Chapter Eighteen

It touched Marcus’s heart that Theron and Lewis had invited him and Dane to the mourning ceremony for their families. After he’d missed out on the Mer wedding, he was pleased to be included in this more somber occasion. Before his friends would tie the knot, however, they needed to say goodbye to the past.

And damn, what a past it was!

While Marcus and Dane got ready for tonight, Dane explained who the Magi had been, first elaborating on what he’d told Marcus thus far about the history of paras.

The all-powerful mother—Goddess with a capital G—had created the Fae of the neutral magics found in this realm. They were Her favored beings until She split the remaining magic to make the pure light race of unicorns and a dark race, the dragons. There had been no need for the warrior Magi at that time, because everyone lived in harmony.

Until demons arrived from another realm humans called Hell.

“Fuck! Hell is real?” Marcus said around his toothbrush.

“Of course it is.

Dane then explained how many kinds of demons ascended on their realm, causing chaos. Archdemons, alps, incubi, gorgon, jinn, and bajangs, to name a few.

“What’s a bajang?”

“A demon cat.”

Marcus had cracked up, much to Dane’s annoyance. Only after Marcus finished laughing that all cats must be descendants of bajangs, did Dane continue.

The original Fae leader, King Vandor, understood the arrival of demons would upset the balance of magic in their realm. Eventually, as Vandor had predicted, the power shifted. Dragons reigned supreme while the demons spread their darkness across the land. Their evil influence—whether intentional, as Dane and most Fae believed, or unintentional—emboldened the humans to hunt and slaughter the unicorns.

“Why da fuk would humans do that?” Marcus demanded.

Dane answered with a simple, “Envy and power, of course.”

The tragic death of the unicorns released uncontained magic back into the land, creating witches, shifters and every other sort of para—except vampires who were descendants of demons.

And no, cats were not related to bejangs, and would Marcus pay attention!

King Vandor grew mad with vengeance, wanting all the dark races vanquished for killing the unicorns, including the dragons. So he created the perfect warriors to do so, the Magi, wizards of uncommon power blessed with Fae magic. The Magi believed they were fighting a righteous war, avenging the unicorns, but they unknowingly destroyed any hope of magical balance being restored.

“Because if they killed all the dark races, the balance would be off permanently?” Marcus had surmised.

“Indeed. Which is why some of the Court whispered that Vandor wanted every para destroyed except the Fae. No more dark and no more light.”

“No shit?”

“That was the rumor.”

The king had gravely miscalculated, however. Without the unicorns and the balance of their pure light magic, the united dark races and their demon allies became too powerful. They slaughtered every last Magi, save for one locked in a grimoire waiting for the other half of his soul. They also killed any para who got in their way, including Vandor and his soul mate queen.

This Great War, as they called it, had decimated not only the Magi, but the para population as a whole. Thankfully, the far wiser King Raoul created a truce among paras in 1781 in the hopes to restore the balance. Decades later, after bonding with king consort Captain Leonides, His Majesty created sanctuaries for the now smaller populations of paras to thrive as the Goddess had intended—neutral, light, and dark, all living in harmony and united for the common good. They’d formed and lost several sanctuaries over the years, but the most successful remained the sanctuary ship, Pride of the Caribbean. As with all best laid plans, however, some paras still refused peace, like the ones who’d held Dane and the others captive.

“Together, you and I will help stop these wicked paras,” Dane had finished triumphantly. “Perhaps then the realm will become balanced once more.”

A newfound sense of purpose filled Marcus after learning the history of Dane’s world. Yesterday had been a preview of their future together, standing side-by-side and helping save peace-loving paras from those other assholes. His connection to the spirits had already proven to be an invaluable aid to Theron’s new mission as a Magus—not to kill the dark races, but to save as many paras as possible.

Honored to attend the mourning ceremony—not only out of love for his friends, but to show his respect to an entire race who’d been annihilated—Marcus followed Dane from their cabin to the “closed for a private event” Caribbean Club. From there, they would teleport to the captain’s personal private island—not the one the ship visited on cruises—for the ceremony.

