Page 11

NADINE

T he autumn equinox arrived, along with the wedding. Chloe was the most beautiful bride I’d ever seen. We’d fashioned her black hair in a half-updo, and the rest lay over her shoulders in perfect curls. On top of her head sat an elaborate crown that made her look like a queen. Her wedding dress was super sexy, with long sheer sleeves that fell off her shoulders and crystals embedded all over the bodice. The skirt was made of layers of tulle that had a slit going all the way up to her hip. I’d never seen her smile as much as she did today.

Talia, Verla, and I gathered around Chloe in her bedroom that afternoon once our hair and makeup was done. Verla wasn’t in the wedding party, but she’d come to help out and watch Marcus while we got ready. Chloe had invited her to stay for the Blessing Brew.

Talia and I were dressed in black off-the-shoulder gowns that Chloe had picked out. Chloe and Miles had kept their wedding party small, and Talia and I were the only bridesmaids. Chloe had wanted Onyx to be a bridesmaid as well, but she’d already left last week in a tearful goodbye, and she wasn’t able to make it back for the wedding. Onyx was in Paris now, settling into a supernatural community there. It was the closest neutral settlement to Malovia. Last we heard from her, things were going well, and she felt she’d made the right decision leaving Octavia Falls.

I couldn’t help but notice that our group continued to shrink. So many of our friends had left town because it was no longer safe for them here, and we had lost others completely. I found solace in knowing those who’d left were free from danger, but I still missed them.

While Chloe had been getting ready, I’d set up an altar with a cauldron in the center, just like my bridesmaids had done on my wedding day. She’d asked me to lead the ceremony, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t touched by the invitation.

I took in the glamor as she spun around in her dress. “What do you think?” she asked, before touching her crown to make sure it was straight.

“You look amazing!” Talia raved.

“Absolutely beautiful,” Verla agreed as she rocked Marcus back and forth.

“Chloe…” I was at a loss for words. If someone had told me when I met Chloe that I would be standing here on her wedding day, I wouldn’t have believed them. I’d have been certain one of us would sooner kill the other than celebrate their love, but that was a poor assumption. Back then, I thought Chloe and I were polar opposites, but the more I got to know her, the more I found we were alike, and her headstrong nature I so much despised at first was actually what I admired about her most.

“You’re stunning,” I finally said. “But more than beauty, you radiate a regal energy, and I see so much strength, passion, and power in you.”

I started to tear up, and I quickly dashed the tears from my eyes.

“It’s okay,” Chloe said gently. “You don’t have to say anything.”

I sniffled. “I want to. You deserve to hear it.”

I reached for Chloe, and she took my hands. “Chloe, it is an honor to be standing with you on your wedding day. Since I’ve known you, you’ve exuded this strength that transcends any limitations or barriers set in place by others. You’ve always known what you wanted and gone for it, and I admire you for that. You’re someone I can look to and say, I want to be like her . We were both a mess when we met, and we made mistakes that we can never take back, but to grow up alongside you has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. You’ve found the one person who has made you the happiest girl in the world, and it’s amazing to witness you two come together and help each other grow into better people. I’m lucky to have been your rival, and even more fortunate to be your friend. I love you.”

Chloe pressed her fingers to her eyes. “Bitch, I just did my makeup,” she chuckled lightheartedly as she wiped away tears. “I love you, too. Thank you for being here.”

She pulled me into a hug, and I squeezed her back tightly.

“I’ll do my best not to make you cry,” I said as I pulled away. “Everyone gather around.”

Verla set Marcus in his play pen, and the four of us stood around the altar. Isa, Odin, Marley, and Gus jumped onto the table and began circling the cauldron.

I began to recite the prayer I’d learned. “Mother Miriam, we call upon you to bless this union so that we may celebrate the love between Chloe and Miles, and bring the coven closer together.”

The cauldron began to bubble as we recited the Blessing Brew incantation together.

