Page 52 of Revenge (Warriors of the Drexian Academy #6)
Chapter
Fifty-Two
Sasha
M y hands trembled as I smoothed the delicate lace overlay of my mermaid wedding dress, the intricate beadwork catching the soft light filtering through the corridor windows. The dress hugged my curves perfectly, its long train pooling behind me.
“Stop fidgeting,” Ariana whispered beside me, though her own hands were busy adjusting the flowing skirt of her midnight blue gown. “You look absolutely stunning.”
I caught my reflection in the polished metal of the corridor wall and barely recognized myself.
Gone was the hollow-cheeked, bruised woman who’d been rescued from that hellish prison.
In her place stood someone who actually looked like a bride.
I only wish I’d paid more attention to the wedding details when I’d had a chance.
“You’re sure this isn’t too sexy?” I whispered to my sister. “I didn’t think I’d actually be wearing it.”
Ariana laughed. “Serves you right.” Then she touched my hand. “You look perfect.”
“Flowers!” Reina rushed toward us, taking tiny steps in the tight column gown that was a surprisingly subdued swirl of only shades of blue to match the theme.
Even her swirl of hair was adorned with tiny silver stars.
She held a bouquet of white orchids in one hand and a smaller arrangement of purple ones in the other.
“I almost forgot the flowers! Can you imagine? A wedding without flowers would be like?—”
“Like a cake without frosting,” Serge finished, appearing behind her in a pale blue suit complete with a ruffled shirt. His platform boots were dark blue, but they were also decorated with glittering silver stars.
“You don’t have any more surprises planned, do you?” he asked me for what had to be the fifth time in the last hour. “No last-minute reveals? No more secrets?”
I couldn’t help noticing the puffy knot on his forehead that resulted from one of his fainting spells. “Serge, I promise you. No more surprises.”
He pressed a hand to his chest and released a dramatic sigh of relief.
“Good. Because I simply cannot handle any more drama. My poor nerves are already frayed to shreds.” But then his expression shifted to one of barely contained glee.
“Although I must say, the ratings for the live stream of the rehearsal broke all previous records. The production company is already talking about a reality show featuring me and the tribute brides!”
Reina leaned closer to me, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “It’s like pouring gasoline onto a flame. He’s been insufferable all morning.”
“I heard that,” Serge said primly, though he didn’t seem offended. “And for your information, fame becomes me. I’ve already received seventeen requests for interviews and three offers to write wedding planning books.”
Ariana stepped closer to me, her hand finding mine and squeezing gently. “Are you okay? After everything that happened, are you really okay walking down that aisle by yourself?”
I probably should have been more upset that my father had turned out to be such a villain, but after rotting away in an alien jail and thinking I might never see my sister again, I was now surrounded by people who cared about me.
Plus, I was about to marry the man who’d risked everything to save me.
“I’m really okay. I know now who my genuine family is.” I squeezed Ariana’s hand and looked into her eyes. “And I’m not walking down the aisle alone. You’re walking me down.”
Ariana’s chin wobbled, her free hand flying to her mouth to contain the sob that escaped. “Sasha...”
“Oh, for the love of all that’s holy!” Serge exclaimed, rushing forward with a lace handkerchief. “Don’t ruin your makeup! We don’t have time for touch-ups!”
But Reina was already there, dabbing gently at Ariana’s eyes with her own handkerchief, tears streaming down her gray cheeks as well. “Don’t listen to him. Cry all you want, hon.”
I felt my throat tighten with emotion. “You know what’s funny? What started out as the worst thing that had ever happened to me turned out to be the best thing.”
Ariana sniffled. “Really?”
“It brought me to the love of my life,” I said, thinking of Deklyn’s cocky grin and the way his eyes softened when he looked at me. “Even if I thought he was an arrogant ass when I first met him.”
“Well,” Ariana said, dabbing at her eyes one more time, “if it brought us back together and gave you the chance to find your person, then I’m glad I spent so long harassing everyone about mounting a rescue mission.”
Serge suddenly straightened, pressing a finger to the small communication device tucked discreetly in his ear. His expression shifted in an instant. “It’s time.” He clapped his hands. “Places, everyone!”
Reina thrust the bouquets at us and hurried behind to fluff the skirts of our gowns.
