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"No," Sinclair said, trying to control his temper. But the opening and closing of his fist told Charlie his answer came at a great cost.

"Very well," Alex stood. "We'll get on with it."

"Right now?" Charlie looked up, surprised. "Here?"

"Is that a problem?" the colonel asked, softening his voice.

"There's no priest." Silly, but it was the only thing she could think of. She spent a year planning her wedding from picking out the venue to flowers and her dress. Now she sat in a hospital gown, stained with her own blood, in a concrete bunker.

"Are you Catholic then, lass?" Alex knelt down in front of her. "Because Gabriel's a priest. He can hear your confession before you take your vows."

"Ex-priest," Gabriel clarified. Her eyes ran over the blond-haired man, confused.

"No, I'm not practicing," she mumbled. "I have no confession. I just wasn't sure who would marry, um, us." She glanced at Sinclair, but he had turned his back to them.

"I will. I'm a celebrant. You'll take your vows today and sign the papers tomorrow in Glasgow. Gabriel will act as witness."

"And you promise me you'll help Imogen?" She didn't see that she had any other choice.

"Aye, we'll help her as best we can." He looked over his shoulder at Sin. "Come here, lad."

Sin walked over, his brows drawn together in anger, or perhaps, resignation; either way, he wasn't happy.

"Kneel," Alex said. Sinclair went down on his knees, motioning to Charlie to do the same. The ground was cold and hard, and her knees were soon numb. Alex kept the vows short and to the point. There was no mass, no beautiful homily offering words of hope and encouragement, no lighting of a candle, and the irony of the situation wasn't lost on her. She had risked everything to escape what would have been a bad marriage in the hopes of one day finding true love, and now she was being forced to marry a total stranger, as if he too had stolen her chance for freedom. Their vows said, Alex pronounced them husband and wife.

Sin started to stand, but Alex stopped him. "Sin, you'll give your oath again to The Watch, but this time as a married man. Your oath will act as her oath. You'll take full responsibility for her protection, and in return, as your wife and through your oath, she will give her allegiance of silence to The Watch."

Sin's eyes brushed over her as he cleared his throat. "Let's get on with it."

Alex nodded. Sin reached out and took her hand, interlacing their fingers. His grip was warm and solid and a little harder than she expected, as if he were holding on for dear life. "I, Sinclair McKay Stuart, swear by Almighty God, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to The Watch, offering my obedience and loyalty. I have left the man I was behind, through absolution and redemption, and become the man I am today. I am bound by duty to defend and serve the truth honestly and faithfully. United in brotherhood," he stopped here and took a deep breath, "and my wife through marriage. The Watchers, Royal Black."

He gave her hand a squeeze. She looked over at the man who was now her husband. He mouthed the words The Watchers, Royal Black.

"The Watchers, Royal Black," she said hesitantly.

Alex held his hand out and Sin kissed the ring he wore, then the colonel offered it to her. The gold signet ring bore the same crest carved on her stomach. She put her lips to it, the metal heavy and warm, sealing the indestructible link that now bound her not only to a man, but a whole group.

"Take Charlie back to the infirmary," Alex said. "Tomorrow morning, we'll go over a plan and then you'll head to Glasgow and meet with Dougie."

Sin helped her stand. It was over. Any hopes of freedom and starting a new life were gone.

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