Page 93 of Hunters and Hydrangeas

“He’s completely stable.”

“Did he try to get out of it?”

“Not at all.”

“Okay.” She laughs a little. “Is he watching you freak out right now with that cute little half-smile that he only wears while he’s looking at you?”

I glance at my fiancé. “Yep.”

“You’re good. Go get married—but set up a video call so I can watch, okay?”

“Go dowhat?” I hear Max say in the background.

“Um, yeah,” Olivia whispers urgently. “I’ll take care of your brother.”

“Don’t let him call our parents, or I’m dead.”

“Will do. Don’t forget the video call!” she exclaims before we hang up.

I walk back to the small group. Each of us has a specific job. Noah and I are getting married, obviously. Cassian is performing the ceremony, which I still find weird but apparently is something vampire princes do, and Sophia is our witness.

She’s currently huddled under the protective cover of a black umbrella, waiting for the sun to sink.

I’m wearing the white sundress again because I wasn’t about to let Noah buy meanotherwhite sundress when he already spent a fortune on this one.

“Are you doing all right?” Noah asks when I join him, taking me aside. He looks amazing in his tan slacks and white shirt. Casual, but dressed for the occasion.

He pulls off the beach wedding look exceptionally well.

“When I pictured our wedding, I always assumed you’d be the one freaking out,” I answer him.

He smiles. “I have nothing to freak out about, nor do I feel like I’ve been ‘diabolically trapped’ into this union.”

“Is your hearing that good?” I exclaim.

“I was standing downwind while you were on the phone, and yes.”

“But the ocean is loud.”

He shrugs.

“Are your parents going to be upset?” I ask him.

“Probably, but will they be surprised that I avoided a fussy black-tie ceremony? Probably not.”

“Don’t remind me. I want to see you in a tux more than just about anything.”

“I’ll have to wear one for the crowning, so don’t be too discouraged.”

“You’re going to that?”

“You think Cassian would let us miss it?”

One thing has become clear in the last few days—Noah has no doubt Cassian is going to take the throne.

“Isn’t it in Bucharest?” I ask.

“It is. You have a passport, right?”

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