A Twisted Fate : The Dream Trilogy - Book 2

by Samantha Barrett

  I nodded my head, still struggling to calm myself. “Will it help you to know that my dad is here, and I am constantly being yelled at for swearing, and if I make a crude remark the old bastard just slaps me up the back of the head?” Listening to Dom was helping me get my breathing under control. He kept talking about mundane things to try and distract me, and it worked. After a few minutes I could finally breathe properly and the pounding in my ears had stopped.

  “Thank you, Dom.”

  “How about you thank me by telling me what had you so freaked out?” I was a bit embarrassed to admit what set me off.

  “It just hit me that I’m getting married, and I’m only eighteen. I’m going to be a teen bride like something out of an after-school special! Will Nico expect babies from me straight away? I don’t want kids! I would be a terrible mother, and I’m going to have to move to Farrarie. What about my coven? What about my cousins?”

  “Wow, hang on a second love and take a deep breath for me.” I did as I was asked and took a deep breath. “Okay let’s start from the beginning. Yes, you are getting married and no Nico doesn’t expect babies from you immediately. You are not your mother, love, and you will be a great mother when the time does come. Yes, Nico will have to return to Farrarie. He is the king, after all. I’m sure you and Nico could work out together what happens with your coven. Nico doesn’t expect you to give everything up, love, him being here as long as he has shows me how much you mean to him. He has never stayed away from his realm longer than a full day. He is choosing you over his people and over his duty to those people. He would never force you to do anything you didn’t want to do.” I could feel the tears building behind my eyes, and I quickly tried to blink them away for fear of ruining my makeup. Dom was right; Nico was a good man, and he understood me. We could work all this out together, I looked up to see my cousins enter the room. “Now why don’t you tell me the real reason you freaked out?” How did he know? I felt my bottom lip start to tremble; I took a few deep breaths and then told him the true reason I had a panic attack.

  “My dad isn’t here to walk me down the aisle. He isn’t here to give me away and tell me how beautiful I look.” A tear snaked its way down my cheek, and I quickly brushed it away. Dom placed his hand under my chin, lifting my head so he could look me in the eyes.

  “I never want to give you away, but I will, if that is what you truly want. You look more beautiful than I have ever seen, Ry. If you will accept us, Alex and I would both love to walk you down the aisle. Uncle Ralph may not be here physically, but he is here in our hearts and in spirit, Ry.” Fuck, hearing Chase’s speech broke the dam; tears were rolling down my face. I couldn’t talk past the lump in my throat, so I just nodded my head and quickly pushed past Dom to hug both my cousins. I would be so fucking lost without them; they have been here for me through all of this shit.

  “Okay, I’m sorry, but all you boys have to leave now so I can re-do her makeup and get her in her dress. We will meet you there, Chase and Alex, please be at the front of the chapel by five to eight.” Alex and Chase gave me a hug before they left, Dom made his way toward the door but stopped and turned back to me and placed a small kiss on my cheek.

  “You look beautiful, love. Nico is a very lucky man to have such a fierce and loving woman by his side.”

  “Right, come on, were running out of time.” Aurora was barking orders at Sophia and Mya to hurry up and change while she touched up my makeup and helped me into my dress. I could do this. I want to do this. I mean, who can actually say they get to marry their dream man?

  Chapter 38

  Nico

  I still wanted to throttle my three best friends. Jax and Kai had held me back while Dom went to comfort Ryan. We were all sharing a drink with Dom’s dad after we got ready, when I felt a sharp pain in my chest and knew straight away something was wrong with Ryan. I ran from the room with my friends hot on my tail, and right as I was about to open her bedroom door, I was tackled to the ground by Melakai. He and Jax restrained me while Dom went in. Mr. Silver was telling me to calm down and trust Dom. I did trust Dom, with my life, but Ryan needed me. I wanted to blast these bastards for holding me back, but I knew even if I did get them off, Mr. Silver would still be there blocking the door, and I could never hurt him, I respected him too much.

