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“How’s it coming in here, love?” Azriel pushed open the door to their room, finding the copper-haired beauty sitting in front of the vanity. Teal eyes met his as she looked up in the mirror, a smile glittering within them.
“We still have an hour, Az, but I’m almost ready,” she snickered as he strode across the room to stand behind her. He bent down to press his lips under her ear. Then he backed away, sinking to sit on the edge of the bed. His stomached gnawed at him, anxiety pulsing through him. He knew he shouldn’t be nervous with her, but…
But this conversation meant a lot.
“I’ve been thinking, Gwyn,” he started. But the next words lodged in his throat. Noticing his pause – and likely sensing his unease – his girlfriend turned in the chair. God above, he hadn’t even noticed what she was wearing. The floor-length velvet gown was a deep emerald that revealed her freckled shoulders and long, elegant neck. She was… absolutely breathtaking.
“Az?” He found her mouth quirked in a tentative smile, gaze questioning.
After a deep breath he found his voice again. “I’ve been thinking… When we get married, maybe instead of you taking my name I could take yours.”
“When we get married? Presumptuous, aren’t we?” she teased. But her expression was warm and thoughtful. Azriel reached up, his fingers scratching at the nape of his neck. Nervous habit. Gwyn rose from her chair and padded over to the bed. She sat next to him and grabbed his hand, pulling it into her lap and fidgeting with his fingers. “You know that your heritage has never bothered me, right? I would take your name in an instant. Gladly. Wholeheartedly.”
His eyes prickled and his throat burned at her words. She had always been so accepting and understanding, even knowing how corrupt and evil his father and brothers had been. Though she had been nothing but encouraging, he did not want the Aphelah name to endure. And he did not want to put the burden of that bloodline on the woman next to him. The epitome of beauty and grace and love.
“I know that, love. But… I don’t want that. I don’t want that name to be our future. I’ve done everything I can to leave that part of my life behind. I…” he swallowed, fighting to keep his composure as he found the strength to look into those shimmering teal pools. “When we get married, I want it to be the beginning of something new. With none of the shadows of my family’s past to haunt us.”
Gwyn’s smile was sad as she lifted a palm to his cheek, her thumb caressing his skin. “Of course, Azriel. If that’s what you truly want. I would be honored.” Azriel felt his face burning, earning a giggle. His girlfriend gave him a swift peck on the lips before getting to her feet and taking a few steps back toward the vanity. “But when you propose, you have to ask for the honor of becoming Mr. Gwyneth Berdara.”
“Seriously?” He laughed, shoulders shaking with his mirth. “I mean this in the most loving way. But what the fuck?” She only turned her chin over her shoulder, planting her hands on her hips. God, that dress fit her like a damned glove.
“Those are my demands, Aphelah. You only have yourself to blame.” She shrugged. “You decided you wanted to take my name.”
“I suppose you’re right,” he chuckled quietly. Gwyn had barely taken another step when he swiftly rose from the bed and wrapped an arm around her stomach. He reached into his pocket for the box before wrapping that arm around her, too. The black velvet in his fingers out in front of them as he leaned his chin on her shoulder. He could feel her surprised gasp, her breaths becoming more frantic. “I love you, Gwyneth Berdara. So much. It feels like I always have. It might have been when you told me that my past didn’t matter, or when you serenaded me while using a hashbrown as a microphone, or when you made me listen to Taylor Swift for hours with you in the car.”
“Az…” Gwyn’s voice was breathy and damp, and she trembled in his strong arms.
“So, Sunshine. Will you allow me the honor of becoming Mr. Gwyneth Berdara?” He turned his chin, pressing his lips to her cheek. “Marry me?”
She was frozen in his grasp, and he nuzzled her before pressing his lips in the spot where her shoulder sloped into her neck. The silence made him uneasy, even though he knew she was just shocked. She’d always shown her emotions so freely, and he wished now that he’d proposed to her face-to-face, to see the way her eyes may have lit up in surprise or sparkled with joy.
“Open the box, Gwyn,” he urged, voice tight.
