Page 233 of The Darkest Chase

As he passes by to take up his place with the groomsmen, all of Redhaven PD handsome in their tuxedos, he grabs Micah’s hand with an approving squeeze that means so much to me.

There’s nothing better than knowing the two most important men in my life respect each other so deeply.

Especially when Micah squeezes his hand back with a smile and a murmur.

“Gerald,” he says warmly.

For a second, there’s a loud commotion in the trees overhead. A huge flock of crows takes off with deafening caws, launching into the sky like spinning shadows.

Micah stares at them until the noise disappears, and I wonder why there’s such a bright starry smile in his eyes.

Then he looks at me again and it’s just us, standing across from each other.

I can see his heart pounding in his throat, his pulse wild against pale skin, matching my own. Micah takes a quick breath and lets it out in a laugh.

“Remind me again how you make yourself breathe when you’re this excited?”

The last of my jitters melt away.

My smile lights me up from the inside out.

“I count,” I whisper. “I count and pace my breathing.”

Micah reaches for my free hand, watching me with those luminous eyes that hold me spellbound.

“Maybe we should count backward then,” he says. “To the moment when we’ll be husband and wife.”

“In your head,” I tease. “I don’t think the priest would like it very much.”

Micah’s eyes glitter. “I’ll count if you will.”

“Every second is a second too long,” I promise.

“Shall we?” The priest clears his throat.

I nod shyly, and Micah nods more boldly.

In my head, I’m already counting down backward.

With every word from the priest, another second slips by.

Another second closer.

Another instant narrowing the end of my life as Talia Grey, and the beginning of my life as Talia Ainsley.

Another tick closer to eternity with Micah.

The entire time, we never look away from each other.

Micah’s lips move silently and I realize he’s really doing it—counting backward. I fight the urge to grin with everyone watching, squeezing his fingers playfully and getting a wink in return.

I took a wild guess on how long it would take the priest to recite the wedding vows, and I’m not far off.

I’m down to ten by the time he gets to In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse, ’til death do you part.

Nine.

“Do you, Micah Ainsley, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

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