19. Chapter Nineteen

ROSE

For a week now, I've heard distant echoes every night from the construction of the cave system behind our home.

Fixing the skylights, apparently. They look fine to me, but what do I know about construction?

But as I follow them down tonight, something feels different. The usual cave chill is tinged with an air of excitement, and the pathway, usually so familiar, twists in directions I don't remember. We're heading down, rather than straight.

"Close your eyes," Mekhi whispers, his hand lightly pressing against my back, guiding me forward.

"Why all the secrecy?" I murmur, but I comply, letting the darkness behind my eyelids replace the shadowy cave. The sounds of our footsteps are muffled by a new softness underfoot, a detail that puzzles me.

"Just a little further," Chaos says, his voice a warm hum in the cool air.

The faint smell of fresh paint and popcorn fills the air, a strange combination that piques my curiosity even more.

"Okay, open your eyes now," Bennett's cheerful voice announces.

I blink open my eyes and gasp. It's not skylights or minor improvements. It's a full-blown movie theater that sprawls before me. Rows of comfortable seating, a large screen dominating the far wall, and soft ambient lighting that mimics the starlight I love so much.

Penelope, standing beside Bennett with a proud grin, rushes over. "Do you love it?" she asks, her eyes sparkling. "We thought we'd need a proper place to watch all those old Earth movies you've been telling us about."

I'm overwhelmed, looking around at all their faces—each of my mates, my parents, plus Bennett, and Penelope—all beaming at me. "This is for me?" My voice is barely a whisper, drowned out by the enormity of their gift.

"Yes, for you." Kieran steps forward, his arm sweeping over the expanse of the theater. "You've been so caught up in training and planning, we thought you deserved a break. A place to relax and just be before we head out to Nethermore in the morning."

"And tonight, we inaugurate it with your favorite movie," Jax adds, holding up a digital copy of an old classic. "And with all the popcorn you can eat."

The Princess Bride.

"Cereal, too." Lopey gestures to the row of brightly colored boxes on a long table filled with every kind of candy, cereal, and popcorn topping I could possibly want.

Some of my favorites from Earth are there, too.

I cross to the table and reach into the old-fashioned popcorn machine that's filled to the brim with buttery goodness, and snag a handful, popping a few kernels into my mouth. The taste is a momentary time capsule, instantly transporting me back to sleepy Sunday afternoons on Earth.

"This..." I start, but the lump in my throat makes it hard to speak. Tears prickle my eyes. This, this is what I've been missing. Time to relax, to just simply be with the ones I love.

I throw my arms around each of them, feeling the warmth of their affection, and the cool cave suddenly feels like the coziest place on earth.

"This is the best present ever." I pull away. "Whose idea was it? Because whoever it is, is in charge of all ideas moving forward."

The guys all gesture towards Mekhi, who flashes a broad smile. "It might've been my idea, but I had a lot of help to execute it." He nods appreciatively towards Theo and Chaos, who lean against the back wall with relaxed postures. "They tracked down the popcorn machine on Sundahlia."

He tilts his head towards Jax, Kieran, and Deakan, who are sprawled on some of the newly installed lounge chairs. "And these guys handled most of the construction of the theater."

Turning slightly, Mekhi gestures toward the back where our parents are mingling. "Mom and Dads outfitted it with all the couches, lounge chairs, and bean bags."

"I tested each one, made sure they were perfect for you." Nova smirks. "You're welcome."

Mom and Dads shake their heads, sighing. "Napped on them. While they were being carried in." Oz chuckles.

Mekhi points to Bennett and Lopey, who are returning from the snack bar, arms laden with boxes and bowls. "And these two took a portal stone to Earth to stock up on all the snacks and cereal."

"I … I don't know if I want to go back to Australia." Penelope winces as she finds a seat and sets her snacks down on an end table next to a lounger.

"What? Why?" I gasp. It's one of my favorite places on Earth.

She throws her hands wide. "Spiders the size of houses!" Kneeling on the couch to face us, she continues, way more worked up than I have ever seen her before. "And what did I do? I did what I always do! I shifted! And it almost ate me!"

