40. Luna
FORTY
LUNA
“It’s almost time,” Finn announced, walking into Luna’s bedroom that was now the official bridal suite. She looked at him through the mirror, noticing how much older he looked when he dressed up in a tux and tamed his crazy hair.
Once upon a time, Finn would have hated her being at the Vitali mansion. Now, he was prepared to walk her down the aisle to the Vitali heir himself.
Luna nodded, allowing Blair to fix one of her curls. On short notice, Luna was able to get the perfect dress. A satin A-line dress with small straps that sat on her shoulders. The back was cut out with a white bow attached to her lower back. The dress cinched at her waist before it flowed out and down her body.
With the dress on, hair and makeup done, the girls helped her slide the satin gloves up her arms, finishing the traditionally elegant bridal look.
She had never been the type of person to plan her wedding in extensive detail, mostly because she’d always dreaded the day it would come. Today, however, that dread wasn’t present, and because of that, she now wished that she had more time to plan it the way she wanted. But the number one thing she asked of the girls was to make her feel beautiful. And she did.
“She’s ready,” Cecilia said. She straightened out the silky dusty rose dress that all of the girls wore. Hers was fitted at the chest, the straps hanging off her shoulders. Blair’s was in a halter top style, pinned at the back of her neck. Gianna’s was strapless, a large slit down her right leg.
“You guys can go have a seat,” Luna told them. “I think I can manage to get myself down there.”
Gianna pressed a kiss to her head. “We’ll see you out there.”
Luna let out a deep breath once it was just her and Finn in the room. A new emotion came over her. She used to imagine a world where her father changed his ways and decided to let her marry whoever she wanted rather than forcing her. Her mother would help her plan the wedding and shop for the wedding dress, while her father, despite his flaws, walked her down the aisle. She could forgive them both because they were capable of change and proved they loved Luna.
Again, it was just a dream.
It was tragic how she’d managed to gain someone she loved deeply but lose someone simultaneously. Her father had done the damage though. He sent someone to kill her. He wanted her dead. If she didn’t fight back, that exact thing would happen. Those were the things she had to tell herself every time her dreams pushed on her naivety, forcing her into the same startling reality check repeatedly.
On the bright side, she had her brother there. The one blood relative she had left.
“Thanks for walking me down the aisle,” Luna said, turning to face him. “I know you’ll never like Valerio, but it means the world to me that you’re here.”
Finn shrugged. “You're my sister.”
“You’re not obligated to stay and help me just because we’re siblings.”
“You’re not the only one who lost their family. I don’t think any of us are allowed back home. Definitely not once Father finds I’ve betrayed him.”
“You could still go home,” Luna said. “I’ll tell you what I told Valerio: I’m not going to force you to have any part of this. I’m definitely not asking you to pull the trigger. If you want to keep your innocence, you can go home, but I’m letting you know that I’m still going through with it.”
Finn looked at her, confused. “Why are you doing it?”
“Because I want my justice.” She shook her head. “No, I deserve my justice. Because of him, my life could have been so much worse than it is right now. I got lucky. Somehow, someway, I did. I could have been dead, I could have been in the worst marriage of my life, I could have been trapped in a cage. There are so many ways my life could have played out because of him. He deserves worse, but this is all I can give him. You don’t have to understand or agree, but that is my truth.”
“And yet you’re still willing to let me go?” Finn asked, almost in disbelief. “What if I ran back to him and told him everything? Would you still be so kind to me?”
“I’m not him, Finn. I never want to be him,” Luna said. “Forcing you to do what I say is what he would have done. I won’t take that choice away from you, away from anyone.” She forced a small smile onto her face. “I just ask that you still walk me down the aisle.”
He stared at her for a long moment, completely silent. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking based on the stoic look on his face. That was her brother. Always good at hiding what he felt. Finn approached her, allowing her arm to grab onto his.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he decided.
She felt the unease leave her body. “Thank you,” she whispered.
They walked out of the room, their footsteps being heard in the hallway.
“I know you said you wouldn’t work with us after all of this is over,” Luna said.
“Of course, that prick told you about our conversation,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“He tells me everything. But I just want you to know that you're smart, Finn. You could do some good in the world, some good for yourself, for the Kingsley name. Don’t let your stubbornness get in the way of that,” she said.
Finn snorted. “Fucking doubtful.”
