Page 99 of Keep Me

We may be young, yet I’ve never been more sure of something in my entire life. Ryker’s it for me, and why not get started on our happily ever after as soon as possible?

“I love it and you beyond any words I could conjure. I never imagined I’d live a fairytale life, clearly.” I chuckle, wiping at my eyes with my free hand. “But you’ve given me the love little girls dream about, the one I’ve secretly always hoped for.” I smile widely and freely as I nod up and down. “Yes, a thousand times, yes.”

Ryker ties the lace around my finger, then stands to lift me into his arms as he kisses me.

I break the kiss. “Who’s going to marry us?” I question, looking nervously at Ryker because there is not a church in the country that would dare betray the king.

“That would be me,” Theo shouts, causing us to turn toward him. “Say bonjour to your ordained minister.” He grins, pointing to himself.

“Do I even want to know?” I murmur.

“Nope.” Ryker shakes his head, taking my hand in his as we walk toward our friends and my brother.

We’re an intertwined mess of congratulations between the six of us, and when Jasmine hugs me, we both cry harder.

“I’m so happy to see you,” I tell her. “I can’t believe you came all this way for me.”

Jasmine tilts her head slightly in Elio’s direction. “That would be thanks to Elio and his private jet, but even without it, I would have come.”

“Thank you, all of you.” I raise my voice, ceasing all side conversations between the boys.

Elio motions us along. “Let’s get this wedding done. We don’t know when or if someone will come looking for you.”

Ryker hands me a bouquet of flowers. “Here, I picked these for you. Figured if anything, you’d like to have a bouquet of some sorts.”

I marvel at the mix of wildflowers wrapped together with grass, much like the ones he tattooed on me. I’m the luckiest girl in the world, despite not feeling like it less than an hour ago.

You never know when life is going to surprise you, and isn’t that the beauty of it all?

I thank him with a quick kiss, and then within minutes, Theo is standing between us, Elio and my brother by Ryker’s side while Jasmine is on mine.

“Wait!” Jasmine squeaks as she pulls out her phone. I’m about to ask her what she’s doing until I hear the tune of a FaceTime call and two familiar faces fill the screen.

“Did she say yes?” Aurora yells.

“Ask her yourself,” Jasmine says, flipping the camera toward us.

Aurora’s hand flies to her mouth while Cameron smiles. “I can’t believe I’m missing my brother’s wedding,” Aurora pouts. “You owe me a do-over!”

“Stay on the line and be a part of it,” Ryker offers, and I’m so proud of him for opening up his tiny circle to now include Aurora in his life.

“Why is she wearing pajamas?” Cameron whispers, probably thinking he was quieter than he actually was.

“You mean you don’t like my purple robe and pajamas?” I tease him, striking a pose with my robe hanging dramatically off my shoulders.

Everyone laughs and Theo clears his throat for us to return to the task at hand.

“I stand here today…”

I’m getting my fairytale ending.

Chapter Forty-Two

Ryker

Camille is officially my wife.

God, there’s nothing better than those two words now that they’re attached to her. Camille Lewis is mine. Mine to protect, mine to love, mine to cherish. And I’ll do it no matter the obstacles, I remind myself as we walk through a side door to the palace with Mathéo leading the way.

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