Chapter 10
RUVON
Ruvon had checked the time on his watch, although there was no logical reason to do so. The ceremony was still three hours away.
Why was he so nervous?
He wasn't some young human, but he almost felt like one.
Almost.
He was one hundred thirty-seven years old, and the first half of that had been brutal. He didn't like thinking of his life before Kalugal had orchestrated their platoon's escape from the Brotherhood.
He didn't want to remember the things he had done.
Now, he was a different male. No longer a soldier, but a tech expert, and he'd taught himself everything he knew.
That other male, the one who used to be a soldier, was gone.
Gone but not forgotten. It was impossible to forget that part of his life no matter how hard he tried.
The best he could do was to relegate his past to a compartment in his mind that he didn't visit often.
Walking over to the full-length mirror hanging on his closet door, he checked his bow tie, straightened the lapels of his tuxedo, and adjusted the platinum cufflinks that were a gift from Kalugal.
He looked good, or as good as possible for a lanky nothing-special guy, but it was enough because Arezoo loved him just the way he was. She looked at him with adoration in her eyes that he felt he did not deserve, but drank up nonetheless.
Shifting to look at his profile, he arched a brow and struck a pose. "The name's Bond, James Bond."
Ruvon chuckled.
He looked nothing like any of the actors that had played the famous secret agent over the years, but he was wearing a tux and a bow tie, and his shoes were polished to a mirror shine.
As the doorbell rang, announcing the arrival of his groomsmen, he walked out to the living room and pulled the door open.
Rufsur stood on the threshold with a wide grin and a large box, flanked by Hivak and Dammal, who were also carrying additional boxes. Others were coming up the path behind them.
"What do you have there?" Ruvon stepped aside.
"Provisions." Rufsur entered, and the others filed in behind him.
Hivak, Dammal, Dandor, Welgost, Boleck, Shamash, with Atzil closing the processions while balancing two large platters covered with cling wrap.
Behind Atzil came Max, who was not technically one of Kalugal's men but had insisted on being included on the basis of being a member of Arezoo's family. Max's interpretation of family was generous and inclusive in a way that Ruvon had noticed and appreciated.
"Where's the boss?" Ruvon asked Shamash.
Kalugal's personal assistant rolled his eyes. "You know him. He has to make an entrance. His excuse for being late is getting the cigars. Never mind that they were sitting on his desk the whole week."
Ruvon smiled, looking forward to the Cohibas Kalugal had promised to get for his pre-wedding bachelor party.
It was a clan tradition for the bride and groom to have separate gatherings with their close friends and family before the wedding, instead of actual bachelorette and bachelor parties. He preferred this over the human custom of wild parties in faraway places where unsavory things often happened.
His and Arezoo's wedding was as wholesome as it could get, at least on her part. He wasn't a virgin, hadn't been one in a hundred and twenty years. He wasn't a ladies' man either, but he was experienced and tainted, while she was inexperienced and pure, and he wasn't referring to lovemaking.
Arezoo was still a girl, and despite what she'd gone through, she was still innocent and hopeful in the way that young people who had lived a sheltered life were.
Being with her was like a breath of fresh air, like an injection of warmth and excitement about the future that he hadn't felt before she'd entered his life.
He was luckier than he deserved to be.
Atzil headed to the kitchen with the platters, while Hivak began unpacking crystal glasses from one of the boxes and placing them on the coffee table.
"You didn't need to bring glasses." Ruvon pointed at the bar. "We have enough."
Hivak cast a perfunctory glance at the bar and shook his head. "Those are crap. Your pre-wedding party deserves to be celebrated with class."
Atzil emerged from the kitchen with a platter of small skewers that smelled delicious. Lamb, onion, and something red that was either a tomato or a bell pepper. The smell of lamb was so overwhelming that it was hard to distinguish the other components.
He set it down on the coffee table. "Eat."
"I can't," Ruvon admitted. "I'm too nervous. Besides, I don't want stains on my tux."
"That's what napkins are for." Atzil unfurled one and handed it to Ruvon. "Tuck it in your collar and eat. It will help settle your stomach."
Ruvon picked up a skewer because arguing with Atzil was not only futile but stupid. The guy held grudges against those who didn't eat what he made for them, and those who didn't voice their appreciation for his culinary skills at least once during every meal.
