Page 113 of Born into Darkness

I laugh and pat his back. “All right, but I should warn you that Talia’s probably going to make me cry like a baby when I see her walk down the aisle.”

Val grins. “That’s okay. It doesn’t count if it’s your wedding day.”

“Remember that,” Luka tells Niki, making my brother laugh.

I can’t resist reaching over to ruffle his hair. “It’ll be your turn one day, little brother.” I laugh and add, “Just promise me you won’t get kidnapped to find her.”

“No, definitely don’t do that,” Val says.

Niki laughs and fixes his hair, and then the four of us head over to the tent. I go to stand by the officiant while the others go to meet up with the bridesmaids at the entrance. Scanning the large crowd, I smile at our families, and laugh when I see baby Enzo in a little sleeper that looks like a tux. Nat gives me a big smile while Dominic grins and looks back to check on Isabella. Roma squeals when he sees me, and Lara kisses his cheek and gives me a wave. Sveta looks like she’s about to burst in her dress, but she’s all smiles when I see Vitya discreetly slip her a box of animal crackers.

I smile at Talia’s family, and her mom returns it while her brothers nod at me. Even though my hand isn’t well enough for me to learn all the signs, I’m still studying with Talia every day, and when Bran signs,You doing okay?,I know enough to sign back,Nervous but happy.He grins and gives me a quick thumbs up.

Lily, Ilya’s wife, comes to stand up front. She gives me a big smile and positions herself so she’s off to the side, not in the way but clearly visible to Bran so she can interpret the ceremony. Talia’s family and friends have all welcomed me in, and I’m looking forward to getting to know them better.

I look back at my parents, giving them another smile, but when the music starts, all my attention turns to the back of the tent. Talia is nowhere to be seen, but I know she’s there, just out of sight, and the anticipation is killing me. I watch as Sitka walks down with Luka. I see him give Lara a wink as he walks past her, and then it’s Yulia and Val, followed by Allie and Niki.

When everyone is in place, I can barely keep myself still, but I’m momentarily distracted when Isabella starts walking down the aisle in her pretty pink dress with the border collie I’ve fallen completely in love with right by her side. She throws rose petals on the white runner, occasionally stopping to pet Wallace and tell him he’s a good boy.

When she gets to the end, she runs up to give me a hug and then crawls into her dad’s lap while Wallace sits next to my parents.

Then the music changes and finally my beautiful bride steps into view. Her white gown fits her like a glove, and she looks so gorgeous I have to remind myself to breathe. We only found out a couple of weeks ago that she’s pregnant, and we haven’t told anyone else yet, but knowing that my pregnant, soon-to-be wife is walking toward me has a lump forming in my throat.

Her hand grips her dad’s arm while a smile lights up her face. Her eyes stay locked on mine until she’s right in front of me, and her dad is taking her hand and putting it in mine.

“I’m trusting you with my baby girl, Max,” he whispers, and I can hear the emotion in his voice. He’s just as choked up as I am.

“And I’ll never give you a reason to regret it,” I whisper back.

He gives me a quick hug and says, “Welcome to the family, Son-in-law.”

I hug him back, squeezing Talia’s hand when he places it in mine. She looks up at me, looking every bit like royalty, and I feel like I should be on my knees, bowing before her.

“You are so beautiful,svetik moy,” I tell her, ignoring everyone and everything else. The officiant starts speaking, but all I see is her, and all I hear is the whisperedI love youshe says as she squeezes my hand and looks up at me like she can’t wait to say I do.

I can’t take my eyes off her, and when I finally recite my vows, I mean every single word of them. I will love, cherish, and be completely faithful to her for the rest of my life. I’ll do anything for her. Always. No matter what.

I think I smile like an idiot the whole time she recites her vows, and I’m so grateful it was my right hand that was injured. I wouldn’t have been able to wear my wedding band if it had been the left one, and that would’ve killed me.

As soon as we’re pronounced man and wife, I cup her face and lean down. “I love you,svetik moy,” I say right before I press my lips to hers and kiss my wife for the first time. Our families cheer as she wraps her arms around me and I kiss her until she’s blushing a beautiful shade of pink.

“I love you,” she whispers back as soon as her lips are free to speak. When our families give another loud cheer, she laughs and raises a brow at me in a silent question. I smile and wrap my arm around her as we turn to face everyone.

“Go for it, baby,” I tell her.

The smile lights up her whole face before she says and signs, “I’m pregnant!”

I didn’t think our families could get any louder, but they prove me wrong. The cheers fill the tent, spilling out into the night air and probably traveling for miles. We’re immediately swarmed, hugged and congratulated, and I’ve never been so happy in my life. Our moms are crying, our dads look thrilled and proud to be grandpas, and our cousins are all excited to become aunts and uncles to our baby.

Val gives me a big hug and says, “I knew our kids would grow up together like we did. We’ve got three new babies on the way now.”

“Don’t you mean, five?” Sveta asks, patting her enormous belly.

Val laughs. “I’m not counting them, since they’re going to be arriving any second now. I don’t think you’re going to be pregnant for much longer. You’ve probably only got about twenty-four hours left.”

“I still have a few months to go,” she says. “Don’t say things like that, Val. It’s not my fault I’m so big. There’s two,” she reminds him.

He laughs at her horrified look. Vitya kisses her and places his hand on her stomach. “You’re going to do great,” he tells her. “They’ll be out before you know it.”

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