Thick as Thieves (The Greystone Family: Stolen Hearts #3)

Epilogue 2

EPILOGUE 2

Xander

My daughter is stunning. Her gorgeous blue eyes seem to follow me everywhere. I thought the twins were magnets, but she is pulling everyone in. To meet her is to fall under her spell.

My dad carries her around twenty-four seven. The only time he puts her down is to pick up the twins or Eamonn Purcell.

I reiterate my desire to marry them both here in Scotland. Kell just grins and taps his nose. I notice his ring finger is missing a ring. Evie hasn’t had her rings on for weeks. Her hands were swelling and the ring Kell gave her when they got married was taken off for safe keeping. She didn’t want to have it cut off. But it’s never gone back on.

We’re still up in Scotland towards the end of April. I’m looking for my wife and baby when I hear a little cry in Dad’s study. He’s taken her again. I smile as I stride into the room, ready to chastise him for stealing my daughter. But a look to the side reveals Kell and Evie sat together on the comfy old sofas. Dad, of course, holding a sleeping Rio.

“Ah, Xander, I was just coming to find you. We have something to discuss.” He points to the sofa and I sit down, kissing Evie, and touching Kell's leg.

I put my arm around the back of the sofa, pulling Evie in close to me as my fingers brush the back of Kell's neck. I see the hair start to stand up on his neck, and he shivers. I grin, my touch like a fire starter for him.

Dad looks at us all, and his eyebrows raise, but he just shakes his head.

“So, what’s going on?” I ask coolly.

“We thought we’d set the date for the wedding,” Kell states, leaning forwards and grinning at me.

My face lights up. Wow. Really? This is really happening.

“Wow, okay. When are you thinking?” My thoughts go towards the summer and potentially my birthday. The weather will be better. The nights longer.

“Beltane,” Dad states.

I spin my head towards him. “Beltane? I don’t want to wait until next year.” Beltane is only a few days away. We celebrate it beginning on May first. There are lots of events from May first all the way to a party at the house and in the village ending on the fifth.

“Not next year. This. This Beltane. I’m ready,” Dad tells me, looking down at Rio. Cooing at the child.

I look from Dad to Kell to Evie. “This year? Wow. In a few days? I—” I’m in shock. I didn’t realise Kell had been so busy.

“I’ve got the rings sorted.” He smiles at me as he pats his jeans pocket. “I’ve had mine and Evie’s doctored. And I’ve had yours made and delivered.”

I remember the kerfuffle on the rings he had made. Platinum bands for both him and Evie, with a red diamond and rubies running around Evie’s to represent the red string theory. Well that’s apt for all of us—lovers separated but never taken apart, allowing them to come back together at a different time and place. And now on Beltane. Where red cord is used to tie the knot, binding the lovers together.

I get a lump in my throat as I consider all the symbols and signs that meld together to make us whole.

“Yes, Beltane will be perfect.” I kiss Evie and pull Kell in for a hug. Wow, is this really happening?

James and Bucky join us and we finally have our full nuclear family in one place as friends and other family start to arrive. Our security team, who are basically family at this point, are with us as always, as are Valentina and Maria. The Purcells turned up over a week ago and haven’t left. Bug spends as much time with Evie as he does his wife. It’s a good job that the women love each other. Our bandmates, Levi and Gabe, jet in from the States with Tim. Jackson arrives from LA, while Jude and Jonno come back up from London, they’d only been gone about a week, bringing Pat, Pete, Jake and his daughter Sofia Greystone. Marshall arrives with Nikki and Jurgen. The biggest surprise however is Rowena. She glides in, the perfect polite fa?ade on display, oozing poise and elegance.

“Mother, how lovely to see you. How well you look.” Marcus has donned his Lord Stockton hat, kissing both her cheeks as if she was expected. My dad scoots forwards to welcome her to his home.

“Xander, how lovely to see you looking so well.” Rowena comes forward to kiss my cheek.

She turned up at the hospital in London after that fateful dinner. Apologised fully and sincerely to Evie, Marcus, and I. I don’t think I’d ever seen her look so contrite. But here, now she’s back on top form. The Dowager Countess in full theatrics. Beckoning forward her family to greet her. James and Bucky. Lachlan and Sorley. I see the chink in her act when she looks at our daughter. I even think I see a tear at the corner of her eye. She’s going to be in a fight to the death with my dad over Rioghnach. Little Rio is a bundle of joy, spreading love to anyone who holds her.

