“No, I spent all afternoon writing my vows.” Alaric zapped Zane with a small spark of lightning, making him yelp. I rolled my eyes while silently wishing the goddess had given me Raven all to myself. Life sure would have been easier.
Thorrin caught my eye from the front row, where he sat with his mate perched on his knee and the wolf shifter at his side. He smirked before nodding. Neither of us needed words to agree that having pack mates required a lot of stars-damned patience.
It was a good thing we bears were goddess-blessed with patience in spades, I mused, as the wolf shifter muttered about this taking too long and could we all hurry the fuck up as he needed to eat his mate. Thorrin elbowed him in the side, provoking a whine.
Kai was the only quiet one. Of all my pack mates, I appreciated his stoic, thoughtful personality the most. He and I were the most alike.
“She’s nervous,” Kai whispered to me.
“Go to her,” I replied, knowing how good he was at calming our mate when she spiraled.
While Alaric muttered threats to Zane and the incubus sneered in return, Kai did as I suggested. He and the vampire said a few words to her, and then the three of them walked toward the dais, where the rest of us waited.
Mage lights burst into life when everyone stood. My father stayed near the back, next to Uncle Patrick. Tears rolled down his cheeks, but he smiled. I’d been worried our bonding ceremony would trigger his grief, but he’d insisted it was time and that my mother would not have wanted me to delay it any longer.
Once Raven reached us, I pulled her into my arms and turned to face the assembled guests.
“Thank you all for coming to our bonding ceremony. We are here today to formally recognize our union before the goddess. To offerthanks for gifting us a mate none of us truly deserve, but one we will sacrifice our lives to protect.”
Zane coughed before beginning his part. “Raven, my sexy, sweet pet…” I scowled. That wasnotin the speech he showed me. “…you are the sunshine in my sky, the cream in my coffee, and the only female I’ll ever fuck again.” Titters broke out while Raven flushed. Her father grinned, apparently not at all offended, but Adam didn’t look quite so amused. “My body is yours, I will kill for you, and when I die, I will wait for you beyond the veil so we can spend our afterlives naked together.”
I shoved my bear down as Alaric stepped forward.
“Raven, it took me a while to accept our bond…” Glynda snorted at that. “…but I love you and will kill anyone who tries to take you from me.”
“Is anyone else concerned about all the death threats in these vows?” Skyla whisper-shouted to Rex. “Because I find it disturbing.”
“I will wield my lightning and protect you from all our enemies,” Alaric continued. “And once the Mage Council releases my vast fortune, my worldly wealth is your wealth.” Zane scowled as Alaric smirked.
My bear rumbled, annoyed at the one-upmanship going on.Wewere the alpha. These imbeciles needed to learn their place.
Rasmus stepped forward. “Mea amica,I waited centuries for you, and when you came for me, I was not disappointed.”
“I’m never disappointed when she comes either,” Zane agreed much too loudly.
Alaric zapped him, harder this time, and the incubus squealed in outrage as a scorch mark appeared on his ass.
“I will love you, protect you, and tear the throats from anyone who tries to hurt you, my darling queen,”Rasmus continued.
Skyla gasped. “See what I mean? They’re all freaking psychos!”
“Oh, and my vast estates in Europe are all yours, my darling.” He smirked at the storm mage. “Which makes you a queen.”
Goddess save me before I murder the lot of them.
“Kai, you’re up next.” I silently prayed the merman didn’t offer to murder everyone and announce he was a secret billionaire.
“Raven, I am honored to be your soul-bonded mate, and I will spend the rest of my life doing whatever it takes to make you the happiest mate alive. I love you, sweetheart.” He flushed and smiled at her.
“Aww, she has one sane mate. Isn’t that sweet?” Skyla wiped a tear away and swooned.
I cleared my throat.
“Little mate, you are the most perfect mate a bear could ask for, and I thank the goddess daily for the gift that is you. I pledge to keep you safe, sated, and happy at all times. And if any of these idiots upset you, it will be my honor to end their pathetic lives.”
Skyla’s beaming smile slipped as my pack mates muttered to each other in outrage.
“That’s kind of…sweet…I think?” she whisper-shouted.
