Page 241 of Gathered Sparkle

“Too long since you dragged me to Tuscany, you mean?” she teases, her hands resting on her baby bump.

I laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t think setting you up in a private jet counts asdragging,but don’t think I won’t do it again once the baby’s here.”

“I hope so. But you could come here more often too.”

Sylus chuckles from the side, his arms crossed lazily. “Blondie, we’re still wanted criminals, if you remember.”

“Oh, I remember.” She grins. “I was there.”

The last time I was here with her was three years ago when she got married. I was her bridesmaid, and my family had tagged along, of course, and Levi and Ezra seized the opportunity to get married themselves the very next day. By an Elvis impersonator, no less.

“I’m sure I would be able to find a last-minute Elvis to officiate you guys here too.” Levi quips.

Koen groans. “One Elvis wedding is enough for a lifetime.”

“Yeah, because an auto-wed machine is so much better,” Ezra mutters.

“It is.” Sylus crouches at the back of the machine, fiddling with wires and grinning like a mad scientist. “How about…” he starts as he tugs out a cable and plugs it into his phone, “… we make this thing work forus.”

“What are you doing?”

“Upgrading it.”

The machine springs to life with a cheerful chime, and the screen lights up, but instead of only asking for abrideand agroomlike last time, it now says something else.

The More… the Merrier.

“Ladies and gentlemen…” Sylus gestures dramatically at the screen, “… the modified Auto-wed Machine 3000, now polycule-compatible.”

I laugh hard as Sylus enters each of our names.

Sylus Walker.

Koen Lane.

Nicholas Lane.

Alaric Monroe.

Novalee Evans.

When he’s done, he looks at me softly as he says, “We’re all in it together.”

My laughter dies out as the truth of that settles inside me. I break his stare to look at the screen, then look at each of my guys. Emotions bubble up inside me, so intense andgoodthat I don’t trust myself to try to say anything, but I’m saved from responding when the machine chimes.

Say yes, share your vows, and kiss the bride!

Two yes buttons appear on the screen, the same as last time.

Sylus steps up without hesitation, pressing his button with a flourish then turns to me, his grin playful. His fingers curl around my throat, thumb pressing lightly against my pulse.

“Yes, no, maybe so?” he murmurs, tilting his head as if daring me to answer wrong.

A shiver rolls down my spine. “Yes,” I whisper, my voice breathy.

His grin widens, approval flashing in his silver eyes. He pecks my lips before releasing my throat and turning back to the screen.“Then push that button, Sparkle.”

I huff a laugh as I press mine, and his grin softens into something warmer before he takes my pinky finger into his. “Sparkle baby, I promise to be yours, to keep being your person, and keep doing exactly what we’ve been doing for the last five years forever. I love you.”

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