Page 130 of Vengeful Mates

At the end of the aisle, Hades made a show to give Locke to each of her men. “Do you promise to cherish my closest and dearest friend?”

“I do.” Rane nodded.

Hades repeated the question to Byron and gained his agreement.

Mia rushed up to Zethan and he sat her on his thighs. I weaved my hand around Alaric to pat her leg and murmur praise to her.

At Mads’ turn, Hades glanced down at Locke. “I’m not sure about this one. I don’t trust he won’t steal your heart.”

Locke giggled and leaned her head on Hades’ shoulder. “Too late. The thief avatar stole it a long time ago.”

Hades hummed his amusement. We all laughed with him.

Mads slapped Hades on the shoulder and earned a warm smile. “Good one, old man. It’s only taken you two centuries to get a sense of humor.”

Hades’ smile fell, leaving a tense pause and a crackle of tension in the air before he gave a soft laugh. “I’m beginning to like you.” He clapped Mads on the shoulder and sent him stumbling back three steps. “I’m pleased to give my dear friend away to you in marriage.”

“Oh, Hades.” Locke whacked Hades with her bouquet, then dashed away the few tears cheating their way down her cheeks. “Stop being so sweet.”

“You want grumpy me back?” he teased, surprising me with his humor.

Autumn clapped her hands together and sniffed at the scene of her husband playing nice.

“No.” Locke whacked him again, leaves falling off her bouquet.

Hades clasped the flowers. “You’re wrecking them.”

“I don’t care. Autumn can grow me more.” Locke sniffed and swiped at her tears. Come here, dummy.” She threw herself into his arms, clutching him so tight, it made my chest warm at their endearing friendship.

Slade and Castor exchanged a glance and dark chuckle.

The sweet little moment got Autumn and me, and we hiccup-laughed and cried. The former because her husband and Mads never historically got along, and now, they slowly built on the tolerance they shared. Me, because I was a hormonal mess at this beautiful wedding. Mia was as cute as a button, and I finally got to make memories with her. And all the damn love hit me in the chest.

“Mama!” Locke’s baby, Ash, scrunched her hand in and out, seeking her mother’s embrace.

Hades’ servant cupped the back of her head and bounced her, doing her best to soothe the fretting toddler. Ash wriggled in her grasp.

“Oh, baby.” Locke went to go to her child to give her comfort.

Byron clasped her arm and tugged her back into place. “Mama’s right here, baby. Give us a minute.”

“Mama,” Ash whimpered, face contorting into what was going to be an epic tantrum.

Slade broke free from his seat, shuffling past us and going to the child, stealing her from the bamboozled servant, bouncing her.

“Hey, sweetheart.” He tickled her cheek. “Uncle Slade’s here.”

My heart snuggled up under a blanket and dove into a pile of chocolate that melted in an instant. He always got me with how good he was with kids. It made me ache to hurry up and spit out our babies to see him engage with our children.

Ash blinked away tears and stared up at the giant cuddling her. “Shade,” she mimicked Slade’s name, lifting a chubby hand to touch his beard.

Wow. Slade worked his love powers in settling the crabby kid. I warmed all over, imagining how good a daddy he would be with five at once.

Slade barked out a soft laugh. “That’s right,” he purred, the bond rumbling with delight as she curled her hand around his finger. “Uncle Shade. And I’ll be throwing lots of it later.”

Typical Slade. Always tossing in a joke. Judging by the little interaction when walking down the aisle, there’d be plenty of banter between the two Love gods. Lots of arrows released.

Locke giggled, relieved that her baby was taken care of, and the ceremony could proceed.

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