On this night,

this bride becomes a wife.

Through this potion,

take our blessings into a new life.

So shall it be.

Verla stated her blessing first. “Chloe, I gift you ginkgo to symbolize mental clarity. May you be clear in your intentions and communication with your spouse.”

“I will be clear,” Chloe said as Verla sprinkled the leaves from the altar into the potion.

Talia went next. “Chloe, I gift you ashwagandha, to symbolize energy and vitality. May you have the strength to face any obstacles that come between you and your husband, and the energy to overcome them.”

Chloe nodded. “I will be strong.”

I picked up my vial of herbs on the altar. “Chloe, I gift you chamomile to symbolize balance. May you find balance in your relationship—to see from both sides and find solutions that work for the good of all, to balance your own emotions, and to know when to remain calm and when to take action.”

“I will have balance,” Chloe promised.

“Together, our blessings will become one, that you may step into your marriage as a new witch with these blessings to guide the way,” I said.

Talia, Verla, and I placed our hands together on a wooden spoon and stirred the cauldron. Our powers mixed, and the potion lit up with a white hue. It seemed a miracle that we were able to brew the potion at all, because we didn’t have access to much magic these days. But this potion and this ceremony were an important part of our religion, so we used what we could to bless Chloe on this important day.

“The Goddess has accepted our blessing,” I announced. I spooned a small amount into a cup and handed it to Chloe. “Will you accept our blessings as well?”

Chloe took the cup from me. “So shall it be.”

She drank the potion and beamed as she set the cup aside.

“Now, we will don the veil, to ward off evil spirits,” I said.

Talia and Verla went over to the bed with me, where we’d laid out Chloe’s veil. Together we placed it into her hair. The veil was sheer and sparkly, and she looked absolutely divine in it.

“So shall it be,” I whispered.

“So shall it be,” Talia and Verla echoed in unison.

Chloe sniffled and fanned her face to keep from crying. “I can’t believe it’s actually happening!”

“Believe it, girl. You’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. You always talked about wanting to change your last name,” Talia joked.

“It’s funny you bring that up,” Chloe said. “Remember when we started The Coven’s Shield and we were all sitting around the Gravestone talking about me changing my name? Miles was like, You should change it to Bryant . I said it was a dumb idea, but deep down something about it felt right , but I didn’t know how to tell anyone that, because it didn’t make sense at the time. Looking back I can see that my intuition was telling me we’d be together all along, and I just needed my heart to listen.”

“You’ve made the right choice,” Verla told her. “We can all see that you and Miles are very happy together.”

“Thank you,” Chloe replied. “A lot of our relationship has grown in private. The flirting, the dates, the stories we share with each other—that all happened when other people weren’t looking. Sometimes it feels like people don’t get us, because they haven’t seen the way he looks at me like I’m the only girl in the world, and they can’t know that my heart skips a beat every time he enters the room. My parents have barely met him, and while they’re here today to support us, they don’t quite understand why we’re getting married only a year into our relationship.”

Chloe picked up her bouquet of white roses from the dresser and ran her fingers over the petals. “But they don’t know that Miles is the funniest guy I’ve ever met, and that when I get too serious about life, he brings me back to a place of security and comfort. They haven’t seen how he pulls a chair out for me every time I sit down, or that he opens the door every time I enter a room. Every other guy I dated always told me I was too much and overbearing. I didn’t know if I’d actually get married one day, because I knew I’d never compromise who I was for a man. But Miles? He loves every part of me, and he honors the parts that I still have to work on. Through him, I’m truly becoming a better woman. It means a lot to know that our love is recognized. I appreciate you all being here to celebrate that.”

Verla smiled. “Of course. Are you ready?”

Chloe took a deep, steadying breath. I’d never seen her so nervous before, but I knew it couldn’t be cold feet, because she wasn’t the kind of person to second-guess a decision. Chloe was excited, and we were all super happy for her.

“Ready,” Chloe said confidently.

