“I love you,” Scott said when Justin slipped out, and they lay side by side again.
“Love you too.” Justin got a faraway look in his eyes. “I can feel even more from you now. Not exactly thoughts, but stronger impressions.”
“Same here.” Scott gave him a light kiss on the lips. “And it feels good. We were meant to be. Fated mates. Perfect match.”
“I like how that sounds,” Justin murmured, barely awake. “See you in my dreams.”
Given their bond, Scott knew that was almost certain. “I’ll be there.”
13
JUSTIN
“Isn’tit supposed to be bad luck for the people getting married to see each other right before the wedding?” Scott nervously adjusted his sleeves. He wore a sports jacket and a collared shirt over dress jeans.
“Pretty sure that’s from the days where they didn’t spend the night before together fucking like bunnies.” Justin hoped to jolly his partner out of last-minute jitters. He wore a similar dressy casual outfit, since neither man wanted to deal with the fuss of tuxedos.
“I guess that’s true.” Scott blushed a bit at the memory.
Justin leaned in for a kiss and jumped when a knock came at the changing room door.
A month had passed since the attempt on Scott’s life. It seemed like a whirlwind between giving testimony about the Mob’s involvement with the mine and the attacks on Scott and getting him moved from Albany and settled in Fox Hollow.
Scott gave a deposition about the attempts on his life, but the case never got to court. Santoro and both hitmen died under mysterious circumstances, and the Witch Tribunal took Wilmot for sentencing. Since no one new tried to kill Scott, they took it as the Mob’s way of closing out a troublesome chapter andridding themselves of problematic associates. Justin was glad that Scott was saved from the ordeal of a long, drawn-out trial.
Justin saw it as an awkward truce, especially since an unexplained explosion destroyed access to the mine, ensuring its permanent closure. He figured that the land would be tied up in legalities for years, but the threat of the mine being reopened was over. Thanks to folks from the Fox Institute and the town’s magical community, the restless ghosts had been sent on, and the mine had been magically sealed to keep any dangerous creatures inside so they couldn’t hurt anyone again.
That hadn’t left a lot of time to plan a wedding, but both men agreed that they cared less about the ceremony than about making the vows. He felt almost a superstitious urgency to settle the matter and make Scott his legal mate, and Justin suspected Scott felt something of the same.
Technically, acknowledging each other as fated mates and exchanging a mating bite was a binding marriage among shifters and the paranormal community, and was recognized as such in Fox Hollow. But Justin and Scott had talked about it, and they wanted a version of the traditional ceremony as well as a reason to celebrate with their friends.
“It’s time.” Justin took a deep, steadying breath and reached for Scott’s hand. “Let’s do this.”
Scott and Justin had decided to get married at the Fox Hollow Justice of the Peace’s office with just a few close friends as witnesses. Liam had orchestrated a fire hall reception complete with a local DJ and cookie tables for afterward.
“Okay,” Scott replied. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous when I want this so much.”
Justin shrugged. “Because it’s a big deal. It’s okay to be nervous. But we’re fated mates, with or without a fancy license.” He kissed Scott again, lingering longer, until he felt Scott relax in his arms.
Scott and Justin walked out of the dressing room together, hand in hand. Justin checked the mirror to make sure they didn’t look rumpled from their last-minute clinch and smoothed his hair in the back.
Liam and Russ were waiting, along with Brandon and Riley, his mate. Everyone else would catch up at the reception, which Justin suspected might include most of the town as well as both their families, who were coming for the celebration.
“There’s the happy couple,” Liam crowed. “You both look stunning.”
Justin felt his cheeks color, but he couldn’t hide his grin. “Thanks.”
The sound of a man clearing his throat got their attention, and they turned toward where Don Conrad, the town’s Justice of the Peace, stood. He wore a blue judge’s robe over his suit, looking formal and official. “Is everyone present?” Conrad asked.
“Yes, sir,” Justin answered.
“I am,” Scott said. “My coyote wants cookies.”
“Then let the happy couple come forward.”
Justin and Scott exchanged a glance and walked up to stand a few feet in front of the justice. Liam and the others closed ranks behind them.
“Justin Miller, do you take this man to be your mate and your partner for life, forsaking all others, through good times and bad?” Conrad asked.
