47. Jasper

Chapter forty-seven

Jasper

" S he's going to hate you, you know," Scarlett says beside me at the altar.

"I know," I say, unable to stop the smile from creeping onto my lips. "It's sort of our thing. Hating each other."

She titters. "That's fun."

I look out over the sea of black punctuated by a few bits of color here and there. Scarlett and Zane brought in most of their soldiers for this, partially for protection, but mostly because it's common for humans to have a large attendance at their wedding. Selkie bondings are acknowledged after the fact with a hunt and a feast, but since I've been removed from my own culture for so long, the human ritual will serve just fine for me—if it's what makes Reina happy.

And by happy I mean ready to murder me.

There's still a chill in the air though the sun rose nearly an hour ago. Orange, red, and golden leaves shiver on the trees around us as the breeze picks up. It smells of dirt and decay, not a familiar scent, but very pleasant.

I hope she loves this.

I hope she doesn't escape…

A distant scream, savage and unhinged, lights up my body.

"Here comes the bride, all dressed in blood," Scarlett says in a singsong voice.

A banner is strung across the two trees that serve as the entrance to the ceremony area. A long, blue carpet rolls out from me to the edge of those trees, looking like a river. At the end wait Lily and Alyse, ready to pounce the moment she appears.

The screaming intensifies. Some of it is not Reina's.

Finally, my bucking bride appears—feet dirtied, golden hair wild, and singe marks on her clothes from where she lit up her own skin. The Spiders escorting her likewise have burn marks on their arms and sides. They set her down at the start of the carpet and step away.

Reina looks around wildly. "What in the hells is going on?"

Lily and Alyse jump forward with a cheerful "Surprise!" and begin wrapping her in fine white fabric as she continues to demand answers. Lily tailors the dress to fit Reina's body in a flourish of bright green magic while Alyse fixes up her hair into a quick, loose bun.

Reina falls quiet as her murderous gaze locks on me. I smile, turning the key around and around in the fist clasped behind my back.

Blue ripples under her skin as she patiently waits for her sisters to finish. I can't wait to find out what she might throw at me on her way up here. Many of the Spiders flanking the aisle wear daggers on their hips. I'll have to be ready to dodge.

Alyse steps back and Lily slaps Reina on the behind. "Go get your man!"

"Oh, I'm going to," Reina growls as she stalks forward, shoulders square and chin down. Her fists are clenched so tightly in front of her that her knuckles are white.

"You may have gone too far," Scarlett whispers from the corner of her mouth.

"Nonsense," I say, my grin widening at the sight of my feral wife.

She stomps up the three steps to join me on the slightly raised dais, then raises her arms with a determined glare. I grab her wrist and push the key into the lock of the left cuff. It clicks open and Reina punches me in the chest.

The air oofs out of me and I hunch slightly at the pain in my sternum.

She snaps the manacle shut over my left wrist. "Evil bastard."

I groan as I straighten up. "Only for you."

A smirk tugs the edge of her lips as she turns to face Gareth behind the altar. She holds my hand, our matching cuffs clinking together. The man opens a book and begins reciting a bunch of human proverbs and fancy passages that talk about how we will care for one another. I don't really hear much of what I agree to. She has me entranced.

Reina glances at me from the corner of her eye and her smirk widens to a shy smile. Finally, she turns to face me. Wisps of her golden hair tickle her cheeks and neck. Her blue eyes are made more so by the stark fall colors framing her.

She is radiance, the sun fit into physical form.

She raises her right arm and my left follows. Someone approaches with ribbons of white and blue, then wraps our manacled hands together all the way down to our elbows.

The bearded man behind the altar closes his book. "Under this crisp autumn sky, with the gods' blessing, and by witness of those in attendance, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Reina throws her other arm around the back of my neck and lunges forward on her tiptoes, pressing us into a violent kiss. I match her hunger as I wrap my other arm around her waist and bend forward, letting her slide down my chest. I take control of her mouth in front of all her family and their soldiers, showing them how selkies stake their claim.

The audience claps, Lily hollers that it's time for drinks, and the wind whispers through the trees, making the leaves come alive for us. Reina moans against my mouth and someone nearby clears their throat. Reina pulls back with a flush in her tanned cheeks.

The audience claps with renewed vigor as we turn to face them. "Feast! Feast!" the chants go up, and the Spiders begin to disperse, some of them chaotic and excited while the others very orderly.

We return to the Nest to freshly baked bread, herb butter, eggs, sausages, bacon, berry porridge, and a sweet "breakfast mead." Reina and I are given a raised table at the back of the hall, flanked by her sisters and their partners.

Merriment begins, but all I can think about is what will happen when the sun begins to set. I lean over and whisper in Reina's ear, "Do you want to see how selkies perform the mating bond tonight?"

She takes a quivering breath. "Yes."

"Are you sure?" I ask with devious delight. "You don't even know what it entails."

"Your mother—with the help of Cora—apprised me on the ritual," she says with a deep flush in her cheeks.

"And you're prepared to do everything ?" I ask in a low voice as my bestial hunger rises.

She turns to me, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. " Everything ."

A ravenous thrill shoots through my body and blood swells in my cock. Her eyes dart down to my lap, and when her gaze returns to my face, it's half-lidded and full of lust. She slides our joined hands over my groin and hums appreciatively. The friction of her rubbing through my dress pants feels good enough to thrust into, so I do.

She nips my earlobe. "Don't get too excited. You've got at least nine more hours of feasting and games to endure. You'll need your wits about you."

I groan needily and watch her nipples tighten through the fabric of her dress. "Why would I want my wits? I prefer to be your fool."

She giggles. "I love you."

She's punched the air from my lungs again. I cup her cheek and angle her chin up so I might steal a kiss for this perfect moment. Her lips are warm and soft, with a hint of sweetness from the mead.

Her eyes remain closed when I draw back. "I've loved you since the moment you made me shove a biscuit in your mouth."

She smiles, her lashes glittering with tears. "I hated you so much."

"Every act of defiance, every punch, kick, and bite, just made me love you more. It was agony keeping the truth from you. I should've told you from the start."

She shakes her head. "There is no should've, or could've, only what is. We're here now."

"And I'm so glad for it," I say, kissing her again.

She smiles against my lips, laughing. "You may regret that tonight when you can't catch me."

My hand firms against her cheek and I thumb her bottom lip. "You better run quick if you're going to escape."

Her eyes flash brilliant blue as her magic thrums in her veins. She's excited, too, and that only makes me more impatient.

Gods willing, I'll survive until sunset. Somehow.