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Glad this is a joyous occasion.

A kind-looking woman in a burgundy red dress and a tall, dark-haired man entered the registrar’s office ahead of us.

“Nathaniel was so nervous last night, the poor thing,” the woman cooed, weaving her arm around her husband’s elbow.

“I remember the night before our wedding. I didn’t sleep at all.” He smiled, sporting the same dimple Nate had in his cheek, as he kissed her temple, the highest point he could easily reach.

“Mr and Mrs Decker?” Arne addressed them and let go of my hand to shake theirs. “Arne Bendixen, I’m Nate’s captain. And this is Max Gruber.”

“The Raven,” his mother beamed, taking my hand in both of hers and shaking it. “Nathaniel’s told us so much about you.”

The bridge of my nose heated. What exactly had he told them?

“Only good things.” She smiled kindly and patted my hand. A real mum. “Joseph and I were very sorry for what happened to you two.”

“Thank you.”

Arne slipped his arm around my waist. “We appreciate it. It’s great not having to hide our feelings anymore, so in a way I’m thankful for what they did.”

“Aw, you two are so sweet. Stop it or you’ll make me cry before the ceremony starts.”

An elegant car pulled up to the town hall before I could say anything to that. The driver got out, rounded the car, and opened the door to the back seat.

A beaming Nate climbed out, clad in a mossy green tweed suit that would have been a bit too much on anyone but this gorgeous man.

Arne pulled me closer to his chest, a wistful kind of love flooding through our mate bond.

Oh, baby. Say the word, and it’ll be us one day.

The kiss he pressed to my ear was a resounding yes, and it made my stomach flutter with happiness.

Vee followed his soon-to-be husband, tiny snowflakes sitting on his gleaming green plumage for a moment before theymelted. He wore a matching suit with a different waistcoat. He glowed with happiness.

Nate’s mother sighed and snuggled into her husband’s side. “Our boy.” His dad sniffed, pulling out a pocket handkerchief and dabbing at his face.

Holding each other’s hands, Nate and Vee approached us, beaming and greeting their guests as they passed. They led the way to the elegant room on the top floor where the ceremony would be held.

Their excitement was infectious. It radiated off them in waves, making me fidget with giddy energy. We chose seats next to Ollie and Guns. Bo served as Nate’s best man. He stood next to the happy couple, repeatedly checking the inner pocket of his jacket.

“He keeps checking if he still has the rings,” Ollie whispered. “That’s the fiftieth time he’s done that.” He gave his partner a look fit for a newborn puppy. “And they’re still there,” he said in his slight Scottish accent. On cue, Bo nodded to himself, then glanced around at Ollie, pursing his lips a little, fangs digging into his skin. He looked dashing in his grey suit and white buttoned shirt, ash blond hair in a bun.

Vee’s best man was another Elvertritsch, nearly as tall as Vitus: Frederik. We’d met him at parties at Nate and Vee’s place. A slight smile looked good on him, as did a grey suit identical to the one Bo wore. It made his burnt orange and blue feathers pop.

Same size, too.

They were both enormous.

Everybody took their seats when the mayor entered. He was a blustery man in a slightly too tight suit and held the ceremony in a broad German accent. I saw Nate flinch every time the mayor confused the v and w, a common mistake for native German speakers.

Thankfully, it only took about ten minutes for him to get to the point.

“Do you, Nathaniel Joseph Decker, take Vitus Kolb as your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I do!” Nate blurted out, then blushed a little when most of us chuckled. Vee squeezed his hands, making his almost husband focus on him rather than the guests.

His calm in the storm. I knew that feeling so well.

Nate took the ring from the velvet box Bo offered and slipped it on Vee’s finger, biting his lip when he saw the white gold band against the dark green feathers.