Page 191

I can’t help but watch the warriors. There are so many of them, standing in rows with a gap between the two sections.

There must be thousands of them, all waiting for me and my men.

The music changes to something rockier, and I step forward, loving that we put our spin on a wedding.

They all turn, and when they see me, every single warrior there drops to their knees.

I keep my head held high as my heart soars. We make it to the aisle, and I see my men waiting at the top with Priest behind them. Piper stands opposite them with Jon, Archel, Jago, Clay, and Evan. They are all here for me. My family. My people.

As I walk down the makeshift aisle, I feel the heat on my back as the sun warms it. But it’s more than that, I can also feel Major, Vass, and Von there. All three of them are with me as I walk towards my future. They are my past, and as it clashes, I know they are here.

Proud and happy, with me always.

When I take Maxen’s hand and turn to face my men with a grin, a breeze blows across my face, bringing me clean air which I take a deep breath of, and my heart settles.

They are here, always, because they are in my heart.

So even though they aren’t here physically like I wish, I know they see me, and they are proud.

“You look beautiful,” Maxen whispers.

“You make me speechless,” Drax murmurs.

“Stunning, as always,” Thorn remarks.

“Like an angel,” Jax adds.

“Soulmate, you look like a queen. Our queen,” Dray praises.

I stand taller under their praise, as always, with their eyes on me. They surround me, and their love and support fill me until nothing else exists. I stare, unable to speak. They look beautiful, there is no other word for it.

Maxen is in his white trousers, his chest bare and hair back.

He looks incredible. Drax and Jax are in matching black jeans and white shirts.

Thorn has on a full suit—I honestly don’t know where he got it from—but the arms are ripped off, making me grin as I check out his huge biceps.

He winks when he catches me ogling him. Dray…

Well, what can I say? He’s in what looks like a skirt.

It has a leather waistband crossing his abs and Adonis belt, with straps of leather hanging down to his knees, covering his cock.

I raise my brow, and he winks. “Like it? I stole it from a museum, warriors used to wear it.”

Laughing, I turn to Priest as they make a circle behind me, each of them laying a hand on me somewhere. Dray’s, of course, ends up on my ass, squeezing. “I can’t wait to fuck you later, wife,” he murmurs as he leans in.

“Warriors, we are here today to give away our queen, to witness the union of two of our leaders and our queen’s men.

Today, they become one, they unite The Wastes and our hearts under their marriage.

This union represents everything our queen stands for—love, acceptance, and hope for the future,” Priest begins, and I smile at him as he carries on.

“Love comes in many forms, and we all know Worth would never be able to settle for just one man—”

“She would probably ride him until he was dead!” someone hollers, making us all laugh.

“Love is about acceptance, it’s about patience and understanding, in any shape or form. Between two, three, four, or even ten people. Between men and women, between anyone and anything. Love is love. And today, that is what we rejoice in.” He pauses.

“This world stripped us of our love, but here today, we are regaining our chance at love, we are being given an opportunity at a better life, and that all starts here with our queen. Worth, the Champion. The woman who saved The North and created The Nations you see today.” He looks at me.

“The world is a dark, depraved place, but you managed to find the glimpses of light between those shades of darkness, and in that light, you blossomed from a warrior to a queen, and today, you take your kings.”

I swallow as he pauses before he continues. “Do you, Tazanna Worth, Queen of The Wastes, take these men to be yours, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, until the fires wipe us clean?”

“I do,” I promise, and cheers go up.

“Maxen, Drax, Jax, Thorn, and Dray, do you take this woman to be your wife? In sickness and health, for richer or poorer, until death? Do you promise to worship her, support her, and lessen her burden of leading?”

“I do,” they offer in unison.

“You know it, soulmate,” Dray adds, making the crowd laugh.

“Then by the power given to me by the Almighty, and in front of the people of our lands, I declare you husbands and wife. You may kiss your men!” he announces.

A huge roar goes up, followed by stomping and yelling, as I turn to my men.

I kiss them in the order in which I fell in love with them, starting with Dray.

He pinches my nipple through my shirt, making me laugh as I pull away.

Next, I kiss my silent demon, gripping his chin until he gasps, and then I move to his brother and kiss him hard as he grinds his cock into my belly.

I turn to Thorn next, and he picks me up with his arms under my bum until our heads are level, then he flashes me a wide grin and kisses me softly.

“Forever, my love,” he promises, as he sets me down and turns me to Maxen.

I gulp, and we come together, our lips seeking the each other’s. Who knew when I saw four men walk into The Rim, this is where I would be today? With their rings on my finger, my brands on their skin, and saying ‘I do’ in front of everyone in The Wastes.

Not me, but I couldn’t be happier if I tried.

Priest is right. Darkness is everywhere, and if you’re not careful, it can bury you in its clinging shadows, but there are always shards of light ready to stab through it and bring you back to life, you just have to be strong enough to accept it.

To accept the love you deserve, because everyone deserves love. No matter who you are, or what you have done…or even if you think you don’t. And sometimes, that love comes in a form you never knew you needed, but that’s okay too.

Love is love, no matter the form, age, gender, or type.

Accept it, embrace it, and that darkness will start to retreat, and even when it tries to grow back through you, your light will be there to protect you and make you stronger when you can’t fight against it yourself.

Love is selfless .

Love is strong.

Love is enduring.

Love is forever.

Love is never the end, it’s the beginning.

Long live The Nations.

Long live the Berserker Queen and her kings.