The even bigger shock, however, is her reaction to Evie. It’s nearly a gush. She practically knocks poor Orla out of the way to kiss Evie and thank her for the invite.

Marcus’s face is a picture of shock and awe. He thought my dad had invited her. But yet again, Evie Greystone has surprised us all. Extending the olive branch and keeping the family together. Kell can hardly contain himself. He pulls Evie into the speak-a-word room as soon as Rowena sweeps away like a ship under full sail, an entourage of family trailing in her wake. I've got to hand it to her. She's way more of an exhibitionist than Marcus, grabbing the limelight at every opportunity. No question about where he gets it from.

“I fucking love you, Kitten. Thank you for asking her. I know she doesn’t seem like she’s bothered, but that, for her, is amazing.” He’s kissing her face, and hugging her until she’s nearly blue.

I stride over and kiss her. “Thank you. I was thinking of asking her, but wasn’t sure what to do.” I laugh.

“You both should have said. I don’t want conflict and hassle. It’s hard enough as it is with the outside world watching us. We need our close family with us. We need their love and support.”

I smile at her. She never holds grudges. And whilst she may have a go at us—well, mainly Kell—I know it comes from a place of love.

On May eve, the night before the wedding, I put my little boys to bed. Tucking them in, they look so big compared to Rio, but they’re still only one-year-olds. Not two until the end of the year. I kiss their beautiful heads as they snuggle down. Walking out of their room, I catch my dad, yet again, carrying Rio downstairs.

“She hasn’t settled, so I’m going to take her.” He grins at me. “Oh, and Evie gave me this to give you.” He hands me a note in an envelope, my name on the front in Evie’s scrawly handwriting. I frown a little as I stand and open it, Dad waving at me as he descends the stairs.

‘Xan. come to your workshop down past the fairy ring. 10:00 p.m. Don’t tell Kell. It’s a surprise.’

I raise my eyebrows at that. What on earth has she planned for us now? I know it's not a conventional wedding. Indeed, her and Kell’s wasn’t remotely conventional the first time around. He ambushed her at a meeting and press-ganged her into marriage. And this one is a handfasting marriage. So I suppose we are dispensing with all traditions. Not seeing the bride—oh, and err, groom in this case—the night before the wedding is clearly being thrown out on its ear.

As I set off down the path to my workshop, the light is nearly gone, and that dark blue hue that only seems to be in Scotland illuminates my way. To be honest, I could find my way blindfolded. The forest is on my left, the mountains and the loch are to my right. The ripples on the loch making a gentle noise as I walk past, the little beach standing out in the darkening skies.

I get to the path that leads to the fairy clearing—a ring of stones that no one knows who put there. So old, so magical. I hesitate whether to go there first or go to the workshop. The Fairy Prince wins out, and I detour, the space in front of me getting darker and darker as the trees close in. But my feet are steadfast on the path.

The trees widen out into a clearing. It’s eerie on a good day, but tonight it feels even more majestic. I can almost feel the power coming up from the ground. I walk over and pull a small knife from my pocket. Knicking my skin, I rub the blood bubble onto one of the stones.

“I’m getting married,” I tell the trees, and the stones. “You know them. You’ve met them. I love them. They love it here. My boys and my daughter were born here. I hand them over to you. Keep them safe.” I bow my head, a smile playing on my lips. Maybe Dad has been rubbing off on me. My smile gets wider when I hear the responding rustle of the trees. I nod my head in acknowledgement and leave. I’ve officially lost it. But what a way to do it, talking to trees, stones, and Fairy Princes.

I rejoin the path and see the light on in my workshop as I walk towards it.The workshop is my calm space. A place I let my conscious self take a backseat and just let my hands create. The warm, red brick and green windows and doors feel like home. Floor to ceiling windows at one end allow the last of the daylight into the building. The other end is full brick, a woodburner that constantly burns keeps the place dry and warm, even in the coldest of winters. I push open the double oversized green door, closing it behind me.

They’re both stood in the middle of the room. I haven’t seen Kell all day as he went out with Jonno earlier, but now he’s stood behind Evie, his hands around her front, his head bent, his face nestling in her hair.

