Page 628 of Shadowblood Souls
Sorsha and her four partners made it, with their adoptive son and daughter standing with them. I’m not used to seeing Jonah, who’s become the academy’s youngest administrator, in their midst rather than with the academy crowd. He grins broadly with an encouraging tip of his head.
Rollick watches over the proceedings with his usual unflappable air, but he does flash a smile at me when I catch hiseye. I wonder if he has any idea how his brief comment ended up leading to this moment.
It’s one of Sorsha’s men, Ruse, who moves to the temporary podium to conduct the official ceremony. When we were making our plans, it came up that the incubus got himself ordained—in more than one tradition, even—over the years. Apparently, he likes to celebrate more types of love than just the bodily, which isn’t really a surprise after seeing how doting he is with Sorsha.
Coming to a stop in front of him, I breathe in the soothingly sweet air, but the only nerves left in me are giddy excitement. I barely hear Ruse’s remarks about commitments and official partnering.
He beams at the six of us. “Before I confirm this marriage, I believe you all have vows you’d like to say to each other?”
On either side of me, my men turn to face me. Love shimmers in all of their gazes, bringing the fondest of aches into my heart.
Unsurprisingly, they picked Andreas to go first. He holds my gaze, a warm smile curving his lips. “It’s no secret that the six of us have been through a lot together. From the early days in the facility to all the battles afterward, we’ve had each other’s backs. And Riva looked out for us even when we were temporarily being idiots and assholes. That love and devotion is something I’ll never stop treasuring with every bit of my being.”
Jacob clears his throat. “Our Wildcat got us through the worst fights alive and smacked some sense into us. She keeps us grounded when we start to spiral. But at the same time, she lifts us so much higher—lets us see how much we can be and how far we can go. She’s made for us, and we’re made to be here by her side giving her back everything we can.”
“She’s always seen the best in us,” Dominic says, with an audible swallow, “and sees it so well she helps us become just that. I’ve never felt more like myself than when I’m with her ormore happy with who I am. I’ll keep spending every day doing the same for her as well as I can.”
Zian tugs at his suit collar, a flush coloring his neck. “I’d fight a hundred guardians if it meant getting an extra day with her. But we’re going to have decades, centuries—I know it. And the only reason I’m looking forward to all those days is because Riva will be in them with me.”
Griffin’s gentle tone washes over me, as soft as the silk of my dress. “I was lost for a long time. Riva was my path back to myself, guiding me like the moonbeam I’ve always said she is. She shines so bright for all of us. There’s nothing I’d like more than to keep fueling that light in her for the rest of my existence.”
He slides the ring they already gave me back onto the finger it’s meant for. I didn’t want to wear a ton of jewelry, and the one they picked out for the proposal is already perfect.
Tears have welled up in my eyes. I have to blink hard against them and master the emotions clogging my throat before I can speak.
“All the pain and the struggles we’ve been through have been worth it because I got to go through it and come out of it with the five of you. Drey, you find the magic in our story and make every new memory something to be cherished. Jake, I know there’s nothing you wouldn’t give to keep us all safe and sure of our strength. Dom, you heal our hearts as well as our bodies when we need it. Zee, you keep me always wanting to grow alongside you so we can be and do even more. And Griffin…”
I meet the eyes of the guy I almost lost, and a few tears do spill out, streaking down my cheeks. “We were lost too, without you. You bring us together just as much as these marks do, making sure we never lose sight of all the love we share.”
Billy darts forward with the box that holds the five rings I had made—platinum to match mine, with a crescent moon etched onthem like our matching tattoos. As I ease them onto each of my guys’ fingers, I don’t think I’ve ever seen them beam brighter.
With the last ring in place, applause breaks out through our audience.
Ruse bobs his head. “Very touching, very touching. I almost don’t need to do my job at all. But I will. Do you all do?”
I suppress a laugh. “I do.”
“I do,” the guys all echo with grins of their own.
The incubus holds out his hands. “I pronounce you all husbands and wife!”
Pearl’s voice peals out from the sidelines. “Now kiss!”
My laugh spills from my lips. My guys close in around me, and we give her exactly what she asked for.
After feasting and dancing until my head spun with giddiness, we find ourselves back at our apartment. Outside the door, Zian scoops me up into his brawny arms.
“This is a thing people do when they’ve just gotten married, isn’t it?” he asks. “Carry the bride over the threshold?”
I tip my head against his neck. “I think so. Sounds good to me.”
He does carry me inside—and then straight to my bedroom. As he sets me down on the massive bed, the rest of my new husbands gather around us. Snowball mews in greeting, and Griffin clucks his tongue at her soothingly before easing her out and shutting the door.
Andreas lifts his eyebrows, but his voice has gone husky. “I believe there’s also something about the wedding night.”
Heat courses over my skin. I reach out to all of them. “I definitely don’t want to skip that.”
“Good.”