  Mr. Silver told me it was bad luck for me to see my bride before the wedding, so I had to calm down and let Dom handle this. When Dom finally left her room after her cousins, I hit him straight across the jaw. He deserved way worse. The bastard had the cheek to just laugh and rub his jaw.

  After pulling myself together and calming myself down, we made our way to the chapel, which was out the back of Jax’s compound. It wasn’t a huge chapel, but it was big enough to seat a hundred people. By the time we got there, it was nearly seven-thirty. Just as we started to walk up the stairs, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and spun around quickly. Walking straight toward us was none other than the bastard Randall Cane. He walked with his head held high. He was a short, plump bastard. He wore a suit and tie like us, except his suit was blood red. How fucking cliché.

  His blond hair was slicked back, and he was surrounded by his soldiers. It is an ancient law that when a member of royalty from any of the races marry, all the heads of the leading covens and clans must attend. We were not allowed to harm each other at these events; it was forbidden. For the first time in my life I wanted to break that law, but if I did, the elders from each clan would make sure that I paid the price for my insubordination. King or not, no one was above the elders.

  What was the point of having elders, when they never fucking did anything anyway? Each supernatural race had elders; they were the ones who upheld our laws. They wouldn’t intervene now, though, even with Randall trying to kill my fucking realm. Stevie might have been onto something with manipulating her elders to do as she said. Randall was standing on the bottom step below us. He wasn’t looking at me, though—his gaze was fixed on Kai. It felt great to see the shock on this old twat’s face: he thought he killed his greatest weapon, yet here Kai stood.

  “You’re supposed to be dead.” Kai smiled an evil smile; he had no emotion displayed on his face other than his hatred for Randall. Kai made his way back down the stairs to stand in front of Randall. Randall’s soldiers moved to block Kai, but Dom quickly erected a shield to hold them back. Randall’s eyes were darting everywhere, trying to find an escape route, and found there wasn’t one. He was fucking pathetic. Kai wouldn’t harm him. He knew the rules, and he also knew we needed him alive for the exchange of Stevie and the Knox coven elders.

  “Before this night is done, I will fucking kill you! Fuck the elders’ laws…I would gladly take their punishment just to see you fall.” You didn’t even need to be a shifter to hear how loudly Randall gulped. Kai turned and made his way up the stairs, continuing into the chapel to take his place.

  “Put him on a leash, king.” I smiled. Kai had rattled Randall and made him flustered. Before Dom dropped the shield holding Randall’s minions back, I spoke.

  “Melakai will never be on a leash now that he is free of your vile ass. You ever come for my brother or try in any way to harm him, and I will burn your fucking mansion to the ground with you in it, you gutless leech.” Dom dropped his shield and he and Jax followed me inside to take our places at the front of the podium. Jax, Kai, and Dom were my witnesses.

  After talking among ourselves for a bit, the minister announced we were five minutes out from the ceremony starting. I turned to thank the minister and stopped when I saw who the minister was.

  “What are you doing here, Gabriel?” The old man smiled at my surprise.

  “Did you really think I would let anyone else marry you?” Gabriel was the leader of the fae elders and my father’s best friend; he married my mother and father.

  “I tried to get in contact with you to see if you could do the ceremony, but Larick said he couldn’t find you.”

  “I was in the Sout
hern kingdom on elder business, but as soon as I heard you were to be married, I dropped everything and came. Thanks to you blocking all the portals, it was a bloody hard job getting here. I had to sneak through with Larick and Maverick and some of the other elders.” I smiled at his devious ways. As old as he was, Gabriel was still a mischievous shit. “Are you ready, my boy?” I didn’t hesitate to answer.

  “I am beyond ready.”

  As soon as I finished speaking, music began to play and everyone quieted down and took their seats. A minute later, the doors opened, and Mya walked through carrying a bouquet of purple flowers. She wore an off the shoulder purple dress that matched the flowers she held. She made her way down the aisle and stopped on the opposite side from where we stood. Sophia walked through the doors next, her beautiful curly black hair up in an intricate bun.

