Page 63 of Homecoming

Avenar froze, and her face cleared.

Orla asked, “Why do you have an issue with me?”

Avenar spoke softly. “Not you. Any woman who takes attention from me. I have my son and my husband, and you will never be a wife. You have two mates, and you aren’t even an omega.”

Ligo murmured, “Orla, are you doing that?”

“I can force truth.” She sipped at her smoothie. “I don’t like to, but I thought it was best to do it with witnesses.”

Ligo sighed. She turned to him and beckoned to him. She whispered in his ear, and he grinned.

“Yes. Absolutely.”

Aeryn came forward and handed her four items. “He took the grape jelly off these, but they will work.”

Sohar said, “They are from a fourteenth-century Spanish galleon.”

Orla stood and backed up so they were both facing her. “Iro, will you be my delta to have and to hold until I wear you out?”

He laughed and then sobered with a soft look. “Orla, I will.”

She slid a wide band on his finger.

She heard a gasp from Avenar and continued. “Ligo, will you be my alpha to have and to hold until I wear you out or cut your tentacles off?”

He grinned. “Even beyond that, Orla. I will.”

She pushed the ring on his finger, it snugged up around his digit, and she smiled. She pressed one ring into each of their hands.

Iro grinned. “Orla, will you put up with my fussing and unannounced temperature checks for as long as we both shall live?”

“Yes. I will.”

The ring slid onto her finger and snugged into place. He kissed her ring finger.

Ligo smiled. “Orla, will you put up with my snarky temper, my mother, and a future that I will make as smooth for you as I can? Oh, and the tentacles. Will you put up with the tentacles?”

She chuckled. “I have grown fond of them, so yes, I will. All of it. Are any of our kids both of your kids? Will you find me if I end up in a powerless zodiac again?”

He slid the ring onto her finger with a smile. “Absolutely, and the heavens help anyone who touches you again.”

She blushed. “I am good at defending myself.”

“Yes, but you should not have to exercise your skills.”

He lifted her hand and kissed the two stacked rings. “So, what else is necessary?”

“Sign the paperwork that Aeryn brought. It gets filed, and for the islands, that is all that is necessary. It goes to the archives on Emerald, and it’s official.”

The three-way hug was applauded, and they kissed, and then, handfuls of flower petals rained over them. She laughed and smiled up at Ligo and Iro.

Osca said, “I am going to move your mother to the retirement resort on Lefgar. I think she will be happier there with the gossip set.”

Avenar gasped. “No. I promise. I will be fine with the marriage. I swear.”

“You will have one more insult to Orla, and then, you are going to be spending your days pampered and gossiping. No family. No grandchildren. So, be good. Appreciate what fate has delivered to us, and let’s have a celebration.”

She nodded and took a deep breath. “Do I really sound like your mother?”

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