Page 193 of Taken By the Fae

My parents were shocked at the sped-up timeline but happy all the same. Elijah, too, who’s excited to gain a brother in Tristan.

Luckily, Oliver’s cousin was ordained a few months ago to officiate a friend’s wedding, and Oliver could convince him to do ours. Skylar handles the location, finding us a stunning venue just outside the city, with vaulted ceilings and beautiful white French windows and doors.

Allison and Skylar spend the morning doing my hair and makeup before helping me into my dress, while Nikolai and Oliver get ready with Tristan.

Once everything is ready and all the guests are in their seats, it’s time to start the ceremony.

What I’ve always imagined would be one of the most anxiety-inducing moments of my life is actually what’s making my pulse steady, my steps sure, and my heart happy.

Allison and Oliver walk down the aisle first, followed by Skylar and Nikolai, and then Elijah, our ring bearer in a very dapper suit he proudly picked out himself.

Mom stands on one side of me and Dad on the other, both with their arms linked through mine. Supporting me, loving me, and delivering me to the only person on this earth I want to spend my life with.

The moment the double doors open and we step into the room, everyone rises. The space glows with the soft strings of lights and candles all around the room. All eyes are on me, but the only ones that matter are waiting for me at the end of the aisle, surrounded by our friends and gorgeous white and purple calla lilies like the ones I’m holding. The sight of him knocks the air out of me, and I stop walking for a second, taking him in, waiting there for me. Tristan has always looked incredible in a suit, but today is special. Today is the only day that counts; everything—every moment we shared was practice for today—for what the rest of our life together will be.

Dad squeezes my hand in the same moment Tristan smiles, sending my heart racing.I’ll never tire of that.I take a step forward, then another, until we’re standing at the front of the room. Mom leans over and kisses my cheek before letting go of my arm. Dad does the same before sitting beside Mom in the front row.

Tristan guides me up the few steps, his eyes never leaving mine. His expression matches mine: pure bliss. Today is the best day of our lives, and I can’t wait to share the rest of mine with him.

Standing behind me in matching rose gold dresses are Allison and Skylar, and flanking Tristan is Oliver and Nikolai. It makes my heart heavy that Max isn’t standing with them as the best man, but something tells me he’s here.

The officiant speaks, but I can’t focus on his words. All I can do is stare at the man in front of me and smile—smile because he’s mine and I’m his.

“Do you, Tristan Westbrook, take this woman to be your wife, your best friend, your partner in life and love, for as long as you both shall live?”

Tristan doesn’t miss a beat. “I do.”

“Do you, Aurora Marshall, take this man to be your husband, your best friend, your partner in life and love, for as long as you both shall live?”

Blinking back tears, I smile. I’ve never been so sure. “I do.”

We exchange rings, unable to stop staring and smiling at each other as though there isn’t an entire room full of people watching us.

“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Tristan, you may kiss your bride.”

He exhales. “Finally.” His lips are on mine before I can laugh at his response, and the room fills with clapping and celebratory shouts. Tristan slips his arm around my waist and dips me low, kissing me until my head spins and my world is nothing but the two of us.

When he lets me back up, he kisses me again, and again, until Nikolai cuts in and says, “Easy, Westbrook. There are children present.”

I laugh and kiss Tristan’s cheek, whispering, “Later.”

“Later,” he agrees with a devilishly handsome grin.

* * *

Once we move over to the ballroom at the Westbrook Hotel, the proper party begins. An open bar and a huge buffet of food was the easiest decision I made for this wedding, aside from the man I chose to marry.

Call me weirdly sentimental, but I wanted to have the reception here—in the place Tristan and I met—even though it wasn’t under the best of circumstances. It was still our start.

Allison and Skylar spent the last few days ordering hotel staff around getting the place ready for this night. Everything is perfect—they wouldn’t accept anything less.

Tristan and I stand in the hotel lobby, waiting to make our entrance.

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “We got married,” I say, grinning.

He gazes down at me. “We did.”

“I own a bookstore.”

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