Page 30 of Broken Kingdom

“Put it on my tab,” Catherine says, grinning as she tosses a bag full of clothes into the back seat. “For you, Miss Juliet. It was either pink camo or gray camo from the little boys’ section. Seeing as you’re leaning into your dangerous side, I went with the gray.”

“Perfect,” I say, shaking the clothes from the bag and pulling them on as we start toward the airport.

But as soon as I’m dressed, I reach for Ford’s hand again.

I’m not letting him go again. Not ever.

No matter what Hammer or anyone else decides to throw our way. This man is mine and I’m about to make it official.

Seventeen

Ford

We touch down at midnight.

By one a.m., we’re pulling into an old hunting camp about fifteen miles from Zion’s winter compound. Hermione meets us in the main lodge, looking sharp and clear-headed, despite the fact that we’ve all been up for nearly two days straight.

“According to our spies, everyone at Zion is tucked in for the night,” she says as she hands out keys for our cabins—one for Catherine and Layla, one for Juliet and me. “Whatever Hammer’s planning, it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen until tomorrow. Get some rest but keep your phones close. I’ll send out a group text when it’s time to move.”

“Thanks so much for everything you’ve done for us,” Juliet says as Layla and Catherine follow one of Maxim’s men out the door. Glancing over her shoulder to make sure the others aren’t in earshot, she adds in a softer voice, “But I was hoping we could ask for one more thing. Is anyone here an ordained officiant?”

Hermione’s brows only lift the slightest bit before she says, “I am. I married two of my friends last summer. Would you like me to do the honors?”

Juliet glances up at me. I nod and she smiles, a nervous, but excited smile that banishes the exhaustion from my bones. “Yes, please. Now, if you don’t mind?”

Hermione slips her phone into the pocket of her khaki uniform shirt. “Of course. Would you like to ask Layla and Catherine to come back? We’ll need a witness.”

I shake my head. “No, let them rest. We can use anyone who happens to be around right now. We’re going to have another ceremony once all this is over, where we can celebrate with friends. This is…just for us.”

“And for our pack,” Juliet adds. “To show them we’re united and ready to lead.”

Hermione nods, respect in her gaze. “Smart. I’ll get Tex from the kitchen. He hasn’t been awake as long as the rest of us. We’ll make him do the paperwork when we’re done and the rest of us can get to sleep.”

But we won’t be sleeping, not right away.

I won’t be able to sleep, not until we’ve consummated this marriage and I know Juliet is mine for keeps.

Once Hermione’s fetched Tex—a younger guy with dark black hair pulled into a tight ponytail who looks excited to be included—we move to stand in front of the fireplace on the far side of the room. And there, as the softly glowing embers flicker across Juliet’s face, we promise our lives to each other.

“I, Juliet Lilliana Zion, do pledge my body, my heart, and the fruits of all my labor to you, Ford Abernathy Zion,” she says. “You have my loyalty, my fealty, and my love, from this day until our last day and every day in between.”

I repeat the vow, forcing the words out past the lump in my throat. Even exhausted and on edge and forced into saying our vows sooner than either of us had planned, I’m so fucking grateful to be marrying this woman.

“Every day in between,” I repeat after Hermione, who smiles as she places her hand over our joined ones.

“By the power granted to me by the mages, sages, and history keepers of my pack, I pronounce you mated,” she says. “What the stars have brought together, let no man pull asunder.”

“That’s it?” Juliet asks, her gaze still locked on mine. “We’re married?”

“You’re married,” Hermione assures her. “May it be a long and happy one.” She pulls her hand from ours as she adds in a wry tone, “And may you get at least a little rest before morning. I’ll let you sleep as much as I can, but if we see signs that Hammer is moving to start the ritual, we’ll need to move, too.”

Juliet grins. “We’ll be ready to move. No worries. Ready to get some sleep, husband?”

“Fuck, that sounds good. I’m your husband. And you’re my wife, woman,” I say, making her giggle as I scoop her up into my arms for another fierce hug.

By the time we separate, Hermione and Tex are on their way back into the kitchen. Grabbing the key from the table by the door where we left it, we race out the door, running soundlessly across the pine needles to cabin number ten. It’s the last cabin at the edge of the glen beside a small waterfall that shushes and burbles loud enough to cover any sounds we might make inside.

And when we open the door, my focus is instantly drawn to the toiletries on the small dining table in the corner, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, sunscreen, and a box of condoms.

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