“Since you’re officially recognized as the alphas of the New York City god pack by the powers that be, we wanted to make sure you stayed that way,” Leon said.
“We aren’t giving up our territory now that we’ve finally claimed it.”
Emma leaned to the side to dig through her purse, coming up with a manila envelope. She passed it across the table to them with a bright smile. “Territory is one thing. Visas are another, and we’ve been wanting to do this for a while now.”
Jono leaned forward to take it. “What do you mean?”
“Open it.”
Patrick watched as Jono pulled out several sheets of paper, holding them so that they could both see. The documents turned out to be a property deed, business license, and an official-looking agreement. Little stickers sayingSign Herewere interspersed on various pages, pointing out signature blocks with Jono’s name printed beneath the line.
“What?” Jono said, drawing out the word.
“We’re giving you Tempest,” Leon said.
“Consider it our pack’s tithe,” Emma added.
“You would not believe the hoops I had to go through to get that liquor license transferred into your name,” Marek said.
“Being a business owner and employer means your visa can get upgraded, and it’ll make it easier for you to apply for citizenship if you don’t want to wait on becoming a naturalized citizen,” Sage said.
Patrick gently tugged the documents out of Jono’s hands before he crumpled them. “You’d have to give up tea if you become American.”
“Sod that,” Jono said gruffly. “The US allows for dual citizenship.”
“Yeah, but think of the taxes. We already have way too much to pay now. You want to pay it to two countries?”
In answer, Jono turned to kiss Patrick. “I’ll pay whatever I need to if it means I get to stay here with you.”
The promise tasted sweet on Patrick’s tongue, sweeter than the decadent chocolate cake that was eventually served for the dessert course.
31
Sage and Marek’swedding ceremony and reception were being held in two different locations. At the time of reserving the venues late last year, they’d been worried about needing to cross pack territories, risking a fight on their wedding day despite security.
That was no longer an issue.
With Jono and Patrick holding New York City as their territory, acknowledged by domestic and foreign god packs once it hit the news, and backed by Fenrir, they didn’t have to worry about an attack from werecreatures during the wedding. Every other threat was fair game, but considering the excruciating focus by the press, Jono held out hope nothing would go wrong today.
Marek, as a true seer, was entitled to federal protection. With everything that had happened and the vision he’d had, the government was picking up the security tab for his wedding. Packs whose loyalty wasn’t in question had promised to patrol the blocks surrounding the chosen venues as a precaution.
The guest list was small, less than one hundred, with the majority of invitees consisting of Jono’s pack, the Tempest pack, fellow werecreatures, select coworkers from PreterWorld and Gentry & Thyme, several old university friends, and a number of tech company owners. Surprisingly, no one had backed out as a guest at the last minute, despite everything that had happened over the weekend. Sage had even squeezed in two extra settings for Gerard and Órlaith, because money wasn’t an issue, and after everything they’d done for the pack, it was only polite to invite them.
The pair’s presence meant the flowers Sage had ordered for the wedding, from bouquets to centerpieces to the veritable waterfall set to cover the pergola at the altar on the rooftop garden at Rockefeller Plaza, were blooming brilliantly. The pictures Patrick had texted a few minutes ago from the venue were proof of that. Jono was afraid he’d sneeze at an inopportune moment during the ceremony.
“Well? What do you think?”
Jono looked over at the stairs leading up to the second floor of Sage and Marek’s flat, watching Sage walking down them with Emma behind her.
“You look gorgeous,” Jono said, taking her in.
Sage smiled brilliantly at him, the couture ballgown falling around her in a cloud of ivory organza, lace adorning the bodice and top of the skirt. It was off the shoulder and sleeveless in deference to the summer heat, and her long hair had been styled back in a sleek ponytail that curled at the ends. The veil was pinned near the nape of her neck, falling around her shoulders. She wore her diamond engagement ring, and more diamonds glittered on her ears and around her throat.
The whirlwind of activity had finally slowed, the makeup artists having departed, though the wedding photographer remained. She was a friend of someone in one of the packs under their protection, a mundane human, but utterly unfazed in the midst of the preternatural community. The woman didn’t smell afraid at all, and neither was her partner, who was responsible for photographing Marek.
Marek was already on his way to the venue, having left fifteen minutes ago. Sage was, as ever, perfectly punctual when it came to her schedule. The photographer captured Sage and Emma coming down the stairs, Emma’s royal purple dress falling to her knees. The wedding color scheme was royal purple and natural green, and Jono was forever glad they hadn’t gone with blue.
Sage did a complete turn to show off the back of her wedding dress, the full skirt swishing softly around her slender frame. Jono smiled at the happiness in her scent, threaded through with excitement. Jono held out the cascade bridal bouquet of purple orchids and white roses interspersed with green leaves.
