Chapter Twenty-One
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
In the manicured gardens behind the white dome of Clair de Lune’s parliament, Scarlett’s palms sweated as she stood next to Brayden and their registrar, a sweet older man.
Their wedding ceremony was about to begin.
A lake bordered the gardens, stretching far into the distance to Mont Noir.
Scarlett had always imagined she’d be married on a sunny Soleil day, maybe even on a beach, but a stormy sky hung over the mountains and the lake.
Stunning in its own way, but not what she expected.
After they’d finished speaking to the Soleil Bureau, Manon had hustled Scarlett off to her home to get Sabina’s dress and a pair of teardrop diamond earrings of her own for Scarlett to borrow.
Then they’d gone to a boutique on Clair de Lune’s high street, where she’d bought the first shoes she tried on, as well as a blue garter studded with crystals.
It was so strange, wearing her mother’s wedding dress.
It fit perfectly. Fitted at the waist, its flared skirt came down to mid-thigh.
Pearls lined the square neckline, and the long sleeves were perfect for the cloudy afternoon.
Manon had cried when Scarlett put it on, and then Scarlett had cried, both of them missing Sabina.
There’d been no time to do anything with her hair, so it hung loose down her back as it would on any other day.
Excitement, worry, and nerves filled Scarlett as she looked at Brayden, who was heartbreakingly handsome in a dark gray suit and a white dress shirt.
They stared at each other, and she saw so many things in his expression.
Love, need, and maybe a touch of worry. Her heart raced as she wondered what would pour out of them both as soon as they were alone.
She prayed she was doing the right thing, even though her common sense screamed a visa marriage was wrong.
She’d always imagined her wedding as a carefully planned affair, not a last-minute rush job.
Yet here she stood, in her mother’s wedding dress, as if she were acting in a play.
But this was the only way to let Brayden help her while still fulfilling her duty to seek justice in Soleil.
Duty. Justice. Revenge. Love. This was the only way all those things could fit together, and so it was the right thing to do.
The only thing to do. Even though it seemed selfish.
Scarlett cradled a bouquet of sweet-smelling lilies Brayden had handed her when she’d walked out onto the veranda.
Beni and Manon beamed at them, looking as happy as if this were a long-awaited wedding and not an event planned this morning.
Their hope and love for her and Brayden made Scarlett less afraid.
She thought of her father, and his absence crashed over her in a wave of grief.
What would Mum and Dad think of this?
At surface level, they’d be horrified, but if they knew everything… they’d be pushing her down the aisle just like Manon and Lachlan were. Oh, how she wished they were here to do just that.
“They’re both here with you in spirit,” said Nori.
Scarlett blinked several times, determined not to cry.
The registrar cleared his throat, and they all turned to him.
“Marriage is a desire by two people to share themselves and their experiences with each other, and their willingness to accept each other for who they are…” He went on, but Scarlett was too lost in thoughts of her parents to hear him.
The breeze swirled around them as the registrar spoke, and the fresh smell of Scarlett’s bouquet mixed with the scent of the lake and the rosebushes framing the edge of the lawn where they stood.
Scarlett’s brand-new white heels pressed into the grass as the registrar moved on to the vows. She handed her bouquet to Manon and put her hands in Brayden’s, and his touch steadied her.
“I do solemnly declare that I know of no lawful impediment why I, Scarlett Heroux, may not be joined in matrimony to Brayden Maddox. I take him as my husband and give him this ring as a symbol of my love.”
Brayden smiled softly at her.
She took the gold band she’d bought an hour before their ceremony and slid it onto Brayden’s ring finger as her heart pounded in her chest. Giving him the ring, knowing it meant he was hers, was unlike anything she’d experienced before.
It looked so right on his finger, almost like she’d seen it on him before, but she never had.
The registrar led Brayden through his own declaration. Her throat became thick as he spoke.
“I take her as my wife and give her this ring as a symbol of my love.” She’d expected no ring or a simple one, given the minimal time they’d had to prepare, but the elegant ring he slid onto her finger was white gold, with a large marquise diamond in the center.
Two trinity knots framed the sides of the diamond and flowed seamlessly into the band of the ring.