He looks up as I enter, his green gaze intent. The smile he gifts me takes my breath away. He could be any age from birth to now, giving me that same smile. It’s the one he saves only for me. Evie’s smile is one from my dreams too. Churchyards, hills, fields. Everything is in that smile.

“Are you both in on this?” I gesture around me. There’s a whiskey decanter set on the side. Food bursting out of a picnic basket. Behind them, the sofa has been pulled up to face the open log burner, the heat blazing outwards.

But it’s not the flames that are making me sweat. It’s the look in both of their eyes. Love and lust is staring back at me.

I must look nervous, as Evie starts towards me. A huge grin on her face.

“Happy May Eve, Xander,” she exclaims, drawing me into a hug. Her arms around my neck, pulling me to her, she places her lips on mine. Her eyes open, so fucking beautiful, grabbing hold of my soul and drawing it out. Taking it into her body.

Kell walks over grinning. “I’m not in on anything. I was told to show up here at this time. It’s all Kitten.” He kisses me and stands next to me. “We need to stick together, Xander. She's giving off weird vibes.”

He’s smirking at her. It’s more like a challenge. Bring it on baby his whole body is shouting out to us both. He’s crazy at times.

“Well I do have something on my mind,” she purrs out. Walking towards a small sculpture of a horse, running her fingers over the metal, her eyes remain on me the whole time. “You know it’s May Eve.”

“Why do you keep saying that?” Kell asks. “You’ve mentioned it at least three times to me already and I’ve only just got here.”

She looks over at me, and grins. Oh Fuck. She knows I’ll know the meaning of this day and night. You don’t live here in these old hills and not know all the festivals and rituals.

“May Eve is the day before Beltane. The fire festival. It’s the night of the Greenwood marriage.” I alter my stance slightly, making it more alpha, more dominating. I hear Kell's intake of breath. Oh yeah. I drop my voice to a husky whisper. “The night of the sexuality of life and the Earth is at its peak. It’s all about the fertility.”

Now I do hear Kell gasp and he looks at Evie. He’s gone a bit pale. I carry on, my voice getting lower but stronger. The register running into an almost growl. “Sex, sensuality, passion, joy. Virility and vitality.” I stop and stare at them, both gone completely still, prey waiting to be pounced on. “It’s also about conception. A point in the year where hopes and dreams and ideas come into action.” My eyes are fixed on Evie now. I see exactly what she’s about. I see exactly what we’re doing here on this particular night.

“Fertility and conception,” Kell chokes out. His face is as pale as a ghost as he looks over at Evie, his eyes wide with shock.

She’s stood stock still next to my workbench, skimming her hands over the wood, as if she’s caressing us both. The biggest challenge in her eyes.

“Oh my fucking God. No way, not again. Now. Really?” Kell turns to me pleading. I can see his pulse pounding.

“I said I didn’t want to wait,” she states, her voice matching mine, low and husky. She’s turned up the magnetic force, and our bodies are responding unconsciously. We’re inching closer and we don’t even know it.

“Waiting. It’s only six weeks. Surely that’s not safe. Xan, tell her.” He backhands me in the chest, trying to break the trance she’s put me in.

“I’ve one condition.” I don’t take my eyes from her. My eyelids feel heavy as the desire starts to take hold.

“One? Just one? No, Xan. It’s not safe, Kitten, please.” Kell is losing his mind. He drops to his knees in front of her. “Please, is it safe? Just tell me that. I thought you had to wait. I thought twelve months, not six weeks.” He’s looking up at us both, helpless and vulnerable.

“It’s as safe as anything is in childbirth. I’ve checked. It’s fast and not recommended, but not unsafe.” She looks from one of us to the other. “Kell, if you really don’t want any more children, I won’t ask this of you.” She’s serious. If he says no, we won’t.

He drops his head to his chest and she runs her hands around his face, caressing him, trying to alleviate his tension.

“I’m just a bit freaked out. I never expected this again. And not so soon.” He lifts his eyes to me. “Xander, do you think it’s safe? I worry, you know. It’s just, with everything, I couldn’t lose you, Kitten. It was bad enough with Xan in the hospital.”

She pulls him to his feet. “I love you. I wouldn’t knowingly do anything to hurt you. If it is a definite no from you, this does not happen.” She gestures to us all.

