Page 54 of Roar Letter Word

“Yes, as a matter of fact,” said Mahes. “Franny here is going to need a room to stay in. And Addie will be moving into my room.”

Addie looked up at Mahes and smiled. “Speaking of which, I wouldn’t mind lying down for a little while. Perhaps you’d like to join me?”

Mahes smiled back. “Sorry, everyone. Other business is going to wait for a while. Addie and I will be upstairs.”

Mahes planted his hand on her back and led her upstairs while everyone waved and smiled. Through the mark, Addie felt Mahes’s excitement and happiness as well as her own. They were partners, and they would be from now on.

“I wanted to apologize,” he said as he opened the door. “I should have explained the mark entirely. I wanted you so much, and I went with my instincts without thinking …”

Addie put her hands on his face and pulled him in for a kiss. “Don’t worry about it. Sure, you should have. But love is messy. People are messy. And if you hadn’t done it, I don’t know how you would have saved me from the kidnapper, so I can’t be too mad.”

Mahes laughed. “Well, try not to get kidnapped every time we have an argument.”

“Trust me, I’ll do my best.”

Mahes picked her up and tossed her onto the bed, then was on top of her immediately. “Ready to be messy together?”

She planted a kiss on his lips. “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”

TWENTY-FIVE

EPILOGUE

They went back and forth about whether they would have a wedding.

On the one hand, weddings were fun. They were exciting. Addie had wanted one for a long time, and Mahes would certainly enjoy a party.

On the other, part of what both of them loved so much about their relationship was that it had happened almost by surprise. Even a year later, they still joked about how, while they had extended things a little bit, eventually, their one-week visit would have to come to an end. Even their mating mark had happened before Addie understood what it really was.

Ruzyll ended up casting the deciding vote. The queen was a public figure. If she was going to step into that role, there had to be a ceremony.

“It’s also good business,” Franny added. “I bet we’ll see a bump in sales for your songs. Especially the ones about Mahes.”

Of course, it wasn’t as if the people weren’t seeing anything of Addie. Franny had been able to draw up hype quickly. By her third concert, Addie was already drawing numbers that matched her best on Earth. After a few months, she was on a totally new level.

Part of it was probably that Nova Aurora wasn’t used to human music. Every once in a while, she’d laugh at an article that praised her for an inventive new sound that she had just learned from other artists on Earth. But if that were all, she would have just been a flash in the pan, and she wasn’t. People on Nova Aurora loved her music, and they loved her.

She thought it was because she was finally doing happy songs now. Sad songs were important, and she was proud of many of the saddest songs she had written. But people also wanted things that made them feel good, and for the first time, Addie could write that because she was happy and had Mahes to share her happiness with.

Every once and a while, during breakfast, Addie caught Mahes humming one of the songs she had written about the two of them.

“Okay, so maybe I know all the lyrics also,” Mahes returned defensively. “It’s a good song. Am I supposed to not find it catchy just because it’s about me?”Addie rolled her eyes. There was that pompousness once common for him. Then he grinned, telling her he’d said that on purpose to tease her.

The plans for the wedding began.

Mahes warned everyone upfront. “Just so you know, if I’m having a wedding, I want it to be fun. No stodgy speeches about how love is patient and kind, okay?”

Addie nodded. “Can I negotiate for one stodgy speech? If there’s also some fun things?”

“I guess.”

With Ruzyll and Franny, putting together the wedding had been about as easy as making a cake. And the ceremony would have just about everything. There would be a short but sweet ceremony, Addie would sing a song, and, of course, there would be plenty of food and dance.

And now, today was the day. She stood in front of the mirror and looked over the dress she was wearing one more time. Franny sat on the bed behind her.

The wedding dress was white, of course. It was one of the few traditional details that Addie had insisted upon. But white or not, it certainly wasn’t boring. It had subtle patterns in the fabric, and it hugged Addie’s curves perfectly before swooping down to drag just a hint in the back. But also, it had a small curve on the side cut out to show off the mating mark on her hip.

That had been Addie’s idea. Mahes hadn’t been sure about it, but he would be once he saw it.

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