“Other side!” Serge barked suddenly, pointing toward the double doors in front of us. “Reina, you need to open the other side or these two will have to process sideways, and I cannot abide any more disasters.”
Reina’s eyes went wide, and she rushed forward to the doors, her heels clicking rapidly against the floor. “Oops!”
“Ready?” Ariana asked, sliding her arm through mine.
I nodded, though my heart was hammering so hard I was sure everyone could hear it. “Ready.”
Reina and Serge each threw open their side of the massive double doors, and my breath caught in my throat. I’d been so distracted by my plan for the rehearsal that I hadn’t paid attention to the ceremony setup. I hadn’t even picked it, delegating that task, along with so many others, to Serge.
But as Ariana and I stepped into the room, I had to admit that the Gatazoid had picked well.
Green grass stretched to the edge of a cliff’ and beyond that an ocean reached toward the horizon.
The sky was drenched in brilliant shades of pink and orange as the sun began its descent, casting everything in a warm, golden glow.
Friends from the academy and instructors who had helped rescue me filled neat rows of white chairs. Admiral Zoran sat in the front row beside his wife, Noora, both of them beaming. Captain Vyk was there with Fiona, and I could see other couples scattered throughout the guests.
But I had eyes only for one person.
Deklyn stood at the front wearing his formal dark Drexian uniform.
The military jacket fit his broad shoulders perfectly, and a ceremonial sash crossed his chest. His dark hair was neat, but his ever-present stubble was there, and even in the formal attire, he looked like the rule-breaking, authority-defying warrior I’d fallen in love with.
When his gaze found mine across the room, his entire expression transformed, and I couldn’t help the wide smile that spread across my face. This was real. This was right. This was exactly where I was supposed to be.
The soft strains of music began, and Ariana and I began our walk down the petal-strewn aisle. The lace of my dress rustled softly with each step, and I could feel the train trailing behind me, but all I could focus on was Deklyn’s face and the way he was looking at me.
“Is your processional music ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun?,” Ariana whispered without turning her head.
I’d forgotten that that was the song Reina had picked. “Yep.”
“At least you aren’t going fully traditional on me,” she said with a giggle.
The guests turned to watch us pass, and I caught sight of Morgan and Tivek sitting together and looking very cozy. Britta leaned into Kann as they both grinned at us, and Jess gave us a small wave with the hand that wasn’t holding Torq’s.
When we reached the front, Ariana turned to face me.
“I love you,” she whispered, pulling me into a fierce hug that was careful not to crush my flowers.”
I love you too," I whispered back, holding her tight. “Thank you for never giving up on me.”
When she finally released me, she stepped back and formally placed my hand in Deklyn’s. His fingers closed around mine, warm and sure, and I felt the last of my nerves melt away.
The kind-faced Drexian elder that Serge had procured for the occasion began speaking about love and commitment and the joining of two souls, but I barely heard a word of it.
I was completely lost in Deklyn’s eyes, in how his thumb traced gentle circles on the back of my hand, and knowing that this incredible, brave, slightly insane Drexian had chosen me. Had fought for me again and again.
The love I felt for him was so overwhelming it almost scared me.
I’d never imagined I could feel this way about anyone, never thought I’d be the type of woman who would want to pledge her life to someone else.
But standing here with him, watching the way the sunset light played across his features, I couldn’t imagine wanting to be anywhere else or with anyone else.
“Will you, Sasha Bowman,” the officiant asked, “take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for better or worse, for as long as you both shall live?”
Deklyn squeezed my hands, and I realized I hadn’t been listening carefully. Heat rushed to my cheeks, but I didn’t care.
“I do,” I blurted, then grinned at the chuckles from our guests. “I really, really do.”
The officiant smiled indulgently before turning to Deklyn and asking him the same questions, which I noted were straight from Earth ceremonies.
“I do,” Deklyn interrupted before the Drexian finished his questions. “I absolutely do.”
We slipped rings on each other's fingers, and then the officiant was pronouncing us mates for life, but I couldn’t wait another second.
I threw myself into Deklyn’s arms, my train swirling around us as he caught me and spun me around.
His lips found mine in a passionate kiss that confirmed that I was exactly where I belonged.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause behind us, but all I could hear was the thundering of my heart and Deklyn’s soft whisper against my ear: “Finally.”
“Finally,” I whispered back, holding him tight and knowing this wasn’t the end of our story. It was just the beginning.