Page 43 of The Baker and the Kraken

Adam was definitely going to have to get details later on how Calder had managed this. But for now, he was just incredibly grateful. Since his revelation about Calder to his dad, he’d begun to doubt that he was ever going to talk to his father ever again unless they were yelling at one another.

This was so much better.

When the ceremony started, Simon scattered rose petals ahead of them with extreme relish—they were rainbow-colored and might have landed on all the guests as well as the aisle—which was only partially responsible for the huge grin that Adam couldn’t seem to wipe off his face. Calder and Adam walked down the aisle hand in hand, and when Adam somehow tripped over the rose petals, Calder caught him even though he was sporting only his two human arms. The ripple of laughter was friendly, and even though Adam could feel his face heat, he just clutched at Calder and kept walking.

Moira, the teal-haired witch conducting the ceremony, was also authorized to legally perform weddings in California, so they’d have the proper records for the normal government, should they ever become necessary.

They’d chosen to keep it on the short side, but Adam was surprised by how choked up he got over the simple ceremony. This wasn’t how witches bonded, and yet movies and tv and books were full of these vows, and they’d clearly made an impression on Adam.

“I wasn’t expecting you,” Adam told Calder, staring into the dark eyes that had become so very dear to him. “If I’m being perfectly honest, I convinced myself I didn’t want you. But I was so incredibly wrong. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you so much.”

Calder squeezed his hands. “I feel exactly the same way. I’ve been waiting for you for what feels like my whole life, and nothing could beat my excitement at finding you. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner, and I feel so incredibly privileged to be yours. I look forward to all the time we’re going to have together so I can show you every day how much I love you.”

So, yes, Adam might have cried at his own wedding, but that was totally normal, right? The bonding had already happened, but there was still something incredibly affecting about standing here declaring their intention to love one another in front of their closest family and friends.

Well, Adam’s closest family and friends. Calder didn’t have any, saying that the mythical shifters didn’t really share numbers—or even all have phone numbers. That was a relatively recent invention, after all.

“Maybe it’s time to change that,” Adam suggested. “Wouldn’t it be nice to get invited to events like this?”

Calder considered this for a moment. “Yes, I’d like that. We always seem to run into one another eventually, but I can start trying to form more permanent connections.”

It didn’t change this particular wedding, but Adam thought it might be nice going forward. Maybe it was Adam’s very human brain, but if they were going to live for a really long time, it would be nice to have company. But that was a problem for another day.

They’d picked out rings together, agreeing that would ensure they each had something they liked and would actually wear. They’d settled on bands of black zirconium inlaid with mother of pearl since it had made them think of the sea. Adam’s came with a fine, strong chain so that he could wear it around his neck rather than need to constantly take it off while baking.

For the ceremony, they both wore them traditionally. There was something very satisfying about slipping the band onto Calder’s finger, and the surge of Calder’s emotions said he felt the same.

Yes, Calder had already been his, but now more people would know that at a glance.

The boat’s photographer took lots of photos, but Adam spent the whole time staring at Calder, marveling at his good fortune. Adam could feel the huge wellspring of Calder’s love, endless as the ocean. He had absolutely not mastered how sharing feelings worked, but he did his best to bundle up all the love that he had in his heart and fling it at Calder. From the deepening smile on Calder’s face, he’d succeeded.

When the officiant announced, “You may now kiss,” Calder reeled him in, and Adam flung his arms around his mate—his husband—and kissed him for all he was worth.

There were catcalls from the guests—Simon and Evie—and when they finally pulled apart, Adam knew he was pink with embarrassment, but he was also happier than he’d ever been.

At that point, they sent off the boat photographer and the other staff. Simon had explained to them that Adam’s family had a private tradition that they liked to enact after the ceremony. And then, in front of their family and friends, Calder unfurled all his arms and tentacles, and the two of them had shown off their mate marks. (Simon had catcalled again.) Moira confirmed their shifter familiar bond, and everyone had come to hug them and congratulate them. Including Adam’s father, who’d been a little awkward but had actually hugged Calder as well as Adam.

“I can see you’re happy,” his father told them. “That’s all I ever wanted.”

Adam hugged him back, hard. “So happy, Dad. Happier than I’ve ever been.”

“I’ll do better,” his dad promised.

Adam nodded. Only time would show how he actually behaved towards Calder, but if he made this much effort going forward, Adam was sure they could get through this. (Later, Adam would suggest a good therapist.)

And then Calder put his squid arms and tentacles away, Adam pouted, and Calder kissed him again as Simon declared that it was time to get the party started.

“Adam made cake!” Simon yelled.

Everyone cheered loudly, and Adam couldn’t help but laugh, the feeling of pride and love emanating from Calder enough to fuel him forever. It didn’t matter if Adam had no rhythm or coordination, because he and his dad had a father-son dance that Adam had thought would never happen. Calder genuinely didn’t mind when Adam stepped on his feet—and Adam knew that for sure now, because he could feel Calder’s emotions.

They’d said they didn’t need any gifts and would prefer a donation to help save the ocean, but there were a few little things for them anyway. There was a couple’s massage, an annual pass to the aquarium, and several beautiful cards. Adam was relieved that people hadn’t spent a ton of money on them—until he got to Simon’s present.

He gaped at it.

Simon just smiled sunnily at him. “It’ll form the container, make it unbreakable, and produce the saltwater. You should be able to have it formed in less than ten seconds once you’ve practiced. That’s what Ever estimates, anyway.”

It was a bespoke spell. This kind of spell was made by a Spellsmith, and it was expensive.