“No giant cakes,” Kinan repeated. Larenia pouted. “I can only imagine how uncomfortable it would be for someone to be stuck in there. I think we can have a good celebration without it. We’llhave our friends, a normal-sized cake, and music. It will be lovely as it is, Renny, I promise.”
She nodded, contemplated for a long moment, and then said, “I guess a giant cake isn’t really necessary. But what about—”
And she was off again, with another wild idea that would definitely not make it into their wedding, but even Cormal could admire her creativity.
Kinan curled his hand against Cormal’s, and Cormal twined their fingers together, smiling softly.
“I still can’t believe there isthis muchpreparation,” Kinan muttered as they undressed for bed hours later. “It’s still months away! I mean, I know it’s sort of a big deal, but isn’t this excessive?”
Cormal laughed. “Darling, you’re the once lost, newly recovered Crown Prince of the country. You’re getting married. It’s pretty much impossible for it to be more of a big deal.”
Kinan bit his lip. His eyes were hopeful. “Can’t we elope?”
Cormal held up his hands palms up. “Oh, no. Not a chance. Your Mother and sister would never forgive me, never mind the others, and I’m still rebuilding bridges there. I really don’t want to do anything to risk that.”
The amusement fell away from Kinan immediately. “There’s nothing to forgive.”
Cormal looked at him with fond exasperation. “That’s because you love me and are kinder than I deserve. I hurt people, and that’s not easy to get over. I just… I want this to go well.”
Kinan came over to wrap his arms around him. “It’s going to go well, I promise.”
“You can’t know that.”
“Of course I know that,” Kinan replied. “We’re getting married. Nothing could be more amazing than that. I mean, other than actually being married with all thisplanningdone.”
Cormal laughed. “Your mother is… very enthusiastic.”
He couldn’t even really blame her. She’d gotten her son back from seeming death, and her daughter’s health was restored. Of course she was planning the wedding to end all weddings.
And given that not being involved in all of this would mean not being involved withKinan, it was well worth it.
If, occasionally, a bit much.
Kinan sighed. “I know she thought this was never going to happen. I know it’s a statement, and, given our guest list, it will be useful for the Life Mages and carnalions. But I sort of wish it could just… be about us?”
Smiling softly at Kinan, Cormal tugged him closer and then cupped his face with his hands.
“Even if we have to stand up in front of a million people, our experience will still be for us. We’ll be pledging ourselves to one another, and we’ll have every night to prove it to one another.” Cormal winked at him. “And occasionally some days, too.”
Kinan’s face broke into a broad grin even as he stepped closer still so their bodies could brush together, arousal obvious.
“That’s true,” he agreed. “I guess not even a twelve-hour ceremony can take away from that.”
They had a few months to rein the Queen in. It would be fine. Twelve hours was improbable, and surely no one could turn what could happen in five minutes into a ceremony that took twelve hours. Right?
“We only have to get through it once,” Cormal reminded them both. “Then it’s done, and we can enjoy the rest of our lives.”
Kinan rocked against him. “And what are we going to do with the rest of our lives?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Cormal said with mock casualness, his own hips chasing the sensation. “But we can probably think ofsomething.”
“Maybe we should testsomethingout,” Kinan suggested, hands coming to clutch at Cormal’s hips. “Get some practice before the wedding.”
“Good idea,” Cormal said, a little bit breathless. “Make sure we know what we’re doing?”
Laughing, they tumbled into bed together. They’d made intimacy work when Kinan had been intangible, but they’d also made up for lost time once they could get their hands all over one another.
Cormal hadneverhad sex as amazing as the sex with Kinan. Nothing had prepared him for the emotions of Kinan being inside him for the first time,and it was that good every time.
