64. Tyson

Tyson

B etween preparations for the Piercing Ceremony, the wedding, and looking for Jason and Carlos, who are still on the run, a full month has passed by in a blur.

It’s been both the longest and shortest month of my life, but finally, after years of loving Olivia, today she is finally becoming my wife.

I let out a slow breath as I reach inside my pockets looking for the wedding vows I wrote the night I first asked Olivia to marry me. I’m not the only one who’s nervous. My blood-brothers keep shifting their weight from one leg to the other. They have been looking forward to this day just as much as I have.

Waiting for Olivia to appear down the aisle is tormenting. I want her before me so I can take her hands in mine as I swear to love and cherish her forever. I want to tell her that she’s the only woman I’ve ever wanted to marry and be the mother of my children, that she’s the only woman who managed to steal my heart.

While the invitations to our celebration, which were sent on short notice, surprised most, family and friends join us on this special day.

More than that.

Two weeks ago, after years of not talking to each other, Jasper and his father, Peter, reconciled. Peter and some extended family accepted the invitation to the wedding. It made Jasper so happy, which made all the effort of finding Peter’s address and beating some sense into him worth it. It was necessary since he refused to listen in the beginning.

A few small children run between the rows of chairs, but I can barely hear any noise. There’s a constant roar in my ears, and my heart is about to burst out of my chest. I’ve never been so nervous in my entire life. Good thing I skipped breakfast.

Someone screams, “The bride is coming!”

Oh, God! Or Lucifer, or who the fuck ever is listening, don’t let me mess up the vows and embarrass myself. I want this day to be perfect for Olivia.

“I think I’m going to faint,” Jasper suddenly says.

“There’s no time. Later,” Rueben growls.

Jasper is not the only one who’s sick. Ansel is next to complain. “My stomach is churning.”

Rueben seems to be the least nervous out of all of us. “We had time to drink, eat, shit, faint, get cold feet until this morning. Now, we are going to stand here waiting for our bride with a damn smile on our faces and make her happy.”

I don’t get how he can be so calm when inside me, it’s a hurricane of emotions.

Our gazes are fixed on the aisle.

It feels like an eternity until Jon and Olivia appear at the end of it.

My knees turn to gelatin. I never thought this day would come.

Jon starts walking Olivia down the aisle.

It took Olivia a bit to come to terms with Jon and Khloe being her biological parents, but ever since Jon told her the truth, she’s been a lot happier. She didn’t even mention Hannah or Senator Deymar. She went from calling Jon and Khloe grandparents to parents.

God!

She is so beautiful, I can’t take my eyes off of her. I don’t know much about dresses, except that the one she’s wearing makes her look like a princess. She always looks like a princess, but today she’s a goddess.

Her smile is radiant, stealing all the breath from my lungs.

Don’t look at any of the fuckers present, Olivia.

Eyes only on me.

She keeps walking slowly as if she is taking her time to get to us as if she wants to be sure she won’t change her mind.

Stars flicker in her eyes.

That’s it, Little Queen, look only at me, your husband-to-be.

I don’t fucking deserve this woman. She is too good, too lovely, too precious, and I’m not worthy of her. She has no idea of the things I’m capable of doing to keep her by my side; because despite knowing she deserves better men, there’s no fucking way in Hell I’ll ever let her leave. Deep down, I’m a selfish creature who can’t live without her.

She was born a Duchess.

Today, she becomes a Lady.

Olivia and Jon reach the end of the aisle.

Rueben’s throat bobs. His eyes are not the only ones shining with tears. I try to blink mine away, but a few tears still fall down my cheeks.

Olivia keeps smiling, her eyes filled with tears as well.

Before Jon entrusts Olivia to my blood-brothers and me, he gives us a warning, “Treat my precious young daughter with the love and respect she deserves. Make her suffer again, and you will never see her, Spencer, or the baby again.”

