Since Gia put together the wedding in such a short amount of time, there was nothing Luke or I could say when it came to the night before the wedding. She’d let go of most of her traditional views but chose to hold on to the one that didn’t allow us to sleep together that night.

While I wanted to show Luke how appreciative I was about what he’d done for me, we respected her wishes.

After a wonderful rehearsal dinner with the people we loved, I took Matt around the palace while Luke and Maddox went off together. Maddox had mentioned something about the bachelor party, and Gia’s face had paled to the color of the tablecloth. I knew Luke didn’t plan on going out to a strip club—I didn’t think they had those here—but he went off with Maddox anyway, probably to defeat his best friend’s urge to flirt.

Matt eventually dropped me off in the same bedroom that I’d slept in when I first came to the palace. We said goodnight, and I thought I saw excitement flash in his eyes when he asked where Luke and Maddox might have gone.

Settling into my new-old room, it was strange not sharing a bed with Luke. I was used to his solid body right next to mine for the entire night. Instead, I was able to stretch my arms and legs and not even reach the edge of the bed.

Curling up in the same position that I slept in every night, I arranged the pillows to act like a Luke-substitute. Too bad they were too soft to matter much.

Instead, I filled my mind with everything that was to happen the next day as I slowly fell into a dreamless sleep.

---

I supposed it was a good thing that I got a restful sleep because the flurry of activities started at the crack of dawn the next morning.

Gia burst into my room with several servants behind her. “It’s your wedding day!”

She was already dressed and perky. The exact opposite of me. If she hadn’t said anything, I wouldn’t have known what day it was without waking up and realizing it on my own.

I rolled over and shoved my hair out of my face. “Huh?” I asked, still in the uncomfortable stage between wake and sleep.

“Get in the shower,” Gia said, pulling off the sheets around me. I quickly adjusted my shirt so that none of the servants would see too much of me. Though, I doubted they would care. And I knew they were going to get a look at my naked body when I put on the dress.

“There’s a cap in there,” Gia continued. “Keep your hair dry so that it’s workable.”

I allowed Gia to escort me to the bathroom. She closed the door, trapping me inside while she gave the servants orders on the other side.

Shuffling over to the shower, I turned it on, giving it a minute to get hot. Walking over to the mirror, I surprised myself with how horrible I looked. I forgot to take off my makeup from the day before, and dark circles surrounded my eyes.

I washed my face before throwing the cap on and getting into the nice warm shower.

Without risking Gia bursting in on me while I was in the shower, I cleaned up quickly and came out to the bedroom in a robe, my towel still cinched under the soft folds of the silky material.

“Hair and makeup first,” Gia said, pointing in the direction of a chair set up across the room. In the time spent in the shower, Gia had the servants set up a vanity next to the window. On the surface were various kinds of makeup, along with hair supplies.

The servants went to work. Hands pulled at my hair and wrapped locks of it around small curlers while others patted my face with creams and then caked on the makeup. The result was stunning.

Then it was time for the dress. Gia oversaw the entire makeup and hair process but insisted on lacing up the back of the dress for me. Another “tradition” I supposed. But this one, I didn’t mind so much.

Her nimble fingers moved down my back. I was swept up in the moment, and I lifted my eyes toward the ceiling to keep myself from crying. I wasn’t the sentimental type to think about my mother and my wedding, but the moment had come, and it turned me into a mushy girl.

Gia inspected me one last time. “You look stunning. Are you ready?”

I glanced down at my dress. I said a silent thanks to the woman who chose another dress instead of this one. I loved it, and I knew Luke would too.

“Yes,” I said, taking her hands in mine before lightly squeezing them. If I talked about how much she meant to me, I knew I was going to burst into tears.

As if Gia understood the words I couldn’t say, she held tight to my hand as we made our way out of the room.

In the hallway, Matt was there, dressed to the nines in a very dashing tuxedo.

“Wow,” he said, checking me out.

“Same to you. Where did you get that?” I remembered his one suitcase from when I picked him up.

“Your future husband has amazing taste,” Matt said, checking himself out. “I sent him my measurements and poof! Don’t let go of this one.” He winked at me, and I looped my arm with his as the three of us, plus a train of servants silently following us, walked down the hall.

