Page 131 of All the Devils are Here

And everything that came after, too.

“But it cannot be tonight.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“Because your mates have a surprise for you,” Ariel said, appearing over us. “And we need to get ready now.”

Ban lifted me up, and I stared out at the glittering sea. I couldn’t believe I fucking got to live here. With my best friend and all our mates.

We’d been mated for six months, and it still didn’t feel real.

“Am I going to like this surprise?”

“I think so.” He took my hand and helped me to my feet. “If you don’t, we’ll bring you right back and make it up to you with a night full of orgasms.”

I held back a laugh. “And that’s different from every other night?”

He wove our fingers together. “I should make you walk all the way back to the house for that,” he said. “But we don’t have that kind of time.”

Given we had all the time in the world as immortal mates, we were definitely leaving the island. Ariel had already given me one surprise recently, taking me to see the pink mountains I’d described to him. I’d never had a view like that before, so far in the air. He promised to take me back when it was colder and there was more snow.

Ban sped past us in his feline form, rocketing back to the house, and seconds later I was in the air, swooping through our bedroom window and landing by the bed.

Where there was a dress laid out. The kind of dress I hadn’t worn in a very long time. “Where the hell are we going?”

“Still a surprise,” he murmured. “Just get ready.”

The dress was a deep purple, and entirely made of sparkles. It was the color of my hair, but darker. There were no sleeves, the fabric gathering in pleats over my breasts and flowing down to the floor in an elegant wave.

Christine picked out the dress. I could guarantee it.

A box next to the dress produced dangly earrings and a bracelet that slipped up my forearm.

For a second I thought about putting my hair up, but it had those nice beach waves, and since I didn’t know where they were taking me, I would take the risk. Instead I did my make-up quickly with the magic I’d been practicing.

I wasn’t very good. Especially since most of my practice sessions with Ariel ended up with us breathless and naked. But I was getting better.

Low, comfortable shoes completed the outfit, and I went in search of my mates. I felt them gathered near the living room, and when I stepped into view, I froze.

So did they.

My mates were all wearing tuxedos. Even Ban. And Trin was in his human form.

“What the hell is going on?”

It was difficult to ignore the bursts of desire from all of them. Laurent was the one who stepped forward. “You look incredible.”

“So do you—” I froze. “Is this a proposal or something? Not that it wouldn’t be great, but we’re already kind of bonded for all eternity, and I didn’t put on waterproof mascara.”

Laurent laughed and put a finger under my chin before he kissed me. “We’re not proposing,” he said softly. “Like you said, you’re already more our wife than any kind of ceremony could make you. But if a proposal is something you want?”

That took me off guard. Did I want a proposal? “No,” I whispered. “I don’t need a wedding to know I’m yours. But a ring wouldn’t be out of the question.”

He raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Good to know.”

Leaning to the side, I pinned my other mates with a stare. They were all standing there far too innocently. “Anyone want to give me a hint? I’m dying here.”

Trin held out a hand, and I went to him. Ariel turned to the wall and began forming something very door-shaped. “Christine mentioned what today is,” Trin said. “And we all know, even though you’re happy, your life is very different now than it was before.”

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