Page 129 of Feral

It had hurt and angered me that they’d rejected Fraser, but the fact that his family had embraced me so fully took much of the sting out of the situation. And it was Gran’s cheerful face, Lowell’s eyebrow waggling grin and the faces of the MacDonald clan that I’d started to get to know that all made me feel as if I were home.

Liam handed me off to Fraser, who was beaming in his dress kilt. His eyes raked down my body and I knew what he was thinking from the purring sound he made as I stood closer to him. The heady scent of roses mixed with the lilacs in the garden, and birds sang in the trees, which provided some much needed shade.

The priestess began the ceremony, but I hardly listened. All I could see was Fraser. His dark fur was gleaming in the sunlight, tail swishing side to side in a lazy arc that I’d come to recognize as contentment. When Gran handed the hand fasting ribbon to the priestess, the look she gave me made tears burn my eyes.

As the priestess bound us, the power of the heirloom suffused our joined hands with warmth and I knew we were adding our love and devotion to the legacy it already carried.

“I pledge my love, my life and fealty to ya,” Fraser vowed. “You are my mate, my heart and soul, and I’ll have no other but you.”

Tears flowed unashamed down my cheeks as I repeated the vows.

Fraser bent down and licked the tears from my cheeks, eliciting a chuckle from our assembled friends and family.

The priestess shook her head with a grin and handed Fraser the wine. He took it with his unbound hand and put the cup to my lips. After I’d drank, I did the same to him. Next came the bread, and finally, a dab of salt on our tongues.

“Bound by love and the vows you have exchanged,” the priestess intoned, “I present you as mates from this day forward.”

The crowd cheered as Fraser licked my lips first and then kissed me.

“Now to the Ace and Gryphon for the handfastin’ feast!” announced Lowell.

I hadn’t been thrilled at first when I heard that our celebration would be followed up with a party at the local supernatural pub. But then I learned how significant the place was to the community I would become a part of, and I couldn’t say no.

Of course, everyone who was supernatural had to put their glamors up on the way to avoid discovery, but that was alright. Now that Fraser wasn’t using his glamor as a way to hide from me, I didn’t mind it as much. In fact, I quite liked some aspects of it.

We made quite the loud, raucous group as we walked down the sidewalks of the city. Or rather, everyone but me walked. Fraser had scooped me up the moment our hands were unbound and he refused to put me down. I’d gotten used to his need to carry me and hold me on his lap these past weeks, so I didn’t care that we got many an odd look as we lead the procession to the pub.

The moment we stepped through the door, we were met with cheers from those who had gone ahead of us. Although everyone had been without their glamours at the ceremony, I realized as I took in the packed pub, that I hadn’t really noticed how many different supernaturals there were. As Fraser sat down on a chair with me on his lap, a very large Gargoyle sauntered up to us.

“James,” Fraser said, extending his hand, “it was good of ya to come.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it,” he said, also shaking my hand. “It’s a pleasure to at last meet the female that swept my friend off his feet.”

I flushed with pleasure and ran my fingers absently through Frasers fur, giving it a little tug just how he liked it.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” I said.

James quirked an eyebrow.

“Oh, really?”

“Most of it good. Although, please try to keep my mate out of trouble in the fight clubs in the future, if you don’t mind.”

“Well, I can promise that at least for the next few months. I’m headed to the states for a case.”

“That’s a far distance to send you,” Fraser said, frowning. “Is everything alright?”

James’ smile slipped.

“There’s an artifact. A very dangerous one.”

I sat forward.

“Do you know what it might be?”

He sighed as he slumped into a chair, the piece of furniture groaning under his weight.

“Jack the Ripper’s knife set.”

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