Page 63 of Dust to Dust

My everything.

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"I need you to come with me," Damian said as he entered the room. I could tell from his tone it had to do with Nova. Damian and Nova had become friends during my absence. I trusted my brother to do what I could not; Care for Nova in person. Well, I cared for her distantly.

"What now?" I just received a report from the doctors. They had to apply surgical glue to her wound, which tore slightly when we had sex again this morning. Guilt already ate at me. I hurt her yet again…

"Hurry up, will you." Damian rasped. I knew he had better things to do. After all, he wanted to get his Plain Jane.

I threw jeans and a t-shirt and tucked a gun behind my back. I laced up my boots and tucked a knife inside my right boot. Just because we had passed our rite and were tucked away on top of a mountain we owned didn't mean shit. I didn't trust The Rites of Passage yet, and Anton's warning kept my senses alert twenty-four seven.

The Rites of Passage was coming for me in just a few days.

I passed my rite. Nova passed for us; my brothers hadn't, and their lives were starting to be shaken. New trials had started, and I monitored them from afar.

Damian walked me to the outside patio. The sun had almost set and reflected over the pool. Massive beams created a lattice awning to cover you from the sun's heat in the summers. Twinkling lights now wrapped around the beams as they flickered like stars over the dusky sky. "What is this?" I asked Damian. It looked like a party was going to take place. Baby's breath was placed in small vases as well as flickering candles.

"Go to the outlook and find out." He smirked, then he turned and left.

The outlook was a rounded edge that extended off the patio and near the side of the mountain. It looked out, giving the viewer an almost 360-degree view of the land we owned. Whether it was summer or winter, the view from the outlook was heavenly and surreal.

My boots hit the ground with hesitation, but they stopped as the outlook came into view. An angel stood in the middle of it. Her wings had long fallen, and now she was a vulnerable creature, stranded on earth where demons lurked.

Chapter 50

Iwas twiddling my thumbs.

I never thought you'd admit to that,Ghost chimed.

Me neither,I sneered. I was, dressed like a vision and nervous like a pubescent teen about to have their first kiss. The dress I ordered two days ago was custom-made and flown from Italy. Money could buy you anything, and with Damian's help, we pulled everything together without any added stress. The only weight on my shoulders was my own doing.

The white spaghetti strap silk dress had a deep plunging neckline that bordered on indecent for a bride, but that's what I was. Indecent and bold. It was my day, and I'd wear what I wanted to. A thick belt pinched in my narrow waist. The skirt flared out in a ballroom poof, not typical of me, until it was cut off just above my fingertips. A short as sin wedding dress, accessorized with what else…my black combat boots. There weren't Prada, I know, shocking. The current pair was a limited edition Versace with silver buttons and crystal-embellished straps. I had to have a little bling on my wedding day.

That's right. Wedding bells were ringing. That or the voices in my head were having a party.

It's going to be ok. Ghosttried to settle me.

So I did what any ordinary girl would do. I patted down my hair, making sure it was in place. I pinned it half up, half down. Flat ironed it to perfection. I even added a short veil that would make a pop princess proud. An elegant nude smoky eye and a pale red lip stain with a layer of lipgloss in a strawberry sorbet flavor.

Ghost was girlie and virginal.

Nova Baladan was femme fatal and leather.

Nova King was eccentrically feminine and bold. Leather, lace, puffy skirts but always a boot.

I squeezed the handle of my bouquet like a stress ball. I heard footsteps, and with each echo, my heart thumped more aggressively.

Then, he appeared.

My vengeful knight in shining armor.

The setting sun bounced off his golden blonde hair like the flames of a flickering candle. He stopped, and his eyes looked me up and down.

Don't turn…My mind begged. If Titan abandoned me here, that was it. Titan must have sensed it because he marched forward with purpose.

I hope he takes us as his war prize! Ghost begged like a puppy.

Shhh! I need to concentrate. I quipped back.

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