Page 60 of Stripe for the Picking
"Thank you," Rylan said, his voice carrying that commanding authority she'd grown to love. "This victory belongs to more than just me. I want to publicly acknowledge my partner, Wren Calder." His eyes found hers across the room. "She is not onlythe most brilliant cybersecurity expert I've ever worked with, but she is also my fated mate and fiancée."
The ballroom erupted in surprised murmurs and enthusiastic applause. Wren felt heat creep up her neck as hundreds of eyes focused on her, but Rylan's proud smile steadied her nerves.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the Council leader continued as the applause died down, "tonight brings an additional honor. Commander Kaedor, it is my privilege to announce your promotion to Security High Commander—a position you have more than earned through a decade of exemplary service."
Wren's heart soared as she watched Rylan's carefully controlled expression crack, revealing genuine surprise and deep satisfaction. This was the promotion he'd coveted for years, the recognition his dedication deserved.
General Kael leaned over, his voice warm with paternal pride. "About damn time. I've been waiting ten years to see that boy get what he's earned."
As dinner commenced, Wren found herself caught up in the celebratory atmosphere. Toasts flowed as freely as the Sidaii wine, each guest praising not just Rylan's individual achievements but their unprecedented partnership. She caught fragments of conversations around them—speculation about their whirlwind romance, admiration for her role in saving Defense Nexus, and curiosity about her plans to remain on Nova Aurora.
"Feeling overwhelmed yet?" Rylan whispered, his thumb tracing her wrist under the table.
"Surprisingly, no." She turned to study his profile, still amazed that this incredible man was hers. "I keep thinking about that first day when Gerri dragged me through that wormhole. I was so nervous about stepping into the unknown."
"And now?"
"Now I can't imagine being anywhere else." She touched the mate mark on her shoulder, still tender and warm. "This feels like where I was always supposed to end up."
His smile could have powered the entire ballroom. "Good. Because I have plans for us that extend far beyond tonight."
"Oh really? Care to share?"
"Patience, beautiful. All will be revealed in due time."
The orchestra began playing as dinner wound down, couples drifting toward the dance floor. Rylan stood and extended his hand. "May I have this dance?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
He led her to the same spot where they'd shared their first dance seven nights ago—when she'd been nothing more than a mysterious human consultant and he'd been fighting his attraction to her. Now they moved together with the perfect synchronization that had carried them through the Trials, their bodies fitting together like puzzle pieces finally finding their match.
"Thank you," he murmured against her temple as they swayed to the soft melody.
"For what?"
"For saying yes to an impossible adventure. For trusting me. For saving my life in ways you probably don't even realize."
Wren leaned back to meet his gaze, seeing her own love reflected in those brilliant blue eyes. "Thank you for being worth the leap."
As the music swelled around them, she marveled at how perfectly this moment encapsulated everything they'd fought for. Nova Aurora was safe, Arvox was defeated, the Trials were won, and Rylan's promotion was finally secured. But more than any of those victories, they had each other—a bond forged in crisis and strengthened by trust.
Her engagement ring shimmered in the light as she traced the strong line of his jaw, and she knew with absolute certainty that she wouldn't trade a single minute of the wild adventure that led her to this exact moment.
WREN
Wren stared at her reflection in the ornate mirror at the coffee shop in the heart of Nexus, her heart racing as her best friend Mallory fussed with the final touches of her hair. Her ivory silk gown pooled around her feet like liquid starlight, its intricate beadwork catching the warm light streaming through the windows. Through the glass, she could see the ancestral ceremony site—elegant banners fluttering in the gentle breeze, fairy lights twinkling among the purple-leaved trees, and guests beginning to arrive in their formal attire.
Six months. Had it really only been six months since she'd stumbled through that wormhole with a desperate hunger for adventure? She could hardly believe that today she was about to marry the most magnificent man in the universe, in a place that felt more like home than Earth ever had.
"Stop fidgeting or I'll never get these pearls straight," Mallory scolded, though her voice was thick with emotion. "God, Wren, you look absolutely radiant. I can't believe this is really happening for you."
"Neither can I," Wren admitted, touching the delicate pearl necklace that had belonged to Rylan's grandmother. "Sometimes I wake up convinced it's all been some incredible dream."
"Well, if it is, don't wake up," Mallory said, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "Because this place is paradise, and your husband-to-be is basically a walking Greek god."
Gerri Wilder emerged from the back room, resplendent in a champagne-colored pantsuit that probably cost more than Wren's old apartment rent. Her white bob was perfectly styled, and her blue eyes sparkled with that mischievous gleam Wren had come to adore.
"Now there's a sight that would make even the most cynical matchmaker weep with joy," Gerri declared, clasping her hands together. "Though I must say, I knew you two were perfect for each other the moment I saw your business website six months ago."
