by K. A Knight
For my kids, for their kids, and for the generations beyond that.
When we get back to The Ring, the sun is setting, throwing beautiful shades of orange and red across the sky and sand. I let Sascha and her men unload everything, while I go tell my men I’m back so they don’t worry.
I wander through the community we built as people wave and greet me. I spot Clarissa gardening with some of the guards and women. There are people eating and drinking outside, while others lounge about. Everyone is happy and safe, thanks to Worth…and us. All the death and pain is worth it. This little haven, sanctuary…oasis in the middle of all this agony.
That’s like me and my men—an oasis.
I don’t see them out here, so I head to our rooms, the place where we have spent so many hours together, learning to grieve, to love. It’s where we are free from prying eyes, where we can be together forever.
When I open the door, I gawk. My heart lodges in my throat, and I freeze as my stomach flips. I sweep my eyes around the room repeatedly, disbelief filling me.
The whole space is alight with candles, throwing the room into a sultry, beautiful haze, and in the middle of it are my men, waiting in a line. Clay looks nervous, Archel smiles, Jago is expressionless, and Evan is wincing.
“What—” I whisper, swallowing the frog in my throat as I stare at them, wondering what is happening. “What is it? Did I forget a birthday? An anniversary?” I ask with a grimace.
“No, Brawler.” Jago grins and then looks at Evan. “Go ahead.”
I watch him take a deep breath as I stare at him in confusion, my heart racing as if it knows something I don’t.
“I’ve never been very good at lying to you, Pip,” Evan whispers, then he clears his throat and shares a look with the others. “I have loved you since I was just a boy. I’m not perfect, we both know that. I’ll piss you off and you’ll kick my ass, but I’ll love you with every fibre of my being.” He takes a deep breath and gets down on one knee. “You’re my best friend, Pip, my lover, my life, and the reason I am the man kneeling before you today. Without you, there is no me, so I’m asking you, begging you, if you will do me the honour of making me your husband?” he inquires with tears in his eyes. His hands shake before him as he presents a box and opens it. It’s a band, a golden one, with a traditional diamond offset from the ring.
“I—” I gasp, wide-eyed.
“Not yet, Princess,” Archel jokes.
Jago clears his throat and drops to his knee as well, holding his fist up.
“You drive me wild. You used to infuriate me so much, with your loud, rude babbling…and yet you’re so fucking beautiful and amazing that I can’t even think when I’m around you. You make me want to be a better man, the man you deserve, and I will spend the rest of my life trying, even when you tell people about my dick.” He grins, making me choke on a laugh. “Be mine forever?” he finishes and uncurls his palm, exposing another ring. This one is thicker than the other, strong, sturdy, and simple like our love, with another diamond in the side.
“Princess,” Archel begins, and he bows before dropping to his knee with a flourish. “You stole my heart the moment I saw your ass—” He grunts when Jago elbows him. “I mean face. You smiled at me, and I swear I finally understood everything Dray talked about when he mentioned soulmates. I searched, waited, and loved you from afar.”
“Stalker,” I tease, and he winks.
“I’ll spend the rest of my life being your shadow, loving you, making you laugh, and killing those who dare to hurt you. I’ll bring you coffee, even if I have to search the world for it just to see your smile. I’ll hold you when you struggle, and I’ll be whatever you need, because I love you more than I ever knew I was capable of. You gave me back my heart and yours with it, and I will guard them for eternity. Princess, marry me?” He exposes a ring. The band is black and matte, and it has another diamond in it.
Clay kneels with his hands over his heart in a respectful gesture. “You never have to be alone again, Pascha,” he says as I stare into those bright eyes. “I was alone, nearly all my life, until you came along and brought joy, laughter, and love back into it. You made me want to fight for something other than my land—my pascha, a true leader. I will never tire of your strength, beauty, and madness. We fell in love under the stars, and now I’m asking you to take me as yours forever. To trust me to heal you, protect you, and fight with you. I’m asking you to be mine…” He looks at the others. “To be ours. Our pascha.”
