Chapter 48
FORTY-EIGHT
VIOLET
Awhirlwind of events had swept through my life since the moment I’d set foot in Greece, leaving me dizzy and breathless, as if I’d been here for months instead of mere weeks.
And now… I was about to get married. Today.
Everything I’d known, everything I’d feared, and everything I’d dared to hope had led to this one, impossible, perfect day. It felt surreal, almost scaring me that something would ruin my happiness.
The sunlight glinted off the stone terraces, warm sunrays all around us catching on the rims of our glasses and making the drinks shimmer. The sea stretched just beyond the low stone wall, its steady hush blending with the faint rustle of linen in the breeze.
The table we were seated at was simple, filled with still-warm bread, tomatoes slick with olive oil, slices of cheese, and figs.
Aria swung her legs beneath her chair, her sandals tapping against the stone.
“Why does this feel like a meeting?” she asked, eyeing us suspiciously. “And why are you two dressed so… fancy?”
She was referring to my white chiffon dress with delicate spaghetti straps and open back, reaching down to my knees. It was simple yet special, because it was the dress I’d be married in.
Dimitros snorted, tearing off a piece of bread. “Have you looked in the mirror, sister? You’re dressed the fanciest.”
“True, but that’s not nice to say in front of Mom,” she shot back, swatting his arm. “Tell her she looks beautiful.”
Dimitros shot me a shy smile. “You look great, Violet. Really.”
I laughed, but my fingers tightened slightly around my glass. Beneath the table, Lykos’s hand found mine.
“Is something wrong?” Aria asked, her brow furrowing as she picked up on my nervousness.
“Nothing’s wrong,” Lykos replied calmly. “Actually… we have news.”
Aria straightened instantly. “What kind of news?”
Dimitros leaned back, studying us more carefully now. “That tone tells me it’s either really good… or really bad.”
Lykos glanced at me, asking me silently, and I nodded.
He drew in a breath. “We’re getting married today.”
The words settled over the table while silence reigned.
Aria blinked, then blinked again.
Then her chair scraped loudly as she shot to her feet.
“Today? You’re serious?” I nodded. “Today today?”
I couldn’t help but laugh, some of my nerves dissolving at her reaction. “Today today.”
“But—how—what—don’t you need months and a big wedding dress with a long train and—” She gestured wildly, nearly knocking over her glass. “But… but…”
“You don’t like the dress I’m wearing?” I asked, pointing to my plain white dress. “I think of it as vintage.”
Aria exhaled. “I do, but what about the long train? And the veil?”
I chuckled. “Those take time. Would you really make me wait for those?”
She glanced between her papa and me. “You want to get married as soon as possible.” I nodded, smiling. “But don’t you need… something else?”
“I obtained a special license,” Lykos said, his voice coarse. “We’re allowed to marry on short notice. That’s all we need. Well, that and your mom.” His eyes met mine, his expression dark as sin, and he smiled, satisfied. “I just want to make her happy and make her mine.”
Dimitros let out a low whistle, shaking his head.
“Friends in high places and all that,” he muttered, and a grin broke through.
Aria clapped her hands. “Please tell me we get to be there!”
I leaned forward, my smile softening. “That’s what we wanted to ask you.”
She froze mid-bounce. Dimitros stilled too.
“We want you two to be our witnesses,” Lykos continued. His gaze moved between them. “Of course we want you there as our children, but also as our witnesses. It’ll be just the four of us and the priest.”
For a heartbeat, neither of them spoke.
Then Aria made a loud, happy, squealing sound. “Yes. Yes, obviously yes! Oh my God, I get to be a bridesmaid!”
Nobody bothered to correct her as she rushed around the table and threw her arms around me, nearly knocking the breath out of me. I laughed into her shoulder, holding her close.
Dimitros stayed where he was, but I saw the way his eyes softened. He pushed to his feet a moment later.
“Yeah,” he said. “I’d be honored.”
Lykos stepped forward and clasped his shoulder. “Thank you, son.”
The moment settled, but my heart began to race again for a different reason.
“Dimitros,” I started, but then I hesitated for fear of offending him—or possibly of refusal.
He looked at me, brows lifting slightly. “Yeah?”
I stood, smoothing my hands against my dress before stepping closer. Up close, I could see the flicker of uncertainty in his expression.
“There’s something else I wanted to ask you.”
Aria stilled, sitting in my spot.
“If you are open to it… or even would want…” I hesitated, then pushed through. “I would like to adopt you. Legally. The same way we’re making things official for Aria. That is, if you’d want that.”
Dimitros didn’t move.
“Adopt me?” he repeated.
The breeze shifted, brushing a strand of hair across my cheek, and I nodded slowly.
“Only if you’re comfortable with it. Nothing changes if you don’t want to.
” I offered a small smile. “I’ll understand if you’d rather not and I don’t want to do it if you…
Well, if you prefer to just keep me as Violet.
I already think of you as mine, and no matter what, that won’t change.
My world is a better place with all of you. ”
Silence stretched. Lykos said nothing, as I’d instructed. But I could feel his attention fixed on his son.
Dimitros dragged a hand through his hair and exhaled slowly. His gaze dropped to the table briefly before lifting back to me.
“You really mean that?” he asked.
“Absolutely.”
His mouth curved into a blinding smile.
“Then yes,” he said, his voice rough. “Yeah… I’d like that.”
Relief bloomed through me, and I smiled happily. “The paperwork will take a long time, but I didn’t want to start it if you weren’t comfortable with it. And it’s not my intention to replace Amara.”
He nodded somberly. “Thank you, Violet. Or should I call you… something else.”
I smiled. “Violet is fine.”
Aria let out another delighted squeak, then grabbed his arm, shaking it enthusiastically.
Dimitros laughed. “Alright, alright. Calm down.”
I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around them, leaving space if they wanted to pull away. Neither of them did. In fact, they hugged me back.
When we pulled apart, Lykos was watching me with a look in his eyes that made me burn.
“Looks like we have a wedding to get to,” he roughed out.
Aria pulled back, eyes shining. “This is the most important day ever.”
Dimitros huffed a laugh. “Sure is.”
I looked between them—my family, our family—and felt happiness and love spread through me.
“Yes,” I said softly. “It is.”