Darrius and Lieutenant Briggs were in the club, facilitating the magical teleportation of guests who were unable to do so themselves. In his typical drill sergeant fashion, Kevin was ushering the mourners—all clad in white—toward paras who could teleport groups. After a brief hello to his friend, Dane took Marcus, Aleek, Jeremiah, Skip, Nathan, and Josh to the island.

When his feet were on new soil, Marcus let out a breath.

Man, I’ll never get used to that!

The last time Marcus came to this island for Skip and Jeremiah’s wedding, he’d arrived by yacht with the other wedding guests not in the know. Even then, the trip had seemed unusually fast and efficient for boat travel. Then again, everything aboard the Pride was unusually efficient.

Magic, am I right?

As beautiful as Marcus remembered it, the private islandboasted a huge sprawling mansion made of stucco and Greek tile. Dominating the lush landscape, the in-ground pool, complete with grotto, cut through a cliff face dotted by succulents and ferns. The cliff created a cove around the estate, making it feel both private and welcoming. Skip and Jeremiah’s wedding reception had been on the huge pool-side patio. Tropical flowers grew in fancy vases and palm trees fluttered on the small grassy lawn—presently set up with a semi-circle of white chairs around a gilded altar.

Despite the solemn occasion, Marcus couldn’t deny his happiness when Dane took his hand as they followed the other guests toward the chairs. Everyone had been given the same loose fitting white tunics and pants to wear. White being the color of rebirth to the Fae, no one wore the black of human funerals. Glancing at all the identically clad guests, Marcus had a bizarre thought of laced Kool-Aid being passed around, but he kept such musings to himself.

Skip pointed at the stretch of white sandy beach on the other side of the chairs. “Know why we picked that beach for our wedding?” he asked Marcus. “It’s where Jeremiah chose me over the call of the sea. I waited there and freaked out for two days, hoping Miah wouldn’t be lured away from me. He’d just figured out he was a merman and Aleek wanted to show him the ocean.” He frowned at his brother-in-law. “You were gone way too long.”

Aleek winced, his long hair flowing in the gentle breeze. “Sorry, brother.”

“I know,” Skip said. “I was just teasin’.”

“I will always come back to you, Skip,” Jeremiah promised, and the couple shared a tender kiss.

So much history and magic on this tiny island, and so much Marcus had missed out on. He’d have to find the time to hear the rest of the magical details about Skip and Jeremiah’s romance. While it was a lot to process, he was glad to fully be a part of it now.

Especially with Dane at his side.

He smiled at the small man and his heart soared when Dane smiled back and squeezed their clasped hands.Marcus hoped to one day have a bond like the one so many of his friends shared. After everything he and Dane had been through—has it only been a few days?—they were both devoted to making this relationship work.

Earlier Dane had said, “I want to fall in love with you.”

Yeah, Marcus wanted that too.

Hell, he was more than halfway there.

All of Lewis and Theron’s wedding guests were attending tonight, except Lewis’s relatives and Kendra. Marcus hated leaving their friend out of things, yet he’d seen firsthand Kendra’s complete obliviousness to magic. How would they explain a ceremony for an entire lost race of magickind to her? Born Jewish and turned atheist, her ‘religion’ was higher learning and logic. Intelligence over intuition. Science over faith. Did Kendra even believe in the afterlife?

Marcus brushed his fingertips over his cross, uncomfortable with the idea of not accepting a higher power. Especially now that he knew Hell was a real place with real demons, not something priests invented to scare people away from sin. Perhaps his faith left him open to the magic and the unseen. Or maybe a mother Goddess existed and She’d made him specifically for the Fae Lord beside him. Or maybe this link to the spirit world made him understand there was more out there than just this day-today human existence.

Who the hell knew?

When he’d mentioned his guilt to Lewis, his friend had assured him—after he made a gagging gesture—Kendra had another hookup/date with the cruise director. Knowing she was off having fun made Marcus’s heart a little lighter.

As the closest friends of Theron and Lewis, they were seated in the front. Marcus took a chair, letting Dane have the aisle. Jeremiah and Skip filed in from Marcus’s other side, with Aleek, Josh, and Nathan filling out the rest of their row.

When Dane’s roommate Adam sat behind them with the water sprites, Penelope and Keenan, Marcus twisted around to say hi. “Hey, good to see you, bud.”

