Daughter of Kaos (The Daughter Trilogy Book 3) (7 page)

“The lingerie shop was a bit of a surprise, though it shouldn’t have been,” he seduces. “I love

knowing you the way I do. How did you like being referred to as Mrs. Cole?”

“That was my favorite part of the day,” I mutter softly, and his lips envelope mine instantly

before he scoops me up to carry me back to the collapsed bed still heaving in pain.

Tomorrow.

Chapter 3

Wedding Day; Take Two

“No. You can’t see me while I’m getting ready,” I assert.

“I’ll just be a minute,” Devin smolders through the door. “Please. I just want to kiss you for

good luck.”

“No. It’s bad luck… remember?” I caution.

He laughs a little, and I laugh when he knocks like a little kid.

“Stop making me laugh. You’re holding up the getting ready process,” I scold playfully.

“Just one kiss, and I swear I’ll go away,” he pleads.

“Devin Cole! Go away right now,” Clara admonishes, and her tone isn’t playful like mine.

“Can’t do it. It’s still two hours before she walks down that aisle, and I know she’s not wearing

her dress yet. Please let me come in, or I’ll just force my way in,” he threatens jokingly.

Clara tries to wipe the grin off the face she’s trying to show exasperation on, but to no avail. I

laugh harder when the door finally does open, and Clara inserts herself to be in the way.

Devin just smirks as he scoops her up and throws her over his shoulder the way an old-school

barbarian would.

“Whoa,” Clara gasps. “Put me down,” she says with an accidental chuckle.

Devin’s eyes burn into mine just before his lips consume my smiling ones, and then he jerks me

to his body while sliding Clara back down to the floor. She crosses her arms in a huff, but a smile

she’s trying to suppress still shows up.

I’m wearing a very sexy underwear ensemble that Persia bought me for the wedding. The single

white garter rests high on my thigh, while the lacy, see-through, corseted top leaves nothing to the

imagination. The frilly underwear offers nothing but an enticing peek as to what he’ll be getting

tonight, and the stockings rise up to clasp to the lacy garter belt.

“Oh my goddess,” he says to mimic Kry’s humorous line.

“You like?” I seduce while humoring him with a little twirl.

“Oh… I love. I’m starting to see why I couldn’t come in now,” he smolders. “I don’t know if I

can leave.”

“Well you have to. Now out,” Clara scolds insincerely.

He smirks, and her face blushes as she grows comically irritated. She brushes her hair down, and

then takes a minute to overcome her flustered, slightly turned on, moment.

Crap. We have to behave a little better in front of mortals. Our intensity is too much for them.

Poor Clara.

“You can’t be in here. Now go, Mr. Muscles,” she urges.

“Hey, Dev. I need you-” Kry stops, and Ther crashes into his back when they walk in to the

unexpected surprise of my skimpy attire.

I prop my arm up on my side as my hip juts out. I stare very disapprovingly at the gawking duo

drooling over me.

Hale starts to walk by, but suddenly he’s walking backwards to see if he just saw what he think he

saw.

“Holy white epiphany. Please tell me that’s the new wedding dress,” he dreamily drools out.

“Get out,” Devin admonishes.

Clara starts pushing them all out of the room, and then Devin smirks one last time before sliding

his heated hands against my nearly bare body.

“I can’t wait to see this later,” he smolders.

“I can’t wait until you see it later either,” I giggle.

Clara starts pulling very ineffectively to remove him because Devin’s feet have been concreted to

the ground as he continues kissing me.

“Damn. What are you made out of? Lead? Steel?” she gripes.

“Heaven,” I smolder.

“Oh good grief,” Clara exasperates for my corny remark.

“I’ll help,” Camara giggles as she walks into the room, and her stronger body shifts Devin back

enough to start his reluctant exit.

“I love you,” he murmurs with a devious smirk.

“I love you,” I giggle out like a fool, and then the door shuts behind him.

Clara heaves for air as she leans against the door, and she shakes her head while fanning herself.

“I realize why you’re so in shape now. Holy crap. That man is solid muscle, and damn that was

hot,” she ruffles out.

