Page 172 of Rags to Royals

He looks proud, happy, and very in love.

I hope he can see all of that in my eyes as well.

When I get to the end of the aisle, he seems nearly overwhelmed. He immediately takes my hands and tugs me close.

“You are absolutely everything I never even knew I could dream of,” he says, his voice gruff.

I shake my head. This man is unbelievable. “Thank you, Cian. So much.”

“For what?”

“For coming after me. For waiting for me. For believing in me. For wanting those nineteen days even after you found out…everything. And then for wanting forever.”

He steps even closer, squeezing my hands. “I will always come after you. I will always wait for you. I will always believe in you. And I want the rest of your days.”

I feel a tear slip down my cheek, and I blink up at him with a smile. “Ditto. To all of that.”

“Well, those sounded like vows to me.”

We both turn and look at King Diarmuid. We laugh.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” I say. “You can go ahead.”

He chuckles. He’s been getting stronger every day and he looks healthy and happy today. He smiles at me, his affectionclear. I’ve had some time to talk with the king over the last couple of days and he is a lovely man who loves his family deeply and I think he likes me.

“All I ask is that you love my grandson with all your heart.”

I look at Cian. “I can definitely promise that.”

“Do you take him as your husband?”

“I do.”

“Cian, do you promise to love Scarlett with all your heart?”

“I promise.”

“Do you take her as your wife?”

“I absolutely do.”

“Then I officially declare you husband and wife,” the king proclaims, his voice much stronger than it was when Declan and Astrid became husband and wife. He raises his hand. “Go forth with my blessing.”

“Your Majesty,” Cian says, his eyes on me. “Unlike Declan, I’d really like to kiss my bride.”

Diarmuid chuckles. “Never ask anyone’s permission to kiss your wife.”

Cian gives me a grin, then cups my face and brings me in for a long, sweet kiss.

Then he says against my mouth for my ears only, “We’re definitely making it on the podcast for this.”

“We’d better,” I tell him. “That's the whole reason I said yes to this.”

He nips my bottom lip. “Witch.”

I laugh. “Actually, that’sprincessto you now.”

He pulls back and grins down at me with possessiveness, pride, and love in his eyes. “Yes, it certainly is.”

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