Wulf von Hannover
Wulf stepped out of the car onto the sidewalk in the mild August sunlight. The church where he was to marry Reagan loomed above, soaring into the clear breeze from Lake Geneva and the mountains around it, a particular fertile scent that filled his childhood memories.
The large wooden doors on the front of the church swung open with a gentle pull of his hand, and he slipped through a small opening between them, not letting the sunlight glare into the church.
After Flicka’s abduction, the ceremony had already been delayed. In the main part of the church, wedding guests packed the pews, standing and chatting with people in different rows. Considering that most of them lived in the limelight, this was probably a welcome chance for them to talk with friends unobserved.
In the relative gloom of the foyer, he found the staircase going down to the rooms below the main level. The dusty scent of old incense smoke clung to the walls and fresh carpeting under his feet.
At the intersection of three hallways at the base of the stairs, Wulf paused, listening.
Rae’s laughter, a raucous, jubilant laugh, trickled through the air.
Left.
He followed the trail of Reagan’s laughter chortling between the wooden walls and sconce lights that seemed reminiscent of medieval torches.
From the second that he had heard her laugh, he had known that she was fine. He had already conversed with Dieter, who had assured him that he and Flicka had arrived at the church and Rae was present, healthy, and not angry at him. Before that, in the car, he had been in contact with Romain, who had assured him that they had removed Rae from the hotel and arrived at the church safely.
He knew she was safe. The door muffled her laughter, and she was healthy and fine on the other side of that door. There was no need to open the door. Doing so might cause her distress due to the bad luck that might be incurred.
And yet, Wulf opened the door.
Not to tease her about seeing the bride before the wedding and luck.
He pushed open the wooden door because a lurking, illogical tremor lived in the back of his mind that Flicka’s kidnapping might have been a diversion, and his father might have sent someone to hurt his wife while Wulf ran after his sister. Deadly anger flickered near that shiver of fear.
The door swung to reveal Reagan, giggling with Lizzy about something. Both wore pristine white dresses, though Reagan’s was more elaborate.
Her sweet, brown eyes widened. “Wulf! I declare, you are going to push this, aren’t you? I am actually in my dress!”
Wulf gestured to the tiny, blond woman beside his wife. “Lizbeth, we need the room.”
“What, dude? You’re not The—” Lizbeth began.
Rae was watching him. When her eyes locked on him like that, he felt like she was the only person in the world who could really see him. Everyone else’s gaze ricocheted off him, sliding over the sharp edges of his history and projected image, and they never really saw.
She turned, but she didn’t take her huge, brown eyes off him. “Lizzy, give us a sec.”
“Fine.” Lizzy tramped past him, and he shut the door behind her.
Rae was still watching him. She was so beautiful, all made up and tucked into that hourglass dress. A ghostly white veil had been sewn to the wedding tiara that his sister had retrieved from Schloss Marienburg. Diamonds glistened in the dark blaze of her hair. She said, “Flicka just went to find you. Are you okay?”
He covered the room in two steps and crushed her to him. Her strong arms wrapped around his waist. “It might have been a ploy,” he said.
“It wasn’t,” she said, her arms reaching around his body. “There wasn’t a hint of a problem. I still have the Walther PPK in a holster in my garter.”
Wulf let his head fall forward to rest his cheek against her temple. “Wear it during the ceremony.”
“I had every intention of it.”
He chuckled and held her curving body in his arms for just a moment longer. “I had to see you, to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. I promise you. I’m fine.”
Wulf ran his hands up her back, feeling the strong sinews along her spine under the dress.
Here was everything in his life that was most valuable. Here was everything he needed.