Epilogue
Bash
My fingers tap against my leg as a jittery sensation builds under my skin. There’s sweat on the back of my neck, but it has nothing to do with the strength of the beating sun. My gaze is fixed down the aisle, pinned on the door where Anastasia is supposed to emerge. The growing sound of children’s voices as they grow frustrated from sitting too long is quickly followed by Matthias’s chastising tone for them to behave.
My lips tip up when that backfires on him, all five of them climbing from their seats, now arguing with my older brother. Xander laughs on my left when Matthias promises ice cream if they can just make it through the ceremony.
That works. They all sit still, quiet like angels I know they’re not.
The moment of distraction doesn’t last long, and I’m back to my stare as tension grows under my skin and my neck prickles under my collar. A quick glance tells me she’s fifteen minutes late.
I’m gnawing on the inside of my cheek when Xander taps his shoulder against mine. “Maybe she came to her senses and ran away.”
“You can fuck right off,” I shoot back, ignoring the queasy, swirling sensation that grows in my gut. My jaw twitches. I can’t put it past her, but she’s delusional if she thinks I’ll let her get far.
“I texted Misty. You’re fine,” Damon reassures me from his spot as the officiant.
Relief flows in my veins, relaxing my shoulders like an anesthetic. “I wasn’t worried.”
“Uh-huh…sure,” Xander replies, and I’m about to elbow him when the music kicks on and the door finally opens.
Misty steps out first, followed by Scarlet. I’m sure they look amazing, but all I can see is Anastasia. She’s chosen a simple silk slip-like dress that skims below her knees and hugs every one of her curves. Her hair’s free around her shoulders, bright red catching in the sunlight, making her look wild. Like an untameable flame that’s willingly tying herself to me.
My breath catches, and my lungs collapse inward with each of her agonizingly slow steps as she closes the distance between us that I’ve grown to despise. If I had it my way, we’d never be more than a few feet apart.
My throat grows thick, and the back of my eyes burns as she comes to stand in front of me. I exhale in a whoosh when blue eyes glinting with tears burn into mine.
Her chin wobbles when she lets out a soft “Hi.”
I spent days preparing exactly what I’d say at this moment, but she’s wiped all my thoughts, leaving only one left. “You’re beautiful.”
She gives me a watery smile, so sweet that I can feel my own tears forming at the corner of my eyes. I reach out, twisting a long strand of her crimson hair around my finger, my gaze focused on her mouth.
Damon clears his throat, breaking the moment. “Let’s get this over with.”
That earns him a sharp look from Misty.
If this fucking bastard thinks he’s going to ruin this day… I glare up at him, but he gives me the knowing wink of a man who’d been just as impatient to marry his own wife.
“Sebastian, you have something prepared?”
My nose crinkles at the sound of my full name coming from Damon. There’s only one person who manages to make it sound good.
Anastasia’s fingers curl into mine, and their slight tremble has me snapping back to the present.
I nod, pulling at all my courage, and force the words out as clearly as possible. I need to do this quickly, or I’ll be sobbing midway.
“I used to think my brothers had everything because they found the women who completed them, but now I know that they have everything because they found the women they can give everything to. Anastasia, you are that person for me, with your fiery red hair and matching personality. You will no doubt keep me on my toes.”
She bites the corner of my lip and looks up innocently through her lashes. She definitely knows what she’s doing to me. She squeezes my fingers, and I continue. “I was lost, bored in a life that felt empty, an ever-present pressure in my chest whispering that there was more to life. Now I know that all this time, I’ve been waiting for you.” I lift her hand, running my thumb over the back, then slip the simple white-gold band over her ring finger. It nestles perfectly under her diamond ring like it’s always been there. I kiss her knuckle and rasp just for her. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”
Tears pool over her lashes, and I catch them on her cheeks, brushing them away. I mouth, I love you , loving how her breath hitches. “Didn’t you prepare something to say to me?” I say it playfully, earning her eye roll.
I’m inwardly proud when her hesitance washes away, and she begins.
“You always know just what to say to ease my worries, to make me feel like I’m truly where I belong.” I expect her to make a clever remark, but her next words gut me. “Bash, you make me believe in second chances, in happiness that I never thought I deserved. I’ve spent my entire life weighed down by guilt.”
I grip her chin, forcing it up, and bore into her eyes, not letting her look away so she knows just how much I mean it. “You have nothing to feel guilty about.”
