Matt walked toward the ambulance. Becker was seated in the back with the others around the entrance. The medics had removed his shirt in order to reach his wound. His shoulder was covered in gauze and medical tape holding it in place. His bloody shirt and jacket lay in his lap. Becker's left hand was at the base of the bandages.
"Scouting teams haven't found anything other creatures." Matt said.
"The preliminary autopsy depicted all the predators that came through were male. And knowing that, chances are there's no nest or female somewhere out there." Abby explained.
Matt nodded. "What's the story the press will hear?"
"A team of thieves broke onto the ground the interrupted the ceremony, ransacking and damaging the castle." Jess explained, trying to hide her smirked.
Matt smirked. "I guess we can let that one slide. How did the guests manage?"
"Scared to death but no injuries. The last of them are leaving now." Connor explained.
Matt turned to Becker. "How're you doin' Becker?"
"I've had worse, but if you try to hit my arm I will kill you." Becker warned.
Matt chuckled.
Lester joined the team by the ambulance. "Well it looks like nothing left in life is sacred."
Everyone exchanged glances with one another.
"Still, everyone favored well." Lester continued. "I'll expect you all at the airport in two hours. If you're not there, you're finding your own transport back to London." He strolled from the ambulance to his waiting car.
"Does anyone else think there's two sides to Lester?" Connor asked.
"Lester's enough without dealing with different personalities." Becker replied.
Abby and Jenny laughed.
Matt looked around the area and frowned. "Has anyone seen Emily?"
"I saw her a few minutes ago in the ceremony hall with Zacharias." Jess answered.
"That's weird cause his family's leavin' in a few minutes." Connor said.
Matt turned toward the castle entrance. Zach came through the doorway in a rush. He looked furious and hurt. Matt watched him move quickly to one of the cars and climb in. the car pulled away from the castle. Matt looked back at the castle. He walked from the ambulance and up the entrance steps. He walked into the castle. The moment he entered, he heard the muffled sound of piano music. He turned his head toward the ceremony hall. Matt slowly opened the door and slipped inside. The music was louder. Matt recognized it from the ceremony, Emily's wedding march.
Speaking of Emily, Matt spotted her sitting at the white grand piano, playing the beautiful music. He'd never seen her play before, never knew she could. Her dress was torn, exposing her right leg and thigh as she played. He walked slowly toward the alter, watching Emily as she continued playing. He watched how she moved with the music. Her back bent slightly over the keys as her fingers danced over them. Her head titled in concentration. Her fingers played the last chord, letting it fade into silence.
"Well it wouldn't be a real weddin' without a proper fight, would it?" he asked.
Emily closed the lid. "No, I suppose not."
"Zach left a few moments ago. I'm surprised you didn't go with him." He said.
Emily rose from the piano and turned toward him. "I thought perhaps, I'd stay behind and help."
Matt tiled his head slightly. "It's not your job anymore, Emily."
"I know. I just thought I'd offer my assistance if it was needed." Emily replied.
"Thanks for the offer, but everythin's taken care of." Matte explained. "Lester wants us at the airport in two hours, so we'll be leavin' soon."
Emily walked from the alter beside Matt. "I wanted to thank you for coming back to warn us about the creatures."
Matt shook his head. "I didn't."
Emily looked up and frowned. "What?"
"I didn't come to warn everyone." Matt said. He looked at Emily. "I came back to stop the weddin'."
Emily's eyes grew wide. "What?"
"I wasn't gonna let you marry him." Matt repeated. "I couldn't."
Emily opened her mouth.
Matt held up his hand. "Just let me say this, Emily. I only came here to deal with the anomaly. I was perfectly acceptant of the fact that you were getting' married." He paused, lowering his head for a moment. He looked back up at Emily. "I love you. And I can accept the fact that you'd rather marry a lawyer. God knows it's safer than the ARC. But if this is that last chance I have to tell you before you marry Zach then I'm gonna take it."
Emily looked up at him in shock. Matt turned from Emily and walked toward the door. Emily watched him storm out of the room in a hurry. She grabbed the skirt of her dress and ran after him. She weaved around the strewn chairs and ribbons, following Matt out of the room. Matt walked already through the front entrance archway by the time Emily reached the door.
"Matt!" Emily called. She hurried after him. She jogged out of the entrance.
Matt walked already walking toward his car.
"You inconsiderate prat!" Emily called. "What makes you think you can say all that and just walk away?"
Matt stopped and turned back toward her. "You've obviously made your decision, Emily. What more is there?"
"Did you ever consider the fact that I wasn't going to marry him today?" Emily asked.
Matt's hard gaze faltered. "What?"
"I wasn't going to marry Zacharias." Emily repeated.
Matt walked back up several steps toward Emily.
"I thought that I when I left the ARC, I could everything behind. You, the creatures, my past, all of it. When I met Zacharias, I thought that it would actually work. I could move on and never look back." Emily explained. "But then you asked me if I love him."
"You said yes." Matt stated.
Emily nodded. "I did. But I was wrong. I realized that everything I loved about him, everything that had attracted me to him, was completely based from you."
Matt frowned.
"I fell in love with the qualities of you I saw in him. I didn't love him." Emily finished. She stepped down one step, bringing herself only inches from Matt. "I was wrong to think that I could ever move on from you. I love you Matt."
The second those words left her lips, Matt closed the distance between them. His hand reached behind her head, bringing her toward him. His lips met hers instantly as his left arm moved around her waist. The fingers on Emily's right hand faintly traced lines down Matt's cheek. So much time had been wasted with unsaid words. So much had been threatened between them. No more.