Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

FIONN

Waiting for her in the yard, the priest and my brothers beside me, I keep staring at the double glass doors, needing to see her walk down to me.

It hits me that she’s about to be mine for the rest of her life, and with that will come a great responsibility to protect her and Fia from our enemies. There are many of them, and some wouldn’t hesitate to hurt our families to get to us. I will do everything in my power to keep them both safe.

Speakers play the traditional wedding march music, and seconds later, I see her. Our daughter is holding her hand, grinning and waving to me.

I give her a wink before my stare returns to the most beautiful woman.

My woman.

My wife.

That dress, the way she looks… It takes my breath away.

Her eyes scan the place, like she’s looking for a way out of this. But unfortunately for her, there is none. This is for life.

She will never leave me again. I can promise her that.

When she’s in front of me, I grab her hand and tuck her chin in my palm, dropping my mouth to her ear. “You’re breathtaking.”

“Thanks,” she whispers, her hand shivering in mine.

“Don’t be scared.”

“That’s easy for you to say.” She hikes up her chin and stares at the priest, ignoring me.

Clenching a fist at my side, I turn toward him.

She will come around. It’s just a shock to her right now. I have to believe that.

Fia runs over to me, holding my hand, and Amara tries to hide her shock.

“You look like a princess,” I tell her.

“Thank you.” Her eyes glimmer.

My damn heart is going to explode. Gathering her in my arms, I nod at the priest to begin while she’s nestled against me, her head on my shoulder.

Amara glances over at us, fighting a smile.

Her attention shifts as the priest recites some prayers until it’s time for the rings. Tynan hands them to us, and I place one on Amara’s finger, then she places one on mine.

“May these rings be a symbol of your faith in each other and a reminder to you of your love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. You may kiss the bride.”

Turning to her, I cup her cheek, capturing her eyes, staring so deep, I know she feels this too—this damn heaviness in my chest that I never even imagined I could ever experience.

“It’s like I’ve been waiting for you all my life,” I tell her, meaning every damn word.

Her gaze softens, brows furrowed, and before she has a chance to protest, I take her lips with mine. And just like every other time, she kisses me until we’re both lost. My fingers slide into her hair, dragging her deeper, kissing her with all the passion dripping in my veins.

“Geez, get a damn room.” Cillian laughs, and that’s when she slowly pulls away.

I hit him with a glare, and he only chuckles harder.

The priest finishes his last wish for us, then it’s over.

She’s mine. For life.

“Fionn.” Fia pulls on my suit jacket.

“Yes, love?”

“Do you have ponies?”

Her damn adorable voice… If she asked for the moon, I’d climb up to get it.

“I do. Wanna see them?”

Her mouth pops as big as her eyes.

“Now?” Amara asks.

“Now.” I curl an arm around her, brushing my mouth across her ear. “Maybe if you’re a good girl, I’ll give you a ride on my horse.”

“Which horse are you referring to, exactly?”

I jerk back. “Wow, Mrs. Quinn. Did you just make a joke?”

She hikes a brow. “Maybe.”

Her pretty pink mouth thins, and my damn chest cinches with emotions I can’t name. It feels as though I’ve known her all my life.

As she starts to walk past me, I snatch her wrist, pulling her flush against my side while staring deeply at her, unable to let go. “You make me feel things I never knew I wanted.”

Her eyes flicker with emotion, lips fluttering as though wanting to tell me that this is wrong. That we’re wrong.

“Let me love you.” My thumb skims across her jaw, pulse quickening.

Her lashes flutter as I bring my mouth closer, stroking her lips until a faint moan slips out, and that’s when I kiss her.

And for a moment it feels as though she forgot that she’s supposed to hate me and the life we’re gonna have.

AMARA

I’m kinda freaking out right now.

I’ve never been on a horse before, and it’s scary up here. Thankfully, I changed out of my dress. Because there was absolutely no way I was going horseback riding like that. He, of course, did too, now in a pair of jeans that hug his round ass as though they were created for him, muscles rippling beneath his white t-shirt.

My arms curl around Fionn’s middle, and he tucks my hands in his, keeping me closer. I know I should hate this, but I don’t.

Not right now, anyway.

“You okay, little rabbit?” His thumbs draw circles over my knuckles, and tingles spread across my limbs.

“Um, define okay.” A nervous, short laugh slips out.

“I promise to take it easy on you.” His chuckle makes me pull into him, loving the way it sounds, the way he feels and smells.

My God, I love everything about him. All the good parts I still remember.

Love.

Let me love you.

That’s what he said. And I want that. I’ve always wanted it. Though I can’t seem to let go of this fear that his love will never be enough. That Fionn, for all his magic, will be the end of us.

Cillian helps Fia onto the pony that’s the perfect size for her. She giggles while he keeps her steady, Tynan riding on his own horse beside her.

“You ready?” Fionn asks.

“Yes.”

No .

And I don’t mean for the ride.

I mean for us. For this marriage. This life. Can I really be ready when I don’t even know who he is?

