A Vow of Defiance

(Fiona's POV)

The moment I stepped into the garden, the air shifted.

People turned to look at me. Eyes raked over my dress, whispers rippled through the crowd, but I didn't care about any of that. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was trying to escape my ribcage.

And then I saw him.

Xavier.

Standing at the altar, waiting for me.

His dark eyes locked onto mine like they had no intention of looking anywhere else. His suit was perfect—black with just a hint of silver at the cuffs—but it wasn't the clothes that made him stand out. It was him. The way he stood, like the whole world could crumble around him and he wouldn't so much as flinch.

And yet, as I took another step forward, something in his expression shifted.

Like I was the earthquake he wasn't prepared for.

I swallowed hard, gripping my bouquet tighter. This is just a ceremony. A deal. A way to survive.