“You too.” Adam shook his hand then gave Dane a hearty shoulder squeeze. “Wouldn’t miss it. Congratulations are in order, I see,” he said, indicating their clasped hands. “Not just for what you guys did yesterday, but on what appears to be a happy soul bond?” Adam gave Dane a questioning look.

“It is, thank you very much,” Dane said with a frown.

Adam smiled at Marcus, navy blue eyes twinkling. “I was rooting for you guys.”

“Stop gloating,” Dane said.

“What my mate meant to say was thanks,” Marcus teased.

Dane sighed. “Thank you, Adam.”

Keenan and Penelope were quick to step in and offer more congratulations and appreciation, gushing about their new best friend, Farrah. Learning the name of someone he helped save made his heart glad, just like when he’d met the rescued brownie’s family at breakfast. All the effusive praise reinforced how important Marcus’s new ability was for these people, how much hope he and Dane had given them.

No pressure at all, right?

Thankfully Darrius and Linda arrived, distracting Adam and the sprites so Marcus could turn back around. While beyond thrilled by what they had accomplished, tonight was not about him and, frankly, all the praise was a little embarrassing.

Braziers with glowing embers flanked the altar in front of them. Up close, he could see the details and fillagree patterns on the golden altar were made with real gemstones.

Dang!

Floating globes of light hovered above the audience, illuminating the evening’s proceedings. Most of the guests had brought wreaths of herbs, fruits, and flowers to place on the altar during the ceremony. Dane held a wreath—made of pomegranates and held together with elaborate gold wire—that he’d magicked up as an offering for himself and Marcus.

Aside from the blinged-out altar, magically floating lights above their heads, and the white matching outfits, the setup felt like any other funeral.

As more people popped in via teleporting, Dane explained how all the Fae aboard the ship—including Fae vacationers—planned to attend and pay their respects to the lost Magi. Marcus was pleased Theron and Lewis had such a good turnout. Though he never could decide if a well-attended funeral or a small one was better. One left too many loved ones behind, and the other might mean the deceased didn’t have many loved ones.

Dane discreetly pointed out a small tribe of gnomes who had just arrived, led by their matron leader, Chieftain Freshwater. Marcus immediately recognized them as the family from Theron’s workout class the other day. The gnomes didn’t look like the little garden statues, though they were short and stout. In the class, Marcus had simply seen a husky family who kicked ass with fake swords. It was obvious now they were paras.

Were there a lot of paras hiding unseen among humans?Dane said many lived in the king’s sanctuary, but not all of them. Did internet sleuths or the military know about this world?

The latter made his stomach lurch uneasily, so he pushed it down as something to ask Dane about later. Because if warlocks and humans consuming Fae blood for immortality existed, others with bad intentions doubtless knew of this world too.

Which meant all of his friends and their partners were in danger.

That reality disturbed him.

He tightened his grip on Dane’s hand and received a curious look in return. He offered his mate a reassuring smile as he pushed his worrisome thoughts aside.

A gentle tap on his shoulder had Marcus turning to see his cousin standing in the aisle.

“Got a sec?” Josh asked, looking super awkward.

“Sure.” Marcus nodded to Dane, then inched passed him and followed Josh off to the side where they could speak in private. “I can’t believe you wore the same outfit as me. Rude.”

Josh chuckled, but his heart wasn’t in it. Marcus wanted to keep things light between them after the incident at the pool, but it seemed Josh needed to talk.

“Um, sorry about earlier. I know the effect Nathan’s magic has on the Fae. We didn’t mean to cause any issues between you guys. Nathan’s been practicing shielding his powers, so the other day we thought it’d be okay to, um? You know. Since the passengers were mostly in Jamaica anyway... well? Um, we didn’t even know Dane was still on the ship until Kendra told us that you guys hooked up. And then everything with the rescued paras? There’s just been a lot going on. We’re sorry.”

“Don’t sweat it. We’re all good,” Marcus assured him and he meant it. He didn’t need to explain the misunderstanding between himself and Dane that afternoon. Josh looked embarrassed and guilty enough.

“So, um, I hope everything went okay between you and Dane, when you, um... hopefully you liked it.” His face flamed.

Marcus chuckled. “We did, I promise. It was epic and crazy, but probably the best sex of my life.”

