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I exited my room and headed toward the main door. The town square lay just beyond. I could already hear the murmurs of everyone who had gathered for our wedding.

I opened the door and welcomed the sight. Ravenshade was unrecognizable now. The darkness that had once clung to it like a shroud was gone, replaced by a brightness that felt alive. The sunlight poured across the cobblestones, glinting offthe colorful decorations that adorned the square. There were banners of cream and gold strung between lanterns, flowers spilling from pots and hanging baskets.

I stepped out into the light, my heart thudding as the gathered crowd turned to look at me. Friends, allies, survivors… people who had once only known fear now wore expressions of joy and peace. I spotted Callum standing near the front, his usual smirk softened into a grin. Lena was beside him, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. I didn’t expect that of her. Even little Evan was there, holding onto Lena’s hand, his small face lit up with excitement.

And then my eyes found Lucas.

He stood at the end of the aisle, framed by the arch of greenery and flowers they’d built for the ceremony. His dark hair caught the light, and though his suit was simple, he wore it like it was made for him. But it wasn’t the suit or the sunlight or even the way he stood so tall that made my chest tighten… it was the way he looked at me.

Lucas had always had this intense gaze, like he could see through all my walls and defenses. But today, there was something else in his eyes, something soft and unguarded, filled with so much love that it made my breath hitch.

I started walking, my steps slow and deliberate, though my legs felt like they might give out beneath me. My mother was at my side, her hand brushing mine briefly before she stepped back to take her seat near the front.

Each step brought me closer to Lucas, closer to this life we were building together, to the hope and promise of something neither of us had thought possible. My heart swelled as I passed familiar faces, smiling and cheering softly, but I couldn’t look away from him.

When I finally reached him, it felt like everything else faded away. He held out his hand, his fingers steady and warm as they closed around mine.

“You’re breathtaking,” he murmured, his voice just for me.

A smile broke across my face, wide and uncontainable. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

The officiant began to speak, but his words were background noise. All I could focus on was the man standing in front of me, the man who had risked everything to fight for what was right, who had protected me, who had seen me for who I truly was and loved me anyway.

Lucas. My partner. My home.

As we exchanged our vows, his voice was strong, unshaking, every word carrying the weight of his promise. When it was my turn, I found myself steady too, the words coming easily, because they were true.

When the officiant declared us husband and wife, Lucas didn’t hesitate. He pulled me close, his hands firm and sure on my waist as he kissed me, deep and full of everything we’d been through and everything yet to come.

Everything around us—the crowd, the laughter, the soft hum of the town—faded into the background. There was only him and me, here, in this moment that felt like the culmination of everything we’d been through.

When he finally pulled back, his eyes were shining with something wild and beautiful, something that matched the way my heart felt. I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face, wide and unrestrained, matching his.

“I think I’m the luckiest person alive,” he whispered, his voice a low murmur, but it rang through me like a truth I couldn’t deny.

I laughed softly, my fingers tracing the outline of his jaw, drinking in the feeling of him so close. “I think that’s my line,” I replied.

There was a lightness in the air around us now, a weight lifted. Ravenshade, the town that had once felt cursed and shadowed, was vibrant and full of life now. As I stood there, my hand still in his, I realized how much had changed in such a short time. Not just the town, but in me.

Before I had met Lucas, I hadn’t known this kind of love was possible. I hadn’t believed in a future where I wasn’t running from something or hiding from who I was. But now, with him beside me, everything felt different.

He squeezed my hand, as if sensing my thoughts. “Are you ready for this?” he asked, his voice teasing but there was an edge of something else there, something like anticipation.

I nodded, feeling the heat rise in my chest. “More than ready.”

He chuckled, pulling me a little closer, and for a moment, I was lost in the simplicity of it all, the warmth of his embrace, the way the sunlight kissed his face, the way the future felt so certain.

“You’re mine now, Annika,” he said, his words soft but certain, like they were a promise.

“I always have been,” I replied, brushing a strand of hair out of his face. “You just didn’t know it yet.”

The laughter around us grew louder, and I could feel the weight of the moment, the joy, the celebration, the promise of what we were building together. My mother, Callum, Lena, Evan… they were all here. And though I had no idea what the future held, I knew one thing for sure: it would be with Lucas.

I turned to face him, my hands cupping his face, leaning up to kiss him once more. This was just the beginning. And I couldn’t wait to see where we went from here.

Together.

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