Page 169 of Bound By Revenge

“Watch it, Lucien. You might be the only friend I have left, but that’s my future wife you’re talking about.”

He raises his hands in mock surrender, his grin turning sly. “Hey, no disrespect, Romeo. You know I’ve got a soft spot foryour littlekiskaand her attitude problem. I’m just saying—you’ve got nothing to worry about. If I had to bet, I’d say she’s running late just to mess with you. Keep you on your toes, keep things spicy.” He caps it off with a wink that has me rolling my eyes.

“Oh, would you look at that?” Lucien whispers, his smirk stretching into something downright insufferable. “I believe your bride has decided to join us. Any last words as a free man?”

“It’s about fucking time,” I mutter, some of the tension in my chest easing.

The words are barely out of my mouth when the officiant materializes at my side, dressed sharply in all black, signaling for Lucien and me to take our places. The orchestra falls silent for a moment—and, miraculously, so do the hundreds of guests—before beginning to play a melody I can barely hear over the sound of my thundering heart.

Kat’s best friend, A.J. Michaels, steps into the pavilion, an unusually serene smile on her face. A lifetime passes before she finally reaches the front, her gaze flicking to me with a quick wink before she takes her place.

Then a ripple of whispers spreads through the crowd, heads turning one after the other.

And then I see her.

At the first glimpse of her, I come undone.

The sight of her—so stunning, so undeniablymine—hits me like a freight train.

Strangely enough, the first coherent thought that pops into my mind is that she looks exactly like she did the night we first met. A shiver runs down my spine as a strong sense of déjà vu sweeps over me. Sure, tonight she’s dressed in white silk instead of dark velvet, and her hair is styled differently, but the expression on her breathtaking face is the same. Just like then,her dark blue eyes sparkle with liveliness and warmth while her lips curve into a smile that is pure mischief.

Shelooks perfectly composed. Serene, even. Her gaze finds me almost immediately, remaining fixed upon my face, as her maddening mouth stretches into a full-on grin.

All-consuming love, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, knocks the wind out of me like a punch in the guts. In a heartbeat, a wave of absolute certainty warms me to my bones—every single moment, every little decision in my life has led me to tonight. To her. There’s no question in my mind. This night was inevitable. Ever since before I was born, there was no one else for me but her. Fate has chosen this woman for me, and if it hadn’t, I’’d have fought heaven and hell to claim her anyway.

A lifetime—or maybe just a second—later, she’s at my side. I take her hand with my shaking one, and Lucien, A.J., and hundreds of guests fade into nothingness. At last, my entire world begins and ends with her.

“You’re too beautiful for your own good,” I whisper, lifting her hand to my lips and brushing a kiss against her fingers. “Or mine. I’m not worthy,kiska. But I’m taking you anyway.”

She smiles, biting her bottom lip. “Promise?” she asks, eyes glittering.

When we turn to face the officiant, she sighs, murmuring under her breath, “A thousand years couldn’t make me get over the sight of you in a tux.”

I squeeze her hand as the officiant says, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome!”

I do my goddamned best to focus on the man, determined to commit every second of the ceremony to memory, even as Kat traces circles on the palm of my hand with her maddening fingers.

Now and then, I steal glances at her, invariably finding her gazing back at me with a playful smile. Soon, we’ll speak thevows that will bind us together for the rest of our lives—but not soon enough.

In the back, someone coughs discreetly as the officiant says, “If anyone can show just cause why Katherine and Nikolai may not be lawfully married tonight, speak now, or else?—”

The pavilion doors fly open, slamming loudly against the wall.

Shocked gasps ripple through the room as the crowd, almost as one, turns in their seats to gape at the newcomer.

Kat and I turn too, our eyes briefly meeting. One look at her expression, and I groan inwardly. Her face is the picture of angelic innocence, which can only mean one thing: something truly infuriating is about to happen.

A familiar man steps into the pavilion, a faint smile playing on his lips. It doesn’t quite reach his pale blue eyes as he surveys the stunned crowd.

“Shit,” Dmitri says, his voice breaking the silence. W”ell, this is kinda awkward—even for me. So much for being fashionably late. Sorry about the timing, folks. To be clear, I absolutely support this marriage. Big, big fan of these two as a couple.”

What the hell is he doing here?

Flanked by two men I don’t recognize, he strolls in like he owns the place, scanning the room for an empty seat. Entirely too comfortable, he grins at my bride—his expression softening with genuine affection—then shoves his hands into his pockets and winks at her.

Our guests still, and the air practically crackles as everyone waits for my reaction.

“After everything I’ve done for you,” I say through gritted teeth, “you dare interrupt my wedding? I should kill you on principle. This time, I just might.”

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