Verla picked up Marcus, and the cats all followed at her feet. “Then we’ll see you out there shortly. Best of luck, Mrs. Bryant.”

Chloe squealed at the sound of her new name. “Goddess, start the ceremony already. I can’t wait!”

Chloe’s parents arrived to escort her to the ceremony, and the rest of us left to prepare the altar. Outside in the gardens, we’d set up a circle of chairs that guests had already filled, all facing the garden archway that was covered in ivy. The wedding was small, but the guest list was large enough to warrant seating, unlike during mine and Lucas’s wedding, where all guests participated in the ceremony. Both Chloe’s and Miles’s parents were here, along with Miles and Grant’s younger brothers, who had traveled with their mom to attend. Several professors sat in the circle around the altar, including Professor Warren and Professor Wykoff, along with Hattie and her Familiar. Rose sat in her wheelchair next to the professors. There were a few other people I didn’t know, who I assumed were members of the bride and groom’s extended families.

It was late September now, and the ivy around the archway had started turning shades of red and orange. All around us, fall colors graced the landscape. Beautiful flowers bloomed in all different colors, and white and black candles lined the aisles. Chloe had wanted to get married at sunset, and the sun was nearly at the horizon now.

Talia and I stood on one end of the garden, while Grant and Lucas—who served as Miles’s groomsmen—stood opposite us at another entrance. Lucas looked really good in his suit, and he caught my gaze and smiled. I noticed Grant and Talia making eyes at each other. It was really good to see everyone happy.

Music began to play over speakers. It was a beautiful melody Talia had written and recorded before the ceremony. The four of us began our way down the garden pathway, until we met beneath the archway at the altar. The couple had hired a professional photographer, and she snapped pictures as we entered.

Chloe and Miles wanted to do an equinox ceremony during their wedding, so they had selected offerings that were set in a bowl atop the altar. A collection of leaves, pinecones, two apples, and a small pumpkin filled the bowl, as a symbolism of the abundance of the fall harvest and their connection with nature. A small pot of dirt, along with a lily bulb, were on the altar as well. Beside the bowl was a candle, as well as four cedar bundles.

Each of us took one of the cedar bundles and lit them with a match, then cleansed the space around the guests. When we were satisfied that the space was clear and protected, we began singing the coven’s traditional wedding song.

Hush, now

The time for vows

Is coming all so soon

Tonight we seek

Our mother’s blessing

Underneath the moon

Protect this space

And hear our prayers

To bless this sacred union

The guests joined in on the song, but it was only Grant, Lucas, Talia, and me who formed the inner circle and danced with orbs in our hands, which was done to bless the ceremony space. Orbs were one of the simplest spells a witch could create, and still our lights didn’t seem as bright as they should be. I only hoped the Waning wouldn’t affect the rest of the ceremony. As we danced and sang, Chloe and Miles were led down the aisle by their parents.

Ahead of Chloe came the ring bearer, and my heart melted on the spot when Marcus appeared. Verla had helped strap him into a wagon, which had reigns attached. Kiki and Marley pulled the wagon as if they were tiny horses, which made it look like a miniature fairytale carriage. Talk about baby fever. I wanted another one right now. It was absolutely adorable. Everyone awed at our child.

When Miles spotted Chloe, he got the biggest goofy grin on his face. Chloe’s eyes lit up, and she appeared impatient as she nearly ran down the aisle. Her parents had to hold her back and remind her to slow down.

Marcus reached the altar, and Lucas pulled the rings from a pillow inside the carriage. Verla helped wheel the wagon to the side, then held Marcus as the ceremony started.

Chloe and Miles met at the altar and joined hands. Talia and I stood on either side of Chloe and pulled her veil back. She glowed from the magic of the ceremony, a symbolism of the light and dark combining.

Grant lifted a hand, and the song faded as the guests took a seat. Miles had asked him to officiate the ceremony, so he stepped forward while Talia, Lucas, and I joined hands to form a circle around them.

