Page 68 of Wicked Embers

Her head tilts up, and her eyes meet mine. I can see the conflict there, the weight of everything I’ve just told her. Finally, she nods. “I’ll marry you,” she says softly, “but I want to be able to see my friends. And my father.”

Guilt claws at me, sharp and relentless. Mark—the man she believes is her father—is in the hospital. And her real father, Nikolas… I can’t bring myself to tell her the truth. Not yet. She’s been through enough for one day.

Instead, I pull out the ring. It used to belong to my grandmother, and I know she would have approved. I open the box, a grin tugging at my lips. “Will you marry me, Leigh Dalton?”

She laughs, the sound light and unexpected. Then she nods, her smile soft. “Yes.”

I slide the ring onto her finger, satisfaction and relief flooding through me. But then I glance at my watch and grimace. “I don’t mean to rush you, but we have to do this today.”

She follows my gaze to the dress bag hanging on the closet door and nods. “Then you’d better send Tracy to help me get dressed.”

“You look beautiful as you are,” I tell her, and for a moment, her cheeks flush.

“Give me twenty minutes,” she says, a teasing glint in her eye.

I nod, but I can’t stop myself from pulling her to me for a deep, lingering kiss. My control frays as her lips part againstmine, but I pull back before I lose myself completely. “I’ll be waiting,” I whisper.

“I have one more condition,” Leigh says as she pulls back. I can see her shyness as her eyes dart around. “l want to haveallthe perks of a real marriage.”

My throat goes dry as I realize what’s she’s asking, and my cock instantly starts to go hard as desire coils in the pit of my stomach. “I never thought we wouldn’t.” My voice is gruff as I pull her to me for one more kiss.

I get up and leave the room, my heart pounding. I’m torn between the unexpected excitement of marrying Leigh and the growing worry about what set her memories off.

Tomorrow, I’ll get answers. I’ll speak to Sabrina and figure this out. But today? Today is my wedding day. And tonight? I can’t stop the smile that tugs at my lips. Tonight is my wedding night.

Chapter 25

LEIGH

I stand at the edge of the makeshift aisle in Radomir’s penthouse, perched high above the Diamond Hotel and Casino. The grand room is unrecognizable, transformed into a beautiful wedding venue, yet I can barely focus on the decor.

My heart pounds in my chest as I glance down at the antique engagement ring on my finger. The diamond sparkles brilliantly under the soft light, set in an intricate design that feels both timeless and extravagant. I can’t stop staring at it—it’s the most stunning piece of jewelry I’ve ever worn.

I feel like a princess in this wedding dress. The soft lace hugs my body perfectly, and the delicate train flows behind me like a fairytale. But the magic is tainted. I force myself to smile at Tracy, who stands beside me, her warm, supportive presence keeping me steady.

Then Oleksi steps forward, his role as the one to walk me down the aisle cemented. The moment he’s near, an icy grip of fear wraps around my chest.

“I don’t know what you’re playing at, Leigh,” he mutters under his breath as he offers his arm. His cold eyes cut into mine. “But it won’t get you far. I don’t give a fuck who your grandparents are. I’m watching you.”

A chill runs down my spine. My grip on Tracy’s hand tightens for a moment before I let her go and take Oleksi’s arm. Memories threaten to surge to the surface, memories I can’t afford to let consume me right now. To ground myself, I focus on a melody—my melody. Did I hear Radomir humming it earlier? Singing it, maybe?

In my mind, I begin to hum one of my songs, softly singing the words to myself. Music has always been my sanctuary, my calm. Slowly, I feel the fear ease, replaced by a faint thread of confidence.

Soft music begins to play, and my breath catches. It’s Don’t Dream It’s Over—my favorite song. Radomir must have found out. The thought jolts through me, and I glance up, my eyes locking on him at the end of the aisle.

He looks devastatingly handsome in a black tuxedo, his broad shoulders commanding the room. His intense, stormy eyes are trained on me, and I can’t look away.

Our gazes hold, and for the first time in days, I feel something shift in my chest—something warm, something… terrifying. Step by step, I walk toward him. Oleksi’s arm is like ice beneath mine, but it doesn’t matter. All I see is Radomir.

When I reach him, Oleksi hands me over, his jaw tight as he steps aside. Radomir’s fingers close around mine—strong, steady, and commanding. A shiver runs through me, a mix of apprehension and something I don’t dare name.

My gaze shifts to the people standing beside us, and I’m surprised when Sabrina and Tara step up on my side. On his side, Oleksi and Gavriil flank him like shadows. The whole scene feels surreal, like a dream hovering just out of reach.

No, I remind myself.This is real. It’s a real wedding.

My eyes sweep the room, catching the soft glow of candles reflecting off white flowers that spill over every surface. Even the chairs are draped in ivory fabric, delicate and elegant. My heart stumbles at the beauty of it all. They did this for me—decorated this space so quickly, so perfectly. The realization leaves me breathless.

The judge begins to speak, his deep voice echoing softly in the room, but the words blur together. Everything feels like it’s happening too fast—the vows, the kiss, the applause. Before I know it, Radomir is leading me out of the crowd, his grip firm but careful as he guides me into his study.

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