25. Peter

25

PETER

P eter adjusted his bowtie and studied his reflection in Jay's guest room mirror. In a couple of hours, he would be standing before the clan, pledging his life and love to Marina, and he couldn't wait.

Some grooms might be nervous or anxious, but all he felt was giddy excitement. Perhaps Kagra had been right, and he was in love with being in love, but what did it matter what path his mind took to get to this point and make him a happy male?

Fates knew that he faced enough crap in his work to suck the joy out of him, but thankfully, he had Marina to replenish his stores of happiness.

"You messed it up again," Jay said, appearing behind him. "Why do you keep touching it?"

Peter frowned. "I don't see anything wrong with it. "

"That's because you're blind. It's crooked." Jay reached from behind him and adjusted the bowtie. "There. Perfect. Now leave it alone, and don't touch it again."

Peter was certain that the thing had been straight before, and Jay had made it crooked, but he decided not to argue and turned around to face his friends.

His other groomsmen were lounging around the room in various states of readiness. Theo and Bowen were still wrestling with their cummerbunds, while Leon and Anandur were already fully dressed and sharing a drink on the couch in the seating area by the window.

"Speaking of perfect," Theo said with a grin, "I notice Emmett isn't here. Didn't want your old friend as a groomsman?"

Peter's jaw tightened. "I might have forgiven him for what he did to me, but we are not friends."

The guy had kidnapped him, kept him enslaved under compulsion, and threatened to gift him to his mistress as a breeding bull for the hybrids. Not that it would have ever happened, even if Emmett hadn't been captured by the clan.

His former mistress had been abducted by Igor and his minions a long time ago, and the Fates had manipulated events so now she and her people were part of the clan.

"Fair enough." Jay handed him a glass of scotch. "But Marina invited Eleanor. "

"That's different." Peter took a sip, mindful of his white shirt. "Eleanor is a friend to both of us. She was my friend first, and then when Marina needed a transfer to the village, Eleanor helped."

Leon was sprawling in an armchair, looking dashing in his black tuxedo. "I'm disappointed that Marina didn't invite Anastasia. My mate feels left out."

Peter snorted. "Marina barely knows Anastasia. I don't think they've ever exchanged a single word."

"True." Leon's grin widened. "Actually, Ana's thrilled to have the house to herself. She's probably neck-deep in a bubble bath right now, enjoying a glass of white wine and the peace and quiet."

Leon and his mate were sharing a guest house with Emmett and Eleanor during their visit to the village. Since Leon was permanently posted in Safe Haven, he had given up his old place in the village.

"Thanks for making the trip," Peter said. "I know it's not exactly convenient."

Safe Haven was several hours away from the nearest airport and even further away from the one that had flights to Los Angeles.

Leon waved a dismissive hand. "Are you kidding? Of course I'd be here. After all we went through together at Safe Haven, you, Eleanor, and I changed the course of history. I found my Ana there, Eleanor found Emmett, and you..." He trailed off, something flickering in his eyes .

Peter frowned. "And I what?"

"And you got this incredible promotion." Leon raised his glass. "Head of the new Avengers division. That's huge, brother."

Peter hadn't missed the slight hesitation, and he knew what Leon wanted to say before he changed directions. His friend thought that he'd gotten the short end of the stick—a human mate instead of an immortal one—and the thinly veiled pity in his friends' eyes made Peter's stomach turn.

He understood their concern. He'd even shared it himself in dark moments. The thought of watching Marina age and die while he remained forever young was like a knife in his gut. But he refused to let that fear taint today.

Marina was the best thing that had ever happened to him, and he didn't care what anyone thought.

"I'm the luckiest male ever for finding a wonderful mate like Marina. She makes me happier than I've ever been."

Theo cleared his throat. "No one's saying she isn't wonderful?—"

"But she's human," Peter finished for him. "Yes, I'm aware of that. I'm also aware that Kaia is working on a solution." He set his glass down, perhaps a bit harder than necessary. "And even if she never finds one, I'd rather have sixty years with Marina than an eternity with anyone else. "

Jay lifted his hand. "Hey, it's your wedding day. No heavy discussions allowed." He walked over to Peter and clapped him on the shoulder. "As my mother always says, prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

"Isn't that the other way around?" Anandur asked. "Hope for the best and prepare for the worst?"

Jay shrugged. "Same difference. Anyway, if anyone can crack the code of immortality, it's Kaia. Besides, Bridget confirmed that frequent venom injections prolong a woman's life, so there is that."

Peter appreciated their attempt to lighten the mood, but he knew they were all convinced that he was making a mistake.

Even if they didn't say it, he could see it in their careful glances and too-bright smiles.

"I think you're all missing the point," Alfie said. "Peter isn't settling or making some noble sacrifice. He's choosing love." He met Peter's eyes. "Real, messy, complicated love. The kind that makes you brave enough to face whatever comes."

Good old Alfie, who'd watched Marina and Peter's relationship develop from the beginning, understood exactly what he needed to hear.

"To love," Jay said, raising his glass. "And to Peter and Marina."

The others echoed the toast, and Peter felt some of the tension ease from his shoulders. His friends might not fully understand his choice, but they supported him, and that was good enough.

"Now," Bowen said, "can someone please help me with this damn cummerbund? I swear it's trying to strangle me."