Epilogue
SKYE
One Month Later
S unlight shone through the windows of the castello and sparkled against the crystal blue waves in the Gulf of Trieste while birds flew with the mild breeze and flowers attracted butterflies of all colors and sizes. The scent of the flowers and the sea was everywhere, a clear sign of spring.
Through the large windows, I could see our families laughing and guests chattering, waves crashing against the shoreline.
I stood in the same pink bedroom that had been mine when my parents first found me. The room that had seen so much love and happiness.
My eyes traveled over the vast blue sea. This was somewhere I’d found joy, but not where my journey began. My happiness started with the Nikolaev family and their acceptance. They were the first step, bringing me closer to my birth parents, and for that, I’d forever love them.
“Gosh, you’re going to make Nikola lose his mind.”
“ You’re beautiful, ” Mama signed while she and Branka watched with teary eyes on their smiling faces.
They’d helped with the wedding, much to my papa’s relief. He gave it his best shot, but he drew the line at centerpieces.
The door swung open, Papa and Sasha walking in with their suave strides and wide grins.
“A perfect day for my perfect daughter,” Papa announced, striding over to me with sure steps and pressing a kiss on my forehead.
“ I’m not perfect ,” I objected, lifting my head, and just as the sun hit his face, I swore I saw tears glistening in his dark eyes. “ Not even close to it, but thank you for always having my back, Papa. You too, Sasha. ”
“You’re perfect,” Sasha protested. “And it’s us who should be thanking you, Skye. You brought light into our lives.”
I blinked hard, my gaze traveling over my unusual family. My parents and my adoptive parents. I couldn’t imagine my life without them.
“ I’m so grateful to have four such wonderful parents .”
I smiled, then pulled them all into a big hug.
A saying claims nobody could have it all, but these days, I was pretty damn close. The love of my life. A loving family. Wonderful friends.
My parents’ eyes traveled over me and my unusual wedding dress. A long sleeveless gown with a white bodice, covered in silk pastel flowers that stretched all the way to the ground.
“Are you nervous?” Sasha questioned. “Want to run away?”
Damien appeared, looking handsome and so grown up. “If you’re going, take me with you, because there’s a girl that keeps trying to hold my hand.”
“I think the groom will catch up to us,” Papa stated.
“ I’m not nervous .” I couldn’t stop smiling. “ Just incredibly happy, and I can’t wait to walk down the aisle .”
I couldn’t wait to have Nikola all to myself once the guests left. My parents would leave too, leaving us alone at Miramare for a blissful week before we left on our honeymoon.
“So tonight, you and Nikola are going to get jiggy, huh?” Damien winked, and Sasha smacked him on the head. “What the fuck, Dad?”
“Skye’s not getting jiggy with anyone,” Sasha grumbled, causing me to blush.
“Jesus Christ, get your mind out of the gutter, man. I was talking about dancing and having fun, not sex.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “ Yes, we’ll be sure to… dance. ”
“You know you’re my favorite sister,” he started.
“ Your only sister ,” I corrected him. He waved his hand in the air, like that little piece of information was irrelevant.
“But if you make me an uncle before I’m twenty-one, you won’t be my favorite sister,” he continued as if I hadn’t spoken.
I patted his hand. “ Don’t worry. I promise to wait .” Possibly for a very, very long time.
“But don’t wait too long.” Sasha grinned. “Dante and I have a bet going.”
I let out a groan. “ Do I even want to know ?”
“No, you don’t,” Branka stated matter-of-factly.
Mama shot Papa a reprimanding look. “ Those two are acting like children .”
“What, Nix? You know we’ll be better grandparents than this Russian,” Papa grumbled with a guilty expression. “Any child would rather be in Italy than freeze-your-ass-off Russia.”
Sasha scoffed. “We also stay in New Orleans, you know.”
“Don’t let these two babies make you late for your own wedding,” Branka muttered, rolling her eyes at them, then she and Mama made themselves scarce.
“New Orleans doesn’t have tiramisu,” Papa reasoned.
“Well, Italy doesn’t have alligators,” Sasha snapped.
“I rest my case.” Papa grinned, then turned to me. “Are you ready to get this party started, princess?”
I lifted my long dress and stepped forward, closing the distance to the two men who had been my whole world for so long. Their bickering instantly ceased and they both offered me their arm.
There’d be no bouquet to hold since I was wearing the flowers, and besides, walking down the aisle holding on to these two men meant so much more.
I met Papa’s gaze, then Sasha’s, and leaned over to press a soft kiss on each of their cheeks.
“ I love you both ,” I mouthed with a trembling lip, locking eyes with theirs that glistened.
Inhaling deeply, Papa spoke first. “You’ve made me so proud, princess. Don’t forget your papa when that Russian boy spoils you rotten.”
I smiled softly. “ Never. Besides, you both spoiled me rotten first .”
Sasha shook his head. “We better get going. I don’t want to ruin my makeup.”
I chuckled and my clammy hands gripped their strong arms. We made our way out of my room, down the stairs, and out onto the terrace, where all eyes were on us.
My heart fluttered fast and fierce as we took a step toward the terrace where a makeshift altar and priest waited for me. One step. Two. Three.
As we walked down, the entire world faded away as my eyes landed on a tall, strong man with the palest blue eyes. Nikola’s eyes on me were full of love, reverence, and obsession.
Then it sunk in and a sharp gasp left my lungs.
Nikola stood tall, gripping a wooden carved cane and waiting for me. His three-piece suit was immaculate, his Windsor tie knot just a bit off, and his smile just right.
My heart was too eager, my love overflowing as my steps sped up, dragging Papa and Sasha toward my future.
I didn’t wait for Papa and Sasha to give me to him. I closed the distance between us, wrapping my arms around Nikola’s towering frame.
“Surprise, zayka ,” he murmured with the biggest smile I’d ever seen on his face while so many emotions and questions swirled in my chest.
“ How… when… why didn’t you tell me ?”
“I wanted to surprise you.” He cupped my face. “I want to be the best version of myself for you, Skye. The strongest one.”
“ You already are the best man on this planet, malysh. The best version. The best everything for me. ” I kissed him on the mouth. “ The only man for me. ”
The priest tapped Nikola on the shoulder and we turned our heads to look at him, not letting go of each other.
The priest shifted uncomfortably. “We haven’t gotten to the vows yet.”
It didn’t matter, because Nikola refused to let me go. The ceremony began and ended with my hand in his and his in mine.
“You may kiss the bride.”
My husband kissed me, lazy and sweet, rough and possessive, sending shudders through me.
Then it was just the two of us. Husband and wife.
Forever.
THE END