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“Well, we got married without them. You say your parents are okay with that, but are they really?”

“They are, and they understand there were extenuating circumstances. Besides, we’re getting married in the church in just a few months, so it’s not a big deal. If the pope is okay with it, so are my parents.” He paused for a moment, lowering his voice. “Besides, you don’t get to have all the anxiety about parents. Let’s be honest here. Your dad doesn’t like me. Tolerates me, perhaps, but liking me is a reach.”

“If this is about my dad and the danger and body armor thing, surely you know he’s just overreacting.”

“Perhaps. Still, your dad knows that black cloud of yours didn’t start coming around until you met me.”

“That’s not true. From the day I knocked the entire ballet class off the stage while prancing around as a tree to the time I set our kitchen on fire while trying to create a volcano at age six, he’s known that trouble is synonymous with me. The trouble has only morphed into more adult fare since I’ve grown up. Guns, home invasions, plane crashes, terrorists. No way he blames all of that on you.”

“I’m not convinced of that.” He leaned his head against mine. “We’re a pair, I guess.”

“We are. Look, I didn’t tell you, but I asked the black cloud to stay home. Obviously, it didn’t. But maybe we’ll get lucky and it’s one and done with the Santa episode.”

Slash lifted his head to check my expression. “You don’t actually believe that, do you?”

I wished I did, but I knew better. “Just stay close to me while we’re at the castle, okay? We’ll be on a secluded island with minimal chance for outside forces to be at play. What could possibly happen?”

“I really wish you wouldn’t say that.”

“Good point,” I replied. “No need to tempt fate or the black cloud into any more action.”

“No. No need at all.”

Chapter Six

Lexi Carmichael

We got a decent night’s sleep on the plane. The chairs reclined enough to make it feel close to a bed, and holding Slash’s hand, I slept harder and deeper than I thought I would. Knowing me and planes, I was surprised it worked. I must have been more exhausted than I realized. More importantly, there were no nightmares. I guess an automatic-packing Santa in real life was enough for my subconscious.

Unfortunately, it took hours to get through customs. Thankfully, our driver waited for us at the airport. After a three and half-hour trip to the coast, we finally arrived at the ferry station, where a boat was waiting to take us to the island. We were originally supposed to have arrived early in the afternoon, giving us several hours to rest and get ready for dinner. But after all our unanticipated delays, we’d arrived just as dusk was falling. Worse, I still had to endure a boat ride, which I would not enjoy, because I get seasick. I just hoped if I did hurl, it wouldn’t be all over myself right before I met Slash’s parents.

Slash knew what I was thinking. He took my hand as we got out of the car and squeezed it. “It’s going to be a quick trip over, and you’ll be fine.”

Easy for him to say, as travel didn’t seem to adversely affect him. Still, I didn’t reply, because I didn’t want to worry him, especially knowing my little black cloud was hovering.

We gathered our suitcases from the car and rolled them toward the boat. The captain, I presumed, loaded them onto the boat for us and then instructed us to walk a small plank to board. I followed my mom and dad onboard, ignoring the lap of the water against the hull.

Slash stayed on land for a minute, checking the car and making sure we hadn’t forgotten anything. While standing on the deck next to the captain, I decided to practice my Italian.

“Buona sera. Grazie per averci aspettato,” I said.Good evening. Thank you for waiting for us.Or at least that’s what I hoped I said.

“Piacere mio,” he responded.

I was pretty sure he’d told me that the pleasure was all his. He then asked me something else, which, I think, was why we’d come to Italy. I wasn’t sure exactly how to answer, but I tried to do my best to tell him we were coming for a wedding.

He looked at me a bit strangely and then grinned. “Divertiti.”

I had no idea what that meant, and he walked away after that, so I’d have to ask Slash later for a translation.

Mom and Dad had gone below deck, but I was staying on the deck for the bracing breeze and in case I needed to lean over the side and empty my stomach. Slash stayed outside with me and didn’t ask why I didn’t go below. He already knew.

I watched in silence as we pushed off from the dock. The boat’s motor thrummed louder as the boat picked up speed, and water crested against the hull. I felt the first turn of my stomach and a bit of nausea. I gripped the railing, willing it to pass. Slash came up behind me, putting a hand on each side of me, holding me steady. I relaxed back against him, thankful for his calm presence.

“Tell me something else about the castle,” I said, wanting him to keep my mind off the water.

“That you don’t already know? You researched the island as much as I did, except I’m not as worried about the snakes as you are.”

“Hey! Did you check my browsing history?”