Livia’s heart pounded as she stood at the top of the stairs. Hyrum and Caecilia had arrived moments ago, followed shortly by Justin and Flavia. Justin had scooped Corvin into a back-pounding hug first thing.

Livia stood in the most feminine dress she’d ever dared to wear. She had no illusions that she looked intimidating or street savvy. Putting those familiar pretenses aside made her feel vulnerable as a small child, but as she’d never had the luxury to display vulnerability, embracing her insecurity was satisfying. She’d felt like she’d earned this moment. On this day, she’d be open and soft in ways she’d longed to be back when life had demanded her unending strength and composure.

Livia inhaled and exhaled. She was ready to walk down the stairs. She didn’t know how the marriage ceremony would go, but at the end of it, Corvin would be hers, and she would be Corvin’s. Every challenge of the next several hours paled in comparison to that reward.

There was a murmur as she appeared to the crowd below. Corvin waited at the foot of the stairs. He smiled up at her as she descended. Livia paused. She met his gaze directly and gave him a warm smile that she wouldn’t have the courage to give to him on any other day.

She watched his eyes widen, and his chest fill with a long inhale. Corvin’s eyes lit with an answering warmth, and Livia’s nervousness disappeared in a wave of love that sent a lightness into her tense muscles.

“Come here, Fabulous,” Corvin encouraged, speaking in his warm-honeyed voice.

Livia laughed. She loved that tone! She dashed the rest of the way down the stairs and threw her arms over his shoulders.

Corvin laughed, scooped her up into his arms, and turned her around in a circle. Livia felt like she was scattering light around the room as her toes sliced through the air. Finally, Corvin came to a stop and gently placed her back on the ground.

Livia pressed to her tiptoes and stole a quick kiss that made Corvin splay his hands along either side of her torso.

He made a noise of pleasure as she drew back. He smiled at her. “You seem quite excited, Love.”

“Let’s do this,” she said.

Corvin laughed. “Let’s do this.”

They turned to face the rest of the crowd. Hyrum approached with Caecilia. His eyes wandered over her, almost like he was looking for the other her. “You’re different today.”

She nodded.

“It’s a good different,” he said. Then his eyes teared up.

Livia was instantly concerned. “Hyrum—”

“I’m being sentimental,” he interrupted gruff, waving her worry off. Then his voice wavered again. “You’re so grown up. I’m so happy for you.”

A tear escaped his eye. Hyrum wiped it away quickly and appeared fine. But Livia gathered him into her arms and held on. She had to gather her composure before she could say what she wanted. “Thank you for all you did to get me here.”

Hyrum’s arms tightened around her. He couldn’t disguise the sob that escaped his chest. “It was worth it. Everything. To see you like this.”

For a moment, Livia thought she would lose it. The darkness of her past opened in her mind and threatened to swallow her. Then Corvin’s palm slid over her shoulder blade, offering support and pulling her back from sinking further into her memories. She released Hyrum and turned into Corvin’s embrace. He always represented the goodness she wanted in her life. He was the light that gave her hope for her future.

Livia looked back at Hyrum, sensing the connection between them would change the same way her relationship with her mother had. That terrified her. She didn’t want them to be estranged, but Corvin still had a good relationship with his parents. He said that sometimes change meant things got better. Indeed, there was something natural about this change, a timing that coincided for both of them. Hyrum would become a father shortly after Livia became a wife.

Livia reached out for Caecilia, squeezing her hand. “Thanks for coming up here. I know you don’t always feel the best these days.”

Caecilia smiled. “We wouldn’t miss it, Liv. Congratulations. I’m happy for you and Corvin.”

Livia took a deep breath, still feeling emotional, haunted by her past, but beneath that, something steady was in her core. There was a feeling that said that marrying Corvin was right. The circumstances weren’t ideal, but the decision would set her on the right path. She took strength from honoring that feeling and smiled up at Corvin.

He smiled back and leaned close to her ear. Then, he whispered, “Are you alright?”

Livia nodded.

“There’s no schedule. So we can take things at our own pace,” he said.