We arrived at the smaller ballroom sooner than I anticipated. It was a good thing that Matt was by my side. My knees started to shake, and my palms were clammy. I wasn’t nervous to marry Luke; I was nervous to go in front of everyone that we loved and profess that love to Luke. I didn’t care about being in front of people. Hell, I’d given countless interviews in my career, but this was so different. It was like these people were interviewing me, coaxing me to reach deep down into the depths of my soul and become more vulnerable than ever.

“It’s natural to feel nervous,” Gia said. “But just remember, this room is filled with love for you and my son. This is the safest place you can be.”

“Thank you,” I said to her.

Gia smiled and reached up to grab my veil. She pulled it down over my face, and the world turned a hazy shade of white. All but two of the servants dispersed, and Gia walked into the room, closing the door behind her.

“You ready to get married?” Matt asked me.

“Yes,” I said, lifting my chin. For a moment, I felt like Gia. Since I was to take her place as queen one day, it seemed fitting.

A swell of music filtered out from under the doorway and the doors opened. It was a good thing the veil covered the surprised expression on my face. We’d planned for the wedding to be small and intimate, but I didn’t know that there would be more than immediate family at the event. Gia had mentioned some close family and friends that she’d wanted there, and I brushed it off, thinking there would be one or two extra people.

All in all, there were only about fifty people, but when their gazes turned toward me, there might as well have been two hundred people there.

Matt gripped my hand harder. “Just look at Luke.”

As if he heard Matt, Luke turned around. His smile was unmistakable, and it was all I could do not to sprint down the aisle toward him. His gaze dragged over my body, and I could almost feel the searing warmth radiating from him.

Matt started forward, and I kept the same pace as him. My gaze drifted to the crowd. There were a lot of people I didn’t recognize, but they all seemed to be happy to be there. It was a wedding. Who wouldn’t be happy?

Abir and Alda sat next to Gia in the front row, and Gia dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. I had to look away, or I was about to use my veil as one too.

When I reached Luke, he held his hands out to me, and I took them. Matt stood at his place by my side, and the ceremony commenced.

I’d heard enough stories of women’s weddings where they didn’t remember much about it. Whether it was the number of people invited or the amazing music or food, but there was always a common thread when others spoke of weddings.

I had no such feeling. Whether it was the feel of Luke’s hands against mine or his brilliant smile. With every blink of my eyes, I took mental pictures of the ceremony and the emotions associated with it. My nerves were gone, and even though we were far from alone, all I could focus on was him and the poetic words given by the officiant, even though I had no clue what he was saying.

My next step toward queendom was actually learning the native tongue.

The ceremony was quite long, but with Luke’s strong hands in mine, I didn’t falter once.

I only knew that it was the end of the ceremony when Luke lifted my veil and we kissed for the first time as husband and wife. It was a chaste kiss, but it sent an electrical pulse through me. Luke’s eyes never left mine, and for a moment, I wished we could leave right away and go somewhere a little more private.

Luke turned me to face our guests, and they applauded for us. My heart swelled with love for my new family.

I glanced at Matt, who clapped the loudest. He even let out a quick whoop, much to Gia’s dismay. I couldn’t help but laugh. Everything had turned out perfectly, and now I was married to the most spectacular man while gaining a brother and mother to boot.

---

Later, at the reception. Luke and I danced the day and night away while he introduced me to everyone who attended the wedding. Now that I was more than Luke’s fake girlfriend, I took note of each person, remembering their names and a little tidbit about them to recall at later events. These were the people I had to impress, even though I was their queen. If Luke was going to change the ways of the kingdom under his rule, there was no reason that I couldn’t shake things up too.

When Luke introduced me to the council members and their wives, I turned up the charm. These were the men who wanted to break us up, and there was a hint of awkwardness during our introduction. One in particular, Jaabir was his name, was the stiffest man there. I was sure to chat him up when I could. I had a feeling I would hear more about him throughout our lives. Or at least, until the end of his time on the council.

At some point, Gia pulled us aside. Her cheeks were flushed from dancing and smiling. I’d seen her grace several of our guests with dances, while I only danced with Luke, Abir, and Matt—the three most important men in my life.

“I’m so happy for the two of you,” she said to us.

“You have no idea how that makes me feel, Mother,” Luke said.

“Your introduction to our country as king and queen marks the most important and special day of my life.” She teared up, and I had trouble not doing the same.

“I will try to do your family justice,” I said to her.

“And you will succeed,” she said, taking me into her arms for a tight embrace.