“Welcome,” Grant said loudly for all to hear. “The bride and groom would like to thank you all for being here, to celebrate and bless their union on this powerful day. The autumn equinox represents a time to reflect on the abundance the previous year has brought, while letting go of the old and welcoming the new.”

Grant turned to the couple. “Chloe, Miles. You have chosen me to act as Mother Miriam’s proxy, to facilitate this ceremony so that you may be wed in the eyes of the Goddess. Join hands.”

The two couldn’t seem to touch each other soon enough. They looked like they’d fuck each other right here on the altar if we weren’t all watching.

Grant recited the traditional wedding speech. “We are gathered here tonight because you have asked your family and friends to bless your union, so that you may be bound together in this life and become one amongst the coven. We will begin by inviting the community to give their blessings.”

Grant spoke to Lucas first. “Do you accept this union?”

“I accept this union and bless the couple with the sign of the wand, to cast your dreams into reality. So shall it be,” Lucas replied.

“So shall it be,” the guests murmured.

Lucas had chosen the same blessing Miles had given us on our wedding day, which seemed appropriate. It fit the couple well.

I went next and blessed the couple with the sign of the fox, to represent playfulness, so they always remembered to enjoy life and not let it pass them by. Talia blessed them with the sign of a cauldron, so they could alchemize their emotions into empowerment each time. Grant blessed them with the sign of the toad for abundance.

Other guests were welcome to join in the blessing ceremony, and they received blessings of wisdom, courage, communication, and joy.

“Goddess, gods, ancestors, and guides,” Grant said. “Descend upon us to bless this union between this witch and warlock through sacred matrimony.”

Spiritual lights appeared just as the sun was setting, forming into the image of ancestors I didn’t recognize. The spirits seemed to struggle with the connection, though, because their forms blinked in and out of existence.

A few guests gasped, and the ceremony got really quiet as people looked around for an explanation. Chloe and Miles exchanged a worried glance, and Grant hesitated, like he wasn’t sure if he should continue.

“Our ancestors aren’t rejecting the union, are they?” Miles whispered to Grant.

Chloe quickly steeled her nerves. “It’s just the Waning,” she said under her breath. “Our magic’s growing more unstable by the day, but the ceremony must go on.”

Miles nodded. “Keep going,” he whispered to his brother.

“Your ancestors will now bless you with a message,” Grant announced. He withdrew a wedding deck of tarot cards, and together, Miles and Chloe selected a card from the deck. They pulled the Three of Wands.

“This is a card of foresight, one that shows that your partner is aligned with your goals,” Grant stated. “Your relationship will thrive as you come together and share your ideas, plans, and goals to create something new. Lean on each other, and seek guidance within one another, because it is through each other that you will find your strength.”

“It’s perfect,” Chloe whispered to Miles.

“ You’re perfect,” he replied, and she blushed.

“And now, the bride and groom would like to perform an autumn equinox releasing ceremony as they express their gratitude and speak the vows they’ve written,” Grant said. He stepped back and joined hands with Talia and Lucas.

Together, Miles and Chloe lit the candle on the altar.

Miles reached into his white suit coat and unfurled a piece of paper. His hands shook as he began reading. “Chloe Jane Olson. When we met, people warned me about you.”

The crowd laughed, and Chloe added loudly, “And rightfully so.”

“Rightfully so,” Miles agreed with a chuckle. “But I was right not to listen. From the moment I met you, I knew you were special. You intrigued me as much as you terrified me, and I have so much gratitude in my heart that I didn’t listen to fear. Through our friendship and our partnership, you have shown me a love that I never felt before, and passion I didn’t know existed. I’m grateful for the space you hold for me in your heart, the secret moments that we shared when no one else was around, and the strength that you continue to show me every day that makes me want to be a better man. Today, I let go of all my fears, because through you I have learned that even fear can’t hold me back, and nothing can stop me from loving you.”

