Chapter 33 #2
“King Moony shouldn’t be far behind,” Holland said, and sure enough, another vampire exited the rift. “Looks like Hellfire brought the entire group.” It didn’t sound like Holland was that happy about the situation. “There will be more.”
And sure enough, there was. A tall, pink-haired pixie I’d never seen and a burly male with a possessive hand on said pixie’s shoulder.
Before I could ask, Holland supplied, “That would be Philodendron, though from what I understand, most call him Phil, and his mate, Alpha werewolf, Sedrick Voss.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a pixie that…large.”
“Hmm, from what I understand, Philodendron is likely one of a kind. He is a home-and-hearth pixie. Bonded as well.”
I had a vague notion what that meant. I didn’t think they could be away from their bonded area for long and started to ask Holland about it when two other figures stepped through—a blond-haired individual with a smattering of freckles over his nose and barely pointed ears. I stiffened at the other’s presence.
“A fairy?” More than a hint of unease echoed through my words.
“Be at ease. That is Hellfire Rayburn, though many call him Ray.”
My racing heart eased a little. “I spoke with him on the phone, but I’ve never met him in person.”
“Hmm, few have. Make no mistake, Hellfire is not to be trifled with, but he is far more subdued with his bond mate, Wendall beside him. Even when Wendall is absent, I have found Hellfire to be decently reasonable. For a fairy.”
Something fluffy shifted along Wendall’s shoulder, and my mouth dropped open. “A scuttlebutt. Is that—”
“I believe the creature’s name is Trinket.”
I stared. I’d never seen one until Aurelia managed to get her hands on Fuzzy Britches, but from what I understood, this is where the fascination started.
Phlox’s gaze found me, and his lips split into a wide grin.
Making a beeline my direction, Phlox flew, Leon hot on his heels.
“Franklin!” Phlox punched me in the shoulder.
For such a small creature, his hit sent me skidding sideways.
“It’s damn good to see you up and about.
” Phlox’s gaze raked over me. “You don’t look too bad for a dead guy.
” At my wince, Phlox apologetically asked, “Too soon?”
“Let’s just say I’d appreciate you not saying those comments around Boone.”
“Noted.”
“We are pleased to be here for your bonding ceremony,” Leon kindly said. “We were pleased to be invited to such an auspicious event.”
Phlox pointed to their group, gathering around the refreshment table.
Mrs. Hart and Nana had already made their way over to greet them.
Ms. Boone was in the house with her son, helping him get ready.
“Everyone wanted to come. Erasmus kind of saved our collective bacon a couple years back. I hope you don’t mind.
” Phlox reached up, scratching behind an ear, and I realized his Pallas’s cat ears had peeked through and were twitching atop his head.
I shook my head. “The more the merrier.” Then I remembered something Holland had said and asked, “But it’s my understanding there are some bonded pixies in the group. I thought they couldn’t be away from their bonded for long.”
Phlox chuckled. “Oh, they can’t.” He threw me a wink. “I spoke with Wendall regarding Ray’s…unwillingness…to transport us around.”
“Wendall was not pleased,” Leon said.
“No. No, he was not.” Phlox flew a little higher, his arms crossed and, thankfully, his dust flowing downwind.
“Let’s just say Ray’s had a change of heart and agreed to transport us here and back.
Peaches and Phil are the only ones truly affected, and he’ll have them back to their homes in less than three hours.
Parsnip is bonded to Vander, so as long as Vander’s around, he’s okay.
Since I’m not a social pixie, I’m not really bonded to Leon in the same way, but my Pallas’s cat side allowed me to mate with him, and I’m his beloved.
As long as we stick together, we’re good too.
” Phlox narrowed his eyes. “That doesn’t mean I’m riding on a damn plane again. ”
Evidently that was still a sore spot.
“Hello, Franklin. Are we interrupting?”
My attention pulled to the side and down, a huge grin splitting my face.
“Deni!” I wanted to pull the young brownie into my arms but wasn’t sure what the proper etiquette was.
Deni solved my dilemma by throwing his small arms around my hips and hugging me tight.
I got a much better look at him when he pulled away. “You look a damn sight better.”
Deni vigorously nodded. “I feel a lot better.”
“When did you get here?”
“Just now.” Deni thumbed over his shoulder, indicating the area where our Virginia friends had congregated. “Momma and Poppa are over there. They’ll come by and talk to you later.” Deni went up on tiptoes as his eyes scanned the gathered group. “Where’s Lydia?”
“She’s inside with Boone. She’ll be out soon.”
As if reading my mind, the music changed, signaling things were about to begin. I scanned the lawn, quickly finding Erik and Evan. We nodded to each other, and I excused myself. “Well, gentlemen, it looks like it’s time.”
“I’ll go get Momma and Poppa.” Deni gave me another hug before he darted off, leaving me alone again with Phlox, Leon, and Holland.
Phlox gave me a lascivious grin while Leon said, “Many wishes for a long and happy life with your beloved.”
“Thank you. God and Gaia willing, Boone and I will be sitting on our porch drinking sweet tea and listening to the cicadas while our bones creak.” I looked to Holland. “You ready?”
Instead of verbally answering, Holland walked toward the arbor.
I followed and was soon met by Erik and Evan.
I tugged on my jacket before pulling at my tie.
Erik and Evan were at my back. The minister stood beside a Wiccan elder.
Our ceremony would be Christian and Wiccan.
The Christian ceremony was first, followed by handfasting.
The music changed again, and Boone walked through the gate.