“Oh, thank God,” he gushed. “I promise, we haven’t done anything since Wednesday... at least not on the ship... um? But we’ll behave like Dane asked. Nathan won’t need to feed for a week anyway. And I can wait.”

Though Dane had assured him no outside influence had been involved the last time they had sex, hearing Josh confirm it was a bigger relief than expected.

But what else had Josh just said?

“Feed?” Marcus questioned.

Josh’s face went more scarlet, if such a thing was possible. “He’s a partial sex demon, Marc. He needs to absorb sex energy same as he needs to eat and drink. If he doesn’t get enough sustenance, he dies.”

His brows shot up. “And you’re his sustenance?”

His face was still pink, but there was a smug look in his eyes too. “His one and only.”

“Doesn’t sound too bad.”

“It isn’t.” Grinning, he leaned close to whisper/brag, “I mean you drew the picture. You know.”

He managed to keep his laughter silent, they were at a funeral, after all.

“This world,” he finally said, looking around at the guests making their way to their seats. Quite a few of them had real wings. “It’s fucking crazy, right?”

“Tell me about it. Every time I come on the Pride, I learn something new. I wonder what it would feel like to go on vacation and not learn about dragons, demons, mermen, and vampires. Or that my favorite cousin is spiritwalker mated to a Fae Lord.”

“I can hardly believe it myself.”

“You guys seem to have worked everything out,” Josh remarked. “Are things good now?”

“Yeah, they are,” he agreed, feeling the truth of those words in his soul.

Since their heartfelt conversation by the pool, trust continued to build between them. He’d felt so hurt and lost, thinking Nathan’s power had once again controlled their lovemaking. But it had only been the two of them igniting that flame. Last night had been real preview of what he could have with his soul mate. They were finally on the path of being friends and lovers, saying goodbye to past misunderstandings and planning for a happy future.

Marcus couldn’t wait.

“Do your parents know about Nathan?” he asked Josh. “Luke and Clare? Aaron?” The latter was Josh’s best friend.

Josh shook his head sadly. “Nope, just you. We can probably tell Sheri and Allison. They know about Jeremiah and Aleek, and with you being a spiritwalker, we might as well let them know about Nathan too. But it can’t go much farther than that. I don’t think you should tell your mom because she’ll tell my mom, and then the whole world will know.”

Marcus chuckled. Their mothers loved to gossip.

“It’s important to keep this world secret,” Josh continued. “Nathan’s biological father was beheaded by human demon hunters.”

“Fuck,” he exclaimed softly. “You serious?”

Josh nodded. “Look what happened to Dane and the others you guys rescued. The danger is real, Marc. We have to keep the secret to protect those we love.”

Demon hunters, evil warlocks catching Fae, and torturous gargoyles. After the rundown of para history, hell yeah, he understood the need for secrecy. Knowing his mate was super powerful was a huge relief, but he never wanted anyone to hurt him again.

“So we’re cool?” Josh prompted.

“Totally.” He hugged his cousin, and because he loved to tease the guy, he added, “But it’s super weird, knowing I had mind-blowing sex because of your husband.”

Josh made a funny face. “Yeah. Weirder still is that us having sex actually made Ramona get pregnant.”

“Um, excuse me?”

Josh explained how Nathan’s magic the day after their engagement had not only made his parents, sister, and Aaron horny, but actually helped his brother’s wife, Ramona, to conceive after years of failed fertility treatments.

“Just when I thought it couldn’t get crazier,” Marcus said.

Up at the altar, Kevin made an announcement the ceremony was about to begin and a hush fell over the attendees.

Sharing a smile that spoke of a relationship that had just grown closer, Josh and Marcus hurried to their seats.

“Everything okay?” Dane whispered as he claimed Marcus’s hand when he sat.

Marcus couldn’t help his grin at the sweet gesture. “Perfect.”

Because he could and he needed to, Marcus kissed Dane’s cheek. Dane frowned at him and pointed to the ceremony, but the twinkle in his eyes told Marcus he’d liked the kiss.

The king marched up the aisle, followed by a somber Lewis and Theron. Theron took Lewis’s hand as the trio stopped in front of the altar. The king, dressed like everyone else aside from a massive gold crown, thanked the guests for coming, then stepped aside for the last Magus. Theron’s long hair flowed down his shoulders like golden silk, his muscles stretching the white linen. While Lewis looked subdued, the love shining in his eyes for his soul mate was clear for all to see.

