Chapter Twenty-Two

“I’m getting married today,” Lewis Martel whispered to his reflection in the mirror.

Though he lamented his plain face and stupid curls, he couldn’t suppress the fluttery and totally insane feelings of happiness wriggling through his body. He smiled down at his third finger, excited to once again wear the band of golden acorns Theron had made for him. His hand felt naked without it, but Kendra was currently in possession of both wedding bands. He wouldn’t get it back until the ceremony.

Today would be the wedding he’d always dreamed of but could never have imagined. In a few hours, he would say ‘I do’ beside the very same enchanted hot spring where he and Theron first made love, the place where his fiancé would become his husband.He couldn’t wait to be married, even if he was already soul bound forever to Magus Theron Warrior of the Hunt. Thinking of how arrogantly his mate spoke his full title made Lewis smile. He wanted to be annoyed at him, but he was too damned adorable. And perfect, and wonderful. The guy really made it difficult not to love him.

Lewis checked the clock on the nightstand of their honeymoon suite, growing anxious. The wedding was in ninety minutes, and his soul mate still hadn’t returned.

Very early this morning, Theron had been called to a meeting with the king. After lunchtime, the king had sent a message via Kevin that Lewis should not worry. His Magus would return in plenty of time for the wedding.

Since Kevin was more obsessed with wedding details than Lewis himself, the Fae Lord’s calmness eased any worries threatening to shake the unusual Zen that Lewis had awakened with. Yes, he was curious as fuck about what was happening, but as long as his man met him at the altar, he’d save his questions for later.

Theron better answer all of them, though.

Lewis’s patience only went so far.

Even with last minute secret missions and meetings, nothing could squash the joy of being one step closer to being fully united with his mate. This time without slicing his hand—eww, that had been creepy!

Everything in Lewis’s new life felt like a dream sometimes.

Including last night when Marcus had enabled everyone to see the ghosts of their past. Lewis had seen his parents, and they got to see Theron, and witness how happy they were together. Fuck, Jeremiah had even seen Eddy! Brothers Fergus and Jean-Luc had been there too, holding hands, along with Liam’s little friend Paul, who had died from a sickness. Not to mention Lewis got to set his real eyes upon the face of Theron’s whole Magi family, including his grandmother—the very reason their souls had stayed connected.

Though the Magi had given Theron a portion of their magic—making his mate super powerful—they’d apparently kept enough juice on the other side of the veil to use the magic of the captain and king’s island via Marcus’s new gift to bring every important person who’d died in their past to offer their blessings, or so Dane had explained.

Knowing his parents were out there, watching over him on his wedding day, almost triggered the waterworks. He should give up trying to pretend he could control his tears. He would doubtless blubber like a baby today.

Maybe Penelope could magic up the photos so he didn’t look like a hot mess.

“Knock, knock.”

Lewis put on a grin as he opened the suite door for his best friend and business partner. She wore a broad smile, delight twinkling in her pretty eyes.

“Are you trying to outshine me?” he said with a frown.

Kendra laughed and pushed into the room, wearing the sexiest champagne-colored dress Lewis had ever seen. Like red-carpet hot. Slinky heels showed off her killer legs and her blonde curls were styled in a fancy updo.

Lewis was a little surprised she didn’t have a bottle of champagne and two flutes.

“No, Crab Ass. I’m here because I want to give you a big fat fucking kiss before you marry your soul mate or whatever the heck you’re calling him today. And it’s no-smear lipstick, so shut up,” she added when he opened his mouth to bitch.

Lewis knew his best friend was magic resistant, and while it broke his heart, it also kept him anchored in reality. His building complex and properties, including the business he shared with Kendra, Ancient Dreams, all required him to remember his day-to-day responsibilities. Otherwise he’d be so swept away in the magic of everything he’d experienced since meeting his soul mate, he might forget he still had taxes, utilities, and bills to pay, as well as rent to collect.

Thankfully, Kendra would never allow him to forget those details.

Lewis held his arms out and she gave him a bosomy embrace and a kiss on the forehead. “You look amazing,” she said. “What did you put in your hair? Pomade or something? You need to do that all the time. It looks fantastic.”

“I don’t know what it is,” Lewis said, irritably pushing her hands away before she damaged his curls. “It’s something the guy in the ship’s salon promised would calm the frizz. It’s kind of awesome. But it was fifty dollars!”

“Totally worth it. I hope you bought it.”

He picked up and waggled the tube of expensive hair product which might be his new favorite thing.

