Page 92 of The Explorer
Mason and I looked sharp as we stood on the stage waiting with Khan for our brides.
Banni sat in the front row with my family and it made me happy that Belle had an old friend here as well.
Jones waved at me and I noted that he seemed over his disappointment that Aubri had chosen me and not him. He was lip-miming something. Squinting my eyes to see better, I frowned and tried to pay attention.
With his face directed straight ahead to me, his eyes went to the right as his lips moved without sound.
Not understanding what he was trying to tell me, I moved my gaze to see what he was trying to point out. That’s when I saw Astrid Bell.
Holding up his right hand, he crossed two of his fingers.
Finally understanding that he was hoping to impress Astrid Bell, I gave him a thumbs up and hoped that this time he would succeed.
The whole arena fell silent as my best friend and I stood back to back and watched the women we loved walk toward us from each side of the stage.
Aubri looked spectacular in a dress that highlighted her long, toned legs, and beautiful figure. She hadn’t covered up her scars or the tattoo she had on her shoulder.
She had been seventeen when she had the tattoo made. I’d always found the motif of a grasshopper fitting for someone who fought like she could fly. Ever since then, I’d called her my young grasshopper despite the fact that I was only three months older than her.
While Khan performed the ceremony, I stood transfixed by Aubri’s presence feeling like she and I were alone on that stage. I had known this woman her entire life and I could tell the story of each of her scars.
The one on her arm from the wolves that attacked her would always be special because that was the night that she accepted me as her mate.
“Will you, Indiana Boulder, take Aubri Aurelius to be you lawfully wedded wife?”
Her gaze went from Khan to me and I saw our whole life flashing by in a second. The fearless girl who climbed the tree that even Mason and I were scared to climb. The stubborn woman who wouldn’t give up trying to impress Huntsmen twice her size.
“I do!” I said loud and clear, feeling like my chest was about to burst with gratitude and love.
“And do you, Aubri Aurelius, take Indiana Boulder as your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do.”
Khan turned and asked Mason and Belle to commit in public as well, but I hardly registered any of it. I was so engulfed in the moment of looking deep into Aubri’s blue eyes and seeing her love shining back at me.
“I now declare you man and wife.” Khan touched my shoulder. “Mason and Indiana, you may now kiss your brides.”
The rush of lifting Aubri from the ground and kissing her made me feel like a giant conquering the biggest task in the world. My young grasshopper was mine and now everyone would see it for themselves. I hoped that every bastard who had doubted or ridiculed me in my life was watching my moment of glory.
When I set her down, Aubri shone with happiness. Taking my hand, she moved across the stage with her bouquet of flowers in her hand. Looking back over her shoulder she gave me a blinding smile that would have made me follow her over a cliff.
We partied with our friends and family until two in the morning. It had been at least two hours since Mason and Belle had snuck off to enjoy their second wedding night.
After a hectic week back in the Northlands, I was excited for a two-day honeymoon in the mountains where I could have Aubri to myself a little.
“Do you wish that we weren’t going back to France?” she asked me as we lay in bed the morning after our wedding.
“Yes and no. I like the work we do with Banni and the team. It’s so different from my work in the family business. I don’t know… there’s something satisfying about cleaning the earth, and if Celeste is right and zone fifty-four tips over to green before December, that would be extremely satisfying.”
“Can you imagine?” Aubri brushed her hand across my naked chest. “I want it to happen next week so I can see them start building in that zone. Honestly, I just want everyone living underground to have an apartment with windows showing them the weather outside.”
“It’s going to take a long time to build that many apartments.”
“Did I tell you about my strange conversation with Val where he told me that he preferred to live below ground?”
“Yeah, you told me, but I think you misunderstood him. Your French isn’t that strong yet.”
“I understood him fine. I asked Banni about it and he said that there are many who feel that way. They prefer what they know.”