  She didn’t have access to her fae magic, but she had the violet eyes of a fae. She wore a yellow dress that matched her flowers, and as she was approaching the front row, her step faltered when she saw Randall there smiling at her. She didn’t move, she just stood there staring.

  Dom raced over and placed his hand on her back, guiding her to her spot on the other side of the church. I tried to catch her gaze, but she wouldn’t look at me, Dom whispered something in her ear that had her nodding and then he returned to his place behind me. The next to walk through was Aurora; she wore a blue dress that matched her eyes and the flowers she held, and she was searching the pews for someone, but I didn’t know who. When she reached the end of the aisle, she deflated slightly, clearly annoyed whoever she was looking for wasn’t here. Strange.

  The music changed, and the small band in the back started a slow song. My eyes were fixed on the double doors, my breath stuck in my throat. The anticipation of seeing Ryan was killing me. If she didn’t hurry her pretty little ass up and walk through those doors soon, I would go and get her myself.

  My breath caught in my throat as soon as she came into view. Her long brown hair was done up in some sort of braid-bun, with little blue wildflowers placed throughout her hair. The dress she was wearing hugged her luscious curves in all the right ways. It was low cut in the front, and even I could tell from this distance that there was no way she could wear a bra with that dress. The sleeves hung off her shoulders, and the dress flowed behind her. The dress was an ivory color and had an intricate lace overlay. When she stopped at the start of the aisle, it was then that I noticed her cousins were on either side of her. Her gaze was locked on mine, and she was begging me with her eyes to give her strength to do this. I gave her a small nod and saw her exhale.

  Chapter 39

  Ryan

  Standing at the top of the aisle, looking at Nico in his suit, caused me to pause. He looked so handsome, with his hair slicked back, and his suit fit him like a glove. I was scared. I looked to him, hoping he could see me begging him with my eyes to loan me some of his strength. When I saw his small nod, I released the breath I was holding.

  Looking around the small chapel, I saw so many people sitting in the pews that I didn’t know. I would give anything to have my dad and sister here with me. There were thousands of candles lit throughout the chapel, and there were wildflowers hanging from the pews and the chandelier. It was beautiful. It felt like we were in the woods, and that is what I really wanted—to be married outside—but due to the weather and it being too open in case of an attack, we moved the wedding to the chapel.

  “Deep breath, Squirt. You can do this.” I looked to Alex and nodded, placing my arm through his. I then turned to look at Chase, who was looking down at me.

  “If you want to bail and not marry the fairy, I’m all for that too.” At the sound of someone growling, I quickly looked to the front of the chapel and saw Nico, Jax, Kai, and Dom glaring at my cousin. Okay, I guess the growl was one of them.

  “Chase, I want to do this.” He smiled and kissed my hand before I placed my arm in his.

  “That’s all I needed to hear, Ry.”

  We made our way down the aisle. I refused to look at the people here. I focused all my attention on Nico. Seeing him standing there, waiting for me, gave me the strength I needed to make it down this aisle and stand before all of these people. Nico made me feel like I could do anything. I pulled my gaze from Nico’s when the minister cleared his throat.

  “Who gives this woman to this man?” The minister was looking at my cousins with kind eyes; he seemed like a nice man, and clearly he was a fae, as his eyes were violet.

  “I, Alexander Knox, from the Knox coven, give Ryan Knox to Nicholas Stone.” I was so emotional; I wanted to burst into tears at how proud Alex sounded.

  “And I, Chase Knox, also from the Knox coven, give Ryan Knox to Nicholas Stone. Who I know will treat her well and love her like she deserves.” I looked to Chase, shocked, and then back to Nico, expecting to see anger on his face, but instead all I saw was respect. He respected Chase for protecting me.

