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A knot formed at the pit of my stomach as silence fell. For several long seconds, nobody spoke, and finally a chorus of congratulations erupted all around us.

“This calls for champagne,” Emily said, getting to her feet.

“It’s 9 am,” Max pointed out.

“Oh, lighten up for once in your life.” Emily shook her head despairingly. She ducked down to kiss my cheek and then disappeared in search of champagne.

“Maybe you can have a double wedding with Sean and… What is Cleary’s daughter called?”

“Aoife.” Sean snorted. “And no, we will not have a double wedding.”

“Poor Annie,” Jace said. “She came looking for her family and got stuck with you lot.”

“I like this lot,” I muttered defensively.

As wedding chatter broke out around the table, Ciaran pulled me up from my seat and settled me on his lap. The dark gleam in his eye made me shiver with delight.

“You know, there is still the matter of punishment for last night.”

“What?”

“Emily told me everything. You should have stayed in the safe room, but instead you put yourself in danger.”

“So did the others.”

“But I can’t very well spank them, can I?”

“I mean, you could, but I doubt Will would respond well.”

Ciaran laughed. “I am going to fuck you senseless when we get rid of this lot.”

As Emily returned with two bottles of champagne, I got the feeling that wouldn’t be anytime soon.

“Bring it on, my love,” I murmured as I snuggled closer to him. A wave of contentment washed over me. This felt right. “Bring it on.”

The End