Page 43 of Sinful King

“Finnegan is worried about you,” she said, once our eyes connected.

I nodded, not sure how to respond to that but eventually finding the words.

“Does that bother you?”

Finn, Sean and I spent a lot of time together because we were close in age. And he was book smart, so we shared AP courses all throughout high school.

He protected me like Sean asked of him and we became like brother and sister in the process.

Teenage me appreciated being treated how a sibling should. Adult me was happy to know he still valued our history.

“Oh, not at all…” she waved her hand, not at me but the question. “I’m all Finnegan sees. But it does mean he cares, so I’m here to make sure you aren’t alone today.”

I was caught off guard by the sentiment.

“He didn’t ask you to come here?”

She shook her head.

“Neither of them really had to. Finn’s not the only person worried about you, Sean is too…” her gaze shifted and a slow smile spread across her face. “Your dress is beautiful. Mine will be black.”

“Definitely a black cat,” I murmured. “Thank you. Not just for the dress compliment. I’m used to being alone but it’s nice to have someone here.”

Then, the door opened and Caroline walked in with the twins in tow.

“I have your something blue and borrowed,” Caroline said, her knowing eyes meeting mine as she dangled the floating pearl necklace—I saw her wear often—and a blue silk scarf.

“And this is from Sean,” Siobhan added, handing me a jewelry box. “Your something new.”

Inside was an addition to the pendant around my neck. A set of Celtic knot stud earrings with a diamond nestled between the loops.

They were tiny and delicate and so beautiful. All the sadness I’d been feeling disappeared in an instant.

His family was mine now; I didn’t have to be alone anymore and savored it while they helped me get into my dress, then down the stairwell to the door that opened into my new life.

We were having the ceremony inside with only his parents, Eoghan, the twins, Finn and Violet in attendance.

I hadn’t expected Aoife and Siobhan to be here at all. This wasn’t a celebration.

Either way, I was marrying the love of my life today.

“I’ll check to see if they’re ready,” Violet said as she slipped past me and out the door.

My eyes were closed when it opened again but I knew it wasn’t Violet standing in front of me.

The energy felt heavy, like Darragh or Eoghan instead.

“You aren’t actually here to walk me down, are you?” I asked before opening my eyes and locking with Darragh’s.

“My son told me you think I hate you,” he said, this warm expression in his light browns that didn’t make sense.

He’d always treated me as if I were annoying at best, or a liability at worse.

“Offering marriage for what you did proves otherwise,” Darragh went on, holding his arm out for me to take. “I see your brilliance. And it’s time you let everyone else see it too. Steel and both your half-brothers.”

Our arms had just connected when he said it. I almost pulled away but looked up instead.

“What?”

---