I gasp, eyes wide. Shit. That would've been terrifying.

Bennett covers his mouth with his hand, doing his hardest to keep from showing any amusement. As soon as he calms himself, he tugs her into his side and takes her chin in his hand. "I blasted him to pieces though, didn't I? He would've never got within an arm's length of you."

"He was close." She pouts.

"Ten meters."

"Like I said."

"Lucky you didn't see any drop bears," Gideon, my father who lived in Australia for two centuries, calls out.

We all glance at him. The ones privy to the joke roll their eyes, while the others squint in confusion.

"Drop bears?" Chaos raises a dark eyebrow in question. "Must be a hybrid or something. I didn't make those."

A mischievous glint appears in my father's eyes as he leans back in his seat. "Oh yes, the most fearsome of all Australian creatures. Picture a koala bear, but larger and armed with a temperament far more vicious than any Tasmanian devil you've ever seen."

"They're not real," I chide. "Don't listen to him, he's just fucking with you."

"Language!" Mom snaps, head tilting to Baby Bee on her hip.

"I'm already teaching her all the colorful language she needs to know." Nova plops into a beanbag with a giant bag of candy on her lap. "Should be her first word here soon. Sorry, Mom."

"Nova!" Mom tuts, but she really has zero room to speak. We all have a very colorful vocabulary. Pretty sure Benny and I learned each of the main curse words in about six different languages before we turned six months.

"How about you take a seat, and I'll get us some snacks?" Jax murmurs close enough that I can feel the warmth of his breath.

I look up at him with a wide smile. "Deal."

Kieran swings me up effortlessly and sets me down onto his lap on a sumptuous couch that feels like we're sinking into a cloud. Mekhi claims the space to my right, while Deakan drops into the seat on our left.

Across the theater, Theo and Chaos settle into separate loveseats, each finding his own comfort spot in the softly lit room while my parents spread out on their own couches. Bennett and Lopey claim a giant beanbag near the front.

Just as I begin to relax, Jax returns, balancing a tray stacked with various snacks. With a playful challenge in his eyes, he scoops me from Kieran's hold, prompting a mock protest from Kieran. Jax's laughter rings out as he carries me across to a more secluded, oversized recliner.

He gently places me into the deep, welcoming embrace of the recliner, the chair adjusting to our combined weight. It's an ideal spot for us to stretch out and enjoy the movie in comfort.

The lights dim as the first credits roll on the screen, the familiar thrill of movie magic washing over us in our very own underground cinema.

Tonight, the realms above could wait. Here, below the earth, magic of a different kind blossoms—laughter, companionship, and the shared quiet moments that truly make a family.

And snacks. Lots and lots of snacks.

As we settle into the movie, something shifts on screen. Initially subtle, the picture quality sharpens, the colors more vivid, as though shot with a modern-day camera, and not one from the 1980s. I lean forward, squinting slightly, a puzzled frown creasing my forehead. It takes a moment—a fluttering heartbeat of disbelief—before recognition dawns.

The faces on the screen gradually morph, transforming into familiar ones. Bennett now stands in as Westley, his features merging seamlessly with the character's daring and charm. Penelope, laughing with the light-heartedness of Princess Buttercup, embodies the role with natural elegance.

Chaos is Inigo Montoya, and he looks like he's having the time of his life.

And maybe he is.

"When did you guys find the time to do this?" I laugh, glancing quickly around the room before training my eyes back on the screen, hand to my open mouth as I take it all in.

"Chaos had to pause time for us to get it all done in time."

My mouth drops open as my eyes land on him. I know that some of my mates have reservations about Chaos, but to see them all working together like this?

It rights something in my chest, as though a piece is slotting into place.

As the story progresses, each character reveals themselves to be my loved ones, reenacting the cherished tale with personal flair. Overacting, of course, which makes it even more hilarious.

"I want to watch all my movies this way," I whisper, more to myself than anyone else.

Kieran is the only one not acting inside the film. His voice has been dubbed over someone else, and the result is jarringly poor—almost as if a machine, rather than Kieran himself, attempted the dubbing. It's funnier this way, I suppose.

