Page 106 of Untamed

Rodion’s wealthy and charming and dangerous as hell, and I have… mixed feelings.

Shawn is breathing down our necks like the predator he is, but the Kopolov family presses in on all sides, reminding us of who they are and what we promise.

This is real.

But as the officiant drones on, I hardly hear them.

Is this really how it ends?

I glance at Rodion, uncertainty swelling in my chest. I feel like I’m waiting for a sign that, at any moment, he’ll give me the signal to run or drop another bombshell on me.

But there’s nowhere to run.

And this is all too real.

We take our vows in a rush of whispers. This is nothing like the formal weddings I’ve read about in the books, but fast and pragmatic.

When he slides the ring onto my finger… it feels heavier than it should.

Done.

This isn’t the wedding of my dreams.

And when I look at Rodion, I wonder.

Is it his?

I stare at the ring on my finger, my breathing shallow. I feel like I should say something, but I don’t know what, as the room erupts into cheers and someone starts pouring vodka. I take the shot glass thrust into my hand, even though I haven’t eaten breakfast and morning vodka sounds like a terrible idea. I’m afraid if I decline, I’ll break some type of unwritten rule.

Rodion’s eyes meet mine, anchoring me in place. When he brushes his fingers to my jaw, he leaves a trail of heat across my skin. Leaning in, he kisses me. And I remember why we’re here.

I remember his promise last night. I remember the way he said he loved me, the way he held me. The way he told me he would never let anyone hurt me, not ever again.

I remember how he promised to protect me and devote himself to me.

We may be new to this but hope blossoms in my heart.

Rodion is trying. So will I.

“Done,” he mutters, his hand resting at the small of my back as he steers me away from the officiant.

“We have coffee and breakfast for all in the dining room,” Ekaterina says with a smile. “Let’s celebrate.”

After Rodion and I sit down, Yana approaches with her husband. “Welcome to the family,” she says with a wide grin. “Try not to cause too much trouble. I’ve heard about those books.”

I let out a laugh, the tension in my chest easing a little. “Don’t believe everything you hear.”

“Oh, I don’t,” she replies with a wink. “I’ve…seen the covers.”

Zoya is next. She steps forward with an almost apologetic smile. The poor girl is so timid. “If you need anything at all, please let me know,” she says with a smile and a swift hug. “It can be overwhelming at first. I know Polina had her work cut out for her though…” Her voice trails off. “She had other challenges too.”

Overwhelming is one way to put it.

Semyon is the one who makes a shiver trail down my spine. His eyes are ice, his tone even colder. The mood shifts like a cold wind. He stands apart from the rest, his movements deliberate and measured, as if he’s sizing me up.

“Welcome,” he says without a trace of a smile. The words are polite. The tone isn’t. He lifts a drink to his lips.

I muster a tight smile. “Thank you.”

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