Theron began to speak in a language Marcus did not understand. He shared a look with Jeremiah beside him, and they both shrugged. Then Dane tugged on his hand and gestured him closer to whisper the translation:

“My people have been gone for centuries now, though the grief is fresh and new for my heart. Tomorrow, I wish to begin a new journey free of this pain, only allowing the beauty of my memories to keep their souls alive.”

Skip leaned over Jeremiah’s lap to listen too, as did Adam from behind them. Dane frowned briefly before a warm shiver of magic swept over Marcus.

“What in the Sam Hill was that?” Skip whispered.

“You can all understand now,” Dane said. “Sorry. I should have thought of that earlier.”

All the guys thanked Dane until Lewis gave them an irritated scowl. Quickly, they zipped their lips and fixed their attention back on the ceremony. No one wanted to piss off the little groomzilla on his special weekend.

While Marcus had enjoyed Dane whispering in his ear, it was much nicer to be able to understand Theron’s words, spoken in what he presumed was the Fae language.

Lewis had nailed it. Magic was so cool.

Theron explained the meaning of the wreath made of flowers and fruit in his hands. “I place this wreath here to represent my family. My people, the Magi. White lilies so they may find peace on the other side of the veil. Red mums for the blood they spilled and their own that was spilled. The sage so that their souls and power may burn bright, and the pomegranates to symbolize rebirth. May they each be blessed with the other half of their soul, in this realm or the other.”

“May the Goddess reunite the lost souls,” the Fae in the audience intoned, reminding Marcus of saying “thanks be to God” after mass.

When Theron placed the wreath upon the altar, something strange itched across Marcus’s brain and his eyes began to sting.

“Are you okay?” Dane whispered when he squeezed his hand a little harder.

Marcus nodded. When chills broke out across his skin, he trembled. It had been a few years since he last attended a funeral, but none had ever made him feel so physically unsettled before.

Lewis spoke next, stepping in front of the altar with a bouquet of purple and yellow pansies in his hands.

“I’ll never be as eloquent as my mate, but pansies were my mother’s favorite flower. I place these here to memorialize the family lost, both mine and my soul mate’s. I wish I had gotten to meet his grandmother and thank her for what she did for us. I also wish to remember all of the people who meant something to me in my first life, and the others who have shaped my soul. I wish Theron could have gone antiquing with my father and tasted my mom’s famous chocolate chip cookies. This small wreath symbolizes what should have been, what has been, and hope for our future together.”

Trying not to squirm with rising discomfort, Marcus watched his friend place the flowers beside Theron’s. Marcus thought he’d been quite eloquent, despite his self-deprecating words.

Gooseflesh popped up all across Marcus’s flesh when his fingers suddenly chilled as if they’d been plunged in a bucket of ice.The itching on his mind intensified and the sting in his eyes became a burn. His heart pounded wildly, as if trying to escape his ribcage.

Am I having a heart attack?

“Did the temperature drop, or is it just me?” he questioned Dane.

His mate’s lilac eyes went wide with concern. “Your hand is freezing.” He placed his palm over Marcus’s chest. “Your heart is racing. Tell me what’s happening.”

“I feel like...” Marcus paused, then his head jerked toward the empty lawn in front of Skip’s beach. The moon shone high above, sending silvery light across the rippling waves.

Right before his eyes, the rippling seemed to intensify and grow, taking shape.

Jolting in his chair, Marcus let out a startled yelp.

Everyone sharply looked his way, including his friends conducting the mourning ceremony.

If Marcus had not been told the last few days he was a spiritwalker and the dead communicated through him, his heart might have given out in shock and terror as a large contingent of transparent silvery ghosts move towards their group, bringing a painful chill with them.

“Who are they?”

Dane furrowed his brow in concern. “Who are you speaking of, Marcus?”

“Can’t you see them?” Marcus questioned, heart pounding and sweat beading his brow. The air was so damn cold he was surprised his breath didn’t frost in front of his face, despite being on an island in the middle of the Caribbean.

“See who?” Dane asked.

“You okay, Marcus?” Jeremiah whispered beside him.