“Princess,” Archel adds.
“Brawler.” Jago smiles.
“Pip,” Evan finishes. “For the rest of our days?”
I look back at Clay as he produces two rings. One is silver, like that of his mask, with a diamond off one side, and the other is a very thin delicate mix of all the metal colours with a stone in the middle.
“When they are put together, they make one beautiful ring, with you in the centre like that stone. Four chambers of a heart, with you as the beat. Apart, we are alone. Together, we are whole,” Archel explains.
Tears fill my eyes as I stare at them, truly, utterly speechless for once.
“We finally did it,” Archel jokes and then swallows. “But, Princess, we are going to need an answer,” he urges nervously. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him so. Jago too, he’s practically as pale as a ghost.
It’s what makes me step closer. It’s what makes me open my mouth and finally speak. Because like they said, when they cannot, I will, and when I cannot, they will. We are one, we are whole, we are soulmates.
“Yes, yes, yes. I’ll be yours,” I tell them softly and then laugh. “You’re stuck with me forever now!” I almost yell as they rush to their feet.
They embrace me, pass me around, and kiss and hug me. There are laughter and tears and so much happiness, I almost choke on it. I can barely breathe around it as they put me down and slide the rings onto my finger, and I finally see how they slot together. Each one is different, yet they fit together perfectly to make a stunning ring that climbs all the way to my knuckle.
Sturdy, strong, beautiful, and lasting, just like our love.
Someone knocks on the door as I’m kissing Jago, and I turn as it’s ripped open. “Did she say yes yet?” two voices yell, and then Worth and Clarissa are there, staring at me hopefully.
“I said yes!” I squeal, and then I rush into their arms as they laugh and hug me. Worth’s men come in behind her, and they congratulate my guys. Dray smacks Archel so hard, he falls. I pull back and smile. “Were you in on this?”
“Like they could do this alone,” Clarissa scoffs. “We even got Sascha in on it to get you out of here so we could get ready.”
“And William made the rings for them, even though he threatened to make one into a dick to get back at you,” Worth tells me as I laugh. “Now let’s celebrate!” she calls and drags me outside. I glance back at my men before I turn forward, and outside, it seems like all of The Ring is gathered.
Worth lifts my hand into the air.
“My general is to be married! Let’s celebrate!” she shouts, and cheers instantly go up. Music is played, and alcohol and food are passed around. As I stand here, with my men behind me and their rings on my finger, I can’t help but grin. I wish my mum were here to see this, but I know she would be so proud of me and the life I’ve built thanks to them. I turn to see them grinning widely, accepting people’s congratulations.
They are so getting laid tonight.
I’m given a bottle and offered my own congratulations. I say more thank yous than I can count. I dance with my men, drink, and eat, and at the end of the night, I sit in their arms, staring up at the stars. Clarissa and Worth are with us, as are their men. Sascha is even here, sitting back and sipping a bottle with Nan.
“I want to get married on the cliff,” I murmur, and then look around at my men. “It’s where my mother found herself and where she was buried. It’s also where Jago and I fell in love again, and where we all agreed to n
ever leave each other no matter what. There on the cliff, in that house, are memories of my past, present, and future. It seems only right that it’s the place we choose to share our vows, our love… It’s the last place my father was alive. It’s almost like he is there too. I want to do it on the cliff so my mother and father can be with me.” I look to Worth. “I understand you probably wouldn’t be able to come—”
“Just fucking try to stop me.” She snorts. “The Ring will be okay for a while. We’ll sneak away.”
“We can invite only those you want to attend. I’ll arrange transport and security. You guys can go first to alert any residents and get it ready.” Sascha nods. “Whatever you want, boss, we can do it.”
“I’m coming too, if that’s okay?” Clarissa calls.
“I expected no less.”
