Page 155 of Wicked Savage

She looks at Amara for validation, the hope in her eyes clear and unguarded. I hate to break her little heart, but Dinara and I are no fairy tale, though a little lie never hurt anyone…

“That’s right, sweetheart,” I say, squeezing Dinara’s hand and pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles.

And for the first time since we’ve reunited, my wife doesn’t look like she wants to kill me. Her mouth twitches just a little as I go on.

“Dinara and I are very much in love. Aren’t we, leannan?”

When she tries to slip out of my grasp, I don’t let her, bringing our joined hands over my lap. She gives me a pointed look, one I meet with equal intensity.

“Um…yep. That’s right.Soin love.” She clears her throat.

Maybe one day soon, she’ll actually sound like she means it.

Fia’s face lights up, her excitement palpable. “I can’t wait to be a flower girl! Mommy showed me what to do! It’s going to be so much fun! Right, Adora?” She glances over at Tynan’s daughter.

Adora nods shyly. Unlike Fia, she’s more reserved around new people.

Fia turns her gaze back to Dinara. “Do you like tea parties?”

Dinara narrows her eyes playfully, her lips curling into a teasing smile. “I’ve been known to throw a pretty awesome tea party or two. Just ask my sister.”

Fia’s eyes practically sparkle with excitement. “Can we have one together? You and Uncle Cillian?”

“Him at a tea party?” Dinara snickers. “I’d pay to see that.”

I raise an eyebrow, pretending to look offended. “You think I can’t hang with the girls?”

Dinara laughs, the sound light and carefree. “I guess we’ll see.”

Her smile widens, and it makes me wonder if this marriage, this life we’ve found ourselves in, might just work out after all.

“Are you nervous at all about the wedding tomorrow? I mean, we’re a lot,” Iseult cuts in, her tone playful as she takes a sip of her wine. “I wouldn’t blame you if you needed to hightail it out of here. I’d even help you.”

I shoot her an irritated look.

“Believe me, it’s at the top of my priorities.” Dinara’s mouth curves.

I pull her closer, lowering my lips near her ear. “Don’t you know by now, I’ll never let you get away again?”

She shoots me a grin. “Try to stop me.”

“Aw, aren’t they just cute?” Fernanda chimes in, leaning her head on my father’s shoulder.

My dad watches us with a fond smile, like he already accepted Dinara into our family as soon as they met. “I’m glad you all found someone to spend the rest of your lives with. It’s important to have that one person you can always count on, no matter how old you get or what life throws at you.” He kisses Fernanda’s hand. “It makes this father very proud.”

“Okay, Dad, cut it out with the mushy stuff,” Iseult groans, quickly blinking away any sign of emotion as she grabs her glass of wine.

“Don’t mind her,” Gio says, wrapping an arm around Iseult. “She loves mushy stuff. It makes her cold, dead heart beat a little.”

“I’ll have you know my cold, dead heart is about to carve out yours if you don’t stop talking,” Iseult warns with a glare, though there’s no hate behind it.

Gio laughs, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, while Dinara watches the exchange between them. Her gaze flickers to me briefly, and for a moment, I wonder if she’s remembering the days when we used to have fun like that, before everything got complicated. I won’t lie; I miss it.

And maybe, just maybe, we can get that back.

* * *

Waiting for her to walk down the aisle has to be the most nerve-wracking experience of my life. Every muscle in my body is tight, my thoughts racing in a dozen different directions. Part of me wonders if she’s going to bolt, just turn and disappear like she did once before. I was on the edge of losing her for so long, and I’m still terrified of it happening again.

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