I know we have to talk. There are too many questions I don’t have answers to. But deep down, I already know who he is. I just don’t want to say it out loud.

He pulls on the horse’s rope, and she starts to walk.

Okay, this is not so bad…

My fingers tighten around him.

“Think if I make her run, you’ll hold on tighter, baby?”

My body breaks out in goose bumps from the way he just called me “baby.”

“Don’t you dare!” I laugh. “I’m already scared as hell.”

“Don’t be.” He brings one of my hands to his mouth. “I’d never let anything happen to you.”

My heart skips a beat, and I can’t help lowering my cheek between his shoulder blades, needing to be closer.

My stupid, weak heart beats even louder.

I’m hopeless. Utterly hopeless.

I just want to curl up against him and remember how I felt that day we spent together, and how badly I want to return to that.

“Hi, babe,” Elara, Tynan’s wife, approaches, her blue eyes sparkling with a huge grin, with Brody beside her. I never got to officially meet her at their wedding, but I know who she is.

“Hey, Dad,” Brody says, glancing toward Fia and me.

“Hey, bud.” He jumps off the horse. “Mo chuisle,” he hums, tugging Elara into his arms, kissing her like the world just vanished around them.

When they come back for air, he smirks as he looks at us.

“This is my wife, Elara, and our oldest, Brody. We also have a daughter about Fia’s age named Adora.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she says to me.

“You too.”

Fia waves to them. “Hi! I’m Fia.”

“Hey, sweetie.” Elara walks over to her, giving her a hug.

“Hey.” Brody smiles at the both of us before Cillian interrupts with a laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Fionn asks.

“Elara, Amara, Adora. I swear you guys planned this.”

“Oh my God, he’s right!” Elara coughs a stunned laugh. “That’s hilarious.”

“So can we call you two the ’aras?” Cillian’s having too much fun with this.

“Nope.” Elara grimaces.

“Absolutely not.” Looking at her, I laugh.

“You know…” Fionn grins devilishly. “If you marry Dinara, she’d fit right in.”

“Wait, who’s Dinara?” Elara looks between them.

“Just someone our boy here can’t get out of his system.”

“She’s out of my system,” he mutters with a deathly glare.

“Which system is that?” Tynan scoffs.

“Aww, leave him alone.” Elara’s mouth pinches before she looks up at me. “You guys should come over tomorrow night. Maybe we’ll have a big family dinner and invite everyone.”

Fionn groans.

“It’ll be fun!” Elara scoffs, throwing a hand in the air. “The girls will have such a great time playing together, too.”

“Sure. That sounds nice.” I do want to meet everyone.

“Great! Tynan and I will make whatever you want. Any favorites?”

“Um, I’m not picky.”

“Only when it comes to husbands,” Fionn mutters.

“Shut up,” I whisper, smacking his back as he chuckles, all deep-chested and masculine.

“What’s that?” Elara pops a brow.

“Oh, nothing. I’m sorry. I was just saying I’d be happy with anything you make.”

“What about dessert? Any particular things you like?”

She’s being so kind. I can tell how sincere she is just by looking at her.

“I don’t want to be a pain in the you-know-what and impose. So whatever you decide on is fine.”

Elara rolls her eyes playfully. “We’re happy to do it. I swear. So, come on. I love baking.”

There’s something I did want, but I don’t know how hard it is to make.

“I really love baklava. It’s this diamond-shaped dessert. I’ve had it once before when one of my mother’s boyfriends brought it over.”

“Oh, challenge accepted.” Elara’s eyes sparkle. “Think we can handle that, babe?” She stares lovingly at her husband.

“Of course.” He curls an arm around her and kisses her temple. “Consider it done.”

The man doesn’t even bother to look at me as he says that, eyes lost on his wife, and I wonder what that feels like. To be that loved.

“Thank you. That’s really sweet of you guys.”

“We’re all very sweet.” Fionn tightens his grasp of my hands. “Most of the time.” He whispers those words just for me, and I shift uncomfortably at his sultry baritone.

“Well, you guys have fun on your ride.” Elara steps back. “Brody and I just came to introduce ourselves.”

“Yeah, it’s nice to meet you,” the boy says as Tynan hops back on the horse.

“You too.”

He seems like a nice kid. Maybe around thirteen or so.

“Alright, I promised my wife and daughter a ride.” Fionn jerks on the horse’s rope.

His wife. My God, why does that sound so good? Though I know I shouldn’t like it, I really do.

“Have fun, you guys!” Elara waves as we start down the grass, miles and miles of beautiful green land up ahead.

He gets the horse to go a little faster while Cillian walks Fia’s pony, making sure she’s sitting upright.

“One of these days…” Fionn tells me. “I’m gonna show you just what she’s capable of.” He glides a hand down her mane.

As we continue down, I stare out at all the mountains ahead, enjoying myself and realizing I could really get used to living here and finally having a family.

It’s what I’ve always wanted, isn’t it?