Epilogue
DANIIL
Four months later
My wedding day.
It’s a strange feeling because legally, I’m already married.
Courtney and I eloped the day after we got back together in Vegas. Quick, easy, and no fanfare. It was exactly what I wanted.
Today she’s getting what she wants.
And a little something she didn’t know she wanted.
Instead of the black tuxedo with tails that I’m wearing for the wedding itself, I’m currently in my formal military uniform, the one with all the bells and whistles indicating that I’m a prince as well as an officer in the Limaji Army.
“You ready?” Sandor meets my eye in the mirror as I adjust my collar.
“I am.”
He smiles, holding out the velvet cape we wear to formal royal ceremonies.
I pull it over my shoulders and take a breath.
We’ve already had all the conversations about whether or not I’m sure, and I am. The step I’m taking today will solidify the plans Courtney and I are making. At least, one of them. She doesn’t know anything about this part of our day, and I’ve somehow managed to keep this extra ceremony a surprise.
Only immediate family knows what’s going on—and the Royal Protectors.
I reach for the ornate box containing the ceremonial sword that I received when I took the oath to be a Royal Protector. It’s gorgeous, the handle covered in rubies and emeralds, the blade gleaming in the light.
Today I’m giving it back.
Sliding it into the scabbard at my hip, I turn and walk out of the ante room toward the small chapel where official ceremonies take place. I’ve only been in here to be sworn in and watch others be sworn in as Royal Protectors.
Today will be a first.
Probably for all of us.
I catch Courtney’s eye and she looks confused when she sees me.
All I told her was that it was a private ceremony that’s tradition in our family and that only a handful of people would be attending.
She looks a little uncertain, so I wink before walking to the front of the room where Erik is standing.
He’s also dressed in his military and ceremonial finery, which makes this more emotional than I thought it would be.
“Good morning.” Erik looks around. The room is full, but guests are very specific: Sandor, Lennox, Xander, Cooper, Natalia, Marcus, Joe, Axel, Solange, Jonas, Dax, and Ace. And Courtney. Because this was all for her.
“Let the ceremony begin.” Erik nods at me.
I walk forward and slowly and deliberately drop to one knee.
“Your Majesty.” I pull the sword from its sheath and hold it out, bowing my head. I take a deep breath but don’t hesitate. “Today I ask to be released from my oath as Royal Protector to the King of Limaj and the royal family.”
“State your reasons.”
“I wish to protect my son and heir, Prince Micah, and my wife, Princess Courtney.”
I hear Courtney’s startled gasp, but other than that, the room is deadly silent.
“I decline your request.”
My head snaps up in shock, and I gaze at my cousin in confusion. We talked about this. He gave me his blessing.
What the fuck?!
I’m about to get up and let him know what I think of him—it’s just Royal Protectors in this room, so I wouldn’t be publicly embarrassing him—because this just pisses me off.
“Stay where you are.” Erik’s voice is sharp, commanding, and I see a determination in his eyes that usually only comes out when he’s in Parliament.
He looks away from me and addresses the room.
“I wish to modify Prince Daniil’s oath. As a Royal Protector, he swears allegiance to the royal family but will only put his life on the line for his wife and children.
This must come to a vote.” He looks to Sandor. “Prince Sandor—aye or nay?”
“Aye,” Sandor rumbles immediately.
“Princess Lennox.”
“Aye.”
He goes around the room and each of the Protectors, my friends and family, say aye.
This time, when my chin hits my chest, it’s with gratitude and emotion. For the second time in less than a year, I feel tears in my eyes.
Dammit.
Sandor is never going to let me live it down if he sees me cry.
Courtney
I had no idea what to expect when Lennox escorted me to this small, out of the way chapel in a corner of the palace I’ve never been to before.
I’ve never seen her in a Limaji military uniform before, either, so I was hella confused.
She promised that Daniil had worked hard for a wedding day surprise and that I would understand everything in a few minutes.
And then he dropped to one knee and asked Erik to release him from his oath.
The Royal Protector Oath.
It’s sacred in his family and in Limaj.
The Royal Protectors are revered and respected.
And just when I was all teary-eyed and emotional, Erik rejected the request.
I don’t pretend to understand everything that’s happening, because the rest of the ceremony is in Limaji, but Lennox explains it to me in hushed whispers.
