Although I hadn’t gotten much sleep, I was buzzing more than if I’d just shot myself up with ten cups of coffee.

Today’s the day Caleb’s going to make me his.

Everyone who’d been floating around the apartment helping with final preparations had now left for the venue. It was just my mother and I left in the apartment.

She approached behind me, running her hands down my arms and kissing my cheek.

“How are you feeling?”

“High,” I murmured.

She chuckled.

“Is that how you felt when you married Dad?”

“Something like that… Are you ready to leave?”

“I think so.”

I looped my arm through hers and we made our way out of the apartment, down the elevator and along the forest path. I could hear the chattering of a large crowd even from this distance. My palms began to grow sweaty—something I’d noticed a lot since I discovered my fire powers.

I suddenly had a horrible vision of my mascara melting from my body heat and dripping down my cheeks as I walked down the aisle.

“Is it usual to imagine everything that could possibly go wrong?”

“Yes,” my mother said, giggling. “You’re going to be fine, honey. Before you know it, it will all be over. Just enjoy it while it lasts.”

As we approached, I was taken aback by the sheer number of people who’d gathered for my wedding. I’d expected many to turn up, but not quite this many. For as far as I could see, chairs were spread out among the trees, all circling around the main gazebo that Corrine had set up. The gazebo was draped with light pink and white silk fabric and lined with roses, and it had been erected on a raised platform. Hanging back from the crowd, and standing on the path before us, were my father and my bridesmaids, Abby, Becky, Ariana and Ashley. The bridesmaids were dressed in matching lilac dresses.

I gave them all a weak smile.

As soon as my father laid eyes on me, he choked up. I said hello, but he didn’t respond. He just nodded, his eyes sparkling. My mother, tears in her own eyes, took his hand and kissed his cheek before hugging me once more.

“Good luck,” she said. “I’ll see you on the other side…”

“Thanks,” I croaked.

Ariana handed me a delicate bouquet of roses. Then I turned to my father. He held out his arm for me to take and I clasped it tight.

“Thank you,” I whispered, “for being the best dad in the world.”

He looked down at me, then shook his head. “No, Rose,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Thank you. I couldn’t have wished for a braver, smarter, more beautiful daughter. I couldn’t be prouder of you.”

I felt my own eyes well with tears.

“Dammit, Dad. You’re making me cry. My makeup is going to smudge.”

“You don’t need makeup anyway,” he muttered, turning to face the gazebo.

From where I was standing, I couldn’t yet see Caleb. We were standing a little aside from the aisle, so I couldn’t see straight down it, and there were too many people still taking their seats.

Once everyone had settled and the chattering had died down, my bridesmaids walked around me and picked up the hem of my dress. I exchanged a final glance with my father before lowering my veil.

“Here we go…” he whispered.

I gripped my father’s arm harder as we walked forward along the forest path and appeared at the end of the aisle. Straight ahead of me was the gazebo, under which stood Ibrahim—who usually took on the role of leading couples through the wedding ceremony—Micah, Caleb’s best man, and right in the center, the man himself. The love of my life. Caleb Achilles.

Wherever Caleb had gone, I could see that Corrine had managed to make sure he looked presentable in her eyes. He wore a gorgeous black tuxedo coupled with a crisp white shirt. His hair wasn’t slicked back—it hung naturally, touching the sides of his handsome face—which was the way I liked it. I could see the warmth in his eyes even through my veil and from this distance. They were positively sparkling as he stared at me.

My face flushed. Heck, my whole body heated up.

My feet felt shaky, and I was glad to have such a strong support as my father.

“Almost there, darling,” he whispered.

My heart racing, I barely noticed the guests. My eyes were fixed on the brown-eyed vampire who would soon own every part of me.

We neared closer and closer until we had arrived within five feet of him. Stretching out his arm and helping me up onto the platform, my father guided me toward Caleb and stepped back.

So close to Caleb now, I could make out every detail of his chiseled face. I felt grateful for the veil, because a stupid grin split my face as we locked eyes. It seemed to be contagious, because soon he was grinning too. Only he didn’t have a veil to hide behind.

I tried to rein myself in. At every wedding I’d attended, the bride always smiled gracefully, not grinned like a fool. I felt like such a dork. Still, I couldn’t help myself. Caleb just had that effect on me. He made me burst to life.

When it came time to exchange vows, my throat felt so dry I was sure that I’d sound like Lilith when I opened my mouth. I was glad that Caleb went first.

“Rose,” Caleb began. His expression was serious now as he looked deep into my eyes. “When you collided with my world, I was afraid that you might break. I put all my efforts into locking you away, trying to shelter and hide you from danger. With time, it became clear that my fears were unfounded. You revel in adversity—it only makes you stronger, braver… more beautiful in my eyes. I want to wake up to your smile every day for the rest of my existence. You, Rose, are the one, the only one, for me. And I’m honored that you’ve chosen me as the one for you.”