I laugh a little harder as I pick the curling iron back up to continue styling my hair. Camara grins

as she walks over to unzip the bag containing my new wedding gown.

“This dress is completely different from the last one,” she whispers so that only I can hear.

“That was intentional,” I whisper back. “I don’t want anything to remind me of that day. I want

this day to be special, and it shouldn’t be tainted by previously failed attempts.”

She giggles lightly, and the door creaks open to a familiar face.

“I’m here,” Lana says with a chipper tone. “Sorry I missed the bachelorette party, but I’m ready

to pull off the bridesmaid gig,” she adds.

“Your dress is over there,” Camara says softly while scrolling through her phone and pointing to

the corner.

“Wow. Adisia, that little bit is enough to turn me on, and I’m solely into guys,” she spouts while

staring at my barely there underwear.

“Thanks,” I giggle. “Unfortunately, all the groomsmen got a peek at it as well - except for my

brother, thank goodness,” I mumble.

“I suppose that should make for an interesting wedding march,” she adds with a chuckle.

I slide into my new dress and a smile spreads when I see myself in the mirror.

The dress is sleek, not fluffed like the last one. The strapless neckline dips to reveal a peek at my

cleavage, and the diamond studded trim on the front starts just between my breasts, and rides down in

a diagonal before gathering the fabric in a sexy cluster on my hip bone.

The dress just barely grazes the floor in a sweeping motion, and the back is just slightly longer to

offer a tapered train.

I pull on the new necklace and earrings Devin surprised me with, and my hair falls freely to my

shoulders, unlike the last time when it was pinned to the side.

“Wow,” Lana repeats. “Has Devin seen that dress?”

“No. I’ve kept it a secret, though I don’t know how. He’s been pretty determined to break the

rules,” I giggle out.

“I’ll say,” Clara huffs, and then Jane walks in to join us with my other absent bridesmaid.

“Hey, so, so, sorry we’re running behind.”

“It’s okay. Camara, Lana, this is Cheryl, my cousin, and you already know Jane,” I introduce.

“I don’t know Jane, but it’s nice to meet you both,” Lana says with an extended hand.

“Is Jake getting on his tux?” I ask Jane.

“Yeah. He’s with your groom and all of his unbelievably hot groomsmen. Did Devin just pull

them off the hot guy assembly or something?” Jane dreamily inquires.

“Something like that,” I laugh.

“It’s almost time,” Persia says while walking in.

Her eyes tear up when she sees me, and I hug her like an automatic reflex that I once thought I

would never have with her.

“You’re beautiful, daughter,” she whispers, and it’s too low for the mortal ears to overhear.

“Thank you, Mother,” I whisper back, and her tears swell up bigger at my endearment. “Devin

loved the underwear,” I joke to lighten the mood.

“That boy can’t stay away,” she chuckles while wiping away her escaped tears.

“Oh, there’s my girl,” my other mother gushes, and the tears are streaming down her cheeks in a

relentless flow. “You look so gorgeous,” she declares, and Persia steps back to allow Mom to hug me.

“Thanks, Mom.”

I can see more tears falling from Persia’s eyes. I’m sure this is incredibly hard for her.

She has to watch her daughter’s wedding as if she’s a guest instead of the mother of the bride. I

did make sure to put them just behind my other parents to give them silent inclusion.

She turns to Persia and tilts her head curiously. “Are you a member of the groom’s family?”

“No. I’m just a friend of Adisia’s,” Persia lies, and more tears stream freely down her face.

“Well, it’s lovely to meet you. Have you seen her groom? He’s hot enough to melt the cake and

wilt the flowers,” Mom crudely adds.

Persia starts laughing, and it helps to ease her tears. “I’ve met him. He’s a really wonderful guy,

and I’m glad Adisia found someone to love her so loyally.”

I feel my own tears swelling up, but I refuse to cry and ruin the makeup I just finished applying.

“Me too. He’s also rich. It’s like the market for unbelievable tilted and fell into my girl’s lap,”

Mom drools.

“Please stop,” I exasperate.

