44. Riven
Riven
Three years later
“Happy wedding day to me,
Happy wedding day to me,
Happy wedding day dear Riven,
Happy wedding day to me.”
Oh, my Chaos, I’m so fucking ready.
Five years.
Can you believe my little burden has made me wait this long? For the life of me, I can’t fathom why she’s had the audacity to keep me waiting like this.
I mean, granted…we had to save the realm, give out power, kill unworthy gods, strip others of the power they didn’t deserve, torture Mellcom weekly.
Really, we’ve been busy, so I get it.
Today, though…
Today is the day she officially marries me.
“Happy wedding day to me,
Happy wedding day to—”
A grunt leaves my lips as a fucking pillow smacks me in the face. I tear it away before it ruins my hair, then glare at my brothers. Who, for some reason, are glaring at me.
“If you keep singing happy wedding day to yourself, I’m going to lock you in the fucking bedroom, and you can miss the gods damn ceremony. We’re all getting married today, you asshole,” Creed snarls, and his gorgeous glowing white eyes blaze to life.
“I never said we all weren’t. Someone needs to take a chill pill from Vullie.”
“Riven, you’ve been singing ‘Happy wedding day to me,’ out loud for ten minutes straight,” Kyzen says, arching a brow at me.
“Oh.” I chuckle. “My bad. Of course we’re all getting married today.”
I’m just more excited for myself than them.
Technically, I proposed first.
“Happy wedding day to me,” I sing again, because honestly, I think they’re being dramatic.
A pillow flies across the room—again—but this time I catch it before it hits me.
“Really?” I ask, staring at Creed.
“No one likes you right now.”
“That’s impossible. I’m delightful.”
“You’re unbearable.”
Kyzen groans at the two of us, but there’s no bite behind it. Amick stares between us as though he’s trying to concoct a plan to run off and marry Thayla alone.
Not happening.
A knock sounds at the door that has the four of us whipping our heads in that direction.
“Oh my gods, it’s happening,” I cheer, running around in a circle, then I jump on Creed’s back. “It’s time. Holy fuck, I’m freaking out.”
He shoves me off just as Derivius steps into the living room.
His eyes move over each of us slowly as a smile tugs at his lips.
“Are you all ready?”
“Is she ready? She’s blocked our asses from feeling her,” Kyzen says.
“Oh, the little troublling is almost ready. I’m still genuinely surprised she’s ready to put up with you four for a lifetime.”
“Marriage ceremony or not, she was spending a lifetime with us,” Amick says.
I completely agree.
My head bobs up and down repeatedly.
Derivius chuckles softly, but his attention remains on us. He steps forward, approaching Creed first. He adjusts his collar, then grips both of his shoulders. Then Amick and Kyzen. As he steps to me, I look down at his trembling hands fixing something that probably wasn’t even crooked.
“You know I’m capable of dressing myself.”
“I’m aware.” He chuckles.
“Just checking.”
His quiet laugh moves through the room as he takes a step back. I swallow back the pesky emotions trying to claw up my belly.
“You four—” He clears his throat and links his fingers behind his back as he looks at his feet. “I know I’m not really your father—”
“You are,” I immediately correct. “You’re the father who was there in the way it mattered.”
His gaze meets mine, then moves over the others.
“I am so very proud of the men that stand before me. You all have become more than I ever dreamed of being. I’m so happy and thankful that I get to be a part of this special day.”
Kyzen, the big softie, moves in and swallows him in a hug. Creed and Amick follow right behind. I rock back and forth on my feet as I clear my throat before my emotions betray me.
“Well, fuck me,” I say and everyone looks at me as I blink at the ceiling. “I said I wasn’t going to cry today. I refuse to give Creed that satisfaction.”
The corner of his mouth twitches and that helps fight back the stupid waterworks.
“You boys are most certainly going to shed a few tears when you see her.”
Great. Lovely. A whole crowd will get to see me blubber like a baby.
“Are you all ready to go?”
The four of us glance at one another and nod.
I’ve never been more ready.
Our powers wrap around us and carry us away to the hot spring.
Ellian stands at the edge, waiting to officiate with a brilliant smile on his face. The meadow in front of us is bustling with happy chatter from our entire weird little group. The many faces smile at us, but I can’t remove my eyes from the back of the path they’ve created.
