Chapter 21
Boon strode up to the small group of people gathered in front of Destroy and Rowan’s home. Everyone’s back was to him as they watched Lily explain what she wanted done in preparation of the party she’d planned for Elijah’s introduction, and the celebration of Boon and Angelle’s union.
Marauder waited until Boon came to a stop right behind the group, then walked over to stand beside him, lifting his hand to offer a high-five.
Boon high-fived him, then both crossed their arms over their chests as they listened to Lily make her grand plans.
“I want the dais to be raised so that everyone can see them as they take their vows,” Lily said, her arms extended as she described exactly what she was hoping to have in place by the end of the day.
“The backdrop should appear more natural than frilly. White of course, lots of greenery, flowers, but no ribbon or sparkle. Neither of them is overly frilly. And at their table we’ll be seating her parents as well as mine.
Tempest and Brandt also want Elijah introduced, and we will, but I think that it’s important Elijah, Boon, and Angelle all receive equal attention. ”
A few people made suggestions for decor, Lily answered, then asked if there were any more questions.
“I have one,” Boon said dryly.
Lily spun to face the owner of the familiar voice. “Boon! I didn’t know you’d joined us.”
“Sure you did,” Boon said.
Lily grinned at him. “What’s your question?”
“Why are you planning a wedding?”
“I thought it would be a wonderful way for everyone to witness your commitment to your mate.”
“No.”
“No?” she asked, standing a little straighter.
“No. If Angelle and I decide to be married, we’ll plan it, the way we want it on our own terms.”
“Well, I thought we’d just take care of it right here. While everyone is gathered.”
“No,” Boon said.
“Why not?” Lily asked, a little irritated that her plan was being rejected.
“We are mated. Fully bound. We do not need a wedding to further cement our bond to one another. If for whatever reason Angelle and I decide we want a wedding, it will most likely take place in her community, with everyone in her clan.”
“We can’t possibly take everyone from Whispers to her community to celebrate the wedding.”
Boon thought about it for a moment, his lips pressed into a flat line as he considered what Lily was trying to do.
“Bottom line, we’re not worried about a wedding at all at the moment.
If we choose to have one, we’ll work it out then.
If it ever takes place it will be the way Angelle wants it to be, her vision, in her own time, not thrown by someone else according to their vision. ”
“Then what is the party for?” Lily asked.
“Eli.”
Lily’s jaw was set as she stared right at her brother, and it was clear that she was more than a little perturbed that her plans were being called into question.
“Look, the only reason I agreed to a party at all was because you said it would be a low key get together that we would not be the focus of. That’s not the way this is sounding. I’m beginning to think that it might be best if we drop the whole idea.”
“Angelle deserves a wedding. Every female deserves a wedding. And we’ll celebrate Elijah at the same time,” Lily said, her voice sounding calm to anyone who heard it.
Boon took a moment to really look at his sister, and he realized what this was about. She wanted to be a part of a wedding. Tempest had never had one, and Lily felt like she missed the opportunity to be involved in her daughter’s wedding, so she’d decided to plan one for Boon.
“Lily, Angelle is my mate, my wife, my life. I’ve just said as much to her. She agrees and is very happy with the way things are. If we’re forced to be the focus of your grand party, we won’t be attending.”
“Boon! I thought that was your voice!”
Boon shot some side-eye at Marauder who was still standing at his side.
Marauder grinned at him. “Oh, yes. Saige is home.”
Boon sighed.
Saige flounced out of the house wearing a flowing, gauzy skirt and a snug-fitting silk vest with no blouse beneath it.
She very gracefully ran across the thirty or so feet from her family’s porch to where Boon stood with Marauder and threw herself at Boon — literally.
She pressed her body against Boon, hugging him tightly despite the fact that he made no move to embrace her or welcome her greeting.
“You’re not going to give an old friend a hug?” Saige demanded.
“No. I’m not,” Boon said, pulling his arm free from where she kept it pinned between her body and his as she still tried to embrace and cajole him into putting his arms around her.
“I’ve missed you so much! In fact, it’s the reason I’ve come home. We have so much to talk about. It’s surprising how clear your path can become when you’re away from the things that really matter,” Saige said, lifting a hand to caress his face.
