Page 122 of Broken Souls

“They could be watching anyone at his college.”

He nods. “There are thousands of students and faculty. Someone is probably just cheating on their spouse.”

Most likely. But any assassin who goes off mere statistics ends up dead. My heart hammering, my eyes find Dayne. He’s looking at me in concern. “If you want to make things up to me,” I say, my voice cracking, “do whatever it takes to protect Dayne.”

Before Father can say anything, a guitar starts to play, and the chatter of the crowd dies down. Chairs squeak and fabric rustles as everyone turns to face us. As Leno starts to sing a cover of “You Are the Reason” by Calum Scott, I walk slowly down the aisle on my father’s arm, surprised at how good the man can sing.

He’s standing beside all of his brothers, all of whom are dressed in crimson suits and black shirts. Rudy is first in line as his best man; Leno is last with Krypto beside him, a fancy red bow tie around his neck. But Talon’s absence is heavy in the air, seen in the tight smiles and pain hidden inside a few of their eyes.

I glance at the reaper, who looks cold and empty, hoping he made Talon suffer. Only, Khalid’s back too early to have done as good of a job as I would’ve. I would’ve spent days, weeks perhaps, skinning him alive. Taking his magic and making him feel fucking helpless to fight back. Making him feel weak. Broken. Like he’ll never be whole again.

Reminded of all that I’ve lost, my eyes harden on Varius.

He’s watching me,his face that of indifference, perhaps even boredom. But the feelings flowing down our bond are those of guilt and pain but also happiness and joy and a fierce determination to make things right between us.

As the lyrics of the song hit me, I wonder if he chose it or if it’s just coincidence that it matches us so well.

My throat tightens as Father hands me off to him.

His hand wraps around mine. His thumb feathers across my skin. And for a moment, all our problems disappear.

I love you, little monster.

Let me prove that to you for the rest of our lives.

He turns on silent promises and leads me up to the altar. My legs are weak beneath my dress, but I somehow manage not to trip over my feet.

The next twenty minutes feel surreal. Our bond has been weakening over the past week as we haven’t exchanged any more blood, but today it has been so strong. So fucking clear that what this moment means to him, whatImean to him is more than he can find words to say.

Everything on the surface might seem cut and dry. No personalized vows. No smiles. Nothing to show a glimmer of what he’s feeling inside. I look at him, then I look past him, and it hits me how alone he is. How not even Rudy, his best man, or Khalid, the one he trusts the most, knows how happy he is with me.

I squeeze his hand. He doesn’t squeeze it back. Not here. Not when there are all these witnesses, these allies in wolf clothing that would not hesitate to tear him apart if given the smallest opportunity. But I feel the flare of emotions inside of him, triggered by something so simple as a squeeze of my fingers.

And fuck, do I feel loved.

Almost like I did before he ruined us, but there is still that weight in my chest, that tightness I can’t push past.

He raped me.

He tortured me and took my magic.

He nearly killed our child.

And he fucked one of my bridesmaids a week before our wedding.

Fuck him,I want to say.

And yet…

I can see how much he’s trying to fix what he’s broken.

“Do you, Varius Sin Shadow,” the celebrant eventually says, “take Micha Black to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do.”

“And do you, Micha Black, take Varius Sin Shadow to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

I start to say the words required of me, but the celebrant doesn’t stop.