Jon doesn’t wait for a reply. There’s nothing to be added. He kisses Olivia’s cheek. “I love you, honey.”

Olivia gives the bridal bouquet to Jon. “I love you, too, dad.”

And with that, Jon goes to sit next to Khloe and Spencer—who is our ring bearer.

“You look so beautiful,” I blurt out.

Olivia’s gaze lingers on me only a few moments before going to my blood-brothers. “You all look so handsome. Especially Mose.”

A huge smile appears on Mose’s face. Olivia has pestered him since the day we proposed to her to wear his hair like a Viking. He finally bit the bullet and had someone style his hair with intricate braids.

“Dearly beloved,” Elder Calum says, and we turn our attention to him. “We’ve gathered here today to celebrate the love between these five man-children who think they are mature enough to handle a woman.”

His words make everyone erupt in laughter, including my blood-brothers and me. Olivia is gracious enough to press her lips together.

Elder Calum keeps talking.

“They will soon realize they are, in fact, not ready to be responsible for the physical and emotional well-being of a woman.” To Olivia, he says, “You still have time to save yourself from a lifetime of endless tantrums.”

The Elders and Olivia have made their peace. It wasn’t easy, but she somehow convinced them to give her a second chance at getting to know her. Elder Calum likes her the most. That’s why he agreed to officiate the wedding today.

Olivia giggles softly. “Oh, I think some pacifiers will help with the tantrums.”

My gaze falls on her more than generous tits. Oh, yeah. They can cure anything. Including tantrums.

Elder Calum pretends to be serious as he says, “If you insist on getting married, let’s continue. But do remember that I did try to save you.” He looks at the guests. “If any of you have a solid reason as to why Olivia should not marry today, speak now or—”

Juniper’s high-pitched bleat cuts Elder Calum short, making all the guests laugh. She’s at the end of the aisle, eating from the decorations.

“I thought we locked her up!” Rueben snarls.

Olivia giggles. “Juniper will always find a way to be with you. You know how much she loves you. She even crashed the wedding for you.”

Rueben’s cheeks turn slightly red. “I swear I’m going to turn that goat into kebab. Elder Calum, please continue.”

After chuckling at Rueben’s expense, Elder Calum says, “Ready to exchange vows?”

Last night’s dinner travels up my throat. Not wanting to embarrass myself by vomiting all over Olivia’s pretty dress, I nod.

Mose is the first one to say his vows. He didn’t write them down, so he takes her hands into his and says, “I love you wholeheartedly with a passion that cannot be expressed in words, only in kisses, stolen glances, moments of happiness, and years spent by your side. I vow to love you and only you forever.”

While short, Mose’s vows express what all of us feel for Olivia.

Rueben is next. “I love you, Olivia. Not for what you are but for what I am when I’m with you. I want to be the best version of myself. I want to give you everything. I vow to put you before everything. Including days of football and nights of poker.”

“Before COD tournaments, too?” Olivia flutters her long eyelashes.

Rueben grits his teeth. “No, ye-no. Tournaments are the only time we get to have guys’ night.”

“It’s fine. I won’t put you above girls’ night either,” Olivia huffs.

Oh, boy. If I were Rueben, I would start to reconsider sleeping.

Olivia turns her attention to Ansel. He lets out a long breath before saying, “For a long time, my existence was bleak. I had a purpose, but not a goal. So I searched for one. Even if I didn’t know it back then, I longed to love one person with all my heart, my soul, my mind, and my body. I needed a forever friend to trust with my intimacies, who wouldn’t hold them against me, who would love me when I’m unlikable, who would look for the divine potential of me. You are that person, Olivia. I love you with all that I am.”

Ansel’s vows return the smile to Olivia’s lips.

Jasper clears his throat before he says his vows to Olivia.

“Little Love, it’s with pride and joy that I take you for my wife. Together, we can weather any storm, no matter the season of our lives. I have found my forever partner. With you in my life, I could never be lonely again. I’m in awe of you, our bond, and our potential. I promise to remain in awe while I cherish you for all eternity.”

