“God, I love you, angry bird.”
He winked at me. “Got your back, firecracker.”
Aww, he’d actually done it on purpose to make things better, to cut through the intensity.
We all gathered side-by-side as Saryan came to us, Marlowe right beside him holding out four rings on his palm, grinning at us excitedly.
Saryan’s voice boomed out over the crowds, a little flick of his hand enabling it to carry far and wide, “Today we join thee in an eternal union. One of adoration, understanding, and compassion. We honor your love and the true bond that runs deep between you all in full view of the Realm. This union is blessed and recognized by us all.” Marlowe passed him the rings and he slid them onto our fingers one at a time, lingering with Orpheus, stark emotion playing on his features. And then he abruptly embraced him, holding his son to him tightly.
Cheers and applause rang out, the sound deafening, but amazing and so incredibly heartfelt.
“Thank you, son.Thank you,”I heard him whisper to Orpheus.
Orpheus chuckled. “I love you too, Father.”
“My greatest creation indeed.”
When Saryan eased back, Marlowe took his hand, then thrust their joined hands into the air, announcing, “Now to the honeymoon!”
Wolf whistles and a whole lot of whooping had all of us chuckling.
As the two of them made their exit down the aisle, I brought the guys closer to me. “I love you all so much. I can’t imagine things being any other way. And I never want them to be.”
“And they never will,” Orpheus said.
“You heard the man—eternal union,” Talon said, grinning. “We’re sure as shit gonna live up to that.”
“Without a doubt,” Xavier said.
When we pulled apart, we made our way back toward the palace, Xavier turning around every now and then to check on his dad who was flirting up a storm with Vanessa.
“Never knew he had it in him, huh?” Talon said.
“Nope. Not at all.”
“Uncanny how one woman barreling into your life can shift so much, hmm?” Orpheus commented with a smirk at me.
“Hey,barreling into your lifeisn’t what happened—at least not on my end.”
“Is that right?” he challenged.
“You better believe it. You weresoobsessed with me.”
His eyes shone. “Fucking right I was. Still am.Westill are.”
“Well, right back at you, sweet things.”
The levity without all that madness and gloom bearing down on us was like nothing else. The last few weeks had been amazing.
“After the reception, are you still up for paying a visit toObsidian’snew headquarters?” Orpheus asked Talon, ruffling his hair.
“Damn straight. I can’t wait to check out the new digs! I’m the only one who hasn’t seen the place yet.”
“Well, you’ve been busy with the development of your supernatural orphanage,” Xavier said.
“You’re going to love it, Tal. It’s Alena’s greatestmagical creationthus far,” Orpheus told him, beaming at me.
Yeah, since the infamous battle had destroyed the previous location inside the pocket dimension, we’d considered it tainted from then on, soObsidianhad been scattered for the time being, until I’d designed and built a new operational center with my magic, one that could never be destroyed or even harmed in any way, an eternally permanent home forObsidian.It was located in the heart of the mountains in the human realm not very far from Valmont.