Boon yanked his head back out of her reach. He took her by the shoulders and set her away from him. “Don’t start this, Saige. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
“We’ve always been meant to be together. Everyone has known it. You always did, and though I fought it, I’ve finally realized only you are my true mate,” Saige said.
“I’m mated, Saige. And she is my true mate. You are just a childhood friend. Any more than that was a mistake.”
Saige threw her head back and laughed. When he didn’t laugh, her lighthearted behavior soon stopped. “Oh, you’re serious. You’ve actually thought to replace me.”
“Saige, just don’t,” Marauder said, shaking his head at his sister’s antics.
She shot daggers in the gaze she aimed at Marauder.
“You have to have belonged to someone to be replaced. You never belonged to me, and I never belonged to you. You will respect my mate, or you will be kept away from us forcefully, if necessary.”
“I can see you’re under a spell. That’s fine. You continue to lie to yourself. At some point you’ll wake up, you’ll miss me, but I won’t be there for you.”
“Good,” Boon said.
Saige turned her back on Boon and walked back toward her family’s home. She even managed to muster up a few tears for effect as she glanced over her shoulder at Boon. “I’ll never forgive you.” She ran inside the house, slamming the door behind herself.
Marauder watched her go, then looked at Boon — his lifelong friend. “She always wants what she can’t have, and refuses what’s hers. Pay her no mind.”
“I will not have her upset Angelle,” Boon said.
“Even she knows better than that,” Marauder said.
“Can we finish the discussion about the party, now?” Lily asked.
“Come on, let’s walk and talk a bit,” Boon said.
“I really want to do this for you, and we’re running out of time” she said.
“I know. Let’s go talk about it,” he said, holding out his hand for his sister to take. “If you have to, you can always mist it into being once we are on the same page.”
“I don’t want to mist it. I want to do it myself,” Lily said, her irritation quite clear.
“Then do it yourself, but not before we talk,” Boon said.
Lily looked over at the few friends assembled to help. “For now, let’s just worry about tables, chairs, music, and the usual. I’ll get back to you with the finer details in a little while.”
“The tables and chairs are in the storage barn, I’ll help get them out,” Marauder said as he led the way past his house to where the storage barn had been erected.
It was used for storage of anything that belonged to the community as a whole, and everyone had a right to have access to it.
As everyone else took everything out of the barn that was usually used for holiday celebrations and community parties, Boon and Lily walked away, arm in arm, for a very necessary conversation.
~~~
Saige’s false tears stopped the moment she stepped into the house, replaced instantly with a scowl.
“You alright?” Rowan called from the kitchen where she was busy cooking several different dishes for tomorrow’s party.
“Perfect. Just flipping perfect,” Saige said.
“What’s wrong now?” Rowan asked, walking into the living room as she dried her hands on a dish towel.
“Nothing. I just need a break from here.”
“You just got here,” Rowan said.
“And it’s already reminding me why I should have stayed away.”
“You were outside for about five minutes. What could possibly have happened to ruin your life now?” Rowan snapped.
“Boon insulted me! What makes him think he has a right to do that? He humiliated me in front of everybody out there!” Saige shouted.
“I’m pretty sure Boon didn’t humiliate you.”
“He did! He wouldn’t even tell me hello. He ignored me when I tried to hug him, and he pushed me away from him. Then he demanded that I respect whatever female it is he’s sleeping with now, and not a word about her having to respect me!”
“We told you when you arrived that he found his mate. We told you that they have a beautiful home and are happy. We told you that we are happy for them and that you need to stay away from him and be happy for him, too.”
“She’s not his mate.”
“She is. And she’s kind, and caring, and gentle. And he deserves all of that.”
“He’s mine. He’s always been mine.”
“He’s not yours. You didn’t want him. All you did was toy with him, for all of your lives you led him on when it suited you to do even that. He’s not your mate, and you are not his. Leave him alone, Saige.”
“You want everybody to be happy except me! You even put everybody else’s kids before me.
And Lord forbid somebody say anything against the sainted Marauder, and you’d think the world’s coming to an end.
And all he does is make stupid little pieces of wood!
When are you going to start wanting good things for me?
When is it going to be my turn, Mother? When is it finally about me? ”