“I can’t help it,” she giggles. “He’s just so yummy.”

“Really? Yummy?” I laugh. “I’m going to have to restrain you during the reception, aren’t I?”

“Momma is dancing with Mr. Sexy. Sorry, but it’s my right as your mother,” she chuckles out.

Persia flinches and I rub Mom’s hand in mine.

“One dance, and keep your hands where I can see them,” I kid.

Everyone chuckles, and then there’s a knock before a muffled voice strains through the door.

“Everyone decent?” Dad asks, and I feel my tears starting to return.

“Yeah, Daddy. Come in,” I murmur shakily, and he does as I bid.

His eyes begin watering when he sees me, and I see him straining with all his strength to hold

back the wave of emotion flooding him.

“You look so beautiful,” he gasps, and I rush over to hug him.

“We’ll give you two a minute,” Mom says with a soft tone. “See you out there.”

Everyone follows her out, and Persia’s hand clasps mine lightly before she disappears with the

crowd.

“I love you, Daddy,” I whimper as soon as the door shuts, and his arms wrap around me instantly.

“I love you, sweetie. I’m glad you found someone you want to be with, and I’m happy he’s good

to you. I’d have to rough him up and send him away if he wasn’t,” he chuckles out while a tear

squeaks free.

I laugh too, considering he’d only hurt himself if he tried to inflict pain on my immortal piece of

perfection. He hugs me tighter for a minute, and then he sighs as he releases me.

“You ready?” he chokes out.

“Can I have just a minute?” I ask shakily.

“Yeah. You’ve still got ten of them before your groom gets anxious,” he teases, and then he

disappears out the door to steady his own nerves.

I don’t get my minute, though, because the door opens almost as soon as it shuts, and Kahl walks

in.

He swallows hard as the tears try to sneak into his eyes. I’m trying so hard to accept him as I do

Persia, but it’s taking a little longer.

“I wanted to give you something before the gifts come pouring in,” he says with an emotional

ring, and his eyes widen when he sees me in full. “You look astonishing. I know we haven’t acquired

a full reconciliation, but thank you for letting your mother and I pay for the wedding. It means a lot.”

It’s almost a comical statement since they sort of forced me to accept their wealthy donations.

“Thank you for doing it. My other parents couldn’t have afforded such a lavish backdrop, but

they would have tried, and I would have felt guilty if they had,” I murmur while sucking back my

tears.

He smiles before pursing his lips and handing me a small, gift wrapped box. I sit down as I tear it

open, and I tilt my head curiously when I pull out a beautiful bracelet with a dove emblem on the plate

of it.

“It’s Aphrodite’s signature symbol,” he explains. “Your mother and I fell apart when we gave

you up, and this was what gave us hope. We had it made for you, and we held onto it knowing one day

we’d be reunited with our daughter. It’s the only thing that gave us solace in our time of grief. Now

you’re here, and we can be a part of your life again. I just hope you’ll let us,” he chokes out.

I wipe away my slithering tears and rush over to hug him. His arms grip around me so tightly,

and I worry he’s not going to let go. Years of resentment wash away from my heart as I lean against

his chest.

“I do want you to be a part of my life. Thank you for this,” I say while pulling back and pulling

on the new bracelet. “And, when it’s time for my immortal bonding ceremony, I want you to be the

one to walk me down the aisle.”

He wipes away his own tears and kisses my forehead while nodding vigorously, and then he pulls

me to him again. For the first time, he feels like a father.

“I’ll see you out there,” he promises, and then he flashes out of the room to go join Persia before

his tears can fall in front of me anymore.

I smile at the bracelet representing the couple who can’t disclose their identity.

The door creaks open once more as I freshen up the tearstained makeup, and a knot tightens in my

stomach when Jace walks in.

“Please don’t do this again,” I beg.

“I’m not. I just came to see you before I head back out on the road,” he grumbles.

“You’re leaving?” I whimper.

“Yeah. I’ve apparently served my purpose, and I helped save your life just as my mother’s vision

told me to do. I don’t feel like I’m finished, but I can’t stay here and watch you be with him. It’s too