“Harvey Adler, you’ve mesmerized me since I first saw you. A part of my heart clicked in place as if it knew I was supposed to find you, even when my mind didn’t believe it. You’ve held mysoul in your hands since the first time we talked, and you didn’t dare blink in fear you might miss something,” I duck bashfully.
And here I thought I was being cool about it.
“You became my whole life from the first time we touched, and my heart found its home the moment my eyes met your stormy ones. I promise to be by your side;storm comes sun. To keep your worries locked away and pour all my sunshine into your life.” I lightly wipe the tears from her cheek, making sure not to ruin her perfectly applied makeup.
Before my doubts hinder our moment, she brings my knuckles to her lips for a kiss—knuckles that are covered in tattoos, hiding my deepest scars. I promise myself that one day, I will have the same faith in myself that she has in me.
Taking a shuddering breath, I try to put my heart into my words, “Grace Blackburn.My mate.” The ache in my heart simmers down at her encouraging smile. “I’ve put on a brave face in front of the world most of my life. Showing no weakness and keeping everyone at arm’s length so they would never know how broken I am.”
Grace shakes her head at me, and I can practically hear her telling me not to let my mind bully me.
“But with you, I feel like I have a place… a place to hide from everything and just be. A place to let my mask fall. A place where I can sort out my disoriented mind with no judgment. Where I can hide in your arms without worrying about someone stabbing my back becauseI knowyou’ll always look out for me. Save me even from myself.”
With sincerity, I vow to her, “I promise to be the person who helps you grow, to hold you up when you feel beaten down, who loves you with every broken piece of my being.”
“Ahfuck.”
Snapping my head to the voice, I watch Hazel turn to hide her face and grumble about ‘our sappy vows messing with her head’.The guests snicker before awing in sync when August runs to her with his handkerchief held out.
This kid has single-handedly given everyone baby fever.
Clearing his throat, Horseman Famine steals our attention again, “Grace Blackburn, will you have this man to be your husband? To live with him in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health? And, forsaking all others, be faithful unto him as long as you both shall live?”
“I will.”
“Harvey Adler, will you have this woman to be your wife? To live with her in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health? And forsaking all others, be faithful unto her as long as you both shall live?”
“I will.”
Scanning the audience, Akihiko warns, “If anyone attending has an objection with this union, meet me after the ceremony, and I willpersonallytake care of you.”
A roar of laughter echoes above the sound of the waterfall. I’m thankful for these moments of humor, otherwise, one or both of us would’ve sobbed through the entire ceremony.
“Let’s see the rings!”
August stands before us with a bright smile and two boxes in his hands. Grace bends to kiss his chubby cheeks, which he assists in by standing on his tiptoes so she doesn’t have to bend too far. After his final task, August beams with joy and runs to his dad, who picks him up and kisses his head for a job well done.
Horsemen Famine guides Grace to repeat the words while sliding the ring on my finger. “I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am and all that I have, I honor you in the name of the All-knowing Fates and our Divine spirit,”I repeat the words before slipping the ring on her finger and kissing her hand.
“With the power invested in me by Fates, I announce them husband and wife. You may kiss the bride-and he has already started.”
Our guests cheer when I don’t wait to grab my bride by her waist and smash our lips together. Cupping her soft cheeks in my hands, I kiss her until we are breathless, and Seiji is begging us not to act like horndogs in front of the entire supernatural world.
With a bright smile on her face that I feel myself mirroring, Grace and I make our way to the ballroom hand in hand for our reception/coronation.
Unlike the garden outside, which had a fairy tale theme, Seiji didn’t restrict himself when it came to the reception/coronation—the massive ballroom sparkled with flowers, lights, andfire. I’m sure he had fun with this darker aesthetic.
My only concern is if Grace likes it, but then I watch her mouth drop open, and I have to remind myself that we still have another ceremony to go through. I think about anything other than how much I want to run my fingers through the tight curls flowing down her back and slowly take out all the glimmering clips before I—Okay, the bedroom will have to wait.
Soon enough, the ballroom was filled with supernatural allies who wished my wife and me a happy life before catering around, filling themselves with the special brew our earth fairies came up with.
I’m disappointed that Elijah Lucifer, the King of Hell, couldn’t make it because of a ‘Heaven emergency’, but the shiny enchanted sword he sent me with a letter promising a visit makes up for it.
Once everyone has a drink in hand and is twirling around to a soft melody, Anxo decides it’s the best time for the day’s second big announcement.
“I know everyone is anxiously anticipating the second big event of the day—I can hear you all complaining!” chuckles follow his words. “So, without waiting another moment, let’s get to it. Harvey, join me on the stage, brother.”
Turning to my mate, who already knows I’m thinking about bolting, she kisses me fiercely and whispers a few things I mind sharing. Grace knows exactly how to make my nerves run along like little bitches, and I walk to the stage with newfound confidence, thinking about the promise I’m going to collect later tonight.
