Page 109

I walk down the aisle to the man who has captured my mind, body, and soul. He has stolen my heart and will forever keep it. He is my world.

I stop at the end of the aisle as my father gives me away. He gives Dante a firm hug and turns to me, giving me a smile as a tear streams down his cheek. I wish my mother were here; she would never believe how easily he accepted my marriage. He hugs me before allowing Danteto take my hand in his.

I stand face to face with Dante, taking in every moment so I can store it for as long as humanly possible.

His face is freshly shaven. His tattoos peak out of the top of his suit. His smile is a crisp white, and his eyes are the same possessive eyes I have grown to love. He looks so handsome… so… mine.

I feel my cheeks heat as he bites his bottom lip. I look down nervously, not wanting my dad to see it. Dante lifts my chin, forcing me to stare into his eyes as our ceremony begins.

The ceremony passes by so quickly that I don’t even realize it’s my turn to speak. Astra nudges me, handing me my crumbled piece of paper.

I clear my throat and begin my vows:

I always thought I wanted a Prince Charming.

—But then I met you.

You didn’t try to change me. You offered me peace and acceptance, for whoever I wanted to become.

I fought my feelings for you, but you won every time.

Even in chaos, you were the one thing I could never let go.

You are my obsession, my undoing, and my… home.

You have stained me with sin, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

So I won’t promise to love you like a fairy tale.

I promise to love you like a storm.

Loud. Unforgiving. And Eternal.

I am yours in life and in death.

I’ll always be yours.

I take a shaky breath as I meet his eyes, as I slide his ring onto his finger. He looks like he is about to devour me right now. My eyes are watery from my vows. I rewrote them countless times before I found something that felt real and true.

Dante looks me in the eyes and begins his vows:

I didn’t write anything down.

I didn’t see the point.

You already know what I am.

And I think you always knew I would never love you like anyone else would.

Because this isn’t gentle. This isn’t safe.

It’s violent. Addictive. Fucking irreversible.

But I will destroy this world for you, Evelyn.

I will kill for you. I will bleed for you. I will die for you.

I am always yours.