Chapter 73- Real Magic
Lucis Snow fell in perfect crystalline flakes outside the Roman estate’s bridal suite, nature conspiring with my soon–to–be sisters–in–law to create the winter wonderland they’d promised. Three months of careful planning (mostly Dante’si, endless préparations (definitely Dante’s), and enough security personnel to guard a small country fabsolutely Dante’s had transformed the mansion into something from a fairy tale
“Hold still” Julia wrestled with my hair as Sofia adjusted my dress for the hundredth time. “If we don’t get these pins perfect, Dante will probably call a national emergency.”
“He would not.” I protested, though we all knew he absolutely would.
“Please.” Maria rolled her eyes from where she was arranging my veil. “He had the florist’s entire family investigated because one rose in the sample arrangements was slightly off–white.”
“And don’t forget the great rake crisis,” Sofia added with a laugh. “Pour Giuseppe nearly had a nervous breakdown when Dante demanded scientific proof that the ganache wouldn’t melt under the reception lighting.”
Heat bloomed in my cheeks. “He’s just.
“Completely, utterly, ridiculously in love? Julia smiled at me in the mirror. “We know, It’s actually adorable, watching our perfectly controlled brother turn into a romantic puddle where you’re concerned.”
*Speaking of romantic puddles,” Sofia grinned wickedly. “how’s our future niece or nephew treating you today?”
My hand drifted to the slight curve of my stomach, barely visible under the carefully structured bodice of my gown. “Better. The morning sickness is finally earing up”
“Thank God,” Maria mastered. “If had to watch Dome pace outside your bathroom one more time…
“Calling every doctor in his contacts list, Julia added.
“Researching rare pregnancy complications at three AM, Sofia chimed in
“Installing air purifiers in every coom because lie read that certain scerus can trigger nausea.” Maria finished,
“Stop.” I laughed, bur joy bubbled up inside me at their teasing. This was what I’d dreamed of as a litle girl – not just love, but family. Real family, built on affection instead of alliances.
A knock at the door made is all tum.
“If that’s Dante trying to sneak a peek again Julia called out, “I swear I’ll tell everyone about the teddy bear incident from when you were twelve!”
“It’s me, darling,” Mama Homann’s voice carried warmth through the wood. “Is my beautiful daughter decent?”
Trans pricked at my eyes at the casual way she claimed me as her own “Come in Mama.”
She entered like a queen, elegant in silvery blue silk that highlighted her still–beautiful features. But it was what the carried that made my breath
catch
“Your mother’s veil,” she said softly, holding out carefully preserved lace that carried decades of love in every delicate much. “Your father found in in her things. We had it restored, but…” She touched one of the tiny pearls sewn into the edging “Every stitch in still hers.”
Fresh tears threatened as I reached out to touch the familiar pattern. “Mama’s veil.
‘She wore it the day she married your father,” Mama Romano continued, her own eyes suspiciously bright. “The day she chose love over careful arrangements. Just like you, my darling girl.”
“But this time,” my father’s voice came from the doorway, making us all turn, this time the love came first.”
“Papal” I started to rise, but Julia’s hand on my hair stopped ne
i you dare move,” she warned. “This masterpicor took two hours.”
Papa crossed the room anyway, his usual commanding presence softened by emotion as he looked at me “Bella,” he whispered, touching my cheek Just like your mother.”
you know how long this makeup took?” The tears spilled over then bu Sofa was already there with a careful tissue. No crying!” she ordered. T “Speaking of tine.” Maria glanced at her diamond–studded watch, “we have exactly twenty–three minutes before Dante sends in a SWAT team to make sure nothing’s wrong.”
“He would not.” I protested again, with even less conviction.
“Please.” Julia’s laugh carried years of knowing her brother. “Marco already talked him out of having a medical team on standby.”
“Although,” Sofia added thoughtfully, “the idea of Dante pacing around in his perfect tuxedo while a SWAT team rappels through the windows..”
*Don’t even joke. I groaned. “Hell think it’s a good idea”
Another knock made us all freeze.
“Sorella?” Antonio’s voice carried none of its usual edge. “Can L. can we come in!”
Papa opened the door to reveal all three of my brothers, looking uncharacteristically emotional in their formal suits. Marco, always the composed one, actually had tears in his eyes. Leo, our family hothead, kept adjusting his the like he couldn’t quite breaths. Anil Antonio, my haby brother
Chapter 23 Real Magic
who’d oner punched Dante for touching me, stood quietly twisting something in his hands
“We, uh,” he started, then stopped, looking at Marco for help.
“We wanted to give you something.” Marco finished smoothly, though his voice shook slightly. “Before the ceremony.”
