Troubled (The Binding Chronicles #4)

41. Epilogue

Seven years later

“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” Marius’s voice came from behind Vivienne, his hands wrapping around her waist as he held her to him. His familiar warmth pressed against her back, and she hummed, letting her head fall against his shoulders.

“I know,” she murmured. “But I want to.”

She was excited about this. Although this commitment wasn’t truly necessary since they were already Bound, she wanted to do it.

She just hadn’t expected to wake up with tears in her eyes.

His thumb traveled along her stomach, tracing mindless patterns over her silk nightgown. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Her gaze returned to the white, lacy dress hanging from the top of their wardrobe. The tailored gown was beautiful. Form hugging, but not too tight. The back was low, almost non-existent. Perfect for her wings. It was everything she’d hoped it would be.

“I just wish my mother were here. She would’ve loved this.” Vivienne turned and gazed up into her prince’s handsome face. “She would’ve loved you . They both would’ve.”

Her parents would’ve seen Marius for the great man he was.

Over the past seven years, she’d traveled across the Four Kingdoms with her Bound Partner, and she’d seen the many different sides of him. The way his eyes crinkled when he laughed. The way he tapped his hand on his thigh when he was intrigued. The flush of his cheeks when he got angry or flustered.

Every side of him only made her love him more.

That was why, when Marius had asked her to marry him a year ago on the anniversary of their Binding, she’d agreed without a second thought.

Their love had been fragile and fresh when they’d first been Bound, but that was no longer the case. It had strengthened over time, and now, it was as unbreakable as the magic tying them together.

Marius kissed her softly, his lips brushing over hers. “I’m sure they’re watching over us now, right beside my parents.”

She leaned against him.

“Do you think they’re proud of us?” she whispered.

His finger went beneath her chin, and he tilted her head slowly until she met his gaze. “Without a doubt, Viv.”

Tension melted from her shoulders as he gazed upon her tenderly. She would never fully understand how she’d ended up being so blessed.

“You know, I’m the worst bodyguard there ever was,” she murmured, turning around in his arms.

His brown eyes widened. “No?—”

She chuckled, raising her marked hand and placing her index finger on his lips, silencing him.

“I am, and it’s okay.” Her chest warmed at the sight of those beautiful black markings of their Binding. They would never fade, a permanent reminder of the magic that tied them together. “I might have failed as a bodyguard, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be a good wife.”

His lips tilted up. “You’re going to be an amazing wife,” he murmured, kissing the pad of her finger. “The best one I’ve ever had.”

“The only one you’ll ever have,” she reminded him.

“Exactly. That’s what I said.” His hands fell to her hips, and he bent his head. He kissed her long and hard, his tongue sweeping through her mouth.

“I can’t wait until you’re my wife, Vivienne,” he said against her lips. “I’ve waited a long time for this.”

“I hope it was worth the wait.”

He lifted her off the ground, carrying her to the bed. Settling himself between her legs, he gazed upon her with love and affection as he ran his knuckles down her collarbone, over her silk nightdress, and beneath the hem.

His hand rested on her thigh, and he murmured, “I would’ve waited an eternity for you, my beautiful creature of the night.”

Then, he bent and showed her exactly how much he loved her.

Vivienne’s heart beat steadily as she stood outside the large double doors of Castle Sanguis’s throne room. Two vampires stood sentinel on either side, but other than acknowledging her when she first arrived, neither spoke to her.

That was fine—this was her moment to mentally prepare for what lay ahead.

She’d waited for this day for a year, and the moment was finally here. Her white lace gown was draped over her body, her wings were spread behind her, and she gripped a bouquet of blood-red roses to her chest with white-knuckled hands.

Breathe .

She’d been calm until she’d slipped the dress on and overheard two castle servants remarking about the new princess. Then, her heart had stopped beating for one long moment, and it hadn’t entirely recovered.

For some reason, it had slipped her mind that this wedding would do more than just declare to the world that she loved Marius and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. In her mind, it was a formality at best, since they were Bound.

But now, she realized that by tying herself to him in matrimony, she’d be more than his wife. She’d be a princess.

That was so far from anything she’d ever pictured for herself that, for a long moment, she’d considered running in the other direction.

She wasn’t, nor had she ever aspired to be, princess material.

She was a soldier. A bodyguard. For the gods’ sake, she preferred wearing fighting leathers to dresses, swordsmanship to embroidery, and killing to drinking tea and talking politics.

She was about as far from the perfect princess as one could get.

But then, before Vivienne could drown in the dark ocean of panic threatening to overwhelm her, she visualized Marius’s face. His brown eyes that sparkled when he laughed. The rugged cut of his hair. The slight curve of his halfling ears. The way his eyes darkened right before he kissed her. The adventures they’d already shared, and the ones they had yet to have.

