It thrills me.
“Okay.” My voice shakes with emotion.
Isaia’s eyes light up. “Okay?”
“Yes.” I smile. “Let’s do this. Let’s get married.”
Chapter22
EVERLY
Father Tobias steps forward, his presence a quiet anchor in the whirlwind of this moment. His blue eyes are kind, but there’s a sharpness to him, a rugged edge beneath his dark hair and priestly demeanor that makes me think he’s seen more of the world’s sins than its graces.
He positions himself at the center of the wooden platform beneath the billowing canopy of sheer white fabric and gestures for us to join him.
The petals scattered on the ground—blush and cream—seem to glow in the twilight, their delicate scent mingling with the jasmine, and the ancient trees arching overhead create a natural cathedral, their branches dripping with fairy lights that make the scene feel ethereal.
Isaia takes my hand, his grip warm and steady, and leads me to stand before Father Tobias. His thumb brushes over the ring he just slipped onto my finger, the diamond catching the light with every movement, and I feel the weight of his love, the depth of it, grounding me.
My legs are still trembling, my breath uneven, but there’s a certainty in my chest that I’ve never felt before.
This is right.
This is us.
The music has stopped, but the island hums around us—the gentle babble of the stream, the rustle of leaves in the breeze, the distant whisper of the ocean—a symphony that feels like nature itself is holding its breath for this moment.
Father Tobias clears his throat, his voice deep and resonant as it cuts through the stillness.
“We gather here, in this sacred space, to join Everly Beaumont and Isaia Del Rossa in marriage,” he begins, his tone steady and reverent. “Love acts as a bond that unites us, a beacon that leads us through our darkest moments. This evening, beneath the starlit sky and surrounded by the island's splendor, we celebrate the joining of two souls who have chosen each other above everything else.”
I glance at Isaia, my heart swelling at the priest’s words, and see the emotion in his eyes, a sheen of tears he doesn’t bother to hide. He’s still in his all-black suit, the fabric hugging his broad shoulders and lean frame, and the sight of him—dangerous, elegant, and so utterly mine—makes my breath catch.
His dark hair is swept back, a few strands falling loose to frame his face, and those piercing brown eyes hold mine with an intensity that makes the world fade away. He squeezes my hand, his touch a silent promise, and I feel a tear slip down my cheek, the weight of this moment sinking into me.
Father Tobias continues, his voice softening as he looks between us.
“Marriage is a vow, a covenant to stand together through joy and sorrow, to choose each other every day, no matter what challenges lie ahead. Isaia, do you take Everly to be your wife, to honor her, to cherish her, to protect her, for as long as you both shall live?”
Isaia’s gaze never wavers, his eyes burning with a love so fierce it almost physically knocks me off my feet.
“I do,” he says, with so much conviction, it feels as if he's uttering the most irrefutable truth in the universe. “You’re my heart, Everly Beaumont. My fire. My everything, and I’ll spend every day proving it. I’ll honor you,” he continues, eyes connected with mine, “cherish you, and protect you with everything I have, until my last fucking breath.”
“You know you just cursed in front of a priest, right?” I whisper, unable to suppress the snicker that escapes with my words.
He gives me a crooked smile, the kind that makes my heart skip. “Just saying my vows in my own words, baby girl.”
Father Tobias grins. “Respect the sanctity of the vow, young man.”
“Bite me, Priest.”
Everyone laughs. Even Talon cracks a smile.
Father Tobias turns to me, his expression gentle but steady. “Everly, do you take Isaia to be your husband, to stand by his side, to love him, to face every storm with him, for as long as you both shall live?”
My voice trembles, but it’s steady with certainty. “I do,” I say, my eyes locked on Isaia’s. “I’ll stand by you, love you, fight for you, through every storm, every shadow.” I swallow hard, my emotions cascading like a torrent. “You are my home, Isaia Del Rossa. My forever. And I choose you with all that I am. I’ll always…choose…you.”
Isaia’s lips curve into a small, tender smile, and I see the relief in his eyes, the joy that lights him up from within.