Miles held the paper over the flame, and the page burned to ashes.

Chloe choked up as she began reading off a paper she’d tucked between the offerings on the altar. “Miles, I cannot tell you how grateful I am to call myself your friend, your girlfriend, your fiancé, and tonight, your wife. There is no ceremony and no promise I can make to express my gratitude that you are in my life. Some days, I question if this is real, because I never truly thought we’d find each other—my best friend and partner, who will stick by my side through anything. I will always cherish the memories we’ve made, but more than that, I am grateful to have you with me right here right now, and in every moment after. I’ve never known a love like ours, and tonight, I choose to let go of the love I thought I knew, but was not serving me. Thank you for showing me what love can be. There is no love in this world greater than yours, and I’m beyond grateful to be taking your last name.”

Knowing Chloe’s background, her vows were obvious. She was leaving her old family behind and becoming part of a new one, though she didn’t say it so blatantly in front of her parents. I’d wondered why she wanted them to walk her down the aisle, because it seemed so unlike Chloe, who was fiercely independent. She was the kind of girl to firmly say she could walk her own damn self down the aisle. But I understood it now. It was a symbolism of the family she was parting from, into the family that she’d chosen.

Chloe burned her paper, and I noticed her shoulders drop in relief.

“The couple has shared their gratitude for what has passed, and released what isn’t serving them,” Grant announced. “Now, they wish to honor their union by performing a plant your prayer ritual. The bride and groom will speak their intentions for their marriage, and plant them in the dirt to ground their prayers and give them life. They have chosen to plant their intentions alongside a stargazer lily, to represent love, commitment, prosperity, and the fulfillment of dreams.”

Miles pulled another piece of paper from his pocket. “Chloe, today I promise you to always be by your side, to always communicate what I’m feeling, to open every door for you and pull out every chair, to always save you a seat at the table, and to always put the toilet lid down.”

Chloe started laughing, but with it came tears that streaked her cheeks.

“My prayer for us is that no matter what hardships we face, and no matter what the future holds, we never stop loving each other. So shall it be.” Miles folded his piece of paper and placed it in the pot of dirt.

Chloe sniffled as she began reading her own notes. “Miles, I promise to care for you always in sickness and in health, to work together as your equal in all things, to fiercely defend and protect you, and to always remind you to put the toilet seat down.”

Everyone laughed.

“My hope for our future is that just like this flower we are planting together, we continue to grow and to blossom, and that our love may never die,” Chloe concluded.

She planted her paper, and together the two placed the lily bulb into the pot, then covered it with dirt. They concluded the ceremony by kneeling beside an oak tree at the edge of the garden and forging their Wedding Wand from the trunk. I noticed they both held a crystal in their hands that they’d reserved specifically for this spell. We’d depleted our crystal stores helping the coven, but this was an important spell for their ceremony, and I wasn’t sure they could pull it off without the extra help. A ten-inch wand appeared beneath their hands, with an intricate twisted blade and a heart at the end of the handle. They returned to the altar and exchanged rings.

“Your word is your intention. I now pronounce you warlock and wife!” Grant announced. “You may now seal this union with the show of your love.”

Miles dipped Chloe into a kiss, and the magic surrounding their forms exploded upward like fireworks.

“Witches and warlocks, I present to you Mister and Mrs. Bryant!” Grant cried.

The guests cheered loudly, and an upbeat tune started playing over the speakers. The energy of the crowd was palpable, and the happiness I felt for my friends seemed like it could explode out of my chest. The struggles we’d been facing this past year seemed forgotten today, because all there was in this moment was joy.

Chloe and Miles went dancing down the garden path. I took Lucas’s hand, and he spun me around as we followed behind them. My skirt swirled around my ankles, and I felt so carefree surrounded by family and friends. Talia jumped on Grant’s back, and the two laughed cheerfully as he piggybacked her down the aisle. The photographer smiled brightly and quickly snapped their photo.

