"A claiming ceremony. Makes it official—you're part of this family, protected by everyone who wears our colors, bound by our code." He let that sink in. "It's what Maria went through when she married me. What Declan did when he chose Irish. It's not marriage, exactly, but in this world? It's as close as it gets."
I stared at him, mind racing. "Does Axel know about this?"
"Not yet." Hawk's expression was carefully neutral. "Wanted to ask you first. See if it was something you wanted before I put the idea in his head."
A claiming ceremony. Official recognition. Axel's partner in the eyes of everyone who mattered. Two weeks ago, I'd been a lonely nurse helping a stranger in a parking lot. Now I was being offered a family.
"Yes," I said. "Yes. I want that."
Hawk nodded, something like approval warming his eyes. "Then we'll do it the day after Jake's patching. Give you some time to prepare." He turned to go, then paused. "One more thing. The ceremony requires a sponsor—someone to vouch for you besides your partner. Tradition usually says family."
"I don't have—" I stopped. Realized. "Tyler."
"If he's willing. Might be good for him too. Give him roots here, whatever he decides about the badge."
Roots. Family. Belonging. "I'll ask him," I said.
Hawk nodded once more and disappeared down the hall. I stood there for a long moment, water forgotten, trying to process everything that had shifted.
Two ceremonies. Jake becoming full Phoenix. Me becoming Axel's—officially, publicly, in front of everyone. And Axel didn't know yet.
The thought sent a thrill through me. I got to tell him. Got to see his face when he realized what I'd agreed to. Got to watch him understand that I was choosing him, choosing this life, choosing to stay. Forever.
I went back to our room, slipped into bed beside him. He stirred, pulled me close, mumbled something unintelligible against my hair.
"Hey," I whispered. "I have something to tell you."
"Mm. Morning."
"Not morning yet." I kissed his shoulder. "But it can wait."
"'Got it." He was already drifting back to sleep. "Love you."
"Love you too."
I lay awake until dawn, watching the sky lighten through the curtains, thinking about ceremonies and promises and the future stretching out before us. For the first time in my life, I wasn't afraid of what it held.
I was ready.
19
SURRENDER
AXEL
Iwoke to the sight of Kai sleeping.
Morning light caught the purple streaks in his hair, turned them almost violet against the white pillowcase. His face was soft in sleep—no tension, no fear, just peace. One hand curled near his cheek like a child's. The other rested on my chest, right over my heart.
Two weeks. That's all it had been. Fourteen days since I'd bled out in a parking lot and this man had knelt beside me, pressed his hands to my wounds, and refused to let me die.
Fourteen days, and he'd remade my entire world. I traced the line of his jaw with my fingertip, feather-light, not wanting to wake him. He stirred anyway, eyes fluttering open, finding mine with that sleepy smile that made my chest ache.
"Morning," he murmured.
"Morning."
"You're staring."