Lewis looked downright irritated at another interruption of the ceremony, but his groom and the king stared curiously and with concern.

Marcus only saw them in his peripherals, all his attention latched onto the approaching specters. He studied them, some dressed like warriors from Game of Thrones, a pair of monks with their bald heads, and... shit! Was that Eddy and Lewis’s parents?

“I think it’s their family,” Marcus said, chills tumbling down his scalp, back, and arms.His entire body shuddered.

Suddenly the warmth Marcus had come to identify as Dane’s magic worked through his body, staving off any chill and heating that spot behind his heart.The tremors stopped and his heartrate calmed. The chill dissipated.

Gasps of shock rippled through the mourners, and Marcus knew Dane had used his magic to allow everyone to see what he could see.

Theron let out a sob,?huge tears rolling down his face as he choked out the word, “Grandmother?”

“Holy shit, what are we seeing here?” Lewis muttered. “Mom, Dad?”

“That’s Eddy,” Jeremiah cried.

“Oh Lordy,” Skip breathed, pulling his husband tight as the ghost of Jeremiah’s dead lover, a man Marcus had only known a short while, smiled and waved at them. He wore a Hawaiian shirt, khaki shorts, and Tevas, looking healthier than he had the last time Marcus saw him in hospice.Marcus managed to wave back.

The spirits studied the crowd gathered, smiling at some, or just observing stoically. A little boy with a thatch of straw-colored hair and wearing medieval clothing smiled and waved at Lewis, now in Theron’s arms and crying unashamedly.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Marcus heard the king whisper.

The guests on the island held their breath, the hush somehow louder than the crash of waves on the beach. Marcus half-expected some of the spirits to start talking to him, but instead a woman dressed like a warrior with long white hair and black eyes gestured toward the altar.

“Konstantina wants us to continue,” Chieftain Freshwater said, her confidant voice breaking the initial spell of shock.

I see dead people, he thought somewhat hysterically.

He tightened his grip on Dane’s hand. The man sandwiched his hand between his smaller ones, offering a smile of reassurance. His magic warded off all chill on the air, making it easier to breathe again.

As if on cue, Kevin stepped in and gestured for the guests to begin making their offerings. Very quickly, he had everyone forming a processional line. All the guest had brought gifts—flower wreaths, baskets of fruit, or in the case of the gnomes, pots of flowers made of crystals or gemstones. Falling in step behind the others while never breaking his connection with Dane and his soothing magic, Marcus headed up the aisle so Dane could place their wreath on the altar. He thought Dane muttered a prayer to the Goddess, but couldn’t be sure.

Just don’t let go of me, baby.

Dane seemed to understand and gripped his hand tighter as he led him back to their seats. Marcus could barely take his eyes off the ghosts to watch the ceremony continue. Jeremiah laid out a wreath of seashells, coral, and seagrass to represent his family of three. Josh and Nathan bore a basket of fruit and flowers together, while Adam offered a small glass dish with a domed lid protecting a soft blue flame.

The ghosts watched the procession of mourners create a heaping pile of goods and candles around the memorial altar.All the while Theron and Lewis wept and watched the spirits who had come to see them.

It was only bearable because of Dane’s hand holding his and his warm magic inside him.

When the last person presented something and everyone returned to their seats, Marcus faced his crying friends by the altar. “I think they’re ready to leave,” he said, unsure how he knew.

He just did.

“I love you, Grandmother. Thank you,” Theron whispered to the woman with white hair while Lewis sobbed on his shoulder. Jeremiah sobbed too, holding Skip tight. Eddy might be there because of his connection to Lewis but the merman was no doubt grateful.

Marcus clung to Dane and when he felt his mate’s hand loosen but not let go, the warmth of magic shimmered away. When the connection dissipated, the spirits faded like clouds swept off by the wind.Dane was quick to clasp Marcus’s hand tight again.

Quiet sobs filled the warm night, and there was not a dry eye or an unmoved heart on the island. Beside him, Jeremiah shifted and drew Marcus into his tight hug with Skip. “I don’t know how you did that, but thank you.”

Marcus didn’t know either, but he hugged his friend back, grateful he’d been able to do this for his friends. And more than grateful to Dane for making it happen.