Her heart melted at the sight. How had he gotten something so perfect on such short notice?
They were pronounced married, and she braced herself for the kiss, not knowing whether it would be frustrated and passionate like their kiss outside Lachlan’s office or, worse, an emotionless peck.
At first it was a ghost of a kiss as Brayden leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, but the soft kiss lingered, and his fingers slid into her hair.
The love inside Scarlett bubbled over, dominating all other emotion as her hands came up to his face. Her lips parted, and the taste of him…
Beni whooped and James let out a hoot in the background, and Scarlett pulled back hastily. But Brayden still had his fingers in her hair, and he stared at her for a long moment before dropping his hand.
Like Scarlett, he looked like he was feeling many things, but in this moment he seemed… satisfied. Yet there was something feral in his eyes, making her wonder if he’d be gentle and sweet or rough on their wedding night. The question sent a shiver down her spine. She’d be fine with either.
“Regretting this yet?” she asked, unable to stop herself from baiting him.
A glint of the wicked smile she knew so well flashed across his face. “No. You?”
“No.”
Before she could say more, James wrapped Brayden in a bear hug. Manon dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, and Scarlett went over to her and Beni.
“That was lovely,” whispered Manon. “You look so good together.”
Scarlett hugged her grandmother tightly for a long moment. “I think I’ve always loved him.”
“I wish your mother were here. She’d have loved this.” Manon stood back, eyes full of tears.
“I wish she were here too,” said Scarlett.
“But I’m glad I have you.” Her life had taught her you never knew when the ones you loved would leave you.
In the future, she’d look back on this day and wish to hold this group of people in her arms again, so today she’d do her best to love them with everything she had.
The thought was grim, but it made her love fiercer.
Beni grinned at her. “I can’t believe I have a brother-in-law.” He looked around and then whispered low enough that only Scarlett could hear, “Thank the Goddess it’s Brayden and not Alastair.”
She cracked a smile. “I’m glad you approve.”
Beni threw his arms around her. “Congratulations, Scarlett.”
She squeezed her little brother. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. I love you, Beni.”
“I love you too,” he replied in a gruff voice.
“Come now, let’s get your signatures on the certificate,” said the registrar. “Then you can celebrate.”
Brayden and Scarlett both signed. As Scarlett stood, Lachlan appeared at her elbow and pulled her into his arms.
“Welcome to the family. I’m thrilled to have you as a daughter.”
Her heart flooded with warmth at the kind words. Brayden’s father could never replace hers, but having another, different, father in her life was such a comfort.
Scarlett laughed as James hugged her and lifted her off the ground. “You’re my brother now,” she said, her voice bright.
“You know it, sis,” he said as he set her down.
The registrar took a few photos of them with their families in front of the lake, with Mont Noir behind them.
Then he took some of Scarlett and Brayden on their own.
Scarlett’s stomach fluttered as she stood next to Brayden.
The day had been a surprise, but at least they were together, the way they belonged.
In another life—one where Soleil’s future wasn’t in her hands—she’d stay in Clair de Lune with him and sleep next to him every night for the rest of her life.
She wanted that badly, more than almost anything.
The longing for it broke her heart a little even as she reveled in being his wife.
Maybe eventually, they’d find their way to a future where they could live together forever, but how or when, she didn’t know.
Please, Goddess above, let it somehow be so. She just needed to stay alive. All of them needed to stay alive.
A few raindrops fell as the last photo was taken, and Scarlett’s first thought was that maybe they were Jules and Sabina’s happy tears.
As if in confirmation, a rainbow appeared in the sky above her as the cool drops of water touched her face.
They all headed to shelter—slowly, in Scarlett’s case, because of her heels.
But then Brayden scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the veranda as the rain began to pour.
Everyone ate dinner at Lachlan’s favorite restaurant.
After they’d enjoyed a champagne toast, James suggested they head to The Serpent for celebratory drinks.
Inside the wood-paneled bar, Scarlett sat next to Brayden, their families surrounding them, and wished she didn’t have to leave Manon behind in Clair de Lune.
She brushed the thought away, not wanting to cry again.
There were plenty of things to worry about, and she’d be dealing with them soon enough.