Annihilate (Hive Trilogy #3)(64)

Chapter 14


One month later.



The sunset was absolutely spectacular as I made my way toward the pink carpet stretching out across the sand of the private beach in Turtle Cove. The background noise consisted of a small trio playing local music, and the crashing of waves against the warm, golden sand. My bouquet of flowers was fragrant enough for even humans to scent.

As I reached the edge of the aisle, the music changed slightly, signaling that it was time for me to walk the final steps to the end. My eyes were locked on Ryder, standing beside his best friends. The six of them were decked out in white, which they didn’t usually wear, but really should more often. Ryder looked absolutely spectacular, his shirt open at the collar, pants fitted to his delectable body.

His grin had me stumbling my way down, but I managed to recover before completely face-planting it. He was going to be the death of me. Taking a few deep breaths, I did spare a glance for Oliver; he was the man of the hour, but there was no way I could keep my eyes from Ryder for long.

I had to keep it together. The guests’ attention was on me. I was Jayden’s best man after all. He’d decked me out in a beachy dress, all flowy and sunset colors. I even had gems adorning my bare feet, and cuffs around my ankles. My hair had grown out a little and was softly curled around my face. Jayden had overseen every single aspect of my appearance, and then gave his stamp of approval before kicking me out the door to walk in the bridal party. A party that consisted of me, Becca, and Tessa, who were dressed the same as me, walking a few yards behind.

Sam looked more than a little gobsmacked by the sight of our Becca all dressed up. She’d even ditched her glasses for the day, although I preferred her with them. They suited her so well. My heart soared at having all of our friends and family here. My mom and dad were in the crowd, along with plenty of others we knew from our life in the Hive, and before.

I couldn’t believe Jayden had pulled this all together in a few weeks. After the battle in Portland, where I’d almost lost my BAFF, Oliver refused to wait any longer to marry him. Ryder and I had been talking of a trip to Hawaii, and as soon as Jayden heard he ran with it, and started planning the wedding of the century. Something nice to look forward to in the midst of rebuilding our world. The vampires had destroyed much on that night, but in the end, at least ninety percent had been cured or were dead. The Hives were being demolished, and the small number of vampires who’d survived were in hiding, and for now were staying there. Lincoln and his team now headed up a newly formed government division: VAT. Vampire Acquisition Taskforce. They kept us updated with news. Carter worked for them too. He’d taken the cure and was no longer vampire. But he had been one of the Originals and held a plethora of information on vampire hideouts around the world.

He and my mom were in love. Like so in love. If I still lived at home, I’d have to get soundproofing around my room just to stay there. Seeing them together made me happy. I now understood why my mom had been single for so much of her life. I’d be the same with Ryder. When you love someone like that, there is no replacing them.

Ever.

Ryder’s eyes were practically silver as they remained locked on me. That gaze reminded me of the many hours we’d spent wrapped around each other in the past month. Yeah, my mom wasn’t the only one getting some action.

Okay, gross, no more thoughts of mom action.

Ryder and I were determined to make up for every second we’d been apart. Or had almost died. I was kinda getting addicted to him. His touch. The way he loved me up so fully that sometimes I couldn’t even remember my own name.

As I took my place beside the officiant, Ryder winked at me and I saw so many promises in his expression. Damn, I could not wait for the honeymoon. And it wasn’t even my wedding.

Tessa and Becca joined me then too, and suddenly Jayden was at the end of the aisle. He looked breathtaking. I expected him to wear something pink and glittery, but instead he was in all white, like his soon-to-be husband. Okay, so there were some glittery pieces, and he had jewels across his feet, but mostly he looked like my beautiful best friend. His ash colored eyes looked a bit misty as he started his walk, and to be honest, I’m not sure there was a dry eye in the entire place as we watched the way Oliver and Jayden stared at each other.

When Jayden was about halfway down the aisle, Oliver moved, striding across and meeting him there. I raised a hand to my mouth, to cover up the small sob which wanted to escape. That was so beautiful; he literally couldn’t even wait for him to walk down the aisle to have him at his side. That’s how these two would do everything from now on, as a team.

The officiant started the ceremony, but I don’t think Oliver or Jayden heard a word. They were enthralled with each other, and had to be prompted twice to repeat after him. A cheer went out when the wedding was complete. “I now pronounce you partners for life, husbands, lovers, and friends,” said the officiant. Oliver and Jayden kissed then, before he could get to that part.

No one was surprised.

“Woohoo!” Tessa shouted next to me, and I found myself enthusiastically wrapped in her arms. It was nice to see her happy; those hazel eyes had been dull and lifeless for many weeks. Not only did she have to mourn Blake twice, but she’d had to come to terms with the fact that she shot him, and that he had betrayed us all in the worst way. At Lucas’s funeral she’d had a complete breakdown and had to be sedated. I think my pain was too much for her, and the guilt that she was partly to blame for his death.