And slowly, her heart rate steadied. Her breathing evened out. Tension seeped out of her.

It didn’t matter what they called her: bodyguard, princess, or just Vivienne .

She wasn’t doing this for the people of Eleyta, the vampires that inhabited Castle Sanguis, or even the king and queen.

This was for one person. Her Bound Partner, her prince, her everything .

It was that thought that had Vivienne drawing in a deep breath and rolling her shoulders.

She could do this.

A quiet knock came from the other side of the door. It cracked open.

“It’s time,” Fleur, the queen’s maid, murmured.

Vivienne smiled and nodded. Music swelled, and she straightened her back as the guards opened the doors.

She didn’t feel even the slightest hint of trepidation. Ian, her Maker, was sitting in the front row beside Felix. Tightening her grip on her roses, she smiled at them and strode forward into the packed throne room.

The High Ladies of Life and Death were sitting on the other side of the aisle. They had traveled from Ithenmyr with their mates and families.

There were many others here, and they became a blur of smiling faces as Vivienne walked towards her future husband.

At the front, on the right-hand side of the podium where the thrones usually sat, was a small table with special Light Elf orbs burning in lanterns. Two sealed envelopes sat on the table, messages addressed to Marius and Vivienne’s deceased parents. She’d cried while writing hers, but she wouldn’t cry now.

Her gaze slipped from the table to the prince, and any lingering fear she might have had dissipated.

Marius Wisethorn, halfling Prince of Eleyta, stood on the dais, dressed in a dapper black silk tunic and matching trousers. A black crown rested on his brow, and his Binding Mark peeked out from beneath his sleeve, a perfect match to the one on her arm .

He was speaking quietly with the royals behind him, but the moment the music shifted to a traditional bridal march, he turned towards her.

That was her cue. She strode towards her prince, their eyes locking together as everything else faded away. The castle, the crowd, and even the king and queen.

Nothing else existed except for the two of them.

It didn’t matter that they’d seen each other only hours before. It didn’t matter that they’d been living at each other’s sides for the better part of a decade. It didn’t even matter that other people were watching them.

This moment was theirs and theirs alone.

The prince she loved dropped his head, his shoulders shaking as he swept his fingers beneath his eyes. A watery smile danced on his face as he bit his lip. His love for her was palpable, and her heart thrummed at the sight of him.

This is the man I adore .

“Hi,” he mouthed when she reached the bottom of the dais.

Vivienne drew her bottom lip through her teeth as she climbed the stairs. She handed her flowers to Luna before standing next to her prince.

“Hey,” she whispered.

Marius blinked back tears as he reached out and took her hands. His warmth enveloped her, and she leaned towards him.

“You’re so beautiful.” Marius raised their joined hands and pressed his lips to her flesh. “And you’re mine.”

“Always,” she whispered.

The ceremony went by without a hitch. Instead of a priest, the king and queen did them the honor of presiding over their marriage. Vivienne barely heard their words, and she barely paid attention as they exchanged rings. Instead, she lost herself in the depths of Marius’s brown gaze.

He was hers .

Her prince.

Her partner in life and adventure.

And now?

Her husband.

She couldn’t imagine spending her life with anyone else.

And so, when the queen clapped her hands and said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Vivienne grinned.

“You may kiss the bride,” Sebastian added.

A hush settled over the crowd, and even though Vivienne could feel their eyes on them, she didn’t care. Let them watch.

Marius released her hand and cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. He was all she saw, all she cared about. Her heart raced in her chest as he leaned in closer.

“I love you,” he murmured, the words hushed so only she could hear them. “So gods-damned much.”

Then his lips met hers.

This kiss wasn’t a peck. It wasn’t a brush of his lips against hers. It was a heated promise to never leave her, a declaration of his love, and a vow that they would spend the rest of their days experiencing life’s many adventures together.

The crowd clapped when they finally broke apart, cheeks flushed and eyes dark.

The king cleared his throat. “Ladies and gentlemen. Honored guests. It is my greatest honor to present to you the newly married couple. Prince Marius and Princess Vivienne Wisethorn of Eleyta.”

Heat rushed to Vivienne’s cheeks as the attendees rose to their feet. They cheered and stomped as Marius flashed her a grin, tightened his grip on her hand, and tugged her down the dais. Laughing, they ran out of the throne room together .

As the doors banged shut behind them, Vivienne thought back to that first night they met all those years ago.

She never would’ve pictured this when she was chasing the prince through the ballroom, and yet, she couldn’t imagine her life going any other way.

Vivienne had no idea what tomorrow would bring, and she didn’t care. Her heart was light, her spirit was free, and she was happy. The prince she loved was by her side, and with him, she could do anything.

This was where she was always meant to be.

The End

Thank you for coming along with Marius and Vivienne on their journey.

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