JAY POV
The moment we stepped through the heavy doors of the villa where everyone was staying, the silence of the morning was officially dead. The air smelled of expensive cologne, hairspray, and the frantic energy of a looming deadline.
"ATE JAY!"
A small, high-speed blur collided with my midsection. I didn't even have to look down to know it was Keiren. I laughed, the tension from the League finally snapping as I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his hair.The heavy weight of the "Bloody Crimson" identity finally sliding off my shoulders. I wrapped my arms around him, squeezing him tight.
"I missed you, Ate," he mumbled into my shirt.
"I missed you too, baby," I whispered, squeezing him tight.
Keifer, ever the provocateur, leaned against the doorframe. He crossed his arms, his biceps straining against the sleeves of his black shirt. "So, that's it? You only meet your Ate? What about your favorite brother who actually drove her here?"
Keiren pulled back just enough to stick his tongue out at Keifer replied with pure, unadulterated sass. "Yes. Only Ate".
Keifer feigned a wounded look, clutching his chest. "And why is that, you little traitor?"
"Because you're too grumpy," Keiren stated matter-of-factly. "Ate is cool. You're just… grumpy."
"I'm grumpy?" Keifer's eyes narrowed playfully. He stepped forward, reaching out to playfully tweak Keiren's ear. "I'll show you grumpy, you little—"
I didn't let him finish. I didn't think; I just reacted. I stepped between them, my eyes narrowing into a death glare that had made grown men in the League drop their weapons. It was the look that said try it and find out.
Keifer froze, his hand mid-air. He cleared his throat, slowly retracting his arm. "Right. No ear-pulling. Message received, Wifey."
Before I could retort, another body joined the pile. Mia came darting forward, her eyes bright with excitement. "Ate!" She didn't just hug me; she grabbed my face and started peppering my cheeks with kisses like a hyperactive puppy.
"Ate! You're back! You're back!"
"Mia, stop—you're getting gloss on me!" I laughed, trying to dodge her affection.
I was laughing, trying to shield my face, when Keifer's hand suddenly appeared, physically prying Mia off me. He looked genuinely annoyed, his jaw set in that territorial way I was starting to recognize all too well.
"Okay, that's enough," Keifer grumbled, pulling Mia back. "She's mine to kiss, not yours. Find your own person to harass."
Mia rolled her eyes, completely unfazed by his jealousy. "Jealous much?
She turned back to me with a sweet smile. "I missed you, Ate.
"I missed you too, Sweetpea," I said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Jay? You okay?"
I looked up to see Percy and Aries walking toward us. They looked different—less like soldiers and more like… well, teenagers. The tactical gear was gone, replaced by casual button-downs, though I noticed the way Aries' eyes scanned the perimeter of the room out of habit.
"I'm fine, guys," I promised. "Better than fine."
Percy smirked, running a hand through his perfectly styled hair. "Of course you are. Now that you're back in the presence of my breathtaking handsomeness, how could you not be? Honestly, I'm surprised the sun hasn't retired; I'm clearly doing its job better."
"The only thing you're burning is my patience, Percy," I retorted, but I was smiling.
Suddenly, the room erupted. Freya, Raaki, Ate Ion, Grace, Mica, and Ella appeared like a coordinated strike team. Before the boys could say another word, the girls had surrounded me, their hands grabbing my arms and dragging me toward the stairs.
"Our turn!" Freya chirped. "The boys have Keifer. We have the Queen!"
"Wait—!" Keifer started, but he was swallowed by a sea of guys as Aries and Percy dragged him toward the lounge.
Upstairs, the girls' suite was a disaster zone of tulle and curling irons. It was a disaster zone of silk, lace, and curling irons
"Okay, someone tell me what is happening," I demanded as Ella pushed me onto a vanity stool. "Freya, when exactly is this wedding?"
Freya looked at her watch, then back at me. "Today. Like… in three hours."
""WHAT?!" I shouted. "Today? As in, in a few hours? Why didn't anyone tell me? Why did Keifer act like we had time? I thought we were here to plan!"
"No time for planning, Jay," Raaki said, tossing a garment bag at me. "Sir Alvin and Ma'am Cindy are already at the venue. There is a mountain of work to do and you're the Maid of Honor. Move it!"
The next few hours were a blur of adrenaline and hairpins. We found Sir Alvin and Ma'am Cindy in the garden Pavilion. I've seen Alvin face down a room of rowdy students without blinking, but today, his hands were shaking as he adjusted his tie.
"Congrats, Sir," I said, walking up to him.
He looked at me, a genuine, shaky smile breaking through his nerves. "Jay. Glad you're here. Try to keep the boys from burning the place down before the vows, will you?"