Olivia fans her eyes with her palm. “You all are making me cry with your sweet words.”

Jasper kisses her forehead. “We only want you to know how much you mean to us.”

Olivia breathes deeply a few times before turning her attention to me.

My turn makes me feel nervous all over again. I try to find the paper with the vows, but my hands tremble, and I give up. I’ve read the vows so many times that I should know them by heart by now.

I take Olivia’s hands into mine and bring them to my mouth. “My love, I thought this day would never come.” Olivia’s eyes fill with tears once more. “What greater thing is there for our souls than to feel that they are joined for life—to strengthen each other in sorrow or happiness, to rest on each other in all misery, to help each other in all things, to be one with each other in silent unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting? Whatever souls are made of, ours is the same.” I brush my knuckles against her soft cheek. “Do you remember the very first day we met? I knew the very first moment I saw you. I knew we were meant to be together for all of our days. You have become my lover, my companion, and my best friend. There’s no one else I’d want to build a life with. I get to have you by my side, as my love, and my wife, for eternity.”

There are more words I want to say to her, but her tears make me forget everything. I lean forward and kiss her wet cheeks.

“I vow to take your hand when it’s too dark and care for the kids when it’s too early.”

My last line makes Olivia laugh.

After drying her tears, Olivia says her vows, “I pledge to honor you all, love you, and cherish you as my husbands today and every day. I promise to be your guiding light in the darkness, a warming comfort in the cold, and a shoulder to lean on when life is too much to bear on your own. You all are loved more than any metaphor can ever try to express my feelings. I vow to always protect you from harm, to stand with you against your troubles, and to look to you when I need protection. Give me your hands, and I will give you my forever. I love you all so very, very much.”

After a few moments of silence, Elder Calum says, “I pronounce you husbands and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Finally, Olivia is my wife.

I dip my head, ready to kiss my wife for the first time, when Olivia pulls away and says, “Actually, there’s one more vow to be made.”

I frown, confused until the moment Jasper speaks. “Tyson.” I turn my attention to him, and he cups my cheeks. “I know this day should be all about Olivia, but—”

Olivia interrupts him. “This day is about all of us. It’s about the love that unites us. Just as I love the five of you, Jasper also loves you.” Her gaze goes to Elder Calum. “Jasper and Tyson have my blessing!”

The Elder nods, letting her know he has nothing against Jasper and me being together.

Jasper lets out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Little Love, for accepting me the way I am.” To me, he says, “Olivia is not the only one who has captured my heart. I love you just as much as I love her. That’s why I want to make a vow to you today as well.” This takes me by surprise completely and I feel like a total jerk because I haven’t written anything for Jasper. It doesn’t matter. I can still tell him what’s in my heart. “Today, surrounded by all of our loved ones, I choose you to be my husband. I am proud to be yours and to join my life with yours. I vow to support you, inspire you, and love you always. For as long as we both shall live, I will be by your side—for better or worse, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer. You are part of my soul, of my heart.”

My heart fills with more love for Jasper. “My husband, I invite you to share my life. You are one of the most loving, clever, and kind individuals I have ever known, and I promise to always be in your corner. Together, I know we can do anything. I can't wait to work hand in hand to build a beautiful life together.”

Jasper presses his forehead to mine before letting go of me.

Elder Calum is silent. He probably thinks more vows will be exchanged.

“We are done,” Rueben lets the Elder know.

“Oh, right. In that case, you may kiss each other!”

Not wanting more interruptions, I pull Olivia into my arms and press my lips to hers. Loud cheers erupt around us.

“The rings, the rings!” someone shouts.

Oh, shit. We forgot all about the rings. We were supposed to exchange them during the vows. No need to panic, we can still exchange them now.

With a heavy sigh, I let go of Olivia, only to see Jon and Rin running after Juniper.

“The goat stole the rings!”