Luna shook her head, freezing when they approached the doors to enter the living room. She could hear the light lull of music, an orchestral rendition of one of her favorite songs. She took a deep breath, squeezing Finn’s arm.
“You’ll be fine,” he said. “Just don’t fall.”
“Shut up,” she muttered.
With that, they walked through the doorway. Luna swore her heart stopped when she saw Valerio standing under the floral arch, adorned in a black tux and his hair gelled back.
Her chest rose and fell rhythmically, matching every step she took down the aisle. Everyone had already stood up to watch her entrance, but her gaze stayed on him like a moth to a flame.
When they reached the end of the altar, Finn handed her off, pressing a small kiss to her forehead. He acknowledged Valerio with an awkward nod that was returned, before he took his seat beside Gianna. Everyone else took the cue to be seated as well, all except for Dante, who walked to the altar. Ironically, he was the only person who was officiated to marry people. He got it on a dare once upon a time, but it worked out in a moment like this.
“You look perfect,” Valerio whispered. He grabbed her hands, running his thumbs along the tops of them.
“Thank you.” Her blush was ever present.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered today to celebrate the coming together of two of the best people I have ever met in my life,” Dante began, his voice confident and compassionate. “Luna and Valerio came together unconventionally, some might say tragically, and still managed to find respect, love, and mutual pining for each other. It’s because of them we are all here today, and it’s because of them we find ourselves believing in love.”
She hadn’t listened to Dante’s speech beforehand, just prayed it was appropriate. Hearing it now, she was thankful she had used waterproof makeup.
“I’ll let you guys get on with your vows,” Dante said.
Valerio cleared his throat, giving Luna a small smile. He was nervous. “All it takes is one person who sees you for who you are, for who you want to be, to change your mind on love. You’ve always been compared to the moon, but to me, you’ve always felt like the sun. A body of light that warms up the people around you. And even though for most of my life I was lost in a labyrinth of darkness, you came and shined a pathway leading me out. I have done so much wrong in my life, but by far the greatest thing I have ever done in my life is love you. Everything I am, everything I want to be, is for you. I vow to protect you, to honor you, and cherish you every moment for the rest of my life. In this lifetime, and the next, you will forever be mine, and I yours. I love you, Luna.”
Nothing could have prepared her for the speech. His admittance of love was pure and kind, everything he believed himself not to be. She was breathless, speechless. The tears fell from her eyes, but Valerio reached up to wipe them before she could. She squeezed the hand that still held hers, silently thanking him for every word he said. It was the truth, the absolute truth, and she knew it.
“Luna, it’s your turn,” Dante told her.
She nodded, taking a deep breath. “The first real decision I had made for myself was accepting that I loved you. It didn’t come without a fight, but when I think about everything in my life leading up to this, I would do it all over again if it meant I would come right back to you. In the middle of the night when your warmth finds me while you’re deep asleep, when you’re having a conversation and you press a kiss to my forehead without realizing, when you start making me food without even asking if I’m hungry, when you ease the chaos from my mind the moment you’re close—it was the best decision I had ever made in my life. Now, on my darkest days, on the days when I hate myself the most, I find myself running to you. I don’t know how long we have together, but I promise to love you for the rest of this lifetime, and the one after it. I love you, Valerio.”
A single tear slipped from his eye. Quick and almost invisible, but she caught it. He didn’t turn away to hide it; he let her see it. He felt her hurt and he felt her love, and he embraced it fully.
They took their time saying “I do” and sliding the rings on each other. All that was left was for Dante to officially pronounce them husband and wife. The words had barely left his mouth when Valerio wrapped his arms around Luna’s waist, crushing her to him. It was a heated kiss, one that devoured her and left her wanting more. Time ceased to exist for a moment, leaving them in pure, unimaginable bliss. For once, their reality was as good as their dreams.
When they finally pulled away, there were claps and cheers from the small crowd, reminding them that they weren’t alone.
Luna gave him a big smile and one more kiss. He held onto her waist.
They all made their way into the kitchen turned reception room, immediately popping open a bottle of champagne. Luna hugged her best friends, reveling in their congratulations. Someone turned on the music, playing the specific playlist she had curated just for her wedding day. They uncovered the food, filled their plates, laughed, drank, danced, and sang to forget everything wrong with the world for a moment.
Luna looked around the room, taking time to acknowledge everyone who was there for her. When her eyes fell on her husband, the love of her life, she knew then that she would do whatever necessary to protect every single one of them.
Even if it killed her.