“See, you’re doing it again.”She chuckles, and my grip loosens, my finger falling to rest on her neck.
I’m captured when she leans in, her voice soft but carrying the weight of her sincerity. “You see me for who I am, not who I once was or who I could be. And for that, I am eternally grateful.”
It’s hard to focus as she slides a thick black band encrusted in sapphires over my knuckle. My heart is pounding in my chest, sending my pulse rushing in my ears. All I can think about is showing her just how much I love her in a way words never could.
“I’m proud to welcome you as my sister. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride,” Damon says.
I don’t waste a second, pulling Stasia into me and crushing her lips to mine. I devour her sigh, loving the way her nails dig into my shoulders, clutching me tight. There are cheers from around us, and she’s breathless when our mouths part, and I lean my forehead against hers.
“I love you, Mrs. Everette.”
“I love you too.”
“I love you more.”
She laughs, kissing me again, not letting go until I’m the one struggling for breath.
“Still kissing me to shut me up, I see,” I rasp with a grin.
She tilts her head. “Get used to it. It’s going to happen for the rest of our lives.”
“I never said I didn’t like it.”I lift her off her feet, swirling her in my arms, my heart aching with how full it is.
Giggling erupts near the shoreline, bright smiles and little bare feet running through the sand as Anastasia lifts and spins our nieces and nephews into the air, winning their game of chase.
Our.
Tingling forms in my chest, and a sense of relief takes over now that she’s officially mine, not that I’d ever let her go before we were married. Watching her now, it’s as if she’s always belonged here, as if it was only a matter of finding her for her to meld into our family.
Her red hair catches the fading pink light as the sun lowers in the sky. Adoration isn’t a strong enough word to describe how I feel about her. It’s a bone-deep obsession, one that’s built on brief moments and sly smiles as she’s lit up my life and filled the hollow space beneath my ribs.
I chuckle inwardly. She’d tease me mercilessly if she knew what I was thinking.
A shadow casts over me, and there’s a looming present to my right. I don’t have to look to know it’s Nikolai from the weight of his penetrating stares. He appraises me, no doubt wondering how his perfect sister ended up with someone like me, and I can’t blame him because I wonder the same thing daily.
Nikolai shifts until he enters my vision, and his severe expression softens a fraction as he observes the scene unfolding in front of us.
“I still don’t like you.” He pauses for several seconds before begrudgingly saying, “But I’ve never seen her smile like that.”
His brows are pulled together as he turns to face me and says in a sharp tone, “Just know that if you ever hurt her, I’ll be coming for you.”
I roll back on my heels, never losing eye contact with him, meeting his challenge head-on with ease.
I’d rather kill myself before I hurt her. I chuckle. Too bad for him I’d rather play with him than ease his worry. “Aw, another threatening big brother chat,”
A vein pulses at his temple, and I decide to take mercy on him. He is my family now, after all.
“Don’t worry, I’ve already gotten the warning from both Damon and Matthias.” My levity vanishes as my wife comes back into view, a warmth filling my chest until it’s full enough to burst. “I will never hurt her. If anything, I’m the one at risk of being crushed.”
The truth of the statement settles over me. Where it would have once scared me, all it does is provide comfort now. Eve rests comfortably on Stasia’s hip as she chats with Scarlet. I can’t help but think how natural it looks and how soon our own child might be in her arms. The image of a pregnant Stasia has my thoughts turning, and I almost forget about her brother, still watching me.
“Good.” He nods curtly, the veins still tight in his chest, revealing he doesn’t quite believe me, but it doesn’t matter because I’ll never go back on my word.
Stasia’s looking over the ocean, alone now that the kids have been sent to bed, her back turned to me, the sunset silhouetting her slight frame. Even the concept of breathing feels foreign to me as my feet move forward, closing the distance between us. She’s warm in my arms and leans her weight into me as I brush my lips against her temple. She’s wearing a content smile as she watches the final rays of sunlight dance over the water.
“I could watch this forever,” she murmurs, lacing her fingers with mine where they rest on her stomach.
The slight slope of her nose, the blue shining in her eyes, and her breaths pressing into my chest are the only things I need. My voice is rough, coming from deep within my chest as I promise, “Me too.”
Next up: Forbidden Arrangement.
The final book in the Twisted Vows series.