Beyond(19)

“The world has fallen apart sweetie. Everyone is trying to grasp onto normal with both hands. You’re our leaders’ daughter. If anyone deserves a wedding, it’s you. Everyone will love it, trust me. You will be the talk of the castle.”

“That’s what I was worried about,” I grumble.

Gina laughs, looking me over from top to toe and nodding. “Dane’s missing out today.”

“His loss, Lars’s gain,” I attempt to joke.

She arches a brow. “Lars is hot. He isn’t the worst man in the world to kiss.”

I make a face. Yes, Lars was good looking, but he was… Lars.

My dad walks in, pride shining in his eyes. “You look beautiful. Just like your mother.”

I wish she was here right now. She would know exactly what to say, exactly what to do. Me? I wasn’t so sure. I was nervous, and not in a good way. My dad nods his head at Gina, then returns his gaze to me. “Are you ready?”

I nod, even though that wasn’t exactly true. Sad, but I kind of just wanted this over and done with. I didn’t know how I felt. Dane was supposed to be here with me. Today was supposed to be different than it was. But no one got what they wanted and I wasn’t any different. He offers me his arm, and I take it. Sucking in a deep breath, I squeeze my eyes shut and exhale.

I can do this.

I didn’t exactly have a choice.





My eyes widen at Lars as I see him checking me out. He looks me over from head to toe, a smile playing on his lips. I find my own lips twitching. I must have really transformed today because I’ve never seen him look at me like that before.

I come to a stop before him. My dad moves so he’s standing before us, changing part from father of the bride to celebrant. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me, but I don’t look their way. Instead, I keep my eyes between my dad and Lars. He’s wearing a thin white shirt and black pants. His hair is brushed away from his face, showing off his cheekbones. He really is a good looking man. The chapel is silent, so silent you could hear a pin drop. We all look to our leader, waiting for him to speak.

“Today my daughter will marry and secure her and her husband’s place as our future leaders,” he says, looking around the room. “Lars will be standing in for Dane, who is out on a dangerous mission.”

I ignore the whispers around the chapel.

My dad starts talking to the room, but I zone it out, instead studying the pair of lips I was going to have to kiss soon and wishing they belonged to someone else.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You can kiss the bride…”

Just how long did I zone out for?

Lars looks down, then steps to me, closing the space between us. Clearing his throat, I can see his hesitation. Rolling my eyes, I lift my palms to grip each side of his face, and go up on my tip-toes, fusing our lips together. Suddenly, I hear the chapel door open with a bang, and a familiar voice growl out, “Lars!”

Lars pushes me away like I’ve burnt him.

Still in shock, my jaw slack with surprise, I turn to see an angry looking Dane standing there, his chest heaving with each deep breath. He’s wearing all black, and his shirt is ripped at the sleeve and covered in dust.

He never looked sexier.

Throwing down his bag with a thud, he storms forward, his lips tightened to a thin line. Lars steps back and joins the crowd without a word. Dane takes his spot, his gaze hard on mine. I don’t know why he’s angry, it’s not like I wanted Lars to stand in for him.

“Say it again,” he says in a low, firm tone.

“You may now kiss your bride,” my dad says, and then Dane’s lips are on mine. He grips my nape possessively with one hand while the other cups my cheek. The kiss deepens, and the crowd cheers. He sucks on my lower lip before pulling away and staring into my eyes. Then, taking my hand, he leads me out the door he walked in from. When we walk to what I assume is his room, I’m curious. He unlocks the door and leads me in. His room is big, but sparse. It has a bed, a table, a wardrobe and that’s about it. Dane sits down at the end of his bed and pulls me down onto his lap. I end up there on a squeak, my arms holding onto his shoulders for support.

“Wife,” he says, lips kicking up at the corners.

“Husband,” I reply, scanning his face.

“Did you enjoy his kiss?” he asks, leaning forward and speaking softly in my ear. “Because it was the one and only time another man’s lips will ever touch yours.”

My eyebrows rise. “Is what why you ran in here like that? You didn’t want Lars to kiss me, did you?”

I see a muscle tick in his jaw. “I was the only one to taste you. I wanted to keep it that way.”