My eyes lit up when I saw him. Dressed in a simple white, long-sleeved, untucked shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of loose charcoal-gray pants, Boone’s bare feet confidently walked through the grass.
Lydia Boone followed in a lavender dress, her hair swept up into an artful array of waves and curls.
Lydia made her way around the chairs, finding her place beside Nana in the front row. The two women clasped hands, tears in their eyes.
Alone now, Boone walked between the chairs, his beautiful green eyes fixed on mine. He’d trimmed his hair, but it still flopped in his eyes and needed pushed behind his ears. Dear God, Boone was beautiful. In every way an individual could be, Boone was gorgeous.
Grin wide enough to show teeth, Boone stretched out his arms, his hands finding mine, our fingers intertwining. Neither one of us could bear taking off our wedding rings, and so they were still there, encircling our fingers. That was one part of the ceremony that wouldn’t be happening today.
“You look good,” I whispered when I pulled Boone closer.
“Not as good as you,” he answered.
The Christian priest cleared his throat. “Are we ready to begin?”
I started to say yes, but Boone flicked his head around and said, “Where’s Aurelia? She’s supposed to be here, with Pops.” I’d nearly forgotten that Boone had asked Aurelia to stand up with Holland beside him.
“I am present,” Aurelia said, suddenly standing beside Holland.
While she was dressed in her typical ripped jeans, tank top, flannel, and combat boots, Fuzzy Britches was a bit fancier.
A braided ring of flowers sat atop her…head?
Body? I wasn’t certain. Peeking between that wreath were three sets of tiny, dark eyes, their bodies impossible to see as their fur melded with their mother’s.
Turns out, there was a reason Fuzzy Britches seemed a bit lazier than your average scuttlebutt.
She was pregnant. Blanche, Dorothy, and Rose (names I’d given them having no idea what gender the baby scuttlebutts were) had been born about a week after the incident with Huxley.
Thanks to Deni’s poppa, their appearance hadn’t been entirely unexpected.
One of the baby scuttlebutts skittered lower, wrapping its tail around one of Aurelia’s large ears and hanging upside down like an opossum. It swayed back and forth, appearing as if Aurelia had a furry earing.
Unaffected by the dangling scuttlebutt, Aurelia looked around the gathering, her expression neutral if not a little curious. The same couldn’t be said for our Wiccan elder whose color went decidedly pale when not only Aurelia showed up, but a second djinn as well.
Helios stood in the background, his gaze nearly as neutral and apathetic as Aurelia’s.
Arms crossed, he leaned against the fence separating our properties.
For better or worse, Peaches now found himself the master of two djinn.
God only knew how that would turn out. From what I understood, Helios was still trying to figure out what Peaches’s game was.
He couldn’t seem to grasp that Peaches truly was different and that he didn’t want anything.
That was a concept not only djinn battled understanding.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Boone told Aurelia, his neck craned her way while his hands remained clasped in mine.
Holland shuffled like he was uncomfortable. That discomfort soon turned to irritation and when I looked closer, I could see seven, misty green tails fluttering around him. Holland swatted a hand toward the one skimming across his neck. Low, deep, mischievous chuckling filled the air.
“Irritating kitsune. Go away.” Holland said the words, but his crimson cheeks spoke of something more than anger.
“Make me,” came a smokey, rumbled voice. Holland’s cheeks darkened.
Aurelia’s head tilted slightly to the side, the odd, furry hat on her head twisting with her as Fuzzy Britches tightened her tail around Aurelia’s neck. “Curious mating behavior. The outcome will be interesting to witness.”
Holland whipped around. “I am not here for your amusement, and this is not mating behavior.”
Deep laughter erupted from the gathered group, along with clapping and a whistle of appreciation. “Maybe not, but you’re sure as hell here for my amusement. Gaia, that’s hilarious.”
“Shut it, Kines.” Holland’s fingers twitched, lighting with little sparks of magic.
“Pops.” Boone’s tone was both pleading and amused. “Maybe you can have a row with Warlock Kines after the ceremony.”
Those seven tails were now solid, Hikaru’s face peeking around Holland’s shoulder, a bold smirk lighting up his golden-green eyes. The kitsune was obviously pleased with himself.
Clearing his throat, Holland rolled his hand forward. “By all means. I will kill Vander Kines later. Please, proceed.”
Our Christian priest and Wiccan elder both appeared apprehensive and possibly a little nauseous. I couldn’t say that I blamed them. The priest managed a weak “a-are we r-ready?”
“Very much,” Boone and I said in unison.
The priest appeared uncertain. “P-perhaps we should wait until the tension has diminished and—”
“No,” Boone said. “It’s perfect just as it is.”
Boone was right. This was our life, our perfectly imperfect life. Quiet and serene weren’t us and never would be. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Resting his head against my forehead, Boone whispered, “I’d follow you anywhere, Franklin O’Hare. Not even Death can take you from me.”
They weren’t empty words. Death had tried their hardest and lost. “I love you, Erasmus Boone.”
Boone’s soft sigh whispered across my cheek.
His relaxed body and easy pulse made me feel like a king.
I would endeavor to always be Boone’s soft place to land.
It was my privilege to hold him when the rest of the world shunned his very touch.
I would love this necromancer to my dying day and beyond.
Other species often underestimated humans and with good reason.
But if there was one thing we could do just as well, if not better than the others, it was love.
And when we got it right, we really got it right.
I’d spend the rest of my mortal life proving that over and over again.
I couldn’t think of a more purposeful and well spent life than that.