Epilogue – Chapter Four
NERINE
“What on earth is going on, Fiona?” I paced around my bedroom while my twin sisters darted alongside me, trying to keep my train from getting caught on the bedposts.
“Will you sit still?” Ariana complained.
Christina huffed as she held up the embroidered lace. “Running around while you worry isn’t as easy as you think.”
Glancing at the clock, I saw it was exactly ten minutes before I was supposed to start walking down the aisle. I peeked out the window again, wishing Xander and Theo had somehow shown up. Unfortunately, I only saw a crowd, now more nervous than ever, sitting in their seats.
Waiting.
Awkwardly.
“Stop looking out there!” Fiona demanded, yanking the curtain from my hand and shoving me away. “You’re not supposed to see them before the wedding!”
“Well, believe me, I’m not. They still aren’t out there! Where the heck are they?”
Panic and confusion wrestled within me. I trusted both of them with my life. We’d been through so much together.
My God, we had the boys!
Surely, they wouldn’t betray me.
“Well, isn’t it obvious? They’ve run off with a couple of strippers!” Ariana said, flashing me a teasing smile.
“This is no time for joking, Ari!” I stopped to glare at her.
She shrugged her shoulders. “I was only trying to lighten the mood, and it got you to stand still for a second.”
“Seriously, Nerine…” Fiona rolled her eyes, making me want to shake her. “Can you hear how ridiculous that sounds? Whatever's happening, I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation. Those two would go through hell for you.”
“I’m going to set them on fire myself!” I insisted, resuming my pacing.
The door to my room flew open behind me, and I turned with anticipation, hoping to see them there with a reasonable explanation.
But it wasn’t a sheepish Xander in the doorway.
Nor was it my infuriating Theo.
Instead, it was Mama with Hayes and Charis in her arms. Anxiety was etched all over her face, leaving a heavy lump in the pit of my stomach .
“Did you find them?”
She shook her head slowly. “It doesn’t make sense. I took the boys to see Theo and spoke with him.”
“And then?”
“I asked him where Xander was, and he said he would return shortly. But now..." She paused, setting the boys on the ground, who immediately ran toward Fiona.
“What is it, Mom?" I asked intently.
“Nerine, I’m sorry. They’re both gone.”
My blood ran cold. I sat on the bed, not caring anymore that I might be wrinkling the luxurious silk.
“Everyone is looking for them,” she assured me.
I looked at Fiona with alarm. The smile she gave the boys as they came toward her disappeared.
“Devani,” she said, picking up Hayes and Charis, setting them on the sofa beside her, and pulling out her phone from her clutch. “She will handle this.”
“Call her now,” I urged, unable to mask the panic in my voice. “See if she can have her team search for them.”
She nodded and got up from her seat, and right away, Mama took her spot to keep the babies in check. At least the boys being a handful was typical for the day.
We needed to find their fathers.
They wouldn’t disappear together unless something were seriously wrong. Given how they pushed for the wedding, there wasn’t a chance in hell either of them would get cold feet.
I headed for the door, but Fiona stepped in front of me, her phone tucked against her neck, her arms folded, and a glare on her face. “No. ”
“Get out of my way, Fiona. I have to look for them!”
“As Mama just said, everyone is searching for them. Devani’s on the line. She’s gathering her people to join our soldiers in finding them. And she told me to tell you, don’t leave the room, or she will kick your ass.”
I clenched my jaw. “I hate it when the two of you gang up on me.”
Fiona smirked and continued her conversation with Devani, completely ignoring me.
“She’s right,” Mama replied. “You need to stay here. If something is wrong, we can’t give them another target.”
Ariana huffed, “Mama. That’s not helping the situation. Don’t put those thoughts in her head.”
“Don’t worry so much, Nerine. They’re probably just having a drink or two and lost track of time.” Christina adjusted my train, draping it over a nearby chair.
“If they are just fucking around to mess with my head, I’m going to kill them.”
“Maybe you should rethink that glass of rosé,” Christina suggested.
My head spun, and I tapped my toe against the floor. “Fine, get me a glass.”
“Coming right up.” Ariana ran to the bar cart.
“It’s probably nothing, right?” I said, looking over at her hopefully as she poured me a glass.
The last thing I wanted to do today was think about the violence and possibilities of our world. For just one day, I needed to put aside my duties as the Godmother of the Angelos family .
For twenty-four hours at least, couldn’t I just be a fucking bride?
“Absolutely,” Ariana assured me, handing me the wine and gesturing for me to drink.
I followed her instructions, attempting to rein in my racing thoughts.
Please let whatever was going on be something stupid.
And if it was something stupid, I planned to either make their lives a living hell or murder them with my bare hands.
“You can’t kill them on your wedding day,” Fiona said, shaking her head at me.
I scowled at her. “You’re a mind reader now, are you?”
“I’m your sister, and I know how you think.” She shrugged. “The moment they piss you off, you want to reach for your blades.”
“Am I that predictable?” I laughed, downing half the glass.
I needed the warmth of the buzz to take the edge off just a little. If this wedding ever happened, I needed to ensure I wasn’t drunkenly stumbling down the aisle.
