“Why?” Alex inquired. “Am I in danger?”

“He’s a…” I drifted off, searching for the words. “A chaperone, actually.”

“Huh?”

“’Night!” we sing-songed, not bothering to explain.

We’d leave that for Aydin. They had a long evening ahead, especially since Michael’s no-touch order completely depended on Lev’s ability to take on Aydin by himself. I mean, he seemed like a scrapper, but I wasn’t confident.

“Come in your pajamas, for all I care,” Will said into the phone. “We’ll be waiting at the gazebo.”

I clutched his arm as he hung up with the judge, I assumed, and we all left the hospital, Rika talking to Michael close and quietly.

I knew she was concerned about the kid. She’d had David take the girl to St. Killian’s for the night, while we wrapped up at the Cove and here, but if I knew her at all by now, an idea was already brewing.

Within ten minutes, the eight of us were back in front of the judge who wore her black robe over jeans this time, and I looked up at Will, blowing the lock of hair out of my face.

“You can still run,” he taunted.

“Maybe after this.” I did a little dance in my stained jeans and dirty face. “When you’re legally required to come after me, that is.”

Martin drifted through my mind, as well as my parents, Grand-Mère, and how I didn’t have a single person of my own here whom I was bringing into this family.

I came alone, without much else to offer these people, but I was starting tomorrow with everything I ever wanted.

I had brothers who cared about me now. Aydin, Rory, and the beautiful Micah, his gentleness and presence that put me at ease at Blackchurch almost immediately.

I had a career, an education, and The Carfax Room. I also had Will behind me…and in front of me, willing to take a bullet if I were ever in danger.

I trusted myself now. I wasn’t leaving, and I wasn’t hiding.

Happy people don’t fear death, because there’s nothing more they want out of life than what they have right now.

I smiled, because I didn’t have any fear.

Finally, I was free.

“Okay,” the judge said, all of us standing where we stood five hours ago, now dressed in street clothes with a little blood here and there.

“Michael and Erika,” she said. “Damon and Winter. Kai and Nikova. William and Emory.”

Will jerked his eyes to her. “We did this part,” he told her. “Can you just finish where you left off?”

“Will…” I scolded under my breath.

He looked at me. “I have Godzilla vs. Kong at the theater waiting for us.”

My mouth fell open. “Already? It doesn’t release for a few weeks!”

He shot me a look, like ‘please.’

I snorted, glancing at the judge. “Yeah, hurry up.”

I was going to like being a Grayson.

Laughter went off around the group, and the judge nodded. “Michael and Erika…I now pronounce you husband and wife,” she told them.

They kissed, and the judge proceeded around the group.

“Damon and Winter? I pronounce you husband and wife.”

I bit my lip, inching into Will and ready.

“Kai and Nikova?” she continued. “I pronounce you husband and wife.”

Kai growled before kissing Banks hard.

“And William and Emory, I now pronounce you…husband and wife.”

I dived in and kissed him deep, whimpering as he wrapped his arms around me, the ring on my finger solidifying what we should’ve known could never be stopped.

Not in the chem lab, the movie theater, or my first night at Blackchurch as he stood in the shadows of the kitchen.

“Live for your love,” the judge said, “love your life, and raise hell.”

I laughed against his lips, my stomach swarming with butterflies and my heart pitter-pattering a mile a minute.

Cheers and clapping went off around the village, crowds still loitering at Sticks and in the tavern as it was only about midnight still.

“Start your adventure,” the judge told us.

“Thank you,” I said, turning to her.

We all hugged each other, hugged the judge, and I spotted Misha, Ryen, Micah, and Rory head over to us as we descended the stairs. Will’s grandfather left a group of men outside the White Crow as he pulled a cigar out of his mouth and headed over, as well.

I didn’t realize he was still here.

“Congratulations,” he said to Will, engulfing his grandson in a big hug.

“Thank you,” Will told him.

Senator Grayson moved to me, taking my hand and kissing me on the cheek. “Congratulations, honey.”

“Thank you, sir.”

He looked to Will. “I’ll let you get settled in and set up house and such. We’ll talk in a couple of weeks, okay?”

“You got it.”

They hugged again, Will telling him, “Thank you for everything.”

“Hey, man,” Micah called, gesturing Will over.

Will met my eyes, looking between me and his grandfather. “I’ll be right back.” He left a peck on my forehead.

I watched him head over to Micah, probably to check on how things went with the police.

I looked at the senator. “I kind of feel bad I sprung this on him,” I said. “His parents weren’t here.”

It just seemed too perfect when Rika suggested it. But if he’d wanted his own wedding with all the trimmings, I would’ve loved that, too.

He shrugged a little. “My son and his wife love that boy to kingdom come,” he teased. “I promise you they’ll just be happy he’s happy. And…you can always have another ceremony, of course. I can tell you right now, his mother won’t be denied a proper reception, so get ready.”

I laughed. That was fine. Sounded really nice, actually.

“Take care of him.” He touched my arm, leaning in. “He’s kind of my favorite.”

“Ugh,” Misha said, walking past us, clearly hearing.

I held back my snort, Mr. Grayson shot his other grandson a look. “That one’s like me,” he whispered. “Too much like me.”

“So of course, you don’t get along,” I joked.

“Nope.” He looked after Misha with a kind smile. “I do like his style, though. I had a pretty nice black leather jacket back in the day.”

I could picture it. The man had to be eighty, but he looked fifty-five. Tall like Will, with amazing hair.

“Thank you for looking out for him, Senator Grayson,” I said. “When I couldn’t, I mean.” I looked behind me, seeing Will shaking hands and smiling, surrounded by his friends and his town and all the possibilities to come. “At least he had his friends all those years, though. I used to pick on them in high school, but they really did start something incredible, didn’t they? The first Horsemen will be a tough act to follow for future generations.”

Lord help our kids, filling in those shoes, right?

But when he didn’t say anything, I looked back to him, seeing a coy smile on his lips as he stared at me.

“They weren’t the first,” he said. “And please, call me A.P.”