do that after the wedding.

Killian: I fucked up.

Me: What do you mean?

Killian: I imagined you in your wedding dress, walking down the aisle to me… and then I imagined how fucking good it’d feel to rip that dress off you and eat you out like my favorite dessert. So now my dick is aching. You’re killing me, Princess.

Me: First, it’s not my fault your imagination decided to run so wild. Second, you ARE NOT ripping my dress off. I’ll be mad and instead of “consummating” our marriage as you desperately want to, you’ll be sleeping on the floor.

Killian: Let me in. Please.

Me: You really thought saying please was going to help your case?

Killian: Yes?

He sounded so hopeful in that one-word text that I imagined him pouting as he waited for me to open the door. A giggle escaped past my lips while I quickly typed back a message.

Me: Patience is a virtue.

Killian: I’m not fucking virtuous.

Me: I love you.

Killian: I love you too. Now, can I have pussy for a late lunch?

Me: Dinner.

Killian: Afternoon snack?

Me: Dinner.

Killian. Fuck.

Mirai let out a choked cough and I dropped my phone on the vanity, before meeting her eyes through the mirror. Her cheeks were tinted pink and she was biting back a smile.

A flush sneaked up my neck and my cheeks at the knowing look she was giving me. “Were you reading my texts?”

“Nope.”

I squinted at her suspiciously. “Liar.”

“You should have agreed to the afternoon snack.”

“Afternoon snack?” Emily bustled into the room, my white veil in her hands. “Are you hungry? I can make you a snack.”

“I don’t know about Julianna but I definitely think Killian is hungry,” Mirai mumbled.

Oh my God.

I let out a silent gasp but Emily was oblivious, thank God.

Mirai took my white, lace veil from her grandmother and came back to me. “Here it is.”

“Thank you.” My smile widened. “Can you help me?”

I faced the mirror and Mirai secured the veil over my head with the gorgeous handmade leaf tiara, embellished with tiny crystals, that Emily made me – as a wedding present. It was the only sparkly thing about my wedding outfit.

I had forgone any expensive jewelleries, except for the simple pearl earrings that was my something borrowed from Selene. After my mother’s death, she was the only mother figure I had. And when Gracelynn was gone, Selene was my only friend until I came to the island.

The last year, Selene wasn’t much in my life and I had missed her. One phone call later and after a few arrangements, she was able to make it to my second wedding.

“Where’s Selene?” I asked Emily as she helped Mirai arrange my veil.

“She’s doing a final check before the wedding.” She met my eyes through our reflection, smiling encouragingly. “To make sure all the arrangements are done properly and then she’ll get ready.”

I had everything now. Everything I wanted; everything I dreamed of. A real father – Gideon. Emily and Mirai were my friends. Selene was here, with her motherly smile. My husband loved me. I was only missing…

Gracelynn.

My chest tightened and I shook my head, refusing to think about how it hurt.

Taking a shaky breath, I smiled at my reflection. I was finally getting a real wedding and today was a happy day. Killian made sure of it. I wasn’t going to ruin it by being so bleak on such a joyous occasion.

***

An hour later, I found myself standing in front of the door that led to the back of the castle. My father’s gaze flitted to mine, cocking his head to the side as he studied me closely. “You look a little nervous.”

“Do you think Killian is nervous?”

He chuckled. “Not exactly. He’s just impatient.”

“Of course, he is,” I mumbled. “As long as he doesn’t leave me at the altar again.”