Page 154 of Savage Empire

“God, that’s so smart.” They hold each other for even longer, taking in the moment. Eventually, Rayna blurts, “Oh fuck, I can’t cry, my makeup!”

“No tears,” her friend agrees. “We can cry after you’ve gotten yourself hitched, you beautiful creature. God, you look amazing!”

Pulling out of the hug to get a good look at Sienna, she sniffles. “Me? Look at you, and your hair! It’s gorgeous. When did this happen?” Careful not to disturb her friend’s styled waves, Rayna lifts a small brunette strand.

“Armani and Elio did it for me,” Sienna replies, smiling fondly. “They didn’t trust bringing in a stylist to do it, so they made one tell them step by step what to do and give the products to turn a blonde into a brunette. They took it very seriously, there was even arguing over measurements.”

“I love it,” Rayna declares. “Do you love it?”

“It beats the hell out of that gaudy blonde that was washing me out for years,” Sienna tells her, tossing some of her new hair over her shoulders. “But enough about me. Today is about you, you’re getting married! To ahunkno less. Why didn’t you tell me he looked like that in person?”

“Sienna!” Rayna gasps, poking her friend in the stomach. “He can hear us. Trust me, his ego doesn’t need more fluffing.”

“I just wanted to see you flustered,” Sienna teases, tossing her head back with a boisterous laugh. “I’ve missed you. You’re so easy to rile up,Regina.”

“Mhm,” Rayna hums, trying to sound as if she’s grumbling. “But only you get away with it,Rachel.”

“I saw Yordan on my way in, he’s huge!” Sienna mentions, giggling. “After only what? Like two months here? And he’sbuilt up so much, even after being shot! I feel like I’ve missed seventeen chapters of your life.”

“Trust me, I know. It’s wild.” My bride nods enthusiastically. “I feel like we’ve been here for years and also no time at all. Everything has changed but it feels natural at the same time.”

“Speaking of time, we’re running out of it,” Elio speaks up. “Sienna will be here for the reception, but then I have to take her back. You guys will have a few hours after the ceremony.”

“Thank you.” Rayna sniffles, reaching around her friend to pull my brother into a tight hug. “Thank you for doing this and for taking such good care of my best friend.”

“I helped as well, where’s my gratitude?” I tease, finding her eyes as she pulls away from Elio.

Rayna licks her lips, looking at me up and down. She seems to enjoy the way the classic tuxedo looks. “You’ll get yours tonight.”

“Me-ow,” Sienna says, looking at the two of us with an impressed sort of surprise. “I didn’t know you had it in you, babes. I’m obsessed.”

“I told you they flirt relentlessly,” Elio drawls, rolling his eyes. “Usually there are more heated words exchanged first, but today’s a special occasion after all. Come along, we have to take our places before Jade busts in here to scold us for holding up the wedding.”

The two girls share one last embrace, and Sienna gives Rayna air kisses on each side of her face. “Knock ‘em dead, buttercup. I’m so fucking happy for you. See you out there.”

“See you,” Rayna echoes, dabbing her under eyes with her fingers as if to stop tears from falling.

I have to tear my eyes off her and force myself to leave, passing Yordan in the hall as I go. We share a look of understanding, nodding to one another. He may be uncomfortable with the idea of his sister being with a man, buthe knows no one will treat her as well as I will. She’ll want for nothing, and neither will he.

Since we were cutting it close on time, the next few moments go by in a rush. The back yard full of our small guest list is instructed to take a seat, and conversation dies down. As it’s Fall, and a few weeks from Winter, everyone is wearing something relatively warm. Long sleeves, long dresses, and in some cases, even gloves.

The garden has been tactically decorated with outdoor space heaters, along with the typical wedding ornamentations. The floors, chairs, and archway that Rayna and I will stand under are all a mixture of white, orange, and pink shades. Melting the seasonal theme with the colors that Rayna finds the most appealing.

“Ready?” my father asks, clapping a hand on my shoulder.

“For weeks now,” I answer, prompting him to chuckle.

He makes his way to his seat, and at my cue, I start my walk to the end of the aisle. Our wedding party has already come down before me, following the order we planned accordingly.

When I finish my stroll, Leon is waiting on my side of the arch, and Elio is right beside him. Ana and Jade are stood opposite of us, wearing matching champagne pink dresses. The rest of our family is seated in the front two rows of the crowd, huddled together in different groups.

Dmitri, Ivan, and Cassio have taken charge of keeping the kids in their seats, and they’ll direct our ring bearers once they come down the aisle. It should be a smooth system, every detail of it has been thought out. Our special guest included.

Though Elio and I coordinated an inconspicuous look for Sienna, we weren’t willing to push our luck by having her stand in as one of Rayna’s bridesmaids. Instead, she’s sitting in the audience between Armani and Colton, with Nico at her back, and my father in the chair in front of her.

Outside of our family, only a few guests made the cut. Adrian and Natalie are here, and surprisingly, Will is too. I hardly expected the Lord of Empire Academy to carve time out of his busy schedule to accept my wedding invitation, but here he is. Brooding in the back row, looking entirely out of place. I suppose years of regretful amicability and occasional rivalry haven’t put him off of me.

My posture stiffens as the sound of the bridal chorus begins to play. Chin raised, my eyes zero in on the far end of the narrow strip of cloth-covered grass. Exactly six seconds after the music starts, Rayna appears.