“Aye, fuck it, guess I’ll be there too. There will be booze, right?” Nan hollers, making us all laugh.
“Plenty of booze,” I assure her. “And probably some men you can hit on.”
She teases me then. “Knew I liked you. I will be there.”
“So it’s settled.” I nod and look over at my men. “Is that okay?”
“Pip, wherever you want to get married is fine with us, we just want to marry you.”
“He’s right, Pascha—wherever you want, we are there.”
I nearly cry again, and Jago groans, leans in, and kisses me to distract me. “No more crying, you know I hate it,” he grumbles as he pulls away, but he’s smiling. “Now…I’m thinking we need to celebrate ourselves?”
I leap to my feet, almost stumbling in my rush. “Sorry, gotta go, ladies, it’s orgy time!” I yell and grab my closest man, Archel, who laughs and smacks my ass. “Your fiancée needs her orgasms, so remind me why I’m marrying you,” I taunt. I ignore the catcalls and whispers as I drag my other men up, and then they chase me back to our rooms, laughing the entire time.
My heart is so full, it might explode, and then my pussy is filled too.
The key to a happy marriage, I’m betting.
The preparations begin the next day. We don’t see any point in wasting time. We pack everything we might need, and with Clarissa and Nan and a few guards, we set off towards the north and Abel. The guards have their own gear to camp with, and Worth will follow in a few days as long as Abel is okay with it, but it feels right. Excitement fills me, just like last time I was heading up there, but now it’s not for adventure or to hunt, it’s for my happily ever after. I don’t see why he wouldn’t be okay with it, but I make sure the guards know they might have to sleep outside. After all, there is only so much room in Abel’s house, and I want him to feel comfortable. After so many years alone, it may be too much for him to have all these people around him.
The trip should take a day or two. We want to make enough stops for Nan and the others—though Nan could probably outride all of us as she speeds past us with a whoop, her cardigan flying in the wind as she guns her bike. She drives a huge motorcycle, with a big seat and an attached sidecar.
We manage to reach Ivar’s before stopping for the night, and then the next day, we camp out in the open. When the sun rises, we start moving. Today we will reach the cliff and Abel, and nerves run through me. For some reason, I’m worried about what he will think. I’m hoping he will be happy we chose to have it with him. As the miles pass and we get closer and closer, I find myself second-guessing my decision, but when we stop at the end of the hidden entryway and I see him waiting with a wide smile—obviously hearing our arrival—all my fear disappears. I shut down my bike and get off, walking over with a large smile. He hugs me instantly.
“You’re back so soon,” he says as he pulls away and grins at me. “Not that I’m complaining, and you brought company?”
I block his view and take his hands, holding them as I lick my lips. I think about what to ask before I just blurt it out. “I’m getting married.” I turn my hand to show him the ring.
“How wonderful, Piper!” He grins widely. “Why do you look worried?”
“I want to do it here. I want to get married here, where my mum lived, so she can be a part of it,” I whisper and swallow as he stares at me, his lips tilting down in understanding. “Is that okay?”
“Of course it is. This is as much your home as it is mine. How many people are we talking?” He looks us over. “I need more beds and food—”
“Don’t worry about that, we will figure it out and not intrude as much as we can, but Abel…I have one more question.”
He blinks, meeting my eyes again as I take a deep sigh. “My father isn’t here, my mother isn’t either, and you are the closest thing I have to a parent. I was hoping, praying really, that you would be a part of the wedding. I know you never expected to find or know me, but I feel like we were brought together for a reason. I understand why you might say no, but I want you to be a part of it, part of my new life—”
“Piper, just ask.” He smiles.
“Will you walk me down the aisle?” I rush out and swallow.
“Nothing, I mean nothing, would make me happier,” he vows, and then leans down to kiss my hand. “Your mother would be so proud and honoured you are having it here. Let’s go inside and get you all settled.”
