Four months later Mount Olympus
"Your brother's getting married today, Zarek."
Zarek rolled over in bed to find his wife Astrid staring at him with that unnerving gimlet look that she seemed to reserve solely for him whenever he irritated her. "And I should care, why?"
"He's all the family you have left, and I would like for my baby to know both sides of his family."
Zarek turned back to his side as he pretended to ignore her. But that was impossible. For one thing, he loved her too much to ever discount her, and for another, she wouldn't be ignored.
He felt her hand in his hair as she toyed with it. "Zarek?"
He didn't answer. After Ash had returned to earth with Tabitha, he'd spent a lot of time in the Peradomatio, or Hall of the Past.
Astrid was wearing off on him after all. Being married to her had taught him much about justice.
No, that wasn't exactly true. Being with her was making the past somehow bearable, and now that she was pregnant...
He didn't want his son born into a world where forgiveness was an alien concept.
"It's not easy to let go of the past, Astrid," he said finally.
She kissed his shoulder, sending chills all over him. "I know, Prince Charming." She rolled him over, onto his back, and leaned over him.
Zarek placed his hand against her distended stomach, where he felt his baby moving rambunctiously against his palm. His son was due in only two weeks.
"So, do I need to get dressed for a wedding?" Astrid asked quietly.
Zarek brushed her long, blonde hair back from her face so that he could cup her cheek. "I prefer you naked, in my bed."
"Is that your final answer?"
"What's wrong, Tabitha?"
Tabitha turned around to see Valerius behind her. He looked completely elegant in his black tie attire, but then he always looked that way. Unlike her, he never had a single hair out of place.
Her body wanned instantly at his approach. She wore a strapless wedding dress and was barefoot at the moment, having kicked off her high heels the minute they left the cathedral.
"Nothing's wrong," she lied, not wanting him to know just how sorry she was for all the strife she'd caused him.
And how she really would be the death of him one day.
Her heart ached.
"Are you ready to trade me in yet?" she asked playfully, even though her throat was really tight.
"Never, but there's a large crowd of people out in the backyard who are wondering where the bride is."
She wrinkled her nose at that. "Okay, I'm coming," she said, taking him by the arm.
He led her back outside into the thick of madness that was her family.
She'd opted at the church not to divide up the guests in the pews lest it become painfully obvious that there wasn't anyone on the groom's side.
Even four of the seven groomsmen had to be borrowed from her side. Only Ash, Gilbert, and Otto had been there for Valerius.
She was still angered that no other Dark-Hunter had come or sent good wishes.
Kyrian, Julian, Talon, and Tad had graciously volunteered to finish out the number of groomsmen so that her sisters wouldn't be without escorts. For that, she would love them always.
Her Aunt Sophie grabbed her and pulled her away from Valerius.
Tabitha promised her return before the women surrounded her.
Valerius smiled at the sight, then turned to go get them both a glass of champagne. Laughter echoed in the backyard, amidst the strains of the orchestra they'd hired. Tabitha had wanted a Goth band to play, but her mother had put her foot down and insisted Tabitha not make the ears of their guests bleed.
He looked around the crowd where people were laughing together and talking. Ash, Otto, and even Gilbert were standing off to the side with the other groomsmen. He longed to go over and join them, but knew from experience that though Kyrian and Julian tolerated his presence, they didn't like it.
How odd that he felt alienated even at his own wedding.
Taking a drink of champagne, he scanned the crowd until he found his wife with her sisters.
He smiled at the sight Tabitha was absolutely lovely with her auburn hair down around her shoulders. Someone had placed little sprigs of flowers all through her hair and sprayed glitter in it. She looked like some ethereal fey out to seduce him.
The wedding director came up to inform him that dinner was ready to be served.
Inclining his head to her, Valerius went to tell Tabitha that they needed everyone to be seated.
He claimed his bride and led her to the bridal table.
Tabitha laughed under her breath as she sat in the chair and they actually got her scooted up without incident. She was finally learning how to do this properly. The first time Valerius had held a chair out for her had been a complete fiasco.
He took a seat on her right as Gilbert sat to her left.
The waiters started bringing out plates and filling the wineglasses.