“It’s a modified oath, where he’s taking a new oath—to you and your children, present and future.”
Oh. My. God.
I didn’t even know this was possible.
And when the ceremony is over, I watch my husband be surrounded by his friends and family, shaking hands and hugging everyone. But through it all, his eyes keep finding mine, a gentle, curious smile in his—like there’s a question I need to answer.
I never expected nor asked him to rescind his oath, and I never would. As much as it scares me, I have the utmost respect for him, his family, and all their traditions. I would never take that from him. Yet he was willing to give it up. For me.
“I have news,” Lennox says to me. She had her second set of twins in November, and she’s been busy, so we haven’t had a lot of time to talk.
“Good news, I hope?” I turn to her curiously.
She smiles widely, baring all her teeth, which tells me there’s something big coming. “Sandor and I are adopting Charlie and Briony.”
My mouth falls open.
“Oh. My. God.”
“It’s not their fault their father turned into a bad guy. And we just couldn’t imagine sending them to strangers. Sandor wants a hundred kids anyway, and I’m absolutely never, ever getting pregnant again, so this seemed…like a good solution all around.”
Daniil and I talked about it too. It was just hard for me to wrap my head around it, especially since I’m six weeks pregnant. I only told Daniil last night—no one else knows—and coupled with us buying Shadow Security, that’s all I can take on right now.
“Are you okay with it?” I ask softly.
She smiles. “I am. I know how much he wants a big family, and I’m starting to love the idea too. I just don’t want to be pregnant anymore. So this way, we kill multiple birds with one stone, you know? And they’re great kids. I’ve always loved them.”
“Do they know?”
“Not yet. We wanted to get through the wedding before we made any more changes to their lives. Joe has been doing the best he can, but he never wanted to be a father, much less a single father.”
I nod. “I’m happy to be Auntie Courtney, and Daniil is already Uncle Danny.”
She nods. “Someday, we’ll have to tell them about what their father did since it will most likely show up in any search on the internet, but for now, we want to give them security and love because they miss their dad.”
“You’re amazing,” I whisper, hugging her tightly.
“And now there’s finally a girl in the mix!”
We giggle together.
When I look up, I realize Daniil is finally free, so I squeeze Lennox’s arm before running to my husband and hugging him tightly. Since we’ve been married for four months, we’re not concerned with superstitions about seeing the bride before the ceremony or any of that.
“Babe.” I stare at him in wonder. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“I wanted to.”
“Did you and Erik talk about this?”
“We talked about him releasing me from my oath—I didn’t know about any of that modification stuff.”
“It was a beautiful moment,” I whisper. “Thank you.”
“Are you okay with it?”
“I was okay with things the way they were before—or I wouldn’t have married you. I love you, Daniil. All of you. And being a Royal Protector is part of who you are.”
“I love you too.” He presses a soft kiss on my forehead since I’ve already had my hair and makeup professionally done for the wedding.
“What happens now?” I ask.
“We get married—again.”
“How many people are here?” I ask wearily.
“Guests?” He laughs. “Five hundred.”
I groan and wrinkle my nose.
“Hey, this was your idea,” he says, laughing. “I was perfectly happy with the Vegas elopement.”
“You weren’t,” I contradict gently. “You love the pomp and circumstance. Don’t hide who you are from me, Daniil. It’s part of what I love about you. That you have more than one side—that you’re complicated and unique. Caring. Handsome.” I pause. “I’m digging this cape…”
“Yeah?” His eyes twinkle. “Does that mean I get to go down on you at the reception?”
Heat floods my cheeks, but I grin. “Absolutely—it’s how this whole thing started, right? Seems only fitting that we come full circle.”
He shakes his head. “I love you, Courtney Gustaffson.”
“I love you more, Prince Daniil.”
“Okay, you two.” Lennox comes over with her hands on her hips and makes a shooing motion. “Time to get ready for the official ceremony. There are two hundred dignitaries from all over the world here—we have to get things going.”
“Don’t rush me,” I say, pretending to pout. “My husband and I are having a moment.”
“You’ll have your moment at the reception,” she says, playfully rolling her eyes. “Now chop chop—it’s time to get married.”
“Again,” Daniil whispers in my ear.
“As many times as we can,” I whisper back.
Thank you for reading Daniil and Courtney’s story and those of all the Royal Protectors! This is the end of the Protectors but Shadow Security is coming soon!