by Pamela Labud
Matty was the first to speak and though he hadn’t planned it, his true love for Fiona rose to the surface and before he knew what was happening, the truth of what he felt for the woman before him became was set free from his heart.
“Fiona. I have loved you for so long, as weak and imperfect as I am, I never had the courage to act upon that love. You are my sunrise every morning and my sunset each evening. You are my light, my touch, my soul. Your capacity for forgiveness is endless, judging by the times you have forgiven me. I know I’ve not been the sort of man you deserve, but I promise from this moment forth, I will ever strive to be so. I Love you, Fiona.”
He had emptied his heart and yet with Fiona smiling back at him, he knew for the first time in his life, she’d replaced the emptiness that had always lived within him.
“Matthew,” Fiona said, her voice a wispy tone, “Matty,” she said again. “I know you and I have had a troublesome path at times, and as I’ve said, I’m not perfect, either. The fact that you loved me enough to keep coming back says a lot. It’s that core of you that always lives and breathes within me. There is goodness, kindness, and heart within you, my love. You’re everything that my heart has ever desired. I love you, Matty.”
The words of the ceremony flowed around them, but Matty’s only focus was on Fiona. When it was finished, when they had placed the rings on each other’s fingers, he knew their fate had been sealed. Nothing would ever separate them.
Then the ceremony was done, Matty drew Fiona close, and kissed her tenderly. Years of uncertainty and restlessness faded away from him and he knew that he was up to the task of being the man that Fiona needed.
He only hoped that he would get the chance to prove it.
Chapter Twenty-One
For the first time in a very long time, Fiona felt as light as a bubble. The troubles, past and future seemed to evaporate around them as they took their vows. When they placed the rings on each other’s fingers it was as if all of the planets in the universe had aligned.
“You are amazing, my beautiful, beautiful wife,” Matty said.
“As are you, husband,” Fiona giggled.
They spent the next half hour posing for pictures, then sharing the informal dinner to cutting the wedding cake.
The highlight of the evening for Fiona would forever be their first dance as a married couple.
The music cued up and a four-person band began playing an old tune, “Just You and I,” and Fiona nearly cried. When Matty took her in his arms, she nuzzled his neck, and whispered. “That was mother and father’s wedding song. How did Holly know?”
“I’ve no idea. She is a woman of many talents, though.”
With her head resting on Matty’s shoulder, she let him lead her around the dancefloor. “I feel as if I’m floating on air,” she told him.
“It is magical, isn’t it?” He sighed against her.
“I can’t believe we’ve finally done it, Matty. We’ve gotten ourselves married.”
“We have. It’s a good thing, too. I’ve run out of ways to beg you to take me back.”
Fiona laughed and hugged him tighter. “I guess you wore me down.”
“I am persistent, that way.”
When the song ended, Fiona held Matty a few seconds more. She suddenly had the urge to keep holding on. For, if she could continue like this, no one would ever dare to take him away.
But it was but a fanciful thought and she knew it was only a matter of time.
“Don’t,” Matty said, as he walked her back to the wedding table. “It’ll do no good to dwell on it now.”
“I know. I’m so scared.”
He nodded, “me, too. But I won’t let them steal one second from us. We’ve got to just live in the moment. This moment, in case it’s all we have.”
“Right.”
Then, Max and Holly appeared, hands full of champagne.
“Here,” Max said, grinning from ear to ear, “let’s do your toast and then open up the dance floor.
The room was called to order, and Max announced the toast. Fiona lifted her glass and gazed at her husband. “To Matty, my sweet, my love, it certainly took you long enough to say yes.”
Everyone laughed and Matty nodded and then held up his glass as well. “To my beautiful and amazing wife, a wise man once advised me to agree with everything you say, so I shall begin right away.” He paused a beat. “Yes, dear.”
The room exploded with laughter as they hooked arms and drank their toast. Fiona breathed in and was sure her giddiness was more from the excitement of the day rather than the celebratory drink. Still, she clung to Matty as they walked around the room, greeting friends and family. Exchanging hugs and stories, laughter and joy.
“Might I have a dance with the bride?” Her father asked.
Willie O’Malley was an austere werewolf. Six feet, seven inches of pure muscle and bone. His jet-black hair was peppered with silver, and though he wore a pleasant smile, Fiona knew he could be so delicate that he could hold a kitten or so strong that he could tear flesh from bone with his bare hands. Despite the problems he’d had with Fiona’s mother, to her knowledge he’d never laid a hand on her.
His other relationships were not so clear.
“Sure, dad.”
To her surprise, her father was a very good dancer. Fast on his feet and very much a show off. When they’d finished, he’d had her exactly in the same place where they’d started. Matty was wearing a lopsided grin and had been cheering her on the entire time.
“Here you go, son.” Willie said. He then turned to Fiona. “I know I’ve outstayed my welcome, so I will bid you good-night and wish you both a happy marriage. I do hope things work out for you, Fi.”
Fiona watched her father say good-bye to Max and Holly as well. He’d been the perfect gentleman. It wasn’t until he’d gotten to the other side of the room that Fiona saw her three brothers waiting there for him. She waved and gave them a smile, but not one of them gave her so much as a nod. Commanded by her father, the three of them turned and left the reception without even looking back.