Antonio held out what he’d been fidgeting with a small box wrapped in ivory silk
“It was Mama’s,” Les explained as I opened it carefully. We found it when we were going through her jewelry bas, looking for the veil
Inside, nestled on cream velvet, by a delicme gold bracelet 1 remembered from childhood. Try charms caught the light – a heart, a key, a tiny pair of ballet shoes from my first recital, a microscopic paint palette from my an phase, a perfect miniature of the Colosseum from our family trip to
Rome
“She added a charm for every dream you had,” Marco said softly. “Every hope, every passion. Even the ones that didn’t last.”
“Like your brief obsession with becoming an opera singer,” Lea added with a watery laugh.
“Or the month you wanted to be a professional horse trainer,” Antonio chimed in.
“But look,” Marco pointed to the newest charm – a tiny architect’s compass that gleamed like it had just been added. “She knew. Somehow, she always knew who you’d become.”
Tears fell freely now, Sofia’s makeup warnings forgotten as my brothers crowded close.
“She’d be so proud.” Papa said softly. “Of all of you. Of the family you’ve bude.”
A final knock preceded Elina bursting in, resplendent in her maid of honor gown. Tine checkt Ten minutes until operation ‘Keep Dante from Calling the National Guard coubences!”
“Five more minutes,” julia protested, reaching for more hairpins.
“No one!” Elisa clapped her hands. “Everyone not directly involved in getting this bride down the aisle, out! Even you, Papa Romance.”
My father pressed a kiss to my forehead before letting Elina shoo him out. My brothers each bugged me carefully, mindful of the dress they’d probably been wamed about on pain of death..
“Ready?” Elim asked once we were alone.
Hooked in the mirror, taking in the culmination of so many dreams. The dress was everything I’d imagined and nothing like I’d expected–soft ivory silk that floated like snow, derailed with crystals that cavaçis the ligjit lake stars. My mother’s veil crowed a hairstyle that fuel probably taken years. off Julia’s life to perfect. The new bracelet chimed softly against my wrist, carrying generations of love in each tiny charm.
Be it was my eyes that caught my attention. They sparkled with something beyond hemniful styling and perfect lighting. They shone with joy With love. With the kind of happiness Til once thought impossible in our world of careful arrangements and political alliances.
“More than ready,” I whispered, touching the slight curve that carried our future. “We both are
on schedule, because of course
Music drifted up from below – Vivaldi’s “Winter” played by the string quartet Dante had sourced from Venice Right of it was. My perfectly controlled husband–to–be would accept nothing less than precision today
The ceremony passed in a blur of tears and joy and perfect moments. Donte’s face when he saw me walk down the aisle on my father’s arm. The way his voice shook slightly as he recited vows that had nothing to do with contracts or calculations. The moment be bissed me like we were alone in the world, heedless of cameras or Demily or careful propriety.
The reception transformed the ballrom into the winter wonderland of my dreams. Crystal snowflakes caught candlelight like stars. White roses and silver branches created ethereal snelsways, Each table held perfect arrangements of flowers and lights, because Dante Romano never did
anything halfway.
But it was the people who made in magic.
Julia dancing witli her husband, both of them still looking at each other like newlyweds. Sofia fining outrageously with her latest conquest while
Maria recorded it all for future blackmail. My brothers taking nums trying to intimidate Dante’s security team, only to end up sharing war stories and wedding cake
Our fathers, once rivals, now stood together comparing notes on grandchild–spoiling strategies. Our mothers – Mama Romano and the memory of
ne, present Every detail from the veil to the bracelet that chimed with my movemeins
“Happy, cara“” Dante’s voice carried that dangerous warmth that still made my heart race as he pulled me close for another dance.
“Perfect,” I whispered back breathing in the familiar sceau of sandalwood and power and love. “Though I noticed the security team on the roof.”
“Purely precautionary.” But his smile held nothing of business or politics as se spun me carefully. “Can’t have anything disturbing my pregnant wife’s perfect day”
“Your wife.” The words still sent shivers down my spine, “Not just on paperil
this time.”
a rolkan ora calculation or a careful political
“Never just on paper. His hand sended possessively on the slight curve of my stomach. “Never just a co
arrangement
“Ti amo,” I whispered, stretching up to kiss him as snow fell outside and unic swirled around us and love filled every careful inch of space between.
“Tiamo, cara mia,” he whispered hack “My perfectly imperfen love”
And there, surrounded by family and friends and ennuigh security personnel to guard a small nation (becausejome things never changedt, we
Chapter 73 Real Magic
danced our way into a future built on love instead of alliances
Real love.
Real family
Real magic.
The kind that lived in tiny golden charms and carefully preserved veils and the way Dante’s hand never left the place where our future grew kind that transformed careful political arrangements into fairy tales
The kind that lasted forever.
