Page 47 of Priceless

Part of me never wanted to take the dress off.

“You look incredible,” Isolde said. “If they don’t want you, then they’re fucking kidding themselves, because they’ll never find anyone better.”

I blinked tears away from my eyes before I ruined my makeup. “Thank you.”

A soft knock on the door came before Geneva poked her head in. “It’s time.”

“We’ll see you out there,” Trinity said, squeezing my hand.

I buried my fists in the lace of my dress. My heart was pounding out of my chest, and I still couldn’t believe I was actually doing this. Profound grief struck me in the heart. It wasn’t real, and I knew it, but I wished Mom and Dad were here to see me.

They would have been happy. At least, I hoped they would.

“Okay.” I took a deep breath and steadied myself. I could do this. I could do this. I could do this.

Geneva handed me my bouquet, all purple, blue, and white flowers. Floriography, like any language, verbal or non, needed context to be understood. A single flower could have any number of meanings. But when you paired them together, that was when they truly began to speak.

I’d given in to my romantic and hopeful side when I chose the flowers. Purple lilacs for first love. Forget-me-nots for faithfulness. Hyacinths, which spoke of true love and said ‘I am looking for romance.’ Eternal love was spoken for by baby’s breath and white roses, which also meant ‘to be worthy.’

“How you holding up?” Geneva asked from behind me where she was holding the train of the cape so it didn’t get caught on anything.

“Nervous,” I whispered. “Really, really nervous.”

“If it makes you feel better, every bride I’ve ever worked with has felt the same. You look beautiful, and even though you haven’t seen them, your fiancés are nervous too.”

“Really?”

She laughed quietly. “Really.”

I wasn’t sure it was a good thing that it made me feel better, but it did. At least I wasn’t alone in this.

There were no bridesmaids. If I’d had them, it would have been Rin and Isolde. So the only person walking down the aisle was me.

In front of the gilded double doors, Geneva arranged my dress so it fell perfectly, double checked where my hood touched my hair, and arranged the train. “Perfect.”

“If I pass out, make sure I’m covered when the dress splits.”

“You’re not going to pass out,” she said. “You’re going to be just fine. I promise.”

I looked at her. “Thank you for everything.”

“My pleasure.” She nodded toward the doors. “You’re on.”

Two hotel employees opened the doors in front of me, and it was a struggle to keep my mouth shut.

Flowers overflowed. Everywhere there could be flowers, there were flowers. Purple petals scattered down the white aisle. They draped over the edges of chairs, creating a barrier between me and our guests. Behind the officiant there was an arch of flowers that matched my bouquet. There were formations climbing up the walls, and I had no idea how. Candles dotted the room, almost making the flowers glitter. Everything was that shade of bluish purple I loved so much. Even the vests of the men I was about to marry.

My breath caught in my chest as my eyes caught up to themselves and I saw them. All three of them, staring at me like I wasn’t real. Like I was a ghost, and they weren’t sure if they’d dreamed me up.

I managed to take one step, and then another. Cameron smiled at me, and it made breathing easier. They all smiled. They were so fucking gorgeous. This had to be a dream.

Surely, I got hit by a car and this whole situation was a coma hallucination. Because three Alphas who looked like that couldn’t be waiting at the end of the aisle for me.

For me.

No matter if it was arranged or for our convenience. This didn’t happen to girls like me.

But Micah stepped forward and took my hand, helping me up the short steps to stand across from them. He lifted that hand and kissed the back of it. Everett stepped forward and did the same. Then Cameron. And when his lips left my skin, I was pink with heat.

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