Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
GAbrIEL
Under the light of the Cherry Moon, the sky a regal purple, Akira approached me on a white carpet, walking down the aisle on his uncle’s arm, leaning on his cane.
His blue cane was covered in cupcake stickers. He wasn’t doing any plain old shit—his words, not mine.
Step by step, he came closer to becoming my husband, walking to the sounds of ‘By Your Side’ by Sade.
I tried my best to keep my tears at bay.
On either side of the aisle were white chairs for our handful of guests, the gazebo erected on the grassy section for the afterparty.
I looked out at our guests. Sarah, Mum, Dad, Polly, Lucy, and Ally—another uber werewolf and good friend.
She and Drew came as a package.
A wooden arch of white roses curved around me, with a table to the side for signing the marriage registry. I waited there with Zach, Riku, Drew, and my dad, who looked immaculate in his blue suit.
Look at you, Aki.
Just look at you.
The tenshi were watching, proven by the cherry blossom show above our heads.
Our creators weren’t quite our enemy, yet they were certainly not on our Christmas list. All that said, their candles burned around the property in thanks.
They weren’t monsters, just desperate. And desperation fueled bad decisions.
That’s how I saw it, anyway.
Aki arrived, given to me by Ryoka.
My breath hitched at his beauty, the sheer magnitude of it always leaving me breathless.
“You look incredible,” I told him.
He sparkled to me every day, but this suit polished him to even greater perfection.
“You too,” he responded shakily.
We took hands, Zach holding Aki’s cane for him.
This is it.
The registrar began with her opening words. I barely heard her, lost in Aki’s gaze. Beyond this cocoon of us, the world seemed so far away. He was all I’d ever wanted, all I’d ever dreamed of.
“You are my everything,” I blurted without thinking.
A pause from the registrar, laughter from the spectators.
“Not yet,” the registrar said.
Oops. My face heated with shame.
Akira mouthed, “I love you.”
My embarrassment was officially dead.
And now the vows.
“You’re the best, G,” Aki began. “You’re the other half of my heart, my soulmate, my cutie pie honey bunny.”
The guests chuckled.
“I couldn’t do life without you. I love you more than my raspberry brownies.
I’d give up baking for you if I had to, which shows you how much I love you, bruv.
” He winked. “With all my heart. Forever.” He released a nervous breath, its delicate warmth reaching my lips. “You ain’t getting rid of me.”
These tears were hard to wrangle.
My turn.
“Seeing your face every morning is more than I could ever ask for, Aki. Maybe less snoring wouldn’t go amiss, but let’s not be greedy with wishes.”
He snorted loudly as the guests laughed again. “You’re one to talk.”
“You make each day a happy one,” I continued. “You are my life. You are my destiny. I’ll never leave your side, always here, always propping you up. Call me your ride-or-die, because I am. And you…” Darn it, I trembled, fighting back the threat of a whimper. “You are my everything.”
Cherry blossoms swirled between us, rushing up and over the cottage. More words, sniffles from our friends and family, and then the rings.
The new, golden wedding bands. Out of their boxes, ready for our fingers.
I slid the ring onto Aki’s finger first.
He did the same to mine, my heart thumping in my ears. I lost track of time, wrapped tighter in our cocoon of love.
By all the tenshi, and all that’s amazing in this world, I really love you.
“I now declare you husband and husband. You may kiss.”
And with those final words from the registrar, our lips joined along with the rest of our bodies, our souls, and our hearts.
The Sade song kicked in again, our guests applauding.
My tears finally broke free.
We exchanged ripe cherries from the wedding cake after we slid the knife in to symbolize the occasion, then posed for photos, Aki dabbing icing on my nose.
“Naughty boy,” I whispered.
He sucked it off.
I stole a kiss.
After our rather energetic first dance to ‘Good Love, Your Love’ by Deep Squad, the party truly started. The gazebo, decked out with fairy lights, a disco ball, and special glowing dancefloor, became a nightclub in the countryside.
Aki threw shapes with the vampires, leg be damned. My husband could dance, and dance he did.
I’d nurse him better after should he need some TLC.
It ran in the family. Riku blew us away with some serious breakdancing skills. He even entered a competition with Zach, another great dancer.
The little brother beat the big brother.
On the other side of the gazebo, guests helped themselves to the buffet.
That’s where Mum and Dad watched on after we agreed to keep in touch a lot more.
The music slowed down, going smooth for the lovers.
I took my husband by the hips, pressing my forehead to his. “Hello, hubby.”
“Hey, hubby.” He held me by the shoulders.
I chuckled. “Feel any different?”
“Even more smitten,” he said. “Ready for bed.”
“You tired?”
He pulled back slightly. “Nope.” Mischief swam in his eyes.
“Me neither.”
His fingers pressed gently into me. “Hubby, hubby, hubby. Love the sound of it.”
We weren’t taking each other’s names, having decided to each keep our own.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“For what?”
“For never giving up on me.”
“Aki…”
“And for keeping your promise. Not that I was holding you to it or anything.”
I kissed his cheek.
“Ignore me, Mr. Dawson. I’m just adding more sugar to the day.”
I kissed him on his forehead. “I can never get enough of your sugar.”
“Good to hear.”
A peck for his delectable lips. “I can’t wait…” Then his neck. “To leave your…” I brushed my lips against his. “…clothes on the floor.”