Indeed, there was no sense of urgency in the air, but there was a lot of excitement and happiness. Flavia and Justin greeted them. Flavia squealed and threw her arms around Livia.

Livia laughed.

“We’re so happy!” Flavia said. “You two will be brilliant together.”

“I hope so,” Livia said, blushing.

“I know so,” Flavia countered.

Flavia asked about their plans after the wedding. Her eyebrows rose when they told her they planned to stay in the townhouse Corvin rented with Terrance at Cornelia. “No honeymoon?” she asked.

“Not until the situation is more stable,” Corvin explained.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Gaius is unhappy about the elopement?” she asked, surprised.

“He doesn’t know,” Livia said.

“But—” Flavia gestured to everyone. “We’re all here. The news will get out.”

“We hope to keep the news under wraps until after 5:00 pm tomorrow.”

“After the Senate vote,” Flavia said.

“Yes,” Corvin said.

“Why?” she pressed.

“I don’t want our marriage to affect the vote outcome,” Corvin explained.

Flavia sighed. “It probably would cause people to shift alliances—”

“I’d prefer to keep my marriage as non-political as possible,” Corvin said.

Flavia laughed. “That will last a very short time.”

“I will savor that short time with my entire being,” Corvin said.

Justin lifted his palm to Livia’s back but did not touch her with it. “Come with me, Livia. I’d like to have a private discussion about the contract we will sign.”

Livia allowed herself to be herded through the kitchen and into the music room on the opposite side. Justin hailed Hyrum on the way through the room, and he followed with Caecilia on his heels.

The four of them huddled before the piano as Justin opened the discussion. “I’ve looked over the papers and find them agreeable. What type of opportunity were you given to review them, Livia?”

“I spoke with a lawyer for two hours yesterday, who gave me good advice.”

Justin looked pleased. “Good. And you feel comfortable with the contents?”

“Yes.”

Justin looked at Hyrum. “Did you have any concerns?”

“No, I had another lawyer look at them. Separate from Gaius and Livia’s and he found nothing amiss in them. I’m pleased that they are written in a way supportive of Livia.”

“I noted that, too,” Justin said. “I’d have no hesitation signing them as a witness for you or recommending you sign them as your patron and friend.”

Livia nodded. She looked at Hyrum and Justin. “How do we get this ceremony started? Corvin says there is no schedule, and I’m impatient.”

Justin laughed. “Let’s notify Lars that we wish to proceed.”

Talking to Lars got the entire process started. First, he gathered everyone who needed to sign the papers. Ten minutes later, all formalities were addressed, and Livia placed her pen on the paper and signed her name. Corvin followed next. Then Lars, Aurelia, Hyrum, and Justin signed as witnesses. Corvin smiled at Livia and pulled over the marriage license. “You ready for this?”

“We sign it?” Livia asked.

Corvin nodded. “Then we’ll do the rites accepting you into the House and do celebrations that are supposed to bring good luck.”

Livia nodded and picked up the pen. She signed her name to the marriage license. After she finished signing, Corvin took the pen from her and signed. Then he snuck the pen into an interior pocket in his suit coat. Livia smiled as she realized he intended to keep the pen they had signed their marriage papers with.

“Now?” Livia asked.

“We stand,” Lars said.

Livia stood. They only moved a few feet away from the table. Corvin and Livia stood opposite one another. His parents stood on either side of him. Hyrum and Caecilia stood on either side of Livia.

“Who will serve as the Pronubia?” Lars asked.

“I will,” Caecilia answered.

Lars nodded. “Then let us begin.”

Livia looked over at Caecilia. “What does that mean?” she asked.

“It’s my job to lead you over there,” she whispered.

Aurelia spoke. “Paterfamilias, can we bring this woman into the House and assure her all the privileges and protections of our care?”

“Materfamilias, it would be my great honor to join her with Corvin Tullius if he will accept her.”

“Yes, I will accept her,” Corvin answered.

“Do you promise to provide, protect, and prepare Livia against all future challenges you may face?”

“I solemnly promise,” Corvin said.

Lars smiled. “Pronubia, please lead Livia to Corvin and join their hands.”

