Page 93 of House of Soot

Mom squeezes my arm. "Ready?"

“So ready.” I glance at her, and it feels like a miracle that she’s here with me. Not long ago, I feared I'd lose her. Now, she's not only walking me down the aisle but also glowing with health. And it's all because of Blaise. Another miracle.

She catches my gaze, and I see tears shimmering in her eyes. "I’ll admit that I’ve had concerns about Blaise, but the way he looks at you, like your father used to look at me, I know he loves you.”

To hear she had concerns surprised me when she first mentioned it since she’d quickly latched herself to the Ifrinns the night everything went down. For some reason, she knew to trustthem over the Keans, at least with our safety. With my heart? That was a different story.

"He's a good man, sweetheart. The kind your father would have approved of."

Her blessing means everything, especially knowing how protective she's been since that terrible night at the Kean estate.

As we take our first step forward, something shifts inside me. My entire life, I lived behind a wall, sheltered, coddled. But as I walk toward Blaise, I’m feeling empowered. Like I’m finally moving forward in my own path, not one set by my mother or confined by the Keans.

I reach Blaise, who takes my hands in his as we face each other before the officiant. He mouths that he loves me and that I look so beautiful. I want to throw my arms around him and kiss him, but I’m able to restrain myself for the moment.

I’ll be honest, the ceremony is a bit of a haze. Finally, we get to the vows.

"I spent so long living in darkness," Blaise begins, his voice thick with emotion. "Then I met you and it was like having the sun on me for the first time in so long. You taught me that love is stronger than hatred, that forgiveness can heal even the deepest wounds." His thumb brushes over my knuckles. "I promise to protect you, cherish you, and love you more fiercely each day than the last. You and our child are my everything."

Tears blur my vision as I start my own vows. "You showed me what real love feels like and that it’s something worth fighting for. I promise to stand by your side through whatever storms come our way, to be your shelter just as you've been mine."

“I love you so fucking much,” he says, causing our families to laugh. He blushes as he realizes his use of the F-word, but I don’t care. I love his intensity.

When he kisses me as his wife for the first time, I feel like I’m in a fairy tale come true. I’m not so naïve to think our lives will besmooth sailing from now on, but I know our love is strong and it will help us endure anything and everything.

After the ceremony, during the intimate dinner, I notice Mom and Blaise sitting together in quiet conversation. She reaches out to pat his cheek in that maternal way of hers, and he captures her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. My mother's forgiveness means everything to Blaise. And her acceptance of him, despite everything, tells me I've made the right choice in following my heart.

The dinner feels intimate and perfect, with just our small family gathered around the table. Watching Ash and Phoenix tease Blaise about his lovesick expression makes me laugh.

“They’re just jealous,” Flint says, patting Blaise on the back. “Just wait until they fall. Then they’ll know there’s nothing better.”

I catch Lucy's eye across the table, and we share a quiet laugh. She understands what it's like to fall in love with an Ifrinn brother despite all odds.

The evening flows with wine, sparkling water for me, laughter, stories, and inside jokes. Mom dozes in her chair, a contented smile on her face. Looking around at our unlikely family, I feel truly at peace for the first time in months. Maybe ever.

Blaise rises and holds his hand out for me. “Time for the honeymoon.”

My body tingles already at how he’ll touch me tonight. We say our goodbyes, and then Blaise takes me back to the hotel we were at before.

I’ll admit, a small feeling of unease hits me when the memories of that night return. He’d been so different. In hindsight, it was probably because I kept wondering why anyone would want to hurt the Keans. It had to be like a stab in the heart each time I defended them.

“I fucked up last time,” he says, as if he can feel my unease. “I’m going to make it right this time.” Blaise carries me across the threshold.

"Is it safe for us to be here?" I ask, unable to completely shake my fears even on our wedding night. The Keans still have considerable influence in the city.

Blaise sets me down gently, his hands lingering at my waist. "No one gets near this floor without our knowing." He brushes his lips against my temple. “Tonight is just you and me. And tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that, for forever.”

I laugh. “What about your mission to take back the Ifrinn legacy?”

He shrugs. “For now, I’m passing that on to Phoenix and Ash.”

"But you're still part of the family business?”

"Yes, but in a different way now. I'll focus on legitimate ventures, building something safe and stable for our future. The dangerous work, that's for Ash and Phoenix now. Flint and I will offer support, but our focus is on our wives?—”

“Wives.” Joy whips through me. I’m his wife.

He laughs. “That’s what you are. My wife. And I’m your husband.” He places his hand on my stomach. “And this is our child.”

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