“You guys are too cute,” Kali cooed. “Makes me wish I had a hunky twin brother to watch over me.”
“Did you call my brother hunky?”
She shrugged. “He looks good without all the facial hair.”
“Don’t let your men hear you say that,” Aiden shot back with a smile in place. “I don’t want those psychos on my ass.”
Kali waved her hand dismissively. “Ah, they’re not that bad. Just a little intense.”
Aiden’s eyebrows rose. “Yeah, they are. Trust me. You haven’t seen them in action.”
Luca and Marcello had told me stories about Bastian and Damian. Their parents' deaths had fucked them up even more than Luca losing his mother. Even Kali had shared a few stories that painted them in a terrifying light. After hearing about the tragic pasts, and the events that had forever changed them, Luca seemed tame compared to them.
Kali reached up to touch Aiden’s smooth skin. “You look more like Alex now. Much better with a haircut.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “I didn’t like the lumberjack either.”
“Hey,” Aiden interjected. “I look good with a beard.”
I glanced over at Kali, and we both laughed.
“You keep telling yourself that.” I blew him a kiss, then extended my hand. “You ready to walk me down the aisle, man-of-honor?”
Aiden took my hand with a groan. “I hate that title. Do you know how much shit I’ve gotten from the Knights over it?”
I snickered. “Yeah, I can imagine. Luca keeps calling you my bridesmaid.”
He shook his head and blew out a deep breath. “Fucking Salvatore. He’s such a dick.”
“He’s my dick. So be nice to him.”
Aiden made a gagging sound. “Lexie, c’mon. Seriously. Tone it down, would you?”
Kali burst into a fit of laughter.
Aiden’s nose scrunched in disgust as we stepped into the hallway. I sucked in a deep breath and looked up at my twin. All of this started because of him. And it would end with him by my side.
We walked down the hall with my bridesmaids in tow. I’d only met some of the Belles once or twice before they agreed to be in my bridal party. The Knights were Luca’s brothers for life. And once I got to know them, the Belles would be the sisters I never had.
We stopped in front of the doors to the ballroom. The guests were already inside. I spotted Pops in a tuxedo beside my grandmonster. Blair stood ramrod straight, her posture so stiff I couldn’t tell if she was breathing.
After my mother’s death, my father returned to Haven. The asshole who donated his sperm to create us didn’t even bother to say goodbye. And we were both okay with that.
We had a new family, one that would put their lives on the line for us. It was more than Aiden and I had growing up. Luca was right about this being our world. It had just taken us longer to realize this was where we belonged.
Since this wasn’t a traditional wedding, we didn’t have the usual bridal procession. My bridesmaids walked down the aisle to Italian orchestra music that reminded me of something from The Godfather. It surprised me Luca hadn’t insisted we have a wedding mass in Italian.
I felt like royalty, dressed in a custom gown, the train so long it was halfway down the aisle by the time Aiden offered my hand to Luca. His brothers stood beside him while I had Kali and the Belles on my side of the aisle.
My brother dipped down to kiss my cheek and whispered to Luca that he better take care of me. Luca offered a smirk in response before Aiden took his place by my side.
I had dreamed of my wedding day hundreds of times. And in all of those dreams, I always saw Luca next to me. Even when I hated him, I knew I would never love another man the way I loved Luca Salvatore. He was part of me, etched into the very essence of my soul.
“You look beautiful, mi amore,” Luca said as he slipped his fingers between mine, his breath on my earlobe sending a shiver down my spine. “Like a queen.”
I smiled at his words, reminded of the diamond crown Luca sent to my dressing room an hour before the wedding along with a drop diamond necklace and cuff bracelets. He made me feel like a queen in every way possible.
As the priest moved through the ceremony, I gripped Luca’s hand, and when it was time to exchange our wedding vows, Luca surprised me with another stunning present. The band was platinum to match my ring with a thick row of yellow diamonds that shimmered.
I hesitated before I slid the tungsten ring on his finger. “I want to show you something,” I said as I turned the ring so he could see the inscription on the inside.
A genuine smile reached his blue irises. “What binds us will destroy us.”