Page 127 of Stolen Faith
“You are here to be formally bound in the marriage of the Trinity Masters,” the Grand Master said.
They’d elected to write their own vows, something that had caused Rowan countless hours of stress, especially when he remembered that Brennon wrote for a living. Regardless, Izabel insisted, telling him all he had to do was speak from the heart. When he started thinking about it that way, the words came easier.
The three of them turned to face each other, reaching out to hold hands, much like they had at their binding ceremony.
That day, they’d been strangers, making a pledge based on obligation.
Today, they were lovers, their promises genuine, coming from the heart.
Izabel began, primarily looking at Brennon, her first vow breaking some of the nervous tension in the air. “I promise to laugh at most of your jokes.”
The three of them chuckled softly.
“I promise to always find opportunities for the three of us to chase joy. No matter how far outside our comfort zone,” Brennon vowed.
Rowan swallowed hard, and when they looked at him, he considered everything they’d gone through to reach this place. “I promise to work through our hardest moments and celebrate our best.”
Izabel’s eyes glistened with tears. “I promise to be gentle, patient, and stable.”
“I promise to be a true partner in all our crazy adventures, although I’m hoping we can knock kidnapping off that list. Been there, done that, don’t need a sequel.” Brennon winked at them.
Rowan rolled his eyes. “I promise to open my heart, to share all of myself with you without holding a single thing back.”
They took several more turns, and Rowan caught sight of Brennon, surreptitiously wiping his eyes.
Izabel’s voice grew thick with unshed tears as she held out Brennon’s ring, sliding it onto his finger. “You are both strong, determined, hardworking, and kind. You are more than what I thought I wanted and exactly what I needed. I love you. Both of you,” she said. “So much.”
“I promise to love and care for you, and I will try in every way to be worthy of your love.” As he spoke, Brennon slipped the wedding band on Rowan’s finger. “I know I’ve said it to both of you before, in not exactly ideal situations, but poor timing didn’t stop it from being the truth. I love you.”
Rowan didn’t know what he’d done in his life to earn the right to be here, but he would never fail to appreciate it. “You love me more than I deserve,” he said as he started to put the ring on Izabel’s finger. She squeezed his hand, a warning more than affection. “I will protect you with my life and love you until the end of time.”
Juliette pronounced them a trinity and then…they were married.
Rowan lowered his head to kiss Izabel, her lips parting under his. It was warm and passionate and full of promise. Then he turned to find Brennon, right there waiting. Their kiss was rougher, but just as sweet. Rowan stepped back to watch as Brennon kissed their beautiful bride.
There would be a huge reception tomorrow night, the entire thing planned by Izabel’s parents. Izabel confessed that prior to their kidnapping, she’d intended to request that they present themselves as a throuple to the world. However, she was still struggling with feelings of guilt, still blaming herself for their kidnapping. So when the decision regarding how they would present themselves to the world came up, it was actually Rowan and Brennon working to convince her to go forward as a committed throuple.
Rowan wasn’t completely sure if that was wise, given the current state of affairs of the Trinity Masters, but considering the fact Izabel’s parents were already living that lifestyle, he decided most people would assume her choice was based on her upbringing instead of affiliation with a secret society.
Besides, when it came right down to it, Rowan wasn’t willing to spend their lives living a lie, pretending to be a single and one couple or three singles or any of the other ways members hid the truth of their relationships. They were his, and he wanted the world to know.
They had FaceTimed Brennon’s parents together, who’d been shocked by his announcement that he was marrying a man and a woman, but they’d come around quickly, Brennon’s dad joking about his son, the Hollywood Heathen. Brennon had declared that a great title for a movie, and he and his dad had spent the next ten minutes discussing possible plotlines and even casting the lead roles. Rowan, Izabel, and Brennon’s mom had cracked up the entire time and sworn they would go see the movie if it was ever made. It was clear Brennon had gotten his sense of humor from his father.
Rowan’s dad hadn’t taken the news quite as well, but Rowan hadn’t expected anything different. Dad had always been a strict taskmaster, a rule follower, and bucking society’s norms wasn’t something he’d ever do. He’d introduced Dad to Izabel and Brennon via Zoom, and while his dad had been reserved at first, both of his spouses had worn him down and by the end, Dad had relaxed and even smiled a couple of times. While he hadn’t exactly given his blessing, he had promised to come to the reception, as had Brennon’s parents.
Rowan hadn’t mentioned the fact Izabel had three parents to his dad. So there was still that little bombshell to look forward to.
Izabel’s mom had wanted to hold the reception tonight, but Izabel had pushed her off, claiming she wasn’t taking any chances when it came to missing her honeymoon. She’d said it as a joke, but Rowan suspected there was some truth underlying the words.
Especially when Izabel’s daddy had hired private security—Rowan had personally vetted the bodyguards—who would guard the entrances to the hotel as well as their floor. While Rowan was fairly certain the threat toward them was gone, considering all the major players in the kidnapping were currently behind bars, he understood Izabel’s fears and had no problem alleviating them however she needed.
They’d taken a limo from the library to the Boston Park Plaza, the honeymoon suite all theirs for the weekend.
The three of them walked in together, hand in hand. Then Brennon made a beeline for the bar, as was his habit. He’d become an expert at making their chosen drinks, but Rowan wasn’t in the mood for alcohol, so he grasped his husband’s arm and shook his head.
Brennon gave him a knowing grin, both of them on the same page about what came next. They slipped off their jackets and loosened their bow ties as Izabel toed off her high heels.
They hadn’t slept apart since that night at Brennon’s house, when he’d fed them quesadillas. Unfortunately, Izabel and Brennon had flat-out refused to take any chances with Rowan’s cracked ribs, even when he reassured them that he was feeling better. They’d taken the doctor’s healing timeline—the longest six weeks of Rowan’s life—to heart, neither willing to risk hurting him.