Page 102 of Deliver Us From Evil

“Aye, I remember,” he says, watching me closely. “What’s goin’ on, Cami?”

Taking a calming breath, I continue. “Well, what I should have replied was now.”

Punky arches a brow, completely lost.

So, I clarify. “I know this isn’t the castle, but this place is like my home. I used to pretend it was ours and that one day, you were going to walk up that driveway and tell me everything was going to be all right.

“You said to me a new day means hope, and you hoped that come nightfall, I would tell you what date I was going to be your wife. That date…it’s now. I want to be your wife. No more waiting.”

Punky is quiet, and I can see I’ve caught him off guard. His silence makes me nervous. Have I acted in haste?

Tomorrow we face the unknown, but that’s not the reason I want to marry him. I’ve wanted to be his since the moment we met.

“Puck?” I coax when he continues staring at me, not saying a word. “We can wait—”

“No, we cannot,” he finally speaks. “I want you. Always and forever. And I want you to be my wife.”

Tears well. I’m unable to wipe my smile away.

“Let’s do this then.”

Aine stands in front of us, book in hand. Punky purses his lips, confused.

“I’m an officiant,lad,” she explains, slipping on her silver-rimmed glasses. “Comes in handy for times such as this.”

I can’t help but laugh as Aine told me she got her license because there is something magical about Kavanagh’s that has couples falling in love and wanting to get married. She said it was impossible to find a minister at the last minute, so she took matters into her own hands—who was she to stand in the way of love?

I think Aine is an old romantic at heart, but I dare not tell her that.

This idea of mine was sprung late last night, so it was a no-brainer who I wanted to marry us and where. There are no guests. Just two witnesses to make this official. But that’s how I want it. When Shay is older, I will explain why, but I didn’t think it was in good taste to have him at our wedding with his mom not even buried yet.

He’s with Ethan, Hannah, and Eva, who have no idea about today. With everything going on and about to happen, getting married in the middle of it all may seem like a crazy idea, but Punky and I have never lived by the rules.

Crazy is where we thrive.

Aine opens her ceremonial book and clears her throat. “When I met Cami, she was broken. Like a caged bird, her wings were clipped.”

Punky takes my hands into his, squeezing softly as we stand face to face.

“I thought if I opened her cage, she would eventually fly free, but lookin’ at youse before me, I see she was waitin’ for her mate to fly free with. The door was always open, but she chose to stay waitin’, waitin’ for you.”

Punky’s eyes soften because the analogy is perfect.

There was never another choice—it was always him.

“Marriage is a sacred vow we make to one another; a lifelong promise that no matter what, we choose that person. Always and forever. Do you, Puck Connor Kelly, take Camilla Doyle to be yer wife, always and forever?”

Punky takes a second to bask in this moment because it’s absolutely perfect. But two simple words cement our perfection forever.

“I do.”

A tear trickles down my cheek, one which Punky lovingly wipes away with his thumb.

“And do you, Camilla Doyle, take Puck Connor Kelly to be yer husband, always and forever?”

My heart is beating so fast. “I do.”

Punky smiles, a true, genuine smile that lights up my entire world.

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