“Send me that picture,” Grant told her. “We’re framing that!”

“You’ve got it,” the photographer replied.

We were all laughing as we left the gardens and made our way into a large white tent set up in the backyard. Lucas wrapped his arm around my waist, and I leaned into him. The sun had set now, but inside the tent were hundreds of candles that lit up dinner tables and a dance floor.

“That was beautiful,” I said. “I’m so glad Chloe and Miles got the wedding they wanted.”

Lucas smiled. “It brings back good memories of our wedding.”

I noticed he added the good caveat. Our wedding night had been tainted with the arrival of the Executors at the safe house, but everything before that moment had been happy and joyful. I cherished those last few moments with my grandmother, and I’d never forget how happy we were during the ceremony. It was nice to revisit that joy and witness our friends celebrating their love.

But it also put me on edge. The priestesses had found a way to ruin mine and Lucas’s wedding night. I worried that they might try to do the same tonight. Miles had recruited a bunch of guys from the police force to run security, though, so if the priestesses tried anything, we’d be alerted right away.

As the night wore on, I relaxed. We hadn’t heard anything from the priestesses in months. It was unlikely they’d strike tonight. We deserved a night off from worrying about the future, to just enjoy this moment with our friends.

Lucas and I sat beside each other at the head table, and we traded off feeding Marcus throughout dinner. We feasted on tender pork roast, roasted potatoes and squash, braised corn, and the best apple cider in town.

After dinner, Talia’s brother Tyler grabbed the microphone to shout, “Let’s get this party started!” Music blasted over the speakers as he pressed a button on his computer.

Chloe had hired Tyler to DJ for the wedding. She’d wanted a live band, but seeing as the Wicked Warlocks had broken up, Tyler agreed to DJ the party rather than show up as a singular Wicked Warlock. She was willing to compromise, and I was glad she did, because Tyler was really good. He played a lot of fun songs and kept the guests entertained by telling jokes between songs.

“Hey, why aren’t there any vampires at this wedding?” he asked the guests. “Because they suck!”

The crowd roared in laughter, and it felt great to let our guard down for once. Chloe and Miles shared their first dance, and they looked like the happiest couple in the world spinning around the dance floor. Professor Wykoff offered to hold Marcus while Lucas and I stepped onto the dance floor for a slow song. My husband pulled me close, and I felt warm and safe in his arms. He seemed relaxed as he swayed me back and forth, which was certainly a first in a long time. I leaned my head against his shoulder and sighed heavily.

Lucas noticed. “Everything all right, Nad?”

I turned my back to Chloe and Miles, so they wouldn’t see the concern that I knew was plainly written across my face. “I’m just worried. Have you learned anything on the astral plane yet?”

Lucas frowned. “No. I’ve been astral traveling every day, but the priestesses have too many protections in place. I can’t get through to see if they’re hiding anything there.”

“Maybe we’re being paranoid and they don’t have anything else planned,” I suggested hopefully.

“If they do, the astral plane isn’t giving us any answers.”

I forced a smile on my face. “We don’t have to talk about work right now. As long as the priestesses stay away tonight, we can enjoy this peaceful evening.”

Lucas took in the wedding around us. “I suppose even in the worst times, life still goes on.”

“You’re right,” I agreed. “We’re still technically in the middle of a war with the priestesses, and rebuilding the town is a work in progress. It’d be so easy to feel like giving up right now, but we’re here . In the midst of it all, we can still watch our friends get married and start a new life together, and that’s so beautiful. It reminds me why we’re doing all this, because love is most important. It gives me hope.”

Lucas rubbed my back as we spun around. “I agree. This all makes me feel really good.”

“Good enough to take this dress off me later?” I winked at him. We’d been so busy lately that we didn’t have a lot of time for intimacy. Just being close to him was making me want to go back to our room right now.

Lucas smirked. “I’m sure that can be arranged.”