“You really do look amazing,” Kendra said with a smile, holding her hand inches away from his curls, knowing better than to touch. “Theron is gonna lose his shit.”

His whole body melted with more of that gooey happiness. “I feel amazing. Kendra, Theron is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

She leaned in and kissed his forehead again.

That shit better not leave lip prints on my face!

“I’m so fucking happy for you. I can’t even stand it.”She squeezed him tight once more, and Lewis clung to her as unwelcome grief swept over him.

Kendra, the beautiful soul in his arms, would not live for eternity like he would with Theron. He quickly shoved that fear away, stuffing it somewhere deep inside himself where he wouldn’t have to think about it until he had to.

Today was not the day for sad tears.

“And Paris?” Kendra gushed, stepping back. “Of course you’re going to Paris. You guys are so romantic, I might just barf.”

Lewis laughed at that, grateful she could always bring him out of melancholy thoughts.

“Yeah, I’m excited to go to France again.”

Sunday, when the Pride docked in Miami, Theron and Lewis would “pop” over to their house, check on the fish, then “fly”—aka teleport—to France for their honeymoon. They planned to hit all the highlights in Paris, then visit several old monasteries, searching for the one where they’d met in another lifetime. Lewis hoped it wasn’t a subdivision, but Theron had smirked when he’d said as much, so he suspected Theron had already scouted the site after Lewis explained what a honeymoon was.

A quick rap on his door sounded, and the voice of the man he loved in two lifetimes followed, “Acorn, are you in here?”

Kendra let out a peal of laughter. “Acorn. I’ll never get over that.”

Lewis scowled at her then not-so gently pushed her butt towards the door. “You need to get out. Theron wants to talk to me before the wedding. So beat it.”

“Isn’t it bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?”

Lewis put his fists on his hips. “I’m not the bride and you know it, dammit,” he said, but Kendra only laughed. She’d thrown him a bachelorette party and made him wear a veil—which he only did after all the vodka she’d pushed on him—and loved calling him the bride.

She pulled open the door to reveal the most stunning man Lewis had ever seen in any lifetime. His long hair flowed like golden honey passed his shoulders and his dark eyes, shattered with golden flecks, revealed the power of his heritage. ?His muscles were something Lewis couldn’t have imagined in his wildest fantasies, but every night they held him close. While his cock stirred at the sight, in this moment, his heart swelled more. He had no more energy to even acknowledge Kendra and she seemed to know it, waving goodbye as she slipped into the hall.

Theron stepped into the room, his posture perfect and his gaze full of love—something Lewis still hadn’t gotten used to.

No one has ever looked at me like that.

Lewis smiled and reached out a hand. Theron took it. He’d dressed in an old-fashioned outfit similar to the one he’d worn the first time they met and fell in love, when Lewis had been Liam, a shy awkward monk desperate for love.

Lewis had been desperate for love in this life too, his soul needing its other half.

“Tell me what happened today,” Lewis said. “Why were you gone so long?”

Theron smiled wide. “We were gathering intel and following some promising new leads.”

Lewis lifted one brow. “You weren’t torturing that prisoner from the bunker for information on our wedding day, were you?”

“No, I was not, my sweet Acorn,” Theron assured him with a kiss. “I’ll tell you more tomorrow. Too much of our day was spent not being together. I would much rather focus on us.”

Lewis pressed closer to his man. “Excellent idea.”

Everything besides this moment seemed unimportant.

Theron gave Lewis a sweeping onceover. “Now, let me look at you. You look so handsome. Your beauty has no equal.”

“No, that would be you,” Lewis argued, blushing under his mate’s praise.

Theron had paired his tunic with a long sweeping cloak, lace-up knee-high boots on bare legs, and leather bracers on his wrist. A sword hung from his waist and a large medallion Lewis hadn’t seen in a while was nestled between his big pecs. It was almost as familiar as the man himself.

He looked sexy as fuck!

Unlike Theron, Lewis wasn’t rocking old-fashioned attire. He’d opted for a traditional black tuxedo, not monk robes. But maybe Theron could magic up Lewis another robe for sexy times later tonight, reenacting their first time together on the Pride.

Wordless, Theron wrapped Lewis in his arms, making him feel safe, loved, and wanted like no one ever had. He claimed Lewis’s lips in a tender kiss. Lewis opened his mouth, giving himself to his soul bound mate, proud as hell to have such a mighty warrior to call his own.

Long after Lewis’s body reacted, hungry and needy for Theron’s cock in his ass, Theron withdrew, smiling down at Lewis and cupping the back of his head.Only Theron could touch his curls without any snarky rejoinders.

