Page 95 of Killian

I blink rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay as I put the bracelet on. I pin the pocket square onto my bouquet. Taking a deep breath, I grab his ring and head toward the door.

Toward my forever.

I standon the edge of the cliff, staring out at the turbulent blue water. Watching it crash against the cliffs. Closing my eyes, I feel peace settle over me as the wind blows.

“Are you ready, son?” the priest asks.

“I am.” I nod. “Is everything ready?”

“It is. She should be out any moment,” he confirms.

A few more moments pass in silence as we wait for my girl. The wind tries to blow my kilt up, making me grumble and the priest laugh.

“I hope you have something on under there or you’ll be giving the fairies a show,” he teases.

“The little people can mind their own today.”

“Looks like it’s time.” The priest nods.

I turn, following his line of sight. My breath catches as I take in my bride.

She makes her way toward me, my eyes tracking her every move. I can’t help the moisture I feel welling in my eyes.

She’s a fucking goddess.

She’s my goddess.

“You might want to close your mouth,” she teases, stepping next to me.

“A ghrá,” I rasp, completely blown away.

“A kilt?” She smiles as we check each other out.

“Shall we begin?” the priest asks.

“Yes,” we say in unison.

The priest removes the handfasting cords from around his neck. Holding them out in front of him.

“Please join hands.”

Greer leans down, setting her flowers to the side before taking my hands in hers.

“As this knot is tied, so are your lives now bound. Woven into this cord, imbued into its very fibers, are all the hopes of your friends and family, and of yourselves, for your new life together. With the fastening of this knot do I tie all the desires, dreams, love, and happiness wished here in this place to your lives for as long as love shall last. In the joining of hands and the fashion of a knot, so are your lives now bound, one to another.” He pauses.

“By this cord, you are thus bound to your vow. May this knot remain tied for as long as love shall last. May this cord draw your hands together in love, never to be used in anger. May the vows you have spoken never grow bitter in your mouths. As any child discovers when they are learning to tie their own shoes, the first move is to cross the ends. As your hands are bound by this cord, so is your partnership held by the symbol of this knot. May it be granted that what is done before the gods be not undone by man. Two entwined in love, bound by commitment and fear, sadness and joy, by hardship and victory, anger and reconciliation, all of which brings strength to this union. Hold tight to one another through both good times and bad and watch as your strength grows.” He pauses again.

“Know now before you go further, that since your lives have crossed in this life, you have formed ties between each other. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony, you should strive to make real, the ideals which give meaning to both this ceremony and the institution of marriage.

“Do you still seek to enter this ceremony?”

“We do,” we say in unison.

The priest touches our hands. “These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will comfort you in illness and hold you when fear or grief racks your mind. These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times. These are the hands that will give you support and encourage you to chase your dreams. Together, everything you wish for can be realized.”

“Killian, will you be Greer’s faithful partner for life?”

“I will,” I rasp, staring into her eyes.

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