I turn back to the others and wave them in. It’s a rush of bodies and people. We get Nan settled in a room, Clarissa in another, and we take the one we shared before. The others are happy to camp outside in the sun, since they are used to it.
Abel puts out plenty of food for the hungry warriors, and the kitchen is crowded with men and women. I see him smiling, taking it all in, and I feel like we are healing Abel one step at a time. After eating, my men and the guards under Clarissa’s command start on the area outside. She won’t let me help, forcing me to stay indoors. I find Nan at the table, working her way through Abel’s booze, as she orders people around. He’s sitting with her, drinking as she regales him with stories of me and The Wastes. I leave her to it as I head to the living room. I find my mother’s face frozen in one of her videos on the screen and kneel before it, smiling.
“I’m getting married, Mum,” I whisper. “You would love them. They are incredibly sweet, strong, and so perfect for me, it almost hurts. They laugh with me, cry with me, and hold me up when I feel like I can’t stand anymore. They…they are my soulmates.” I wipe away a stray tear, smiling through it.
“I wish you were here so badly to help me get ready, to laugh and hold my hand. But a part of you is here, and I know I’m doing the right thing. Abel said he will give me away. I know Dad would have liked that, you too, and I know you’ll both be watching when I say I do.” I close my eyes, pressing my hand to the screen. “It doesn’t make up for you being gone though. It hurts knowing you won’t be here, but it’s enough, it has to be. I love you so much. Thank you for bringing me to a new home, for giving me an amazing life, a life which brought me to my soulmates. Thank you for being my mum.”
I lean in and kiss her cheek before standing, my heart sturdy, if a little sad. She will be with me. It’s time to look to my future.
That night, we gather outside, although I’m not allowed to see what they did. We eat, drink, and laugh. Worth will be here in the morning, and the wedding will be in the afternoon. They have everything covered. All I have to do is relax, and I do, in the company of my men and Abel.
I celebrate my last night of being single—not of being free, because they would never restrict that—of being alone, because no matter what is to come, I will never be alone again. My men will be there, our life an adventure.
I can’t sleep that night. My men surround me, but I’m too excited. I sneak downstairs, make myself a cup of tea, and nurse it at the table, watching the sun begin to rise out of the window. There’s a creak, and I turn to see Abel making his way towards me.
“Couldn’t sleep?”
“Too excited,” I admit. He chuckles and makes himself a cup before sitting. I warm my hands around my mug as I smile, meeting his eyes. “Mo
st girls dream of their wedding since they were a kid, but I never did. My mum always said any man that ever tried to marry me would have to be both crazy and stupid.” We both laugh as I look down at my cup. “I think they all are.”
“And she would love them,” he murmurs, nodding at me. “And be more than happy to see them vow themselves to you and the life you lead forever.”
“It’s silly, a child’s wish that she was here.” I swallow back my sadness. “I want to be happy. I am happy, but it’s tainted. Being here, it reminds me of her and how she should be here today.”
“She is,” he tells me, and then takes my hand. “She’s here, and you are not alone. You are surrounded by family and friends. Those who love you and want to see you happy. That in itself is something to be excited about. Miss her, of course, but today is about you, about starting your new life with your loves. It’s unconventional, I will give you that, but so are you. When you are up there today, searching the crowd for a face you wish you could see one more time, remember she is right here.” He lays his hand over the necklace. “Watching, listening, and supporting you. Unconventional, like you.”
“Thank you.” I smile and sip my tea. “I’m glad you are walking me down the aisle.”
“As am I. I’m honoured, actually, to be a part of your day.” He tops up my tea and nods at it. “Have another drink. I’m betting today is going to be fast and filled with madness, so this may be the last second of quiet you have before then.”
“I wouldn’t want to spend it with anyone else.”
Worth arrives in a whirlwind as I am staring at myself in the mirror, wondering what to wear. I remembered the grooms, I remembered the location…but I forgot the dress. Fucking hell, I can’t get married in my underwear…can I?