Page 182 of Axel

But not tonight.

I’m speechless, anchored to Ruby’s gaze, and she’s committed to mine.

We’ve heard these words before, but their meaning isn’t lost. I glance down at my hands, holding hers, her engagement ring sparkling with promise,our promise.

We keep smiling at each other.

And yes, dammit, I’m fighting tears.

But like fuck if I’ll ever let my brothers see it.

Finally, Sire gets to the last part. “Do you, Axel King, with a free and unconstrained will, claim Ruby Jones as your queen?”

I nod and lift Ruby’s ring to my lips, kissing it. “Mytruequeen, and I do.”

“Will you guard her, above all, with your life? Will you love her, above all, with your heart? Will you die for her, with no hesitation, leaving her your soul?”

“Forever,” I vow.

“Will you, Ruby Jones…” Sire smiles. Yeah, he approves. “With free and unconstrained will, accept our brother, Axel King, asyourking?”

She smirks, and I brace for what my Wildfire will say.

This is why I love her.

But her smirk rolls into her chewing her lip, her eyelashes fluttering, and fighting back tears.

“Proudly,” she vows, and I swallow the lump in my throat.

“Will you love him, above all, with your heart? Will you give him, more than any other, a life worth fighting for? Will you honor him, even in death, as his queen?”

A tear spills down her cheek. “I was born Axel’s queen, and I will die as Axel’s true queen.”

“Fuck, Wildfire.”

I need to kiss her now.

Hurry up.

But Sire must continue.

“Deliver them, safe from wrath and danger. Preserve their bed and fill their home. Let them see their children’s children. Ahem.” Sire gets choked up, too. “Unite them into one flesh, and please, dear Lord, we pray, as one family, all of us together.”

That’s not the vow.

I glance at Sire.

But it seems the spirit has taken him.

“Crown them as king and queen together,” he finishes as I cup Ruby’s cheeks, pressing my lips to hers, “together, tonight, and in the stars forever.”

I kiss Ruby, and it’s like every time I do, I’m kissing a wish, a prayer, a feeling so strong that it leaves me tender.

“Only you can touch me, my queen,” I whisper over our lips.

“Only you can own me, my king.” She gazes into my eyes.

“Damn,” Jace sniffles. “Fuck, y’all are beautiful together.”

---