Page 64 of Unfettered Vessel

And then there is Monty.

My breath catches. He stands at the far end of the aisle, his gaze locked onto mine. He looks… radiant. His suit, perfectly tailored, complements his confident stance. His idea to grow out his wild, unruly, snow-white hair has definitely worked. I love his hair when it is loose and free. Running my fingers through it is one of my favorite things. But now he can easily slick it back into a tame bun, with none of it escaping.

But it’s the look in his eyes that steals the breath from my lungs. Love, unwavering and fierce. For a moment, the world softens, and it’s just him and me. Everything else fades into a gentle hum.

Then the music starts.

A soft melody floats through the air, played by a string quartet tucked near a bed of blossoming hydrangeas. Musicians that Blue personally auditioned. The notes rise and fall like a heartbeat, steady and true, carrying us toward the inevitable moment of forever.

Lottie steps forward first, tossing petals with gleeful abandon, her giggles carried on the breeze. Lello follows right behind her, his own flower petals thrown with dramatic flair and a little too much force. Some land in Noah’s hair, but he doesn’t even blink, his focus locked on the delicate ring pillow he carries. Oscar trails behind, a ball of restrained energy, his excitement barely contained, but he behaves, much to my amusement.

I glance around the garden. Familiar faces surround me, all wearing expressions of joy and warmth. Morgan dabs at his eyes with a delicate handkerchief, while Ned, standing in the shade of the gazebo, offers me an encouraging nod. Even Carter, typically reserved, has a small smile playing on his lips. While Brodie is grinning like he is the happiest, proudest man on the planet.

Laurie is the only person who is missing, and for a moment my chest tightens painfully. But I force myself to exhale. We will find him. This is the only celebration he is ever going to miss. I only talked to him for one afternoon, but it was long enough to know that he is a lovely little sweetheart and he wouldn’t want his absence to dull his big brother’s day. So I take a deep breath and let the darkness go.

Then, as if the air itself shifts, it is time.

The world stills for just a second as I take my first step forward. The grass is soft beneath my feet, the scent of lilacs and freshly turned earth filling my senses. Step by step, I move toward the gazebo. Toward Monty. Toward the future waiting for us. And with every step, my heart beats a little faster, no longer with nerves, but with overwhelming joy.

Monty’s expression shifts slightly, something tender and awestruck breaking across his face. His lips part, as if he wants to say something, but no words come. Instead, he just watches me, his fingers twitching at his sides as if he’s resisting the urge to close the distance between us.

When I finally reach him, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. His fingers brush against mine, the touch electric despite its softness. We turn slightly, facing Jade, who clears his throat and begins the ceremony with a voice steady and sure.

The words blur together, not because I’m not listening, but because my focus is entirely on Monty. I catch fragments. Love, commitment, forever. Each syllable feels like a promise alreadyetched into my soul. It is nothing at all like an Old Blood ceremony, and that alone makes my heart soar.

My fingers tighten around Monty’s, and he squeezes back, a silent conversation in the midst of spoken vows. Love, and freedom from the shackles of the past. A brave new beginning where we forge our own way and make our own rules. It’s perfect. It’s everything.

When it comes time for the rings, Noah steps forward with practiced precision, presenting the pillow with both hands. Monty takes mine first, sliding it onto my finger with a reverence that makes my chest tighten. When I do the same for him, my hands tremble slightly, not from fear, but from the sheer weight of the moment.

Jade’s voice steadies. “And now, by the power vested in me, I pronounce you…”

Lello doesn’t even wait for the last words before he starts clapping wildly, sending flower petals flying. The moment dissolves into laughter, but it doesn’t matter. Monty pulls me close, his lips brushing against mine, and the world disappears in the warmth of his embrace.

This is it. This is forever.

And I have never been more ready.