Page 142 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

He pulled back and placed another kiss on my lips. “I’ve got it, Sweetheart. Meet me in the garden in an hour?”

Slowly, he removed himself from me, placing lingering kisses before finally his hands slipped from my body and he walked backward towards the door, smiling the entire way.

“See you in a bit.”

I couldn’t help smiling to myself as the door closed behind him.

I stood in front of the mirror as Kara and Luce fussed around me. It was astonishing what we put together in such a short time.

Neither of them showed any surprise when I told them what happened between Luka and I on the balcony. Kara had squealed and embraced me before rattling off all the things she needed to gather, but she made sure to tell me,I told you so, in a sing-song voice before rushing off to gather supplies.

I had no idea where Kara had found my dress on such short notice, I was thoroughly impressed. The garment was made of a deep blue, the color of the early night sky. The bodice was fitted and the skirt simple. Silver and gold stars adored the shimmering fabric. The back was cut in a deep v. Attached to the sleeves was a train of sorts—made from sheer fabric adorned with stars that matched the bodice.

My hair was down and in loose waves. A simple silver crownmade up of stars and moons rested on my head with clear gems adorning it.

“You look stunning.” Kara hugged me from behind, resting her chin on my shoulder.

“I can’t believe you’re doing this. One wedding is bad enough, choosing to have two…” Luce shook her head but smiled.

“Are you saying you don’t dream about your wedding?” Kara asked.

Luce let out a harsh laugh. “I hope and pray to the Goddess I don’t have to get married.”

“And here I thought Len was the pessimist,” Kara chided. “You really don’t want to get married?”

“A regular marriage sure, an arranged marriage, no thank you.” She threw me a sideways glance. “Sorry.”

“I’ve accepted my fate,” I steeled my shoulders and assessed myself in the mirror. I had. Luka was my fate. As was our marriage.

I was starting to think this all might be a blessing. Luka, this arranged marriage. Maybe it was a blessing after all.

“I’m ready.”

56

LUKA

I had to admit, we did a pretty good job putting together a wedding on such short notice for three people who knew nothing about weddings.

We had cleared out the center of the garden, moved away the tables and benches to allow room for our small ceremony.

The moon and stars decorated the sky, a mirror of the bulbs of light we had strung throughout the garden.

Declan and I stood waiting in the garden—Nico had gone to find Caterina and Endora. I thought Lennox might want them here.

I shifted back and forth from foot to foot, waiting for Lennox to arrive. Part of me thought she might change her mind, decide tomorrow was what she wanted—and not this choice I was giving her tonight.

The choice to choose me.

To choose us.

I had been mulling over what to do all week, coming up with one last attempt at giving Lennox the life she had dreamed of. The opportunity to choose love for herself. I still didn’t know if that’s what she was doing in choosing to say yes to tonight, but the look in her eyes—and the way she let me kiss her afterward—maybe the space apart these past few days had been good for both of us.

The sounds of voices filtered through the garden, but my chest deflated when the people rounding the corner were Caterina, Endora, and Nico, not Lennox.

Caterina approached me, a wide smile brightening her face. She braced her hands on my shoulders, placing a kiss on each of my cheeks. “This was such a sweet thing for you to do for my niece. I like the two of you together.” She winked before letting me go and moving to the side where Nico and Declan stood.

Finally, Kara and Luciana appeared from around the hedge, my eyes scanned behind them for Lennox.

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