Ma'am Cindy was in the bridal suite, surrounded by the girls. When she turned around in her gown, we all went silent. She looked breathtaking—not like the strict teacher who gave us detention, but like a literal goddess in white lace. She was a vision in white—soft, elegant, and glowing with a happiness that felt almost foreign to our world of shadows..
"You look beautiful "
"You are a goddess"
"Sir Alvin is about to faint"
"God ! Save Sir"
"Alright, girls," Cindy said, her voice trembling with happy tears. "Your turn. Get changed."
She handed out the dresses. They were a stunning, deep midnight blue—the color of the sky just before the stars come out.
When we finally walked down the stairs to join the guests, I scanned the crowd. My breath caught.
Keifer was standing near the altar, talking to Angelo. He had traded his baggy jeans for a tailored black suit that hugged his broad shoulders perfectly. His hair was slightly tamed, but a few dark strands still fell over his forehead. He looked rugged, sophisticated, and—God help me—absolutely hot.
He was looking freaking hot 🥵
I felt myself melting. My "Queen" composure shattered for a split second as I just stared.
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KEIFER POV
I hated wearing suits. They felt restrictive, like a cage for my muscles. But as I stood at the bottom of the staircase in my black tailored three-piece, waiting for the ceremony to begin, I didn't care about the stiff collar.
I was waiting for her
The guys were buzzing around me. Percy was checking his reflection for the fiftieth time, and Angelo was standing awkwardly to the side, looking like he wanted to bolt.
Then, the chatter stopped.
I looked up. The girls were descending the stairs. I saw Freya, then Mia, then Ate Ion… and then I saw Jay.
My heart didn't just skip a beat; it stopped entirely.
The blue dress hugged her curves in all the right places, flowing down her legs like liquid starlight. Her hair was swept up, leaving the elegant line of her neck exposed—the same neck I had been kissing only hours ago on the plane.
She looked regal. She looked like the Queen she was. But when our eyes met, I saw that familiar flush creep up her neck. I saw the way her gaze lingered on my shoulders, her pupils dilating. She was melting, right there in front of everyone.
Good, I thought, a dark, satisfied pride swirling in my chest. Keep looking at me like that.
I stepped forward, leaning close to her ear. "Careful, wifey," I whispered, my voice thick with a hunger I couldn't hide. "You keep looking at me like that, and we're going to miss the wedding."
"Shut up," she breathed, but she didn't look away.
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JAY POV
The ceremony was beautiful. Watching Alvin and Cindy exchange vows made something ache deep in my chest. It was a reminder that even in our world of shadows and daggers, love could find a way to take root.
I felt a hand slide into mine. I didn't have to look to know it was Keifer. He leaned in, his shoulder brushing mine.
"Look at them, wifey," he whispered. "That's going to be us. But bigger. White roses everywhere. No League bullshit. Just you and me."
I squeezed his hand, my eyes shimmering. "In your dreams, Keifer."
"I'm already planning it," he murmured. "And you're going to look even better in white. I want to see you walk down an aisle with white roses. I want to promise to protect you in front of the whole world, not just a bunch of elders in a basement. I'm already plotting the guest list."
I bit my lips, "You're shameless ".
"Only for you."
The ceremony ended with a roar of cheers. Soon, it was time for the reception and the tradition everyone was waiting for: the bouquet toss.
All the girls lined up. Freya was elbowing Raaki out of the way, and Mia was jumping up and down. I stood back, laughing, watching the chaos. Ate Ion was standing near the center, looking shy and trying to stay out of the fray.
"One… two… THREE!" Ma'am Cindy turned and launched the bouquet.
The flowers sailed through the air, over Freya's outstretched hands, missing me by an inch, and went thud straight into Ion's arms.
The silence lasted exactly one second.
" ATE ION!" the girls screamed.
Ion turned bright red, clutching the flowers to her chest. I looked over at the boys' side. Angelo's ears were so red they looked like they were glowing. He looked like he wanted the earth to swallow him whole.
"Looks like you're next, Angelo!" Tiger shouted, slapping him on the back. "Better start saving for a ring!"
We were all laughing, the sound of joy filling the evening air. For a moment, we weren't the League. We weren't assassins or targets. We were just friends at a wedding.
But then, the sound of the world changed.
The screech of tires—heavy, high-performance tires—tore through the music.
Three black, armored SUVs tore through the gates, spraying gravel across the manicured lawn. They didn't slow down. They drifted into a formation, blocking the main exit.
The laughter died instantly.
Keifer's hand went to the small of his back where his piece was hidden. I felt the familiar weight of the dagger hidden in the folds of my blue dress.
The car doors flew open.
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A/n
(Check comment )
Hope you loved the chapter!
I'm so excited to hear your theories on who's in those cars!
Stay tuned for the chaos!
Love you all! 👋 😘