Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
JACE
Maybe it’s destiny I’m the last king to fill my queen’s throne.
I used to think it was my punishment; for what, I didn’t know.
But now I feel proud as I watch The Queen rise to survey our room.
This is the first time every throne is full. It’s like her heart is, too, as Mom strides toward Axel on the first throne with Ruby beside him.
She kisses their cheeks, whispering something that makes them smile. She does the same to Nash and Vale. Then Sire and Wren, making Wren wipe away a touched tear.
Grant and Delphine chuckle at whatever she whispers to them before she glides past her red throne, bypassing Viv and me.
I understand; it’s our night.
She leans over, pecking Zar’s cheek before cupping Nick’s. He sits close enough so that I can hear her tell him, “You always make me proud.”
Whatever she whispers to Alena and Loch next, I can’t hear, but they proudly grin before she turns to Sasha on the last throne.
In Russian, she imparts something to her daughter that makes Sasha nobly lift her chin and reply, “Yes, Mama.”
Knowing our Queen, it was something like, “The warrior inside you is always stronger than the war,” or one of her hundred sayings that have kept us together.
Finally, Mom returns to Vivian and me, with tears brimming in her sapphire eyes.
“My Jasha.” She sighs, cupping my jaw. “You were punished for having the biggest heart, but now, you’ve finally found its match.
” She turns to Vivian. “Thank you for loving his heart, and for letting him share it with you. You two are a beautiful picture together.”
“Damn, Mom.” I sniff, grinning. “Quit chopping onions.”
From across the room, a box of tissues lands in Zar’s lap.
“Give that to Sniffles.” It’s Grant, giving me shit to lighten the mood.
Proudly, Vivian takes one from Zar, dabbing her eyes. “Thank you. I’m honored, our Queen. I promise I’ll make you proud.”
“You already do, dear.” Mom winks, then claps her jeweled hands together. “Alright. Let’s anoint our final queen.”
I’m in a haze, leading Vivian to stand with me in the middle of the throne room. Clasping her small hands and gazing down at her, joy tumbles through my soul.
She’s riveted by Sire’s ceremony, intently focused on his words, which only makes him drone on… and on… and on.
Sweet, Jesus, help us.
My brother can preach.
I’ve witnessed six initiations, but now that it’s my queen’s, I just want to dive into her beauty and never return.
Vivian let me give her a dress to wear tonight. It’s an elegant slip that’s pure white and pure lotus silk; the softest I could find for her sensitive skin.
Of course, she wore her hair in a high ponytail for me with golden whisps framing her face.
My pure beauty. No makeup. No heels. No jewelry. No—
Shit, wait. Vivian doesn’t like jewelry.
She prefers simplicity. One wedding ring, sure, she’ll wear it. And earlier today, she got the diamond Monroe piercing all the queens wear, but what about the…
“Ahem.” Sire clears his throat, snapping me into focus. “Let’s try this again. Do you, Jace Ryan, with a free and unconstrained will, claim Vivian Tate as your queen?”
“Uh… uh, yeah,” I stammer. “Shit, yeah. I mean… Yes, I do.”
“You sure?” Viv laughs lightly.
“Sorry, baby,” I mumble. “I just got distracted by how beautiful you are.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Grant groans.
“Shut up,” Wren chirps at him. “They’re so cute, and we’ve waited forever for this.”
“Will you, Jace, guard her, above all, with your life?” Sire booms, regaining control. “Will you love her, above all, with your heart? Will you die for Vivian, with no hesitation, leaving her your soul?”
I focus on her baby blues. “Yes, I will. She’s my best friend, the queen of my heart, my love forever.”
Vivian bites her lip.
“Will you,” Sire continues, “Vivian Tate, with a free and unconstrained will, accept our brother, Jace Ryan, as your king?”
“Oh. Oh, shit. Sorry…” She throws her chin up, blinking back tears. “I’m just… You said free, and after everything, I finally feel it with Jace and—” She sniffs.
“Here.” Ruby jumps up from her throne, handing Vivian a tissue.
It’s initiation night. They’re everywhere in the room.
“Thank you.” Vivian takes it, dabbing her eyes, before sweetly gushing at me, “Sorry, my king. I’m just fighting a happy sob.”
“Me too, darlin’,” Zar drawls from his queen’s throne. “Me too.”
I grin. “Can we take that as a yes?”
“Yes.” She smiles, regaining her composure, but I don’t mind. I love my emotional match. “Yes, Jace Ryan, I accept you as my king.” She leans into me, whispering softly, “And my picture of love.”
I meet her halfway, pressing my forehead to hers. “It’s our picture, baby. Our love forever.”
“Will you… Damn, sorry…” Now Sire’s getting choked up.