“We are to be married today,” Theron said.

“A wedding which you felt was unnecessary.”

“We are bound in our souls so the ceremony will do nothing,” Theron said, but as Lewis scowled at those familiar words Theron bent down and kissed each corner of his mouth. “But my Acorn has dreamed of a wedding. I will always give him everything he has ever dreamed of.” He kissed his nose, his forehead, and then each cheek.

Lewis couldn’t even try to be annoyed at him even if he wanted to be. The romantic bastard was perfect at everything he did, every time and in every way.

Well except driving.

He was horrible at driving.

But that made him all the more lovable.

See? Perfect.

“I have a gift for you, my dear Acorn.” Theron gestured in his regal way for Lewis to sit on the edge of the chair where he had been staring at his stupid face in the mirror, wishing he was better looking.

At least my hair looks good today.

Theron bent down on one knee, because he didn’t do anything in half measures. Lewis’s man was all class. He still didn’t know what he’d done to deserve him.

Thank you, Fae Goddess lady!

Theron’s dark eyes with their golden sparkle met Lewis’s, and he took both of his smaller hands into his large, calloused ones.

“From the first moment I saw you, my sweet, sweet Lewis, my soul sang. I heard beautiful music the likes of which never existed until you walked into my life. My magic responded to you, knowing we were soul bound and meant for each other. To protect you, I gave you a special piece of the medallion my grandmother had given me and her grandmother before her. Do you remember that day, sweet Lewis?”

“I remember,” Lewis said wondering where Theron was headed with this.He’d given Liam a piece of his medallion to protect him from a vampire who now lived aboard the Pride, and had written Lewis’s favorite book. Frankly, it surprised Lewis that Theron would bring up the subject, today of all days, because he hadn’t forgiven—at all!—Danior the Devil, the vamp with the nom de plume DA Noir.

“That pendant came from this medallion.” He touched the large medallion he wore. “You can see here, the missing corner.”

“I can.” The excitement in his voice had Lewis even more curious.

“The other day, when the lords returned with a cache of artifacts, you would not believe my surprise when, like Grandmother’s grimoire and the rosary you once wore, something else had returned to our lives.”

Lewis sucked in a gasp as Theron reached into a pocket on his tunic and withdrew something Lewis had only seen in his dreams.

“Is that—?”

“It is.”

Theron held up a small pendant about a third of the size of Lewis’s pinky, a shard of magic crystal, now cradled in gold and flanked by emeralds. The last time Lewis had seen the crystal it had been on a leather cord, but now the more modern pendant hung from a delicate golden chain, a smaller version of the one Theron wore.

“This is the piece of my medallion I gave you so many years ago to keep the demons quiet and keep you safe. I never thought it could still exist.” Theron’s gaze was captured by the piece of magic crystal. His lips cracked into a smile and tears glistened on his black lashes. “I gave you this once to protect you, but now it seems like so much more. It is a piece of our history, our life. And a symbol of our future together. Lewis Martel, will you wear this for me, to show the world that we are bound, two parts to one whole, and that I love you more than anything? Time, magic, nothing can keep me apart from you, my soul bound mate.”

Tears were pouring down Lewis’s cheeks and he almost wondered why he was having a wedding ceremony when this moment, right here was everything he’d ever dreamed of in his entire life.

Both of them, in fact.

“I do,” Lewis said, his lips and hands trembling as he gripped Theron’s wrists.

“You’ve said that before,” Theron muttered. “It is a good thing, yes?”

“It’s the best thing in the whole damn world,” Lewis cried, throwing his arms around Theron’s neck and kissing him deeply. Lewis spread his thighs so Theron could fit in between, where he belonged. His mate’s big strong hands gripped his rib cage tight and pulled him close, confident fingers coiling in his hair.

So much for not having an ugly cry face or frizzy hair!

He couldn’t summon the strength to care.

Theron drew back for a breath. “If we do not stop, there will be no wedding. I’ll tie you to that bed and never let you leave.”

Lewis expelled a teary laugh. “Tonight, that’s what we’ll do. Tonight,” he assured him. “Put the necklace on me one more time please? I promise I’ll never take it off this time. I’ll never leave you, Theron. I’ll always be by your side.”

With tears and a trembling laugh, Theron attached the necklace around Lewis’s neck and kissed him on his nape, just above the clasp.

Their lives had been bound the first time in horror, and a second time months ago. But this connection felt like the pinnacle. They each knew, despite the past, that their future was not a dream. It was pure reality. And Lewis intended to savor every moment.