“No one hurts the people I love,” I told him, the words coming out rough and raspy.
That’s right you fucker. You did not know who you were messing with.
Yanking harder, I drew the spirit of Othanos out, but it hung on by sturdy threads to his physical form. I tugged harder, my temples starting to pound as the power expanded in me. For a moment I was boundless, shining light. Completely limitless as I called forth his darkness and absorbed Othanos into my palm. Instead of cracking his spirit from his body, his entire being shimmered and dissolved into darkness that I drew in through our contact. Something clanked to the ground nearby.
When the last trace of him disappeared, I was left gasping for breath, my shaking hand still out and poised. I wasn't trembling because I was scared, it was pure pleasure pounding through me as if I'd just experienced one of Calan’s mind melting orgasms.
All that was left of Othanos was his dagger which lay on the ground. I picked it up, staring at the object that had haunted me for months.
“Holy fuck,” Jo said behind me. “Did anyone else see that?”
Then the entire group erupted into discord.
“Did you know she could do that?” Regina asked Phillip.
“When did this begin?” Ylang demanded.
Jo’s mother clutched the beads around her neck and chanted a prayer in another language. Mika’s mouth had dropped open while Jo’s face hardened, removing any trace of a reaction. Travis and Krystan clung to each other and their baby off to the side. As they started to crowd around me, asking questions, Calan grabbed my arm and pulled me outside of the crush of people until we were out of earshot.
“Are you alright?”
Everything tingled. It was as if I could see, smell, and feel better. I skimmed his face with my fingertips marveling over how alive I felt. “Yeah. I’m better than fine. That was...I don’t know how else to say it, but different...incredible.”
I was pulled into a crushing hug. “You scared me. I thought he was going to take you from me.”
“The sacrifice.”
He pulled back. “What?”
“Hmm? Oh nothing. My brain is still a little rattled I guess.” Looking past him to the arguing Orders, I said, “Looks like the party is over though. I’m not quite sure I’m up to this right now.”
Calan kissed me fervently, and I tasted his lingering fear and desperation to make sure I was alright. When he released me, he said, “Go home and get ready for our flight. I’ll handle this and meet you.”
“Are you sure?”
He returned, cupping my face in his hands. “I’m not going to give anyone a chance to corner you again. If they think they are going to try and take you from me on our wedding day, they have another thing coming. Go. I’ll make sure they know you are with me, now and forever.” The growl in his voice was a warning. I was sure he’d also remind them they would have to go through him first.
“Have I told you, you are the best husband ever?” I asked, with a grin, tugging at his lapels to drag him in for another kiss that left me dizzy and drugged.
“No,” he said, pulling away, resting his forehead against mine. “But I certainly like it and hope it’s not the last time I hear it.”
Departing to handle our respective family and friends, he shot one more look at me as if to make sure I was okay. I smiled at him before slipping away. There was a lot to do before we got on a plane and flew away to paradise.
16
Iarrived at the apartment two hours later, having appeased everyone that Emma was fine, and that we would sort things out with them.
Stepping inside, I dropped my keys on the counter. Travis had dropped me off. “I assured them that you were fine and after our honeymoon we would meet with them and discuss your powers. It had taken another hour of coaxing, but I finally managed to make my escape.”
“Perfect,” Emma said, her suitcase next to her, perfectly packed and ready to go. She’d changed from her vision of a wedding gown into a simple white dress that clung to all her curves and instantly made my mouth water.
Pulling off my jacket and loosening my tie, my eyes scanned up her long, tanned legs. When my blood started rushing down and I began to stiffen, I forced myself to look away and focus on her suitcase. Once we got to the Bahamas I could lick and kiss my way up those thighs for ten days straight. “Travis dropped me off,” I said, trying to focus on anything but what I wanted to do to Emma. “I thanked him for not only the lift but for officiating. I told him for all intents and purposes, truly my best man. Then he claimed to have allergies and wiped at his left eye before driving off.”
Emma laughed, and it came out as a light tinkling sound. The wave of joy that overcame me could not be held back. I effortlessly picked her up to twirl her around. “We are married. Othanos is dead.” I set her back on her feet to cup her face, fingers burrowing into the soft hair behind her ears. “And I daresay your powers are going to be an asset to the Orders. They will need time adjusting, but we’ve proven our trustworthiness.”
She kissed me, our tongues instantly engaging in a teasing play for dominance. When it became hot and deepened in intensity, she pushed me back though I was aching for more. “We need to get out the door if we are going to make that flight. As it is, you don’t have time to change out of your tux.”
I sent her a boyish grin, then kissed her a few more times for good measure before heading toward our bedroom.
