“There is no slip, baby. You can call us your mates or your husbands or whatever you want, so long as you’re claiming us as yours.” He gave me a smile so warm and kind that the heaviness in my heart lifted. “Does the term beloved bother you?”
“No. I like it,” I admitted with a shy smile. “It makes me feel special.”
“Youarespecial, sweet potato.” Zane recovered his chair and plopped onto it. “Specialler than you know.”
“Not a word, asshat,” Casimir muttered as he, too, dropped back down in his chair.
“She knows what I mean. Don’t you, gorgeous?”
I nodded, still staring at Koa’s hard, scarred hand between my palms.
“Serafina, I apologize,” Zane said more formally, and I glanced at him to see complete sincerity in his eyes. “I never meant to hurt you. Shitty jokes, remember? My superpower.”
“I’m sorry, too. I took it wrong. It’s just, if you knew what it was like to be made and kept powerless, you wouldn’t say things like that,” I whispered, then braced myself for scolding or smacks.
Neither came.
“While we’re on the subject of beloveds and mates, when do you want to get married?” Koa asked after a moment, and I stilled.
“I thought we already were?”
“While the contracts we signed are binding inourworld, for humans, we’ll need a certified officiant to perform a marriage ceremony.” Casimir’s green eyes fixed on my face. “Father said he’ll arrange for someone to come here whenever you’re ready.”
“Oh. Any day is fine,” I assured him even as heat flooded my neck and cheeks.
Would they expect a wedding night right afterwards? Despite the mate bond encouraging me to be closer to them in every way possible, I was still exhausted and in a lot of pain and I didn’t know them, not really.
“Don’t you want a special dress first, darling?” Zane tilted his head to the side. “I thought all girls dreamed of their wedding gown.”
I rolled my shoulders. All I’d dreamed about the last few years was escaping the Harrows. And I didn’t have the money to buy anything like a fancy gown.
“I can’t afford it,” I whispered, dropping my eyes. “And it’s silly to waste so much on a dress I’ll wear once.”
“We’re rich now. If our positions were reversed, you’d buy us suits, wouldn’t you?” Koa pulled his hand out from between mine to cup the side of my face in his palm. “And it isn’t silly if it makes you happy. If it bothers you, it doesn’t have to be a traditional gown. It could be one that you can wear to formal events or even an everyday dress—”
“A boho theme, honeybee!” Zane chirped. “Totally come as you are! Barefoot or boots. Skirt or cargo pants. Tactical vest or clean t-shirt—”
“Bleeding night,” Casimir mumbled. “I don’t even want to know which of your deplorable tees you’d choose.”
“I have the perfect one! I’ve been saving it for a special occasion.”
“I hope it’s better thanthatone.” Casimir lifted one pale eyebrow as he looked at Zane’s navy t-shirt that had a picture of a goose and read, “Sometimes, I wonder if I’m too silly of a goose.”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, itis!” Zane’s chin jutted out and his gingerbread eyes flared with a blend of mischief and rebellion. “It says, ‘Ready to lose my virg—”
“Zane!” Koa’s free hand fisted up and hit the table hard enough to scatter all the silverware.
As I flinched, Brumous scrambled up and tried to wedge himself between me and Koa. At first, I thought he was scared, too, but then a rumbly growl registered over the blood rushing in my ears, and I realized he was trying to protect me.
“It’s okay, Brummy,” I whispered to him, even though my hands shook as I sank them into his ruff.
“I apologize, beloved.” Koa drew in a sharp breath and released it slowly. “It was not my intention to scare you.”
I only nodded, and a long, quiet moment followed, broken only when Brumous passed gas so loudly that my plate rattled.
“Bat’s bones, Brumster!” Zane shouted. “You’re a walking bio weapon, you hairy farter!”
“You know,” Koa gasped as he waved a hand in front of his face, “we could totally turn him into a hunting partner. Gas out the enemy instead of smoke them out.”