I lift my gaze from Viv and glance around the room. Our love is making tears contagious. Most of the queens are dabbing their eyes, Mom and Sasha too. Even Grant, the fucker, quickly swipes one away.
Guess through their initiations, they saw me sitting, suffering and alone without Vivian. Guess they want this for us as much as I do.
“Ahem. Will you love Jasha…” Sire coughs, asking Vivian, “Sorry, I mean, will you love Jace above all with your heart?”
Goddamn, he’s killing me.
More than any brother, as boys, Sire witnessed how I was punished for my heart.
With a voice full of emotion, he continues, “Will you give our brother, more than any other, a life worth fighting for? Will you honor him, even in death, as his queen?”
“With all my heart,” Vivian promises.
“Deliver them—”
“Wait,” I interrupt before he finishes. “I, uh, I have something…”
I lift a ring from my pocket, holding it poised over Vivian’s right hand.
“Will you honor me, Vivian Tate, and wear this as my queen?” She blinks, and I swallow the lump in my throat.
“It’s a Russian wedding ring with three gold interlocking bands: yellow for fidelity, white for friendship, and rose for love.
Inseparable, like us. But if you don’t like it, I—”
“I love it.” Vivian offers her trembling hand. “I’ll proudly wear it for you.”
“For us.” I slide the ring down her finger.
Sire side-mumbles, “Now, can I finish?”
Grant sniffles. “Please, fucking do.”
Soft laughter ripples across the room before Sire prays, “Deliver them safe from wrath and danger. Preserve their bed and fill their home. Let them see their children’s children.” I lift Vivian’s new ring to my lips. “Crown them, king and queen together, tonight, and in the stars forever.”
I kiss her ring before kissing her, tasting the happy tears on her lips as The Queen begins a round of applause.
It’s jubilant for a moment before Axel rises, taking over the ceremony from Sire.
Wow. This is it.
Seeing Axel, our first King, standing before us floods me with peace. I’m suddenly struck with a divine sense of completion.
This is the final vow.
Seven kings love seven queens.
Our family has prevailed.
Love defeated Hate.
In a way, I don’t want it to be over. The journey of filling every throne has been like one of my romance books that I don’t want to end.
Sasha remains the last one, but being our only sister, she deserves her own story as Axel entreats, “Which brother here will vouchsafe as a second king, declaring this union honorable and protected? Who here will pledge that should Vivian’s first king perish, he will guard our queen and their children in his stead? ”
“On my honor, I do.” Nick stands, taking a kiss from Zar before he joins us.
Axel smiles. It’s so fucking rare, it’s like the sun rising over a glacier, his icy eyes sparkling with our final oath. “Will you, Jace, accept Nick as Vivian’s second king?”
My throat tightens. “Proudly, I do.”
Vivian reaches her ringed hand for Nick’s. “Proudly, I do too.”
It’s not part of the ceremony, but it feels right. It’s her decision.
Axel nods. “Will you, Nick, honor Jace’s queen, Vivian?”
Nick vows, “With my heart, body, and soul, I will protect her.”
I have no doubt he will. But for the first time… I don’t feel the constant, haunting instinct that Nick will need to.
Gently, Axel cups Vivian’s shoulder and mine, concluding, “We declare this union sacred. God, have mercy and save us. Protect and preserve us for many years to come.”
Years?
Hell, our entire lives, we’ve survived in the darkest shadows of a threat. We’ve made it this far—together.
But now with all this love in the room, with all this light and every throne filled, the shadows are dying.
We’re almost free.
An hour later, after vodka shots, caviar, and Korovai bread, Mom and Sasha leave with kisses to every cheek.
Thankfully, I stop Nash and Vale at the door before they do.
“Wait.” I grab Nash’s suit sleeve. “Stay for this next part.”
Nash eyes my hand on his arm. “You know I’ll do almost anything with you, but not this. Not with Alena here.”
I glimpse his gorgeous daughter, cuddled with Loch across the room. They’re wrapped around each other and laughing with Vivian. Their bond with her is instant.
“We’re not doing that… yet. Just stay for the photo shoot. We’re not complete if you both miss it.”
Vale tugs his other arm. “Told you, my king. Jace wants all of us for this part.”
Nash lowers his menacing brows. “You expect me to pose in tighty-whities in front of my daughter?”
Alena calls out from across the room, “It’s nothing I haven’t seen before, Dad.” Leave it to a lioness to hear everything.
“You know what, dammit…” I start sliding my black jacket off, proclaiming, “Yeah, I do expect it. I’ve proudly served in every initiation, and now it’s your turn.” I turn to the room. “It’s every king’s turn. Strip down to your Calvins, men.”
Vivian’s jaw drops. Yeah, she knew this would happen, but can’t believe it.
“Question is, Smokeshow.” I unbutton my shirt, giving her a coy grin. “Do you want us in wet underwear?”
