Nero - Page 177

I’ll be waiting for you at the altar, and I’d love for you to come meet me there. But if you decide not to, I’ll still love you just the same, and I’ll still be yours just the same until you tell me you don’t want me anymore (probably even after that, too).

I love you,

Nero.

I read and reread the lines, blinking at them, unable to stop the tears sliding down my cheek. He wants to get married? Today? Now? With the entire island present? That was a low blow.

My eyes drift back to the ring resting in the palm of my hand.

Knocking sounds at the bedroom door pull me out of my thoughts.

“Are you awake? Are you dressed?” It’s Drako’s voice. “Can we come in?”

It takes me a moment to respond, too stunned to say yes or no.

“Nina?” Apollo calls my name, and I shake my head, forgetting they can’t see me.

“You can,” I finally say, still sitting on the bed in a silk pajama set. “What are you doing here?” I ask when two of my husband’s three brothers appear in front of me.

“We’re your ride,” Drako answers. “To get married or to run away—we’ll take you wherever you want to go, Nina. And believe it or not, I’m not joking.”

“Actually,” Apollo adds, “if you want to run away and leave him there to be humiliated alone, no one will judge you. They’ll call it justice. I know I will.”

“Me too,” Drako agrees.

“What?”

“It’s your chance to get revenge,” Drako explains.

“Revenge? Have you lost your minds? I love that man! He’s the father of my child!” I say, getting out of bed. “And I think you’d better not be planning to attend my wedding dressed like that,” I threaten. “Where’s my dress? He bought me one, didn’t he?”

CHAPTER 75

NERO ZANTHOS

Téssera has never seen this many people—I know it. And opening this place to the absurd number of people now filling the stretch of sand was a difficult decision, but part of the plan was to do this somewhere that could be special and forgotten at the same time.

If Nina decides not to come, I wouldn’t want any place in Khione to forever remind her of that. So I chose Téssera. I want Nina to come. With all my heart, I want to marry this woman, and I want to do it today.

But I know there’s a very real possibility that she won’t.

The whole plan is about that, actually.

The people who are here once watched Nina be humiliated by me, and even though they now know the truth behind everything, that doesn’t erase or justify my actions. I want to give my Little Fae the chance to balance our scales, because even if she doesn’t care about that, I do.

The stir around me is what draws my attention, and I see it.

A speedboat is approaching.

I tighten my grip on Kael’s small hand in mine. I hope that if Nina doesn’t come, she won’t resent me for involving our son, but since there was no way to do this without him, I was left with no options.

The boat seems to approach in slow motion, and my eyes follow every wave it leaves behind while my breath remains suspended in my chest. I don’t even blink as the vessel finally reaches the pier and its ropes are tied.

My heart feels like it’s about to explode inside my chest. Every guest is standing on the sand, looking toward the same place I am, and the dryness in my throat has nothing to do with the bright sun beating down on us.

The gangway is finally lowered from the boat, and Apollo and Drako step out of the cabin.

I wait.