Page 17

QETESH

If I'd thought Ella and Nadia knew a lot of people who they invited to their pre-wedding party, there were even more at the wedding reception. And one thing I hadn't thought about was the fact that Ella's parents were going to be here.

Which meant that Jacob's parents were going to be here. Despite being thousands of years old, I could count the number of times I'd met a partner's parents on one hand. Not that we were that serious yet.

"Teshaaaaaaaaaaa!" Ella said, throwing her arm around my shoulder. "I'm married." She wiggled her left hand in front of me where a ring that twisted around like a vine now sat on her ring finger.

"Congratulations," I said. "The ceremony was beautiful."

"It was." She let out a satisfied sigh. "Now it's your turn."

I laughed. "I'm not getting married."

"Not even to my brother?"

"We've been seeing each other for a few weeks. Maybe give it time before you make those kinds of jokes."

"Nuh-uh. I know you well, and I know my brother well. This is going to last, mark my words."

"Maybe he won't like dating a goddess," I said.

"Nah, he wouldn't date you if he wasn't willing to deal with that."

I looked over to where he was talking to a couple of people I didn't recognise, but I assumed must be part of their family. He smiled at me and I returned the gesture.

"You're smitttttttttten. You're in love."

I cleared my throat. "You're drunk."

"Nah, I've only had one glass of champagne, you can't get drunk from that."

I raised an eyebrow. "Well, I think that your declarations of love are probably best left for your wife."

She sighed dreamily. "My wife. Eurgh, I'm never going to tire of saying that."

"Maybe go tell Nadia that," I encouraged her.

"All right, fine. But you should take my brother to the dance floor if I do that."

"Does he not get a say in that?"

"Nope."

I shook my head, knowing that it was best just to go with it so that she left me to actually interact with her brother on my own terms and not hers.

"I love ya, Tesha." She kissed my cheek. "And I really would be happy if you were my sister."

"You're already like a sister to me, Ella."

"Good."

"And I love you too," I said. "Now, seriously, go spend time with your wife, it's your wedding day, you need to be all loved up."

She sighed dramatically. "I guess I do, don't I?" She flitted away.

"Did I just hear you tell my sister you loved her?" Jacob asked.

I jumped, not realising how close he was. "She told me first."

He chuckled. "Would you like to dance with me?"

"That's exactly what Ella wants us to do," I said.

"Well, she is the bride, today is about her."

I laughed and put my hand in his, letting him lead me towards where loads of the guests were already dancing. I put my arms around his neck, enjoying when his hands came to rest on my waist.

"So, your sister is telling you that she loves you," he said. "Do I have competition?"

"Ella is not my type."

Amusement danced in his eyes. "I can see that."

"You've got nothing to worry about," I assured him, even though I didn't think he needed it. He knew how I felt.

Except that wasn't entirely true, because there was one thing he didn't know yet.

"Tesha?"

I took a deep breath. "I do though," I said.

"You've lost me."

"Love you," I said. "I know it's fast, or not, I don't know what's normal, but I do know how I feel.

And I've not felt like this about someone in a long time.

I feel safe with you, and like I want you to know my secrets.

So yes. That's it, I love you." My heart raced as I realised what I'd said out loud.

Keeping it inside wasn't going to change the way I felt.

His face softened and he pulled me closer. "I love you too," he responded.

It was impossible to constrain my smile, especially as he leaned in and gave me the sweetest kiss I could have imagined.

This wasn't where I expected things to go, but it felt better than I'd ever imagined to have someone who fully understood me, and I wasn't going to let that go if I could help it.

* * *

Thank you for reading Locking Down Qetesh , I hope you enjoyed it!