Crimson {COMPLETED}

CHAPTER XXXI

ALICE'S POV

NOVEMBER 13
1:00 p.m

SIX DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING

THANKFULLY, CHRISTOS says we won't have to speak, just his parents.

We walk out onto a balcony on the highest floor and over look a crowd.

I tune out his parents as they address the crowd. Christos wraps his jacket over my shoulders and wraps an arm around me.

It doesn't feel as cold as one would expect a place smack dab in the middle of the South Pole to feel like, but damn it's still cold. Not even a ray of sunshine.

"It gets colder." Christos whispers to me with a smile. "Winter comes very early here, the snow is beautiful."

"Great, So I go from the coldness of Canada to here."

Christos chuckles a little too loudly and Adalia glances over at us.

She eyes me for a moment and frowns.

"Christos, does Adalia dislike me or something?" I whisper.

He looks confused. "No. She's quite protective of you if anything. Every time we bump into each other she asks me how you're doing and lectures me on how to treat a lady, like I don't already know." He rolls his eyes.

I look over at her and follow her gaze to Lucifer, who is staring off at nothing.

I haven't really talked to him. He seems awfully shy.

He stands a fair distance away from Adalia barely acknowledging her.

Adalia slides closer to him and grabs his hand, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"Is Lucifer at least a little happier here?"

"Hell if I know. I don't talk to those two much."

"Why not? Adalia's your sister. And Lucifer will be your brother. Won't it be exciting to have a brother for the first time?"

"Jackson's always been like a brother to me. I've never needed an actual one. Ironically, Jackson will be my brother once he marries Emily."

"It would make me happy if you tried to be closer with them." I say.

"Why?"

"Cause they're family. I had to deal with enough family issues when my parents divorced. I would really appreciate if things were a little less divided."

"Alright. For you, I'll try and mend things." He sighs. "But I make no promises. Things have been very strained for a long time between me and Adalia."

I kiss his cheek and he pulls me closer.

"Christos." A voice whispers, almost scoldingly.

We look up and Adalia, Lucifer and his parents are looking back at us. Adalia and Lucifer have stepped up to the edge of the balcony.

Christos grabs my hand and pulls me to the edge of the balcony.

Several cameras flash, making it nearly impossible for me to open my eyes.

"I love you Alice." Christos murmurs in my ear.

Love.

Love is a strong word. It's a word Dad warned me not the throw around loosely.

And even though I knew at the time he was hurting from falling out of love with mom, I have still listened to his warning.

I feel like Dad could have moved on sooner if not for the fact mom and Dad insisted on staying married for Emily and my sake. It wasn't until I turned eighteen that they filed for divorce.