Page 179 of I Was Always Yours (RCA: Royal Crown Academy)

“This is what I should have done the first time around. Another mistake of mine,” he says, releasing my right hand and pulling out the ring I gave back to him weeks ago. He holds it up between us, his other hand clasping mine in a possessive hold. “I’ve told you how I feel about youadnauseam, so I’ll keep it simple. I love you so much, Sixtine Tellier and I want to marry you. Not because of some contract between our families or because I was forced into it, but because I love you and I can’t imagine the rest of my life without you.” He palms my left hand in his and brings the band to the end of my ring finger. He holds it there and looks back up at me. “Will you marry me?”

And I find that the answer to that question isn’t hard at all, in fact it’s the easiest I’ve ever had to do because I’ve known who my soulmate has been since I was nine years old.

I blink through the tears and nod excitedly. “Yes. Yes, of course, yes!”

He puts the ring on my finger and then tackles me into a hug, his arms wrapped around my waist and mine around his neck as I laugh happily.

“The relief is making me so lightheaded, I think I might pass out.” He mutters as he devours the column of my neck.

“I love you.”

He pulls back and looks at me. “Say it again.”

I run my nails over the back of his nape. “Je t’aime.”

He shudders and his eyes flutter close. “Again.”

“Je t’aime,” I say, pressing my lips to his. “Un peu.” I kiss him again. “Beaucoup.” Another kiss. “Passionnément.” His eyes open, his gaze soft as he watches me. “A la folie.Et pour toujours, mon amour.”

The End

Epilogue

Sixtine

I hear a loud crashing noise followed by an immediate string of colorful expletives.

“Fuck. Watch where we’re going, asshole.” Growls a voice that I know well.

I turn around in time to see the door start to open. I squeal in surprise, alarmed, and duck to hide behind the partition.

“This was your brilliant idea, fucker.” Rhys mutters in response. “If you could have just waited another hour like I said, we wouldn’t have had to do this.”

I peek out from behind the partition in time to hear Thayer tell the boys. “You can’t be here, it’s bad luck!”

They finally come into view and I see that Phoenix has a blindfold covering his eyes and Rhys is helping guide him into the room. His lack of eyesight explains the noise they made before coming into the boudoir where I’m getting ready. They must have run right into the wall.

“That’s why he’s blindfolded, love.” Rhys tells his girlfriend. “That way he won’tseeher.”

“I don’t think that’s how it works.” Nera says, dubiously.

“Tell him that. He’s stubborn as fuck. He got it in his head he wanted to see her before the wedding and he wouldn’t listen to reason. It was either help him or watch him walk blindfolded out of the room solo and hope for the best.” He points out drolly.

“I’m surprised he used the door,” is Nera’s dry reply.

“I could hardly scale a tree blindfolded.” Phoenix quips back. “Where is she? I want to see–talkto, my wife.” His hands reach blindly for me.

“I’m not your wife yet.” I say with a smile, stepping out from behind the partition. Rhys covers his eyes and flips around, not looking at me.

Phoenix’s head turns towards the sound of my voice and a slow smile spreads across his lips.

“Everybody get out.” He orders.

They do as he says, my mum kissing me on the cheek on her way out, and then we’re alone.

He extends his hand to me again. “Where are you?”

“Here,” I say, placing my palm in his.

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