“I’m proud of you,” he says quietly. “I want you to know that. You’re going to be an amazing mother and wife. And Judge will be a good husband to you. If he isn’t, he knows I’ll kill him myself.”

He says it in a way that someone might take as a joke, except I know Santiago is dead serious. It only makes me love him more.

“Thank you, brother.” I hug him, lowering my voice to a whisper. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He pulls back after a moment, seemingly trying to steel himself before he hands me a familiar velvet box. “Judge asked me to give this to you.”

I open it with a smile and slip the necklace on, my fingers grazing the chain as it settles against my skin.

A gentle knock on the door interrupts the moment, and Ivy pokes her head in with an apologetic smile. “The cars are here. Judge said he wants you with him, so you’ll have to wear this until we get to the church.”

I recognize the cloak as one he wears at IVI, and it brings me comfort as I slip it over my shoulders, his scent surrounding me. Usually, these are reserved for men, but there’s no way Judge is letting me out of his sight right now. So this will conceal my dress until the actual ceremony.

Once I have it in place, Santiago takes me by the arm and leads me downstairs to join my groom. He looks more handsome than a man has a right to standing there in his black tux and matching crimson tie and pocket square. Something I’m assuming is also Solana’s doing.

At the bottom of the stairs, Santi reluctantly hands me over to Judge, and we all make our way out to the convoy of vehicles that will deliver us to the IVI compound. Judge helps me into our private car, his hand squeezing mine as we begin the journey. The privacy screen is up, and I’m grateful for it when Judge turns to me.

“You look beautiful,” he murmurs, his lips pressing against my temple.

“You haven’t even seen my dress yet.” I smile in amusement.

“It doesn’t matter,” he answers seriously. “You always look beautiful. But never more so than you do with our babies inside you. When my ring is on your finger, and my mark is inked into your skin, I’ll never want to take my eyes off you.”