Jax's hand resting on my thigh gives a comforting squeeze and I burrow into his side.

Before I can comment on why he's not in this, the original film score's soft lilting melody morphs into the unmistakable sound of Kieran's voice, singing with his whole soul, as though he were singing only to me.

Craning my neck, I find his eyes already on me, a soft smile tugging at the corner of his lips. The flickering light from the screen dances across his face, painting him in an entirely different light.

Vulnerable, hidden behind his veiled nonchalance.

But he doesn't need to be shy. I love his deep, crooning voice, and if I had my way, he'd sing me to sleep every night.

"The things I do for love," he murmurs under his breath.

I smile, shaking my head. "This is perfect. I love you, too. All of you." I glance around the room, feeling overwhelmed by how overflowing my heart feels. This is what I want—forever.

Theo inclines his head at me. "All for you."

Next to him, Mekhi stands, pausing the movie with a remote. All eyes shift to him as he walks toward me, illuminated only by the light from the paused screen. He's in a white button-up, with long sleeves rolled back to reveal his tattooed forearms, puka shell necklace still on.

What is he doing?

He looks nervous, and now I'm nervous. Quick glances to the others reveal nothing. Their eyes are all on me, but their expressions are carefully guarded. Though Mom's eyes are decidedly glossy.

What the hell are they all up to?

Mekhi rounds our recliner, parking himself in front of Jax and me. "Rose," he says, his voice clear and filled with emotion, "in every great story, there's a moment when the hero must declare what he's fighting for. For me, that moment is now, right here with you."

"You have me, remember? In every form." I smile softly up at him. "You never have to doubt that."

"Almost."

My brows furrow. "What do you mean?"

"Almost every form." The dimple that only shows on his right cheek appears now, his face lit up. He drops to one knee in front of me, a small box appearing from his pocket. The room goes deathly silent, except for the loud hammering in my chest, and I can't seem to catch my breath.

"Mekhi …" I whisper, choked up. I can't seem to form any words or thoughts, just feeling. Pure, undiluted love and gratitude for this fae.

"It took me ages to understand why this ring was given to me during the Arcane Scholar competition. It wasn't because I didn't want you as my wife, as is our Earth custom, but there was a nagging thought in the back of my mind that I couldn't grasp. But it was more than just a thought; it felt like a memory. And then I remembered." He opens the box, revealing the prettiest teardrop diamond ring I've ever seen. The ring sparkles, as though supernaturally, each facet catching the light and scattering them like stars. The band is delicate, with vines and leaves wrapping around the precious stone. "This was my mother's."

Tears spring to my eyes, falling like rain as he holds it in front of me.

"Will you marry me, Rose Ankida Drake, so I may have you in every form, for eternity?"

I'm full-on sobbing now as I scramble out of the recliner, tackling him to the floor. My lips find his in a searing kiss as I pour everything I have into it.

"Yes!" I gasp out between sobs. "Yes, Mekhi, a million times, in a million ways, yes!"

He pulls me into a sitting position in front of him so he can remove the ring from its box and slide it on my finger.

My laughter mingles with my sobs as the ring finds its place on my finger, a perfect fit. The dark room is lit only by the soft glow of the ring now, and his eyes—their usual warmth now ablaze with raw emotion—are the most enchanting sight in the universe.

His lips twitch into an impish grin. "Good, because the agreement was you have to marry all of us if I got to propose."

"It's only fair." Jax smirks down at me from his position in the recliner.

Bennett peeks over the recliner. "Got each dad's permission and everything. Took a lot of coaxing, and a couple of them only agreed because they couldn't find a convent close enough."

I shake my head, laughing. "When do we get to get married?" Holding my trembling hand up, I turn it every which way, trying to catch the light.

"After ascension."

I knew I would eventually have many mates, just like my mom. However, there was a small part of me—like many young girls on Earth—that secretly yearned to wear a white wedding dress.

I don't need a big, fancy party with thousands of guests.

All I require is a dress, a giant cake, my mates, and my family. Lopey is a given, too.