Caecilia took Livia by the elbow and guided her across the space between them and Corvin. When they reached them, Caecilia arranged their hands so that Livia’s hand encircled Corvin’s wrist and Corvin’s hand encircled Livia’s wrist.

“Livia,” Caecilia said. “You say, ‘Under your promise, I am a wife, and you a husband.’”

Livia looked at Corvin for reassurance. He nodded, encouraging her. This was very different from what she’d expected. Not familiar at all.

She spoke uncertainly, “Under your promise, I am a wife and you a husband.”

“Under my promise, I am a husband and you a wife,” he responded.

A shiver ran down the length of Livia’s back. A rush of clarity filled her mind. She felt Corvin’s hand tighten against her wrist and then relax. Their eyes met, and an unspoken connection passed between them.

Livia’s eyes strayed to Aurelia when she spoke, “Livia, as you have accepted the position of wife of Corvin Tullius in Lupus House, you will be welcomed as part of our family. We promise to support Corvin as he provides, protects, and prepares you for the future. Remember that his happiness is now your happiness. Your future is also his future. So be kind and supportive, wise and patient.”

Lars smiled. “Feliciter.”

The rest of the wedding party repeated the words three times after Lars.

“Feliciter! Feliciter! Feliciter.”

Corvin pulled Livia in close by her wrist. He whispered. “It’s not required, but customary we kiss now.”

Livia nodded. “We’ll kiss.”

Corvin searched her expression, ensuring she was comfortable, and then leaned down and lightly brushed his lips over hers. Everyone clapped and cheered.

Livia laughed when he pulled back. “We’re married?”

“Almost. I must provide you with fire and water,” he said.

Livia was confused. “What?”

“It’s an ancient custom,” he said. He released her wrist and clasped her hand instead. “Come over here.”

Corvin led her over to the fireplace that had been cleaned and emptied all morning. Livia had figured they wanted to keep the room cooler since so many people would be in attendance.

“Remember how you requested I teach you to build a fire once?”

“Yes.”

“Well, now, I will teach you,” he said.

Livia blushed. “Back then…did that mean…was that some sort of accidental proposal—”

Corvin laughed. “I got teased the next day. Of course, we were all amused at the connection, but considering the context, we knew you’d done it innocently.”

“Does every husband really teach their wife how to make a fire on their wedding day?” Livia pressed.

“The custom now is to light and extinguish candles together.” Corvin grinned. “But I wanted to do it this way because you asked that night.”

So Corvin led her over to the fireplace and taught her how to make a bed of tinder and place the logs over it so the fire could burn without getting smothered.

He held out a twig to Livia. “When I light this, use it to start the fire. Then pull it back out, and we’ll douse it in this water bowl.”

Livia followed his instructions.

He lit the twig, and Livia followed Corvin’s instructions exactly. She smiled as smoke rose from the water where she doused the stick.

“Now we’re married?” she asked.

Corvin leaned forward and gave her a peck on the lips. “Now, you are my fabulous wife.”

Livia laughed. “Good.”

Next followed a ridiculous series of shenanigans. Corvin arm-wrestled both Justin and Hyrum now that he’d gained Taurus strength. Livia was assigned to cheer for Justin and Hyrum and was supposed to act sad when they lost. This would bring them a prosperous marriage. Livia wasn’t sure about the prosperous part, but it did make her laugh.

Then there was sprinkling cornbread crumbs over each other’s heads, which Livia also found humorous. Especially since Corvin did it with such solemnity. She kept giggling and apologizing because she couldn’t tell if Corvin’s demeanor was facetious. Corvin’s family was laughing, so Livia assumed her giggling wasn’t offensive. She didn’t really know until Corvin broke into a mischievous smile at the end. Livia rolled her eyes at him and let out a full laugh.

There were several dances, bouquet throwing, and a dinner that included toasts and speeches. Just when Livia started longing for the party part of the evening to be over, Corvin turned to her. “Why don’t we retire for the night?”

“Can we?” Livia asked.

“We have done all of the things,” Corvin said. “Unless you want to dance again?”

Livia shook her head. “No.”

“Then let’s bid farewell to our guests,” Corvin said.