Her eyes ignite, tempted, but with Alena here, she laughs, aiming for her camera bag. “It’ll be hard enough fitting seven kings into the shot, and nearly impossible with your seven swords rising too.”
Delphine bolts for the credenza. “This calls for champagne.”
“Here, here.” Ruby joins her.
“Bring on the vodka.” Alena fills her crystal glass while Wren claps from her throne.
“Yes, my kings, make it a strip show!”
“Make that a hell no!” Nash barks, tugging off his jacket as stoically as possible. But he winks at Wren. He’s her second king. They’re close.
Despite his protest, it is what we look like—a male strip show—with every king undressing, leaving our finest threads on our thrones.
Zar, looking dominant, still wearing his black suit, smirks at us balled into our white boxer briefs. “My, my, men,” he boasts, “way to make your queens happier than woodpeckers in a lumber yard.”
I glance around, agreeing. We are a helluva sight: seven jacked, inked men in their tight underwear. And yeah, our wood hangs obviously.
Loch laughs. “Kinda reminds me of the days when Mom used to save hot water by making us take a bath together.”
Grant points at him. “Remember the time you yanked Axel’s pube, thinking it was a hair that fell from his head?”
“What?” Loch shrugs, grinning. “I didn’t know better; I was five.”
“I was fucking traumatized.” Axel cups his sizable junk. “Started shaving my balls the next day.”
Nash shakes his head. “The bullshit I missed not growing up with you all.”
“But you’re one of us now.” I aim toward the platform. “Come on, everyone, pile on.”
Grant protests, “How the hell are we gonna fit?”
I shove him. “If we can fuck on it together, we can fit on it too.”
“Hey!” Nash backslaps my chest. “Keep it PG. My daughter’s here.”
“Relax, Dad.” Alena sits on her throne. “Your daughter is mature enough to focus on her X-rated king.”
Loch winks, snapping his waistband for her while I get Axel to help me move the ladder to the spot Vivian indicates.
It gives her a high vantage point over the platform, but I warn, “Smokeshow, if you think I’ll let you climb up this thing without a spotter, think again.”
“Got it,” Alena offers, joining Viv.
“Thank you.” Vivian smiles softly at her, looping the camera strap over her neck before climbing barefoot up the rungs.
Leaning over the top step, she directs us. “Alright, Jace, lie in the middle.” I obey, flipping over to gaze up at her. “Perfect. Now, Axel, lie above him, across the top. Good.” She points. “Nick, you’ll have to rest your head on Axel’s thigh. All of you will have to touch to fit, and—”
We do. We recline in a pile of hulking flesh, skin to inked skin, colognes colliding with our manliness barely contained by thin white cotton.
“Oh my god.” Wren sighs, joining Alena by the ladder. “You guys are an orgy for the eyes.”
Don’t ask me how, but it’s fitting that Nash picked the spot at the foot of the platform, causing him to lie back and rest his head on my thigh.
The rest are my brothers. I think nothing of their bodies pressed to mine.
But with Vivian watching, I let Nash’s heat against my skin rouse me, giving her two fantasies to feast on.
Hot men in white Calvins.
And her man, getting hard for her.
She lifts her camera, catching it, her voice breathy with her command, “Good job, my kings. Now, everyone, look up at me.”
“She means fuck the lens.” Vale assists, clapping. “Come on. Don’t be shy. Work it, boys.”
Grant gruffs, “Keep calling us boys, and we’ll pull our boxers down and prove we’re very big men.”
Delphine sighs. “Ouais, please do.”
“Please don’t.” Loch huffs, amused. “I don’t think my future father-in-law wants to see what I’m packing for his daughter.”
“Say another word and die,” Nash growls at Loch’s taunt, making us laugh.
Alena and Loch will be married in a few weeks. Loch is planning something special for her. The fucker can’t be the only romantic one. I’m doing something for Vivian as well. Mom and Sasha are helping me with it.
Over the clicks of Vivian’s shutter, Ruby praises, “Our kings look like a mountain range of hot men I wanna climb.”
“Like a feast of hard, beastly flesh,” Vale agrees.
“Like a buffet of man-meat and I’m starving,” Zar concurs.
“Dear lord, I’m so thirsty for man juice.” Wren almost pouts.
So Sire, lying to my right, assures her, “Ask, and ye shall receive, Angel.”
“We want to receive Eiffel towers.” Delphine purrs.
Fun. This is sounding way too fun and feral for the queens.
I lift my head to find them prowling like a hungry pride of lionesses, guarding Vivian on the ladder. They’ll catch her if she falls and devour us if we stay here much longer.
Alena chews her lip, visually groping Loch’s size. “Vivian, how are they looking from up there?”
My queen’s rose-tipped nipples under her white slip tell me she’s the hungriest of them all.