Valerius took her hand into his, then kissed her knuckles. The sensation of his lips on her hand set fire to her. She'd never known a human being could be so happy and yet terrified at the same time.
Once everyone was served, Gilbert stood up to toast them.
The band stopped playing.
Gilbert opened his mouth, but before he could speak, a deep, accented voice interrupted him.
"I know that it's typical for the best man to toast the couple, but I think Gilbert might forgive me for usurping his place for a minute."
Tabitha had to force herself not to gape as Zarek approached their table from out in the crowd.
Valerius's grip tightened on her hand.
Zarek paused directly in front of them and stared meaningfully at his brother. "Weddings have always been a fascinating thing to me," he said, his voice ringing out. "A time when two people look into each other's eyes and promise each other that they will never allow anyone or anything to divide them.
"Out of two families, they come together to form a separate branch that links back to their roots. It's a time when two families are joined together because of the hearts of two people. A time when ill will and bad feelings should be put to rest along with the past."
Zarek's gaze went down the table, stopping at each of the current and former Dark-Hunters. "Weddings signify a new beginning. After all, no human alive has ever been able to choose his family... God knows, I would never have chosen mine." He quirked a smile at Valerius. "But as the Roman playwright Terence once wrote, 'From many a bad beginning great friendships have formed.'"
Zarek lifted a glass to them. "Here's to my brother, Valerius, and his wife Tabitha. May you both come to enjoy the happiness I have known with my own wife. And may you give one another all the love you both deserve."
Tabitha wasn't sure which of them was the most stunned by Zarek's words. Her family, unaware of what an unexpected moment this was, cheered Zarek's toast.
Shocked beyond comprehension, neither of them took a drink.
Zarek walked over and gave them a wry, almost mocking grin. "You're supposed to take a drink now."
They did, but Valerius choked on his. He sniffed the glass suspiciously.
"Did you poison me?" he asked Zarek in a low tone.
Zarek rubbed his eyebrow with his middle finger. "No, Valerius. Even I'm not that cruel."
"It's nectar," a woman's voice said.
Tabitha turned to see a beautiful blonde pregnant woman behind her.
The woman placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, then kissed her on the cheek. "I'm Zarek's wife, Astrid," she said in a low tone that only the two of them could hear. She turned to Valerius and gave him a kiss as well. "We couldn't decide what to give the two of you for a wedding gift, so Zarek thought the best gift would be eternity together."
"Yeah," Zarek said in a surly tone. "That's the polite version of what I said."
Astrid gave him a playfully mean look before she looked back at them. "Congratulations to you both."
She handed Valerius a small bowl of something that reminded Tabitha of Jell-O. "It's ambrosia," she said to Valerius. "Eat it and you'll be able to hurl lightning bolts back at Zarek whenever he gets playful with you."
"Hey!" Zarek snapped. "I never agreed to that."
Astrid gave him an innocent stare. "This way, I figure you'll play nicer in the future with your brother."
Tabitha laughed. "You know, I think I like my new sister-in-law."
Astrid left them to join Zarek, who looked less than pleased. "Don't worry, hon, I'll make sure you have plenty of other things to occupy your time with than harassing Valerius."
Zarek's gaze softened the instant she touched him.
Valerius rose to his feet and walked around the table until he stood before Astrid and Zarek. "Thank you," he said.
He held his hand out to Zarek, who looked at it suspiciously. Tabitha half-expected him to turn away.
He didn't.
Taking Valerius's hand, he clapped him on the back, then released him. "Your woman loves you more than you know. She's a hell of a fire-cat. I probably should have given you something in Kevlar."
Valerius laughed at that. "I hope you two will stay for the reception."
"We'd love to," Astrid said before Zarek could answer.
The two of them took a seat at the table with Selena and Bill while Valerius came back to her.
"Bon appetit," Tabitha said as she held the ambrosia out to him.
He ate it, then kissed her.
"Mmm," Tabitha breathed, inhaling the scent of her husband. "Pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo."
I intend to have my way with you upstairs and down.
Valerius smiled. "And I intend to let you." His face turned serious as he stared at her and his love for her consumed him. "Amo, Tabitha. Amo."