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“You’ll only do the important parts to make this legal,” I ordered the presbyteros in a voice that brooked no argument.

“In such a rush to have your prize, pirate?” Serena cackled softly.

If the priest heard her, he didn’t comment. “You’ll need paperwork to file with the law, my son.”

I waved my hand. “It’s the higher powers I’m worried about.”

I could have sworn Serena muttered something liketypical mobster.Frowning at her as she stepped into my side and folded her hands in front of her, I made a mental note to question Evangelia. The ditz hadn’t said Serena found our little secret. But there was no mistaking what she’d said.

Stepping onto the altar, the priest began the ceremony by invoking the name of the Triune God. I turned to face Serena. In minutes, she would be mine. And if the supernatural couldn’t argue that fact, I defied any earthly power to take her from me.

The priest’s melodic Greek filled the small chapel, the ancient words binding us together in ways that transcended mortal understanding. This wasn't how I'd imagined my wedding—hasty, secretive, with a reluctant bride—but necessity overruled romance.

The holy words washed over me as I stood before her, my bride by force and fate. She kept her face carefully blank, those brown eyes giving away nothing of what thoughts swirled behind them. The waterfall of her golden hair fell across her cheek as she tilted her head slightly, a veil in and of itself. She watched me with the wariness of a cornered animal assessing its captor.

“The rings, my son,” Georgios prompted, extending his soft hand that had seen no manual labor due to our patronage.

“I have none.” A pit formed in my stomach. A bride needed a ring. How else would I mark her as my own for the world to see?

“Very well,” the presbyteros intoned. “Then by the power vested in me by the Holy Orthodox Church, I pronounce you man and wife.”

No kiss. No exchange of vows beyond what the priest had spoken on our behalf. The deed was done, simple and austere as a calm sea breeze.

Georgios made the sign of the cross over us, muttering something in Greek too quick for me to catch. The old man’s eyes held a curious blend of disapproval and resignation. He’d served my family long enough to know better than to voice either.

“I’ll have the documents prepared by morning,” he said, closing his prayer book with finality.

“Have them delivered to Olympus,” I replied, already turning to leave. “And Georgios—”

“Yes, my son?”

“Discretion, as always.”

His nod was barely perceptible. “As always.”

I placed my hand on the small of Serena’s back, guiding her outside. She paused on the threshold, a deep breath filling her lungs.

“You’ll never touch a hair on Baldwin’s head or so help me god, I will kill you myself.” Her words held a fire I longed to taste.

“I’m a man of my word,” I said harshly.

With a dip of her chin, she moved back to the Jeep and didn’t speak to me the rest of the night. As far as weddings went, that one was terrible, short and full of tension, and just plain wrong.

***

Iosif parked his sporty little tuner in front of his mother’s cottage. Evangelia stumbled from the passenger seat, laughingat whatever he’d said. For the first time in days, the siblings were smiling—Iosif was smiling.

I pushed off my jeep and stalked toward them. “Eva, we need to have a little chat.”

My cousin spun around with a squeak. “You scared me!” Looking around, her brows drew together slightly. “Where’s Serena?”

After dropping Serena off at my condo, I’d sped away. She needed space. Hell!Ineeded space.

“What does she know?” I demanded, marching right up to my little cousin.

Evangelia quaked. “What do you mean?” she stuttered. “I’ve told you everything I remember.”

“Think harder.” I stopped in front of her, crossing my arms over my chest and glaring down at her.