“It’s late,” I said. “We should probably get Marcus to bed.”

Lucas looked over to Professor Warren, who was shaking a rattle at Marcus. Our son grabbed it and stuck it in his mouth.

“He seems all right for now,” Lucas replied.

Clearly, I had to be more direct, because that one went way over his head.

“Lucas, we should get Marcus to bed so that we can get to bed.” I wiggled my eyebrows very obviously.

“Oh,” Lucas dragged out the word. “Yeah, he’s very tired.”

The party was already winding down at this point. We said goodbye to everyone and returned to our suite with Marcus and our cats. It was late, so Marcus fell asleep in my arms before we even made it back to our room. We tucked him into his bassinet in the living room and left our cats to watch over him.

Lucas took my hand and pulled me into the bathroom. He playfully pinned me up against the back of the door and grabbed my ass as he kissed me. I melted beneath his touch, and my panties became wet at his masculine scent.

“Is this what you want?” Lucas asked, running his lips over my jawline.

“More,” I begged breathlessly.

Lucas kissed me tenderly, and I nearly crumbled at his feet when he drew away. “Let’s get you out of that dress,” he whispered.

I turned around, and Lucas slowly unzipped me. My heart hammered as the fabric fell away. I stripped down completely, and he helped remove the bobby pins from my hair. He was so gentle and slow with me, which was driving me mad. I yearned to have him inside me already.

“I need to wash my hair,” I said, touching the strands. “I have so much product in it.”

Lucas kissed the top of my shoulder. “I can help with that.”

He stripped out of his suit and hung it on a hook. I warmed up the water, and we stepped into the shower together. I stood facing away from him, leaning my back against his warm body. Lucas worked the shampoo through my hair tenderly, then rubbed the suds over the rest of my skin. I moaned as his hands traveled over my breasts, then down between my legs. It felt really nice to be this close to him.

I helped him wash up, too, then lowered myself to my knees and began pleasuring him with my mouth. If there was one thing that never failed to turn my husband on, it was my lips on his cock. I was really enjoying myself, and I got a thrill in my belly when he began to respond to my touch. I worked him with my tongue and pumped his dick with my hand until he filled my mouth completely. Warm water cascaded over us, and Lucas’s fingers tangled in my hair.

“Take me,” I begged.

Lucas picked me up, and my legs wrapped around him as his hands cupped my ass. He held me against him as I slid downward, his dick effortlessly gliding into me. I tilted my head back and moaned in pleasure as he thrust upward. Fuck, it felt so good.

Lucas leaned my back against the wall of the shower and pinned me there while he fucked me. I couldn’t stop myself from panting, because it was so hot and sexy.

Eventually, he couldn’t keep holding me upright, and we had to switch positions so he was fucking me from behind. My breasts pressed into the cool tile of the shower wall, and I enjoyed every second of the sensations.

We must’ve been in the shower for twenty minutes. The shower water was starting to cool, and Lucas drew away, panting. “Should we… take this to the bedroom?”

“Absolutely.”

We got out of the shower and dried off. We made our way to the bedroom, and Lucas playfully tossed me onto the bed. I caught sight of his reaper robe hung on a hook by the door, and my eyes locked on it.

Lucas noticed. “You like my reaper robe?”

“Hell, yeah,” I told him. “Your powers are sexy. You should put it on. I dare you.”

Lucas smirked. “It’s been a long time since we dared each other to do anything. I like that you’re being playful.”

Lucas pulled his robe off the hook and slipped it on. I chuckled as I reached out to pull the hood over his head.

“You like the dark and mysterious vibe?” he asked.

“Absolutely. You can keep the robe on. I think it’s hot.” I leaned over the side of the bed, shaking my ass at him. “Take me from behind, Lucas. Show me what a bad reaper can do to me.”

Lucas smiled as he stood behind me and smacked my ass lightly. I moaned playfully when the sleeve of his robe touched my bare skin.