He looks from me to her and back. He shakes his head. “No, I want what you want. If you want more children, we can.” He gifts us a small smile. “No pressure on me. Sorry, Xan.” He shrugs, looking guilty.

She turns the full force of her love on me. It’s been battering at Kell and he’s capitulated.

I pull her forwards. “I will do anything you ask of me. But—” I look at them both. “I want us to be handfast first. I can do it here. The three of us. This is just for us. Tomorrow can be about everyone else. Here, tonight, this night is for us three only.”

Kell smiles the widest smile he ever has, and Evie starts to giggle.

“Deal,” they both chime at once.

I grab a deep red leather strap that’s laid on my bench. “Hands in,” I command. Their hands come together and clasp each other. I loop the leather in a figure of eight and create a third loop, so that it looks like a trinity knot. I slip my hand in.

“You’ve done that before.” Kell grins at me, his salacious smile leaving me in no doubt of what he’s referring to.

“Do we have to say some vows?” Evie asks. “I’m not sure I can remember all the wedding vows. Only the love and honour bits.

I shake my head. “No, this is more informal. We can say what we want. I’ll go first so you can repeat or add in.” I look at the two people in front of me, my heart full of love.

“I’ve loved you both my whole life. I’ve never fallen in love before, and I always wondered why. Through my twenties and thirties, when people met and fell in love, I was envious in a way as it had never happened to me. I always knew I loved you both, but maybe I pushed it aside, assumed it was puppy love. A love of a child. But it wasn’t. It was waiting. Waiting to be reborn, rejuvenated. Waiting for the right moment to resurface and remind me of how deep the love is. How intense, how pure the love that I have for you both.”

I pull the leather tighter. Kitten has tears in her eyes. “I bind us together from this day onwards for the rest of our lives. I will love and cherish you both. You are blood of my blood and bone of my bone. I give you my body so we are as one.”

I lean forwards, kissing Evie so deeply, her lips are bruised. I turn and kiss Kell, my free hand holding his head. The look in his eyes blinds me. All his emotions are in his face, every ounce of love and passion laid bare.

He nods at me and speaks his truth. “Xander, I have known and loved you my whole life. You have dragged me through this world, a constant at my side. Never wavering. To fall in love with your best friend on the day your sons arrive on this Earth is something I did not think I would experience. But I did.

“Evie, to give me the gift of your love, and our children, I do not have the words for the depth of feeling I have. To say I love you is too easy. I fell in love with you that day in the river, and every day since. I vow to love and honour you. Cherish and worship you both. I too am blood of my blood and bone of my bone. I give my heart, my soul, and my body, so we are as one.”

Kell leans forwards and pulls Evie into a hug and kiss. He then smiles widely and pulls me to him. His kiss is light, almost a whisper. He deepens the kiss, and it bruises my heart.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out three rings. Our rings. He’s added a band of rubies to all of them. But when you look really closely, it’s actually three thin lines, all interwoven. He places the ring on Evie’s finger, then mine, then his own.

We both turn to look at the woman who has bound us to her. Her ring is like a beacon of love on her finger, calling us home regardless of any vows. The woman who, without her, none of this would have happened. I feel as if my soul is floating around in the ether.

She starts to speak, her voice low and melodic. I feel as if I’m in a trance. “Kell, I knew I loved you when I pushed you into that ditch.” She pauses, smiling at him. “That day in the river, I handed over my heart. Well, at least half of it.” She grins at him, and I see the nine-year-old girl who gave him a shove down into Broadridge, when he was fighting with her brothers.

“Xander, I kissed you in a graveyard, and handed over the other half of my heart.” Her eyes fill with tears as if she’s remembering that day. The wind, the cold hard ground. “You’d had a place holder card on it for years. But that day, you took it.”

She looks down, smiling. When she lifts her head, it’s as if the blast doors have been opened and we are going to burn to death in the white heat. “I know that we were separated for a lot of years, but I never forgot you. You walked through my dreams on many a night. When the stars were bright and the nights cold, you were both always with me. I hand over everything that I am. I trust you both to keep me safe, and love me and our children. I am totally and utterly blood of my blood, and bone of my bone. I give you my heart, my soul, and my body, so that we three shall be one.”

Looking for more from Wren? Get ready to dive into two new series: Greystone Brothers Security and B4d Intel are coming soon.