“You have another option,” Christina hummed.
“I’m worried what you will say, but okay, I’ll bite.”
She gave me a beaming smile and said, “Just fuck them almost to death.”
“Oh, for the love of all that is holy,” Mama exclaimed. “How have I raised you to say such things?”
"Honestly, Mama. We're aware of everything about you and Papa, so there's no need to act surprised," Ariana remarked in her straightforward manner, which only infuriated Mama further.
“Stop picking on her, you two. Our knife-wielding mother doesn’t want anyone to know she’s a bloodthirsty badass who sinned before marriage.” Fiona shot me a grin as she walked over to the window.
"Feel free to enjoy yourself at my expense. This is what occurs when the Lord blesses me with daughters—not just one, but four.” Mama sighed dramatically, making me laugh.
God, I loved these women. Their antics always helped ease a stressful situation. A moment later, a cheer rang out from the crowd outside the window, and a wave of relief washed over me.
“Looks like your princes have arrived,” Fiona said, glancing into the gardens.
“My kings,” I replied.
She nodded in agreement. “I stand corrected."
I rose to face her, excitement coursing through my veins.
Fiona’s phone buzzed, and she signaled to Mama, who came over to me.
“It’s time, my sweet girl.”
She reached up and swept a lock of hair over my shoulders, smoothing the curl. Tears filled her eyes, and mine widened in surprise at her sudden outpouring of emotion. “I hope you know how beautiful you are, Nerine Angelos.”
“Thank you, Mama,” I replied, pulling her close, my heart overflowing. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she said as I pulled away. “Now, go get your happily ever after. ”
Mama extended her elbow, allowing me to slip my hand through it. We stepped out into the hallway together. Just outside the door, Ariana, Christina, and Fiona formed a line, grinning widely while clutching bouquets of red lilies. In front of them, Hayes and Charis looked adorable, holding baskets filled with red rose petals. They fidgeted restlessly, and Fiona did her best to manage them.
I smiled, my heart soaring with pride for them. I was so happy they were here with us and would have the memory of their parents getting married. Mama handed me my bouquet from the bedroom, a beautiful spray of red and white lilies that matched the ones my sisters carried. “Thank you,” I said. We took our place in line behind the girls and headed outside. As we approached the door, I heard the music change, and the rumbling of the crowd subsided.
My heart raced with anticipation.
The moment I’d dreamed of all my life had finally arrived.
I closed my eyes, trying to drink in the feeling, wanting to remember it forever.
When the doors opened, and the boys walked out first, the initial oohs and aahs erupted from the crowd, and I felt tears welling up.
I hastily blinked them away, not wanting to be a sobbing mess by the time it was my turn to walk down the aisle. I tried to peer around my sisters' bobbing heads as they waited in front of me, hoping to sneak a glance at my loves.
With each moment that passed, my breath grew shallower. My anxiety shifted to eagerness and impatience as Mama gently pressed her palm against the back of my hand.
“Are you alright, darling?"
I was too overwhelmed to respond. Breathing felt nearly impossible.
So, I simply nodded.
As my sisters stepped aside, disappearing down the aisle, the crowd parted like a sea, revealing Theo and Xander.
I gasped as I saw the two of them anxiously peering down the aisle, seemingly just as desperate to look at me as I was for a glimpse of them. My entire soul lit up at the sight of them.
They looked striking in their matching tuxedos, exuding a captivating charm. My heart swelled with profound love.
“Here we go,” Mama whispered close to me, and together, we walked toward them, stepping into my new life, my new role, my destined future.
As we approached, the beaming crowd seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in my focus. Seeing them stand side by side, waiting for me, was better than I had ever dreamed.
Xander moved ahead, speaking loudly yet gently.
“Mrs. Angelos, are you here to present the bride?”
“I am,” Mama said quietly. She turned toward me, wrapped her arms around me, and kissed me on the cheek.
"I love you so much, Mama,” I replied.
She caressed my cheek and smiled brightly at me. Then, she took my hand and placed it in Xander’s.
Xander’s dark eyes gazed into mine, warm and tender. Silently, he guided me up the two small steps to my other waiting love, Theo.
Xander offered my hand to Theo with a subtle bow.
“You two are late,” I whispered.
"Sorry about that, Angel,” Theo replied with a wink. “It won’t happen again.”
I laughed at his joke, aware that we’d never marry again. My gaze swept over them, absorbing every detail, desire coursing through my body.
My eyes caught a splash of color on Xander’s collar, and I focused on it intently. Initially, the vivid red reminded me of lipstick, and Devani’s joke about the stripper resonated in my mind.
But then I looked closer. Blood . My eyes widened at the sight, and I looked at Xander with a questioning look.
He nodded slowly, sharing a knowing smile with me.
“Shh, we can talk later,” Xander whispered.
Curiosity bounced around my mind. Perhaps they had been detained for a valid reason, after all. A gradual sense of relief began to flow through me. No matter what had happened, they were both here now.
Theo squeezed my hands, and I turned my focus to him. We all knew I’d have a million questions later, but for now, this—our future waited, wide open and full of possibilities.
“Dearly beloved,” Xander started. “We are gathered here today..."