Total pages in book: 208
Estimated words: 207002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1035(@200wpm)___ 828(@250wpm)___ 690(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 207002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1035(@200wpm)___ 828(@250wpm)___ 690(@300wpm)
Looking over her shoulder, she smiled at Jack and Anna. “Thank you, Mum, Dad. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you see what I do. That you aren’t telling me I’m too young to know my own heart. That this is too sudden or wrong. Thank you for accepting us.”
Anna couldn’t speak, shaking her head as tears cascaded.
Jack’s eyes locked on Neri’s hand in mine. He didn’t say a word, giving her a tight smile and a sharp nod, waging war on his own emotions.
Neri’s gaze met mine again, twinkling with tears. “For the final time, yes, Aslan. Yes, I will marry you. I’m already yours. Here, there...everywhere.”
I groaned as her words struck me right in the chest, reminding me of our first kiss. That heartsick moment in Jack’s Jeep when she told me she’d broken up with Joel after I’d kissed her in the bar. I’d spoken those words to her. I’d meant them with every part of me.
“Seni seviyorum,” I breathed. “Here, there, everywhere.” With trembles that made my entire body rattle, I placed the ring on her wedding finger. I went to push it into place—
“Wait.” Neri tugged softly in my grip, making my heart crash and burn.
“What’s wrong?” Blazing, black-dripping fear billowed through my veins. “Don’t you like it?” Perhaps, she’d changed her mind, after all. Maybe she’d had a premonition about our future and decided she couldn’t survive the pain.
Not answering me, she took the ring from her shaking finger and held it closer to the solar lights. With narrowed eyes, she studied the inside of the golden band. “Something’s written there.”
I stiffened. I didn’t think she’d notice. I’d hoped it would rest against her skin for the rest of time—a binding spell. An incantation that I’d asked the jeweller to inscribe to keep her safe, keep her mine.
“It’s Latin.” I looked past Neri to Anna, to the woman who’d sparked my love of learning so many tongues, including ancient ones. “Per lunam tuus sum, per mare meus es. Aeternum.”
Anna sucked in a breath. “It means, ‘By moonlight I am yours, by sea you are mine. Forever.’”
Neri froze.
Her eyes snapped to mine.
And with a grin that only a siren could give, knowing full well she’d entrapped her prey, she shoved the ring onto her finger, crawled into my arms, and kissed me square on the mouth.
In front of her father.
In front of her mother.
In front of the moon that had married us.
Chapter Five
*
Aslan
*
(Heart in Welsh: Calon)
WE ENDED UP HAVING A VERY LATE Christmas dinner.
Everything was a little overcooked and a tad soggy, but I’d never tasted a better meal. I didn’t care that I ached all over or that I desperately needed to rest. My body and emotions had been put through the wringer, but I couldn’t stop pinching myself that this was real.
Somehow, all my wishes had come true.
I sat at the dining room table, openly holding Neri’s hand on the holly embroidered tablecloth, fighting the familiar urge to hide. To tuck our linked hands where they couldn’t be seen. To keep my distance. To keep my smiles reserved. To keep the love inside me as secret as possible.
The fact we didn’t need to hide anymore. The fact Neri scooted her chair until our thighs kissed and rested her head on my shoulder. The fact everyone was okay with our affection...blew my fucking mind.
It made me tremble with thankfulness, and I wished I’d done more to deserve this gift. I needed an even bigger gesture to show Jack just how much this meant to me.
The darkness inside me didn’t tolerate this newfound blistering joy. It sulked in my chest and slithered around my heart, dusting me with fear that something was coming, something bad, because how could I deserve all this good?
Frankly, it terrified me.
I kept glancing at the door, expecting the police to charge in and arrest me. For life to laugh in my goddamn face and say, ‘You thought this was for you, you silly fool? You thought you were safe now? That everything you’ve been running from and everything that’s been hunting you is just...gone?’
I wanted a beer to drown out those whispers, but after what’d happened earlier today, I never wanted to drink again. Alcohol amplified my despair and was why I wore so many painful bruises.
I did my best to stay present and not succumb to exhaustion and fear.
I marvelled at how quickly things could change. Six hours ago, Jack had been beating me to death for abusing his daughter. And now, he nodded in my direction with respect and awe, willingly giving me the same daughter he’d beaten me for.
If something that profound could change that quickly, then...why couldn’t everything else in my life?
Why couldn’t I believe I was safe now? That I’d paid my dues and deserved this? Deserved her.