Epilogue Part One- Kassian

M y heart is racing, and my stomach has so many butterflies flapping around that I'm afraid they'll fly out of my mouth. I've never been more excited for any one moment than I am right now. Not even when we won the Stanley Cup a couple of months ago.

Aiyana is standing at the end of the aisle, her hair down with braids throughout, those pouty, round lips of hers are painted a dark red and upturned at the corners. Her father's smile rivals my own as Gianni sits at the piano playing "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perry. 1 Qaletaqa extends his arm for her; she wraps her own around his and begins taking the first steps toward me.

The sun is beginning to set, the clouds taking on a cotton candy quality that I just know will be so damn stunning in our photos, though I'll only ever be able to focus on Aiyana in them anyway. She's always been the most gorgeous person in every room.

As they head down the stone walkway, stepping on the champagne rose petals scattered out by Arlo, Charlie and Rose's eldest, Ale grips my shoulder, leaning in to whisper to me, "Kas, you've gotta rein it in just a tiny bit; your smile is starting to scare the children." He chuckles.

"I can't, man—she's fucking perfect." My voice cracks. Tears are now freely streaming down my face. When she takes the last step before her dad gives her away to me, I suck in a deep breath, wiping the tears away with the back of my hand.

She reaches out, grasping both of my hands in hers, and the music quiets down until it's silent. We're standing hand in hand, our friends and family seated before us as her dad makes his way to stand between us. Not only did his lung transplant save his life and allow him to walk Aiyana down the aisle, but he's also our officiant.

No one else would've been more fitting.

"Alright, you two. We've made Kas wait fourteen long years for this. Let's get this show on the road so we can put him out of his misery," Qaletaqa jokes.

"Please!" I shout, feigning exasperation.

The crowd of friends and family chuckles around us.

He starts by reciting several prayers and proverbs. "It's my understanding that you each wanted to write your own vows, so now is your time to share those." Turning to me, he says, "Kas, would you like to go first?"

Nodding, I grip Aiyana's hands more firmly in mine, not needing to reference my vows as I've recited them a million times over in my head.

"Aiyana, when Kat and I moved in next door to you, I never could have imagined how much my life would change. There had been so many incredible memories and plenty of horrific ones, too, but through it all, you were there every step of the way. The tiny little spitfire showing up at my door, ragging on me while simultaneously shooting googly eyes at me." I pause, allowing everyone's laughter to fade.

"I didn't grasp it then, but I think I've always known deep down that you would be my wife. I was just waiting for you to realize it too." I smile gently at her and pull her hand up, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "No one knows this besides you, but when everything happened with my parents, I wouldn't talk to anyone. Anyone besides you, that is."

I look past her shoulder, seeing the shock on Kat's face before it quickly morphs into an expression of awe, and a single tear slips down her cheek. "I've trusted you with all that I am and work every day to be better for you. I know that I'm not perfect and that I'll make mistakes, but I promise to never hurt you. I can't wait to continue this life with you and the next one after this and beyond. You, Aiyana Kaan, are it for me. I am absolutely obsessed with you, and I wouldn't have it any other way, my little viper."

Aiyana's deep brown eyes shimmer under the setting sun, her tawny skin glowing as she holds back tears. "Well," she says, sucking in a breath, "I've got quite the competition to follow."

Our friends and family are dabbing at tears as they chuckle at us.

"Your turn, uwetsiageyv ," Qaletaqa urges her.

Aiyana pulls a hand away, shoving it into her bra and digging around for something. The crowd erupts in a fit of laughter. "You need help finding whatever you've lost in there?" I ask her suggestively, not caring who hears, including her dad.

"Oh, stop it. I put my vows in here for safekeeping." She swats my hand away.

"Doesn't seem to have worked, but if you could get your hand out of your bra and stop making your father extremely uncomfortable, that'd be much appreciated," her dad chortles.

"Oh!" she shouts when she finds the folded piece of paper, unfolding it.

"Kas, I'm sorry I was such a shithead," she reads, her eyes growing wide as my smile spreads. "Oops, it looks like I might have brought the wrong copy of these vows." She turns to Kat, handing her the paper. "Hold this for me, will ya, babe?"