It was a small price to pay for having two out of three meals a day prepared and served without having to cook for himself.
That was going to change now that Arezoo was moving in. They were going to have a real home together, and she was an excellent cook.
His roommate had moved out a few days ago, even though Ruvon had assured him that there was no reason to do so. He and Arezoo only needed one bedroom. Still, he was glad that Greggory had insisted. It would be much nicer to have the house all to themselves.
The doorbell rang again, and Rufsur got to his feet. "That'll be the boss with the cigars."
Kalugal walked in with a large, fancy box that had the Cohiba logo on the front in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other.
He set the bottle and the box on the coffee table, then walked over to Ruvon and clapped him on the shoulder. "You look sharp."
"Thank you."
Kalugal released his shoulder and turned to the room. "All right. Whiskey."
"Now we're talking," Rufsur said.
Ruvon didn't recognize the label on the bottle Kalugal had brought, but given the reverence with which he handled it, it was a rare and precious commodity. Kalugal poured careful measures into the crystal glasses Hivak had set out.
He handed the first glass to Ruvon. "The groom."
Kalugal waited for everyone to take a glass before lifting his in the air.
"You are blessed with a fated mate, so there isn't much more I can add to that blessing other than to wish you and Arezoo to become parents as soon as possible.
" He smirked his signature smirk. "Perhaps even before Arezoo transitions.
Your chances for conceiving are much greater as long as she's still human. "
Ruvon swallowed. "We are not ready for that yet, and besides, I don't want to wait for her to transition after having a baby. I can't wait for her to become immortal so I can stop worrying about her human fragility."
Kalugal nodded. "Believe me, I understand. Been there and done that. Let's drink then to Arezoo's successful transition."
Ruvon was more than happy to drink to that.
The guys all joined in the salute.
"Now the cigars," Dammal announced, opening the velvet case. "Boss? You want to go first?"
Kalugal waved a dismissive hand. "Pass them around."
Ruvon wasn't a big fan of cigars, but he made an exception for Cohibas.
"Good stuff," he murmured as he pulled out a cigar and passed it under his nose to sniff it.
"Cutter," Dammal said, passing one around.
"Light," Hivak said, producing a fancy torch lighter that looked like something that belonged to Kalugal.
The room filled with the rich, slightly sweet smell of expensive tobacco. Ruvon got his cigar lit on the second try and drew in a careful mouthful of smoke, holding it on his tongue for a bit, and exhaled.
It suddenly occurred to him that he was bringing Arezoo to his home tonight, and she might find the smell offensive.
"We should move this outside." He rose to his feet. "I don't want the entire house to smell of cigars when I bring Arezoo here tonight."
That earned him several snickers and comments about already being brought to heel by his mate.
Kalugal snorted. "You are all so juvenile despite your advanced ages, but I don't intend on schooling you.
Once you find your one and only, you will understand that it's your duty and your pleasure to do everything in your power to make your mate happy, and if that means smoking outside, you smoke outside. "
Rufsur nodded. "He's right. I was like you guys before I found Edna, and I thought that Kalugal was losing his mind with everything he was willing to do to accommodate Jacki. Now I understand because there is nothing I wouldn't do to please Edna."
He rose to his feet. "Lead the way, Ruvon." He turned to those who were still sitting. "Up you go, boys. We are all moving to the backyard."
"I'd rather not find a mate," Welgost murmured under his breath. "What kind of life is it when everything you do has to go through the prism of your mate's likes and dislikes?"
"The best life." Atzil clapped him on the back hard enough to make him almost stumble. "Ingrid and I are not fated mates, but we are solid, and the only way to make it work is to always be mindful of your partner's desires."
"Take your glasses," Hivak said, holding two bottles of whiskey under his arm, another one in his left hand, and his glass in his right.
Once they reconvened on the back porch, everyone found a place to sit while Ruvon went back for the ashtrays.
"So," Dandor said. "What are the bride and her bridesmaids doing? Did they get a stripper?"
Ruvon nearly choked on a sip of whiskey. "Of course not. They are doing their hair and makeup at Arezoo's family home."
"I wish you'd invited a stripper," Dandor said. "I can think of a few clan ladies who wouldn't have minded entertaining us."
"I would have minded," Kalugal said. "I have eyes only for my wife."