A pale hand lifted, tilting up the lid to reveal the embroidered message and ring inside.
It’s a love story, baby, just say, “Yes.”
“Azriel.” Her voice cracked and her knees buckled, but he supported her weight as he held her to him. “How are you so wonderful?”
“You still haven’t answered the question, Gwyn,” he murmured in her ear. With a strangled laugh she turned in his arms, grabbing his face and kissing him hard. He grinned like a fool as she pulled away, and he got the chance to see the love and surprise and happy tears in her teal gaze. Taking a step back he dropped to a knee, holding the box up to her. “You’re killing me, love.”
“Yes, Azriel. Of course. As if there was any question,” she laughed tearfully, her hands clasping at her chest. He pulled the dainty ring from the padded bed and set the box on the floor before beckoning for her hand with waggling fingers. She reached out, and he held her fingers gently as he guided the white gold band adorned with an ocean-blue diamond accented with smaller, glittering white ones. He pressed his lips to the ring on her finger before releasing her hand, quickly standing and pulling her tightly against him.
“I love you so much, Gwyn. Thank you.” Azriel dipped his chin to find her lips, passion exploding between them. His heart had never been so full, warmth blooming within him. She was his fiancée. She said yes. She wanted to marry him. Hands pushed lightly against his chest, and he pulled back.
“I need to touch-up my makeup, Aphelah. Since you made me cry.” He chuckled and pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose, then to her brow. “And then we probably need to head out.”
With a final squeeze he managed to let go of her. “Of course, love.”
He didn’t stop watching her as she dusted her cheeks and reapplied mascara. He couldn’t take his eyes off her freckled face and shoulders, enamored with all that she was. Bewildered that she could possibly be his. He grasped that newly-adorned hand as they left the apartment, through the drive to Rhys and Feyre’s estate, and as they entered the foyer. He never wanted to let go, would never have to. It was only after they were all seated around the banquet table and began the spooning of food and friendly conversation that Nesta’s voice shrilled above the clamor.
“GWYNETH BERDARA, WHAT IS THAT ON YOUR FINGER?!”
The redhead – his fiancée – grinned sheepishly as her cheeks heated, shining teal eyes flashing to him. He cleared his throat.
“I asked Gwyn to marry me,” he announced, gleeful at the gasps he earned from his family. “Luckily for me, she said yes.” The sound of chairs scooting back and squealed congratulations filled his ears, but they were muffled as his focus stayed rapt on the beaming smile of the woman who had agreed to spend the rest of her life with him. Nesta and Emerie took turns grabbing her hand and gushing over how beautiful the ring was, how thrilled they were. He was barely able to register the encouraging claps on his shoulders from his brothers, murmuring their congratulations amidst strong-armed hugs. The embraces from Mor, Feyre, Emerie, and Nesta were only slightly less crushing. Azriel nodded his thanks and took the opportunity to pull Gwyn into his arms as their friends and family moved back to their seats.
“You look happy.” He grinned triumphantly down at her, that smile still plastered where it had been since he’d opened that ring box. “Might I have something to do with that?”
“You might,” she answered, her palms coming to rest on his jaw. “I don’t think I’ve ever been happier, Azriel. Truly. I love you so much and I can’t wait to spend forever with you.”
Emotion prickled at hazel eyes at her declaration, and he felt them overflowing as she pulled him down to meet her lips in a kiss so full of love and devotion it threatened to steal his breath. He only opened his eyes when he felt fabric hit the side of his face, using a hand to brush away the dampness from his eyes as he spied a napkin on his shoulder.
“Food now. Making out later,” Nesta teased, glowering at them. Gwyn cackled next to him, drawing his attention back to her. He pressed his lips to the corner of her mouth and then tilted to whisper in her ear.
“You are the light of my life, Gwyn. Thank you for choosing to live it with me. I love you.” Azriel’s hands drifted down, finding her hands to squeeze tenderly. He led her back to their seats and pulled out her chair for her to sit. And his heart filled with golden light and promise as they all shared dinner and laughter and love – a family that was now complete.