Kat rolls her eyes, grabbing the paper as she shakes her head, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Aiyana grips my hands gently in her tiny ones, looking up at me with those endless eyes. "Kassian Narvaez, I've loved you longer than I'd have ever cared to admit, and frankly, all that time you were obsessed with me, I was just as obsessed with you. I was just better at hiding it. I'm sorry I didn't show that sooner, but I'm glad you somehow convinced me or harassed me into it, depending on how you'd like to see it." She giggles.

Again, the crowd billows with laughter.

"I can be pretty convincing." I wink at her, and Qaletaqa slaps my shoulder.

"Nasty boy! Can you get through one damn encounter without saying something gross? The ancestors are watching!"

"Sorry, Edoda ," Aiyana and I say in unison, still snickering between us.

"Please, for the love of gods, finish up," he urges my soon-to-be wife.

"Well, anyway. I love you so damn much it actually hurts sometimes, but I wouldn't change a thing. I promise to love you in every lifetime, and I'll do my absolute best to make my next reincarnated self less of a brat, but no promises there." She smiles brightly at me, her small nose crinkling in the center, eyes bright with humor.

"And as the great Salt-N-Pepa once said, 'What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man,' and he's all mine ." My heart soars through the damn clouds at her words. I'm finally hers .

"Are you done yet? The sun is almost down," her dad complains.

"Yes, Edoda , I'm finished." She rolls her eyes in the way that I love so fucking much, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Zuni and Kat will now perform the blanket ceremony."

My sister and Aiyana's mom work together, folding the quilt before standing side by side, circling around us. Aiyana clutches my hands as I bring them to my lips.

"The blanket ceremony is a traditional ritual among the Cherokee or Ani'-Yun'wiya' people," Qaletaqa's voice booms, taking on a faraway quality for this part of the ceremony. "Our ancestors have been performing this ritual for centuries, symbolizing unity and the merging of two souls. On this momentous day, we ask for our ancestors to bless this couple, protect them from evil, and ignite a light within their hearts so bright that it'll act as a calling between their souls, a siren too loud to ignore in any lifetime."

As he speaks, a silence fills the air as if the birds and all small animals have suddenly stopped chattering, listening to his voice. A chill in the air sends goosebumps skating down my arms, and Aiyana's wide eyes look over my shoulder, mesmerized by something. Her mouth is agape as I turn to see what she's staring at.

Dark clouds have gathered behind us, but with her father's last words, they disperse instantly, revealing the brightest rainbow I've ever seen. The chill is replaced by a warmth so calming it coats my entire body in its serenity.

Looking back at Qaletaqa, I see his smug expression greeting me. "The ancestors agree: you are soulmates."

At that, Kat and Zuni wrap us in the blanket. "You may now kiss your bride."

And I do.

Boy, do I fucking ever.

My hands instinctively slide behind her, cupping her firm ass and drawing her into me hidden beneath the blanket. A sly smile curves her lips, her arms winding around my neck as I bend forward, closing the gap between us.

Her lips are soft beneath mine, sliding beneath me as I swipe my tongue into her mouth, tasting my cum on her from before we got dressed. The saltiness sends a zap of arousal straight to my cock, which is exactly when her dad clears his throat. As we pull away, our friends and family shout, JJ whistling at us as Kat and Zuni work to fold the blanket back up.

Hand in hand, we turn to face the crowd, our intertwined hands coming up and over our heads.

My gaze searches for Gianni, and the moment his bright-blue eyes meet mine, he gives me a little nod, lifting his guitar.

He begins playing "Steal My Girl" by One Direction. 2 My arms wrap around my wife, dragging her into them as I carry her down the aisle. Pressing kisses to her heated skin, I whisper, "Reality is so much better than my dreams."

"Same here, Kas, same here ."

"Now, let's get you out of this dress and into something more you." I smile down at my wife, carrying her off to the cabin we're staying at just down the hill from the reception area on the property.

1. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri

2. Steal My Girl – One Direction