“Pay them no mind, love,” Matty said behind her. “They may come around one day.”
She nodded, unable to say what she really felt on the matter. “It’s okay. I understand.”
The truth was, she really didn’t. Her father commanded them like an army regimen, and since she’d sided with her mother before her death, the three of them had never forgiven Fiona or her mother. They hadn’t even come to pay respects at her mother’s funeral.
“Come. Let’s have another go at the dance floor. Then, I think we’ll be have a little bit of ‘you and me’ time,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
“As you wish, husband.”
They laughed again, and she sighed as Matty drew her close. It was the dream she’d always wanted to come true.
“Fiona,” Matty said. “I’m sorry it took us so long to get here. I feel like we’ve wasted so much time.”
She pulled back from him and looked into his silver eyes. “We both took a long road to get here. We needed that time to figure it out, you know. That’s the way I see it. Besides, if you’d been one of the boring, dependable boyfriends, I probably wouldn’t have kept you around.”
“Boring and dependable? Are you saying you prefer a challenge?”
She knew he was half-joking. “I demand it.”
Laughing, he pulled her close and she delighted in how well they fit together. It was during that last dance when she glanced up and saw Hawke standing in the doorway, turned so he was talking to someone just outside the room.
Panic stirred in her gut and she instantly knew their wedding day had ended. Whomever was coming for Matty was already there.
Matty must have felt her alarm, because he tightened his arms around her. “What is it?”
“I think they’re here.” She couldn’t keep the emotion from her voice. “Oh, Matty, what are we going to do?�
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“Whatever it takes, my love. Whatever it takes.”
#
Hawke had been pacing for the last half an hour. He’d gotten two texts from Remmington and he hadn’t answered either one of them.
After Matty and Fiona exchanged their vows, the twin, Max, came over and acted like he was making polite conversation, offering a drink as he’d had for other guests.
“So, what’s going on?”
Hawke shrugged. “Nothing yet, except a couple of texts from Remmington.”
“Right. That’s good, then. Holly has had the staff here put a shield over the hotel. Though, I doubt that’ll keep the bondsman away for long. Lots of magic in this place. Any mage with a spark of supernatural could pick them up.”
“Warlock GPS,” Hawke said. “Can’t put it off forever, I guess.”
Max nodded. “So, any more thoughts to our plan, such that it is?
“Not a one. We’re going in on steam and bravado.”
“Of course.” The Immortal threw back the last of his champagne. “I’m hoping that we can put them off long enough to have a little time together, though it’s just prolonging the inevitable.”
“You are correct. It’s a shame, too.”
He felt the other man studying him and didn’t like it one bit. “What?” He asked at last.
“It’s hit you hard, this thing with your sister.”
That was the last thing he wanted to talk about. More than that, the knowledge that his sister had chosen that life was still too new, too raw.
“It is what it is.”
There wasn’t time to dwell on it again because the noise of a scuffle sounded behind them. Turning toward the door, he saw them. Remmington with two of his goons, looming at the entrance. It looked like the mage who ran the desk was holding them back with considerable magic, but Hawke knew, it wasn’t going to last for long.
“I’ll go talk to them,” Max said.
Hawke held up his hand. “No. You need to stay and watch over the happy couple. Remmy’s my problem.”
The other man touched his sleeve. “Be careful. Matty and Fiona are rather attached to you. They’d be devastated if anything happened to you.”
That struck Hawke right in the ribcage. It’d been a long time since anybody expressed interest in whether he lived or died, and this was the second time today that it had happened.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said. Turning around he left the reception behind and walked to where Remmington was standing, growling like a lion at the doorman.
“It’s about time,” the warlock scowled. “I want my bounty.”
Hawke held up his hands. “You’ll get him. The Druids said midnight and that’s when he’s going to surrender himself.”
“That’s not the deal I had with you. You were to bring him to me. I deal with the customers.”
“So, that’s how you want it?” Hawke had had his fill of these people and if it weren’t for all the innocent people in the other room, he’d be inclined to do something about it. Yet, here he was, not wanting to ruin the short time those two had together.
“I want my bounty. You either get him for me or face the consequences.”
Hawke scoffed. “Are you threatening me? Because, you need to think about it. I tried to bring him to you, but you said to hold him, and I did. The way I see it, you didn’t keep up your end of the deal. So, we went to the source. The bottom line is, I’m not dealing with you.”
“You’re making a huge mistake?”
“As big a mistake as you did, drugging Goblins and anyone else you could get your hands on and selling them to the Druids? I don’t think so.”
Remmington’s green complexion darkened. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with, Hawke. You’re sister…”
“Is where she wanted to be. She’s full on wolfen-witch hybrid and she can take down both of us without lifting a finger. Bottom line—you’re no threat to her.”
“You lying, cheating…”
“Well, you would know all about liars and cheaters, wouldn’t you?” Hawke laughed but it came out a dry, mirthless sound. “I’m pretty powerful myself. You tried to take control of me but you’re too weak.”