Yemi stands back there, ready and waiting to pull open the curtain they’ve placed in the meadow.
My angel’s hiding behind that.
A long breath pours from my lips as the utter and absolute excitement that was thrumming through my blood slows to something far harder to manage.
I…
“I just had a very amusing thought,” Amick says, and my attention turns to him.
“That’s dangerous,” I say.
“Possibly.” He smirks.
“What was your thought, Amick?” Kyzen asks with a chuckle.
“Riven tried to trick Thayla into marrying him five years ago, and now, today, the day of our wedding, he’s more nervous than all of us.”
“Uh,” I gasp, holding my hand to my chest. “First of all, I’m not nervous. I’m ecstatic. Secondly, I didn’t try to trick her.”
“You most certainly did. Her power of Accord sent you flying across the road. What do you call that?” he asks.
“A creative proposal.” He shakes his head at me, still wearing that smirk. “I’ll have you all know, the truth is, her Accord didn’t send me flying because I was trying to trick her. She agreed to spend her life with me. Willingly.”
“Then why did her power push you away?” Creed asks.
I take another breath, staring at their three handsome matching faces.
“At the last minute, I decided I didn’t want to do it alone. I wanted you all there,” I whisper. Then immediately clear my throat. “Ridiculous thought. I should’ve just done it.”
They stare at the side of my face as I stare back at the end of the aisle where I wish my little burden would hurry the hell up.
“I’m glad you didn’t,” Amick says low. “Our pretty little quadruplet group was always supposed to do this together.”
I choke on my gasp and don’t make any sudden moves.
This is happening. It’s totally happening.
He just said it.
After denying me for forty years, he finally called us quadruplets.
Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry.
“I love you three and her more than anything and anyone in this realm. I’m very happy I get to spend the rest of my life with you all.”
“Oh gods.” A choked sob crawls out of my throat, and I glare at Creed’s and Kyzen’s laughs. “Don’t laugh at me, you assholes. Do you hear how sweet he’s being right now?”
“Yeah, ’cause your bond, soul, and Harmony are about to drive us crazy. You’ve got the three of us feeling all damn mushy,” Creed grunts, but I see the red rimming his eyes.
Then I turn inward, focusing on all the things he just said.
Yep, everything’s in overdrive.
I slow my breathing and tap into our souls.
The rhythm of their hearts pounds in sync with mine. The love, devotion, and desire for our Binder hum through my chest.
The hope and happiness that spread through them settle everything within me. When I exhale, they exhale.
“Better?” Amick asks.
“Much,” I say, nodding. “Thank you.”
“Any time.”
The curtain shifts and we fall still as V and Lestari fly through the opening, dropping petals of angel orchids in a path.
For the first time in my entire existence, everything within and around me fades away. No humming or singing. No Chaos begging to spill from my veins or Harmony easing the feelings.
Only her.
She steps through the curtains, and my soul recognizes hers before my eyes even have the chance to take her in.
My impossible, stubborn, breathtaking burden.
My heart, my soul, my best friend.
My home.
I’ve seen her stand against gods. I’ve seen her covered in blood, refusing to fall. I’ve watched her carry the weight of an entire realm.
But this…
This is the moment that steals my breath.
And all she’s doing is walking toward me.
Choosing me.
Us.
A laugh catches somewhere in my chest as I roam my eyes over her from head to toe. Her flowy, emerald green and gold dress blows in the breeze, and a happy laugh leaves her as a tear slides down her cheek.
I want to lick it away.
She makes it to the middle of us, and we reach toward her as one. Her hands roam over each of us, fixing our clothes, cupping cheeks, whispering sweet words.
As her finger brushes away a reckless tear that slides out of my blue eye, I catch her wrist and lay her finger to my lips.
“You ready to marry me, my little psycho?” she asks.
I release a low, low chuckle.
“Been waiting years for this, my little angel burden.”
Her smile is devastatingly stunning.
The four of us draw closer, surrounding her completely as we focus on Ellian.
This is it. This is forever.
“I, Riven, God of Duality, agree—again—wholeheartedly to spend the rest of my life with Thayla Godrun.”
Forever and ever, amen.