Page 88 of The Vipers' Vow

I clap my free hand over my mouth, and Lex squeezes the other one, which he’s still holding.

“We will cherish you, love you, and protect you. All we ask in return is your love.”

He turns to Zane, who points to Lex, Saint, and then his own heart, and signsWe love you.

Tears are running down my cheeks, and I swipe them away as I sign back to Zane.I love you all, too.

He grins and swoops me up, twirling me around and around. The rest of the party cheers, and I’m half laughing, half crying.

Then I’m being put down, and Lex is cutting the cake. He cuts the entire thing in half instead of cutting slices, and it reveals a velvet bag inside the cake.

He pulls it out, brushing crumbs from it, and opens the drawstring. I catch my breath. I thought he said this wasn’t about marriage.

Reaching inside, he takes out three rings and hands one to Saint and one to Zane. The three men all put the rings on their wedding fingers. They’re silver, I think, and they’re in the shape of a snake.

They drop to their knees as one, and a rippled gasp echoes around the room. My face is on fire, but as I look down at my three men, my Vipers, kneeling for me, I feel a rush of love so strong it makes me sway on my feet.

“These rings are a sign of our commitment to you,” Saint says.

“Share this adventure with us?” Lex adds.

Zane reaches into the bag and pulls out one more ring. A silver snake, smaller than theirs, a little more delicate, but still bad ass, and holds it up. The question shining in his eyes has me laughing in sheer joy as I nod. “Yes.”

Zane slips the ring on my finger, and the room goes wild.

I can’t take this all in. It’s too much, and I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve to have not one, but three men who love me.

“Wait,” Lex calls, and everyone falls quiet again. “We’re not done.”

I’m confused. What else is there?

“The rings are just a symbol, for others to see we’re together, but nothing is stronger than blood.” He picks up the knife he’s just used to cut the cake, and wipes the sharp blade on a cloth.

Zane puts out his hand, and to my shock, Lex cuts a V into his palm.

“Hot blood,” Lex says.

Saint holds out his palm as well.

“Hot deeds,” Saint grates out as his brother slices his palm in the same shape.

Lex hands Saint the knife, and he cuts Saint’s palm as he murmurs, “Hot thoughts.”

They all turn to me.

“Your turn, Venom,” Saint says. “Join us through blood.”

I nod, but I’ve got something else to show them. I pull away the small covering on the inside of my wrist to reveal the tattoo I got that afternoon.

Zane signs at me.Beautiful.

And it is. The simple script saysWe Are Vipers.

Saint runs the blade of the knife across my palm in the same V-shape, and I suck air over my teeth and bite down on the sting of pain. Then we all hold our hands together, allowing our blood to mingle. I sense the horrified stares of those around us, how we’ve gone from the sweetness of cakes and rings to us standing here, our hands joined and blood dripping down our wrists, but I don’t even care.

Hot blood, hot thoughts, hot deeds…we are Vipers.

“The mansion is your mansion now too,” Lex says. “You’re one of us now, Vani. Our Venom for always, joined by blood and our vow. We’ll never let you go.”

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