With that, Hawke threw his head back and let the magic build up in him, lightening spread across his body, heating his skin and making his limbs tingle.
“You really want to cross me?”
That’s when it happened. Remmington backed down. Turns out, he was a tiny, soulless lizard, after all.
“Mr. Hawke,” Holly said behind him. Turning he saw the Reaper, her husband, Matty and Fiona standing behind her.
“What?”
The petite redhead approached him. “You need to draw back your magic. The guests are getting uncomfortable.”
Max scoffed behind her, “Uncomfortable? They’re downright terrified and so am I.”
“Right.” Closing his eyes, Hawke let the energy flow recede, his energy making little snapping and popping sounds. When he had his voice again, he cleared his throat. “Sorry about that.”
“Thank you,” Fiona said.
“Yeah, I’m sorry for ruining your wedding reception.” The old shame rose up in him once again. Strange. Unwanted. Freak.
Matty stepped forward. “You misunderstand. Thank you for taking on Remmington. You’ve proven yourself an honorable man again and again. We are in your debt.”
He looked around the room and though you could tell, those beyond the two Immortals and their wives, were more than a little shaken.
“You’re welcome. Um, please, continue with your party.”
Matty and Fiona exchanged a glance, and Hawke knew instinctively that these two had made their decision.
“We’ve decided to not prolong things any longer.” Matty turned and addressed the crowd. “Thank you all for coming. Um, I never realized how many friends we have, or if you’re not our friend, I certainly hope you will be one day.”
Fiona walked over and placed her arms around Hawke’s neck and hugged him. “Thank you for today. I can’t tell you how much I, we, that is, appreciate all you’ve done for us.”
“You’re welcome.” Hawke had never been one to give into his emotions. He was on a rocky road here, and if he didn’t change direction, he’d be bawling like a baby.
Just then he heard the Immortal behind him. “Fiona, go back with our guests and I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Are you sure? You’re not going to do anything crazy, are you?”
Hawke saw the bride hesitate a moment until her husband took her hand in his and gently squeezed it. “Not a chance. I’ll be right there.”
They kissed, and the bounty hunter, feeling like an intruder, looked away, meaning to give them some privacy.
Hawke turned when the Immortal approached him. “What are you doing?”
“I don’t want them to go with us. If the Druids won’t listen to reason, then I don’t want a big scene. Wait for me outside. I’m going to tell Max that I’m seeing you off.”
“Just like that? You’re going to leave them?”
The Immortal crossed his arms. “I don’t want to, believe me. I want to run far and fast. In the end, I’ll get caught and it’ll only end up hurting them more. I’ve been terrible brother and the worst boyfriend. Believe me, a clean cut is much better. It’ll hurt bad, but they’ll heal.”
Hawke had watched these two from the beginning. Though they’d had their struggles, they didn’t deserve this. None of Remmingon’s victims did.
“Then, I guess we need to head out.”
Without saying another word, he went to the parking lot, climbed on his Harley, and peeled out onto the street. As he got to the front of the Inn, the Immortal was waiting for him.
“Let’s do this,” he said. Climbing onto the back of the bike, his passenger put on the extra helmet.
Hawke knew he should argue with the guy, convince him to go back to his p
arty, his woman, his life. They’d at least have a few more hours to them.
Deep down, though the ex-cop turned bounty hunter had to follow the law. Even though he’d lost everything, he still had to do the right thing.
Another solution came to mind, an alternative that Hawke didn’t like either. It wasn’t what he wanted, but for the life of him, he saw no other alternative.
Now, if he could summon the courage to go through with it.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The evening had gone by in a blur, and Fiona had made it a point when Matty told her that he was seeing Hawke off and for her to say good-byes to their guests, she agreed and was going person to person, accepting hugs and thanking them. After a few minutes, Max and Holly approached her.
“A very nice turnout,” Max said. “I didn’t know my brother was so popular.”
Fiona grinned. “He can be a nice guy when he wants to be.”
“Well, it did take a little doing and a few payments to coax some of them, I’ll admit,” Holly said. “You are well liked, Fiona, and that certainly helped.”
“Thanks.” She let out a breath. “I know he can be difficult, but these last few days, things have changed. We’ve changed.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Max said. “You are the only person that’s ever been able to get through to him. Even when you’d broken up, you were still his center, still his guiding star. It was always about what he could do to get you back.”
Fiona nodded. “I tried to move past him so many times. He’s always right here, in my heart, you know. I don’t think there’s anything he could do to change that.”
“Glad to hear that,” Max said. “Because if there’s one thing my brother excels in, it’s pushing people away.”
Laughing, Fiona nodded. “Oh, don’t I know it. What can I say? I have a soft spot where Matty is concerned.
“I can understand that,” Holly said, smiling up at her husband. “These Hyland boys can really vex a girl.”
Fiona had known Max as many years as she’d known Matty, and more than once had gone to him to ask for help dealing with the Immortal’s twin. She had never been happier than when she met Holly and saw for herself the stature of the woman. Brilliant but with a heart of gold, and her love for Max was just the sort of feeling she had in her heart for Matty.