“Am I the bad guy, or have you been a bad girl?” he growled in my ear, which was really fucking hot.

“Oh, I’ve been a very bad girl,” I giggled.

Lucas and I hadn’t gotten much into role playing, and we certainly weren’t the kind of couple to tie each other up and punish one another. We didn’t really do the dominant-submissive thing, but it was still fun to joke around and get playful with it.

He grabbed my hair and tugged on it lightly, leaning over to whisper in my ear. “You know what reapers do with bad girls? They take them to realms they’ve never been before.”

“Take me, then,” I begged breathlessly.

He opened his robe, revealing his hard cock, then thrust into me firmly from behind. I moaned loudly as he buried himself deep inside of me.

I grabbed the sleeve of his robe and yanked hard on the fabric. “Harder, Lucas.”

Lucas grabbed my hips and thrust his hips forward.

“Fuck!” I cried out desperately as his cock filled me up. Heat spread up and down my skin, and I had to bury my face in the pillow to keep from screaming out in pleasure. I was loving every second of this.

Lucas’s moans filled the room as he pulled my hips into him with every thrust. Each sensation was stronger than the last. He leaned over me and bit my shoulder—gently, but oh so sensually.

As my passion grew, I slid my hand between my legs, but Lucas entwined his fingers in mine to stop me. “Allow me.”

“Lucas,” I pleaded. “I need my release.”

“Don’t worry, darling,” he whispered. “You’ll have it.”

He began working my clit, and a glorious sensation built up inside of me. Stars burst across the back of my lids as I reached my peak. I contracted around his cock as I came, moaning loudly with the incredible climax.

I sagged to the bed, completely losing control of my body. I’d become so entranced by the blissful sensations. Lucas opened his robe further to press his skin against mine. I lay on my stomach as he fucked me from behind. That must’ve been his final undoing.

Lucas moaned as he emptied himself inside of me. He rolled over and curled me in his arms as I rested my head on his chest.

“That was amazing,” he breathed.

“It really was,” I replied dreamily. “We haven’t gotten much time alone lately, and I cherish these moments of bliss.”

“Me, too.” Lucas gave a shudder, and I noticed his skin turn cold for a second before returning to normal.

“You alright?” I asked.

“Yeah, just a dying thought,” he admitted. “Lately, the voices of the recently deceased don’t come in as loud and clear as they used to, due in part to the Waning. This one seemed really melancholy, with tones of shock and regret. Those ones are always a bit louder.”

“You seem to be handling it better,” I remarked.

“I am.” Lucas wrapped me closer in his arms and kissed the top of my head. “Thanks for being here and not giving up on me. It really means a lot.”

“I’ll always be here for you,” I promised. “I know we’ve both been trying to hold ourselves together these last few months, and things haven’t been easy. Taking time for ourselves isn’t a luxury we have as new parents or Imperium Council members. But in the midst of it all, we still had this perfect day, and when I’m with you like this I see that we can still honor our connection even when we’re trying to help everyone else.”

I knew we both felt the strain in our relationship, but I didn’t realize just how much of a toll it was taking until I said it out loud. Our relationship was suffering because we were putting all our effort into helping other people instead of ourselves. I didn’t want to have to choose anymore. My people needed me, but so did my husband, and I needed him.

“Honoring our connection is really important to me,” Lucas said. “I want to honor it in every way, both in the bedroom and out of it.”

“We’ll work on it,” I promised. “Together.”

A bang sounded as the front door of our suite burst open. My heart dropped, and the color drained from Lucas’s face.

“Marcus!” we cried in unison.

Lucas leapt out of bed and shoved the gap in his robe closed as he raced into the main room where Marcus was sleeping. I threw on a nearby bathrobe and ran out behind him.

Talia stood opposite Lucas, panting like she’d run to get here. “Miles just got a call from the police station. They have an Executor in custody. Everyone else is already on their way downtown. They need you both down there. Now.”