Darkest Seduction

Aria

"Maybe you should take a shot?" Helen suggests as I take another deep breath. 

"I think I'm going to throw up," I say to her as I drink lungfuls of air. 

I walk down the aisle in five minutes and I am so nervous I feel faint. 

"Just look at yourself in the mirror, you'll feel better," Tilly suggests and I glance in the mirror. 

My hair is down in loose curls but it's been braided with white blossoms for good luck. I have no idea who decided that was good luck but that doesn't matter. 

I'm wearing the dress I originally bought to walk down the aisle and I remember why I loved it so much. Helen claps loudly and I drag my gaze away from the reflection as I'm ushered outside. 

I feel completely different to how I felt last month when I was in a similar position, then I was feeling misery and dread and now I'm just nervous. 

It's totally normal for a bride to be nervous on her wedding day right? 

We sit in the car in silence and I sip some champagne nervously. Tilly hands me my bouquet and my heart falters. Tying the arrangements of lilies and tulips is a blue ribbon, and stitched into the bottom in a pink thread is the initial A. 

Helen notices my wide-eyed expression and smiled, "We realised you didn't have something borrowed so Alana's parents gave this to us. Since she couldn't be here."

I smile sadly as I turn to look out the window. I miss her always but today the grief bares a little heavier, I would have loved to see her in the lilac silk all the other bridesmaids are wearing. She would have loved to see me in this dress. 

I'm not nervous anymore, I take Helen's hand and climb out of the car the diamond on my finger sparkling in the sunlight. 

I think it's hilarious we're in January and all week all the news stations have been predicting snow and yet when I woke up this morning the sun was shining. 

Maybe blossoms woven into my hair really are good luck.

 All the girls and I smile and laugh for the photographers and pose in whatever way they need us to as we fix each other up. The nerves are gone now instead I'm just really excited. 

The journey here hasn't exactly been smooth sailing and I just need to get myself married without anything dying or something bad happening. 

Someone coughs, expectantly, and I turn to see Zeus standing there, beaming at me. 

"Aria, you look absolutely divine," He tells me and he places a delicate kiss on my cheek. 

I must be hallucinating. 

"Zeus?" I croak out and he laughs. He looks the happiest I've ever seen him. 

"Yeah, I couldn't let Ares get married and not show up. Besides I had a long talk with our father. A lot of screaming and threats and broken glasses but he's finally okay with me leaving the mafia." 

Oh, thank god. I'd hate to be rude or mean but I was seriously worried I was going to have to tell him to go away. I didn't need his appearance causing trouble while I was trying to get married. 

I smile immediately, I'm so glad Zeus is okay though. Ares had explained to me where he was and that he'd left the mafia mostly so he could be with Gabriella, a beautiful woman he met one day when he was taking a walk in the park. 

"Hey look I know your dad isn't here to walk you down the aisle so I was wondering if you'd let me do it. I owe you since you almost died and my whole family thought you'd kidnapped me," Zeus says, averting his eyes and looking at the floor. 

A quick flash of sadness overcomes me, I hadn't spoken to either of my parents since I killed Alejandro and Ares had turned over half of Papa's men against him. I was furious at them both, I wasn't sure I'd ever forgive them but part of me was still upset they wouldn't be here. 

"Yes, yes I'd love that," I tell him, he smiles immediately and we link arms. 

The music drifts in through the doors and the sun calms any remaining nerves, the doors open and Zeus gives me a reassuring squeeze as we step inside. My eyes latch on to Ares who grins sheepishly when he sees me. 

He looks like a teenager for a moment and I smile brightly back at him. 

I walk down the aisle and soon my hands are being held by Ares. We exchange smiles and turn to face the priest who begins reading his vows off. 

I zone out a little, I mean I have heard it all before, and when I come back I can hear the Priest's voice echoing all around the cathedral. 

"Do you Aria Valentino take Ares Hernandez to be your husband, in sickness and health, for richer or for poorer until death do you part?" 

A million times yes. 

"I do." 

"And do you Ares Hernandez take Aria Valentino to be your wife, in sickness and health, for richer or for poorer until death do you part?"

"I do." 

"Then I pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride." 

Ares places his hands on my cheeks as he brings my face to his, and when our lips are inches apart he whispers, "Not even death will separate us, love. For my soul will chase yours until the end of time." 

And when he kisses I feel my heart beat faster than it ever has, beat for him. 

My heart was Are's before I wanted to admit it and his it shall forever remain. Until the very end of time.