  “You have my word, Mr. Knox, that I will love her till the day I die and treat her like the queen she already is.” Oh my God, I swooned, and the crowd murmured their hushed approval. The minister motioned for Nico to take my hand, which he did, and Alex and Chase took their seats in the front pew. I couldn’t focus on anything else except for Nico. I was one lucky woman. Even with heels on, I had to crane my neck back to look him in the eye.

  “We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of the king of Farrarie, Nicholas Stone, and the queen of the Knox coven, Ryan Knox.” I heard murmurs around the chapel and grunts of disagreement at my title. I dropped my gaze only for Nico to put his finger under my chin and lift my gaze back to him.

  “Never look down, love. You are queen, and they will fucking know it soon enough.” Nico spoke quietly so only I could hear. I gave him a stiff nod and continued to hold my head high as the minister continued to speak. I was shaken from my daze when the minister called Nico’s name. I looked at Nico, confused, but he just smiled and winked at me.

  “You can read your vows now, son.” What? Nico wrote his own vows? Shit! I didn’t write anything for him. Why am I always awkward like this?

  “Shhhh, love, it’s fine.” Clearing his throat, he spoke louder so everyone could hear.

  “Ryan Knox, you are an amazing, talented, and strong woman with a heart of gold and the purest soul I have ever encountered. I met you by chance many years ago. I didn’t know then that you were to grow and become my hugacko.” Murmurs broke out across the chapel again, people clearly shocked at Nico’s admission. Judging from the smile on his face, that is what he was aiming for.

  “You, Ryan, are my better half. You are the other half to my soul. Without you, there is no me. I promise to love you from this day forth, and I promise to stand by your side and fight beside you through every battle. I promise to adore you till the end of time. Ryan Knox, I have been in love with you since the first time I came to you in your dreams two years ago, and I am the happiest and luckiest man alive to be able to be standing here in front of you today. I cannot wait to be able to call you my wife. I love you, Ry.” I was crying. I could feel the tears rolling down my cheeks. I couldn’t wait any longer; I stood on my tiptoes and pulled his face down to mine and kissed him. After a minute, I heard someone clearing their throat.

  “Cut it out, you two, we haven’t gotten to that part yet” I pulled away from Nico to see Dom grinning at me and wiggling his eyebrows. I couldn’t help but blush.

  “Okay, well, let’s get to that part already, shall we?” I chuckled at the minister and so did a few others. “Do you, Ryan Knox, take this man to be your husband?”

  “I do.”

  “And do you, Nicholas Stone, take this woman to be your wife?”

  “I do.”

  “Then by the powers invested in me by the elder council in Farrarie, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Nico, you may now kiss your bride.” Nico leaned down to place his lips on mine, but I felt a sharp pain in my chest and gasped.

  “What is it,
love?” I couldn’t talk past the pain, it was excruciating. I felt like someone was ripping my chest open.

  “Everyone out now!”

  “Get the fuck out!”

  I didn’t know who was shouting and telling everyone to get out. I was too consumed by the pain in my chest. As another wave of pain hit, my knees gave out, and I landed with a thud. Nico quickly grabbed my head before it could hit the stairs. The pain was getting worse. I screamed out as another wave of pain ripped through me.

  “It’s the bounds on her power. Dom, put up a force field to minimize any damage now. Alex, Chase—I need you both to help him maintain the blast. There are too many people outside if this goes sideways; they will get hurt.” I closed my eyes, trying to focus on not screaming. My body started to feel hot. I could feel myself getting hotter and hotter, from the tips of my toes to the tips of my fingers.

  “What do we do?”

  “I have no idea.”

  I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I screamed out, in agony. I felt like I was being burned alive.

  I was clawing at my dress, trying to rip it off. I needed to get all my clothes off to try cool myself down, but I couldn’t focus.

  My head was pounding and felt like it was going to burst any minute. Fuck, right now I would welcome death if it would just make this pain stop. My veins felt like they were filled with liquid lava, and I couldn’t hear or see anything now. It was all just fire and fury.

  Chapter 40

  Nico

  “What do we do?”