Page 73 of Claws for Celebration
He dropped to one knee right there in the middle of the bookstore, among the shelves that had witnessed every stage of their relationship, holding up the ring that represented centuries of his family's commitment to true partnership.
"Moira Celeste Marsh, will you marry me?"
The silence lasted exactly three seconds, but it felt like an eternity. Then Moira was laughing and crying simultaneously, her hands covering her mouth as if she couldn't quite believe what was happening.
"Yes," she said, the word coming out muffled by her fingers. "Yes, of course. Did you really think there was any chance I'd say no?"
Relief flooded through him so powerfully that his hands shook as he slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly, the emerald catching the afternoon light and throwing green fire across the bookstore's warm interior.
"Actually," he said, rising to gather her into his arms, "there's more."
"More?" she asked, holding her hand up to admire the ring with the kind of wonder that made his panther more than proud.
"In shifter culture, there are different levels of commitment," he explained, settling his hands on her waist while she processed this information. "A human marriage ceremony would be legally binding and socially recognized, but it wouldn't create any additional magical connections between us."
"And the alternative?"
"A full supernatural mating ceremony," he said, watching her face carefully for any signs of hesitation. "It would bind us not just emotionally and legally, but magically as well, more so than we already are. Our life forces would be intertwined permanently. Shared magical abilities, extended lifespans, the kind of connection that transcends physical death."
"That sounds..." she began, then paused, clearly working through the implications with her usual analytical thoroughness. "Intense. And permanent in ways that go beyond normal marriage vows."
"Completely permanent," he confirmed. "Which is why I want you to have time to think about it. No pressure, no expectations. Whatever level of commitment feels right to you is what we'll do."
But even as he said the words, his panther was pacing anxiously beneath his skin, desperate for the kind of claiming that would make their bond unbreakable by any force in any realm.
"I don't need time to think, I want the supernatural ceremony. I want everything with you, Lucien. All of it."
The kiss that followed was hungry and desperate and full of promises that went deeper than words could express. Lucien felt like the luckiest man in any realm.
"So," Moira said, her cheeks flushed and her glasses slightly askew, "what exactly does a supernatural mating ceremony involve?"
"Traditionally, it takes place under the full moon with the entire community as witnesses," he explained, already imagining how beautiful she would look in ceremonial robes beneath the silver light. "There are vows that bind us magically as well as emotionally, a physical claiming that marks you as mine permanently, but we already have done that part,” he added with a smug gesture toward her hip. “And a celebration that usually lasts until dawn."
"I love it," she said without hesitation. "All of it. When can we do the ceremony?"
"The next full moon is in two weeks," he said, his panther practically vibrating with satisfaction at her eager acceptance. "That gives us time to plan everything properly."
Before he could elaborate on the ceremonial requirements, the front door chimed to admit Twyla carrying what appeared to be an entire bakery's worth of celebration pastries.
"I felt the emotional surge from three blocks away," Twyla announced cheerfully, setting down her laden tray with obvious delight. "Someone's gotten engaged, unless I miss my guess."
Moira held up her hand to display the ring with unmistakable pride and surprise.
"Honey, when two people with a mate bond as strong as yours experience that level of joy simultaneously, it creates magical ripples that every supernatural being in town can feel," Twyla explained, already pouring tea from a thermos thathadn't been there moments before. "Plus, Lucien's been carrying around nervous energy for days like a man with a ring burning a hole in his pocket."
"Were we that obvious?" Lucien asked, settling beside Moira with his arm around her waist in a gesture that felt more natural than breathing.
"Only to people who've been watching you two make moon eyes at each other since the day you met," Twyla replied with fond exasperation. "Speaking of which, what kind of ceremony are we planning? Human traditional, or are we going full supernatural spectacular?"
"Full supernatural," Moira said before Lucien could answer, excitement echoing that made his chest swell with pride. "Apparently I'm getting magically bonded under the full moon with the entire town as witnesses."
"Oh, this is going to be wonderful," Twyla said, clapping her hands together with obvious delight. "I haven't planned a proper mating ceremony in decades. The whole town's going to be beside themselves with excitement."
"After everything this town has been through, don't they deserve a celebration that gives them something beautiful to focus on?"
Looking at the woman who'd become his entire world, at the bookstore that had brought them together and would serve as the foundation for whatever came next, Lucien realized she was absolutely right.
They all deserved something beautiful.
