Granted, he was helping the council with everything he knew about God Runes and the Old Gods. He also knew the most about the inner workings of Dante’s plans, being so close to him for so long. We weren’t at the stage in our relationship where we discussed a lot of that, but Ivy kept reminding me to give the man a chance, so I would. For her sake.
Near him sat Orion’s half-brother. I knew the little asshole from the academy, and from what I knew about his relationship with my bond mate, there wasn’t really one. But like me, Orion tried—for Ivy.
The remaining few of Hawk’s team were in the back rows, while Cyrus sat nearby. Even Rhadamanthus’s old advisor was here, along with the remaining Elysian demons.
“I kind of forgot how big my family is,” Adrian murmured, scratching the back of his neck as he took in the nine males mated to his mother, as well as his ten siblings and their mates. “Shit.”
I snorted, clapping him on the shoulder. “Don’t stress. It makes it look like we have more friends than we actually do.”
Unfortunately, most of us had no friends to be here. I was standing with mine—well, mycousin—about to marry the love of our lives. Without my mother, the closest thing I had to family was Adrian’s—and now the one we were building here.
We didn’t need anyone else.
“Shut up,” Elias muttered, voice barely loud enough over the soft music playing. “She’s coming.”
Gently, I reached through the bond to find her. Through the trees, only a short walk away, I felt her. Ivy’s magic lit her up like a beacon in my mind, making her appear like the brightest star in my galaxy. When I closed my eyes, all I saw was her: the white dress draped over her figure, the swell of her stomach growing our babies, her bright smile as she walked towards us.
Vanya and Blythe appeared through the trees first, holding hands and grinning ear to ear. Around us, the music picked up as they made it to the chairs. We’d picked something from the human world, a song Ivy would recognise and love—but not the traditional wedding march. Something nicer.
Vanya and Blythe joined Thea’s father at the very front as the children came into view. They looked beautiful in their purpledresses with their hair pinned back and bouquets of flowers in hand. Eloise walked in the centre with Ginny on her left, Maisie on her right, all three beaming.
They’d been so excited to help plan the ceremony, and Eloise especially had a lot of input. And now, they stared at everything with pride and excitement. As soon as they made it to the end of the small aisle we’d created from flowers picked from the field, they slowed, looking over their shoulders at our approaching mate.
Watching Ivy appear in the house had been a sight I would never forget.
But seeing her now, it was like a dream only my heart could have created, because tears burned my eyes at how perfect she truly looked. With the afternoon sun shining behind her and the soft glow of witch lights guiding her way to us, she was more than just a vision of beauty—she was everything.
My past. My saviour. My future. My eternity.
Everything I never dreamed of having, walking towards us now.
The children came up first before seating themselves at the front of the guests, while Thea and her mother walked alongside Ivy. They each had her arm, sandwiching our mate between them, and I could tell just how much both their presences meant to Ivy. That she needed them both—especially now.
The music became louder as all our friends and family stood, gazes turning towards Ivy. This was taken from human ceremonies—standing for a bride as she walked down the aisle. Eloise said usually a father was the one to walk the bride, but Ivy didn’t have one of those, and she’d never liked that part of the tradition, anyway. According to Eloise and Thea, that was.
Eloise was the one who suggested Thea and her mother be the ones to do it, and it appeared the little siren had been rightin her observations. I’d considered telling the children to do it themselves, since Ivy would have loved that, too.
My eyes were locked on Ivy and her alone. On the way her cheeks darkened, on the white material of her gown rippling like water around her with every step she took towards us. The brightness in her dark eyes as they flickered over the nine of us, waiting for her.
We were lined up in a semi-circle. Unlike human ceremonies, there was no officiant. Just us.
When Ivy made it to the end of the aisle, Thea’s mother brought Ivy’s hand to her lips and kissed her knuckles, tears spilling down her cheeks. “You make me so proud,” the woman whispered. “And I know, wherever your mother is, she’s watching. And she’s just as proud of you and what you’ve done.”
Ivy made a choked sound as Thea’s mother released her. She stepped away and joined her husband with the children, leaving Thea to see Ivy off to us.
“Love you,” her best friend whispered. “Go get your happily ever after—again.”
My mate let out a short laugh as they hugged. “Thank you. You have no idea how much you mean to me.”
“I do,” the female whispered. “And like Mom said. I’m proud of you.”
Ivy pulled back with a sniffle, and slowly, Thea joined the rest of the family, wiping away tears as she did.
That left Ivy with us.
Orion stepped forward first and offered his hand. “Our sweet, gorgeous mate,” he said, his heart racing loud enough for everyone to hear. “Join us?”
Ivy’s hand trembled as she took his, stepping into us. “This is amazing,” she whispered, gazing around the setup. “I can’t believe you did all of this.”
