Page 127 of Before Broken Vows

Screw tradition.

I move back to the window, drinking him in. The sunlight casts shadows across his face as he turns slightly. Even from this distance, he makes my heart tighten in my chest.

That's my man.

I've loved him in so many ways: desperately, painfully, hopelessly, joyfully.

I turn back to the dress.

Time to become his wife.

I step into my dress and get ready.

Another knock.

Calli sticks her head in. "Ready?"

I nod, heart thudding. "Let's do this."

"Wait," Calli says and carefully places the veil on my head, securing it with pearl-tipped pins. "Now you're ready."

She grabs my hand. "Shit, I'm nervous like I'm the one getting married."

We laugh and step out into the hallway where Katerina is waiting. We walk outside and the sun is beginning to dip, casting golden light across the stone path leading to the church. Leading me to Theo.

We reach the church doors and I peek inside. The guests are settling. Ares and Dimitri take their places. Theo rubs his forehead, pacing slightly. I spot the Bonventi brothers and their wives. Marco's wife, Alina, sits near the front. She played a song she wrote for Theo and me last night at dinner on her harp. It was beautiful.

"Everyone's here," I whisper to Calli, who peeks around me.

"Perfect turnout," she agrees. "Ready to knock my brother's socks off?"

Before I can answer, the music changes. The quartet begins the processional we chose together. Katerina gives my hand one final squeeze before slipping inside to take her place.

Calli turns to me, suddenly serious. "You know, I always wanted a sister. Now I have two." She straightens my veil one last time. "You're already family, Stassi. This just makes it official."

My throat tightens with emotion. "Thank you for accepting me back into your lives. After everything."

"Please," she scoffs. "You gave me a nephew to adore," she says, nodding to Xander who's with Elena, "and you made my brother happy again. We're the ones who should be thankful."

Calli rubs my shoulders and hands me my bouquet and gives me a wink. "See you up there."

"Ready, Mama?" Xander says, looking up at me with those eyes that mirror his father's. He's standing perfectly still in his tiny suit, clutching the pillow with our rings.

"Ready, baby," I say back. "Remember what we practiced?"

"Uh-huh. I walk super straight and don't drop the pillow."

"Perfect."

Xander steps out first, walking carefully down the aisle with a little pillow in his hands. His dinosaur socks peek out beneath his pants. He's focused, serious, until someone claps and then he grins and waves like a celebrity. Laughter erupts through the church.

My hand flies to my mouth, tears already threatening to spill. Xander speeds up a little, proud of the reaction he's gotten, and makes it to Theo, who bends down to hug him before leading him to Elena in the first pew.

Then all eyes turn to me.

The music shifts, and I take my first step forward. The silk of my dress whispers against the floor. I grip my bouquet tighter, steadying myself.

And then I see him, really see him.