Sweet Reckoning

“A half-demon minister,” Kaidan said. “That has to be a first.”

“Yup. And I’ve got the traditional vows here. I thought that’s what you’d probably want.” He looked at me and I reached forward, pulling him into a hug. I will not cry, I chanted to myself.

“Thank you, Blake,” I told him. “You thought of everything.”

It was miraculous how fast it all had come together. Like it was meant to be.

I let him go, trying not to get emotional, but—GAH!—this was really happening! We all moved to the open area in the back. It was still a snug fit, so the twins sat while Kaidan and I held hands facing Blake, who was wearing a silly mock-serious look on his face.

“Dearly beloved,” he said in a booming voice.

We all burst out laughing. It must have been nerves because all five of us laughed way too long, and it took several minutes to get ourselves together again. Now that the tension was broken, we all began to calm.

Blake turned his attention back to Kaidan and me.

“All right, for real this time.” He looked at Kaidan. “Keep your eyes on Anna and repeat after me. You ready?”

Kaidan ran his hands through his hair and blew out a breath before taking my hands again. I rocked back on my heels a little when he held me with his most intense stare. He nodded, and Blake told him what to say. Kai’s voice was rich and velvety as he repeated the vows, punctuating each word with a passion I felt down to my toes.

“I, Kaidan, take you, Anna, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health . . . till death do us part.”

He whispered the last promise with pain in his voice, and I let the silent tears I’d been holding back slip down my cheeks. He wasn’t just repeating the words. He meant them. This was real. No one could ever take this moment from us. I swallowed, and before I could wipe my cheeks, Kaidan was wiping them for me.

“No tears,” he whispered.

Deep breath.

I nodded and took his hands again. It was my turn. I took a few more breaths before saying my vows with all my heart, trying not to cry.

“I, Anna, take you, Kaidan, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health. Until death do us part.”

His eyes were a soft blue as he watched me in wonder, his warm thumbs running back and forth over my hands. I smiled, and when he smiled back at me, I’d never felt such pure joy.

“Time for the rings,” Blake said.

Rings! “Oh,” I began, “I didn’t—”

But Kaidan surprised me, reaching into his pocket.

“This is what I did during my three hours,” he said quietly. He looked almost bashful and hesitant as he pulled out a platinum men’s band with black tribal markings—something that a rocker boy would totally wear. Next he brought out a platinum women’s band that appeared woven with vines, studded with a small round emerald. Gorgeous and delicate. It didn’t look like a traditional wedding ring, which was smart of him.

“I figured we’d have to wear these on our opposite hands after today,” he explained, “and since it’s our secret, I decided on your birthstone instead of a diamond. I had to guess your ring size. You have small hands.”

“I love it.” I beamed and he gave me a relieved grin.

He handed me the heavy men’s band.

“Kai, you first,” Blake said.

Kaidan slid the ring onto my finger and held it there. It fit perfectly.

In a low voice he repeated after Blake, “With this ring, I thee wed. Wear it as a symbol of our love and commitment.”

At that point the moisture from my eyes was gone and I couldn’t stop smiling. I put Kaidan’s ring on his finger and said, “With this ring, I thee wed. Wear it as a symbol of our love and commitment.”

We clasped hands again. The plane was quiet except for the buzz of the engine. We looked at Blake.

“Well, you know what they say, guys. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”

Or demon, I thought.

I felt Kaidan watching me, and I soaked in the moment.

Blake clapped Kaidan on the shoulder. “Here’s the good part. You may now kiss your bride.”

“’Bout time,” Kaidan said. He leaned down.

“No tongue,” Ginger called out.

“Yes tongue!” Marna countered.

Kaidan was still waiting for them to shut up when I threw my arms around his neck and pressed my lips to his. It didn’t take him long to sink into me. I felt his tongue for a moment, soft against mine, before we were pulling away and pressing our foreheads together.

We were married.

“Did we really just do that?” he whispered, eyes wide. I smiled, nodding, bursting with a crazy, all-consuming happiness. The cabin buzzed with hyper energy.

“Should I be this turned-on by a wedding?” he asked.

Ginger snorted. “You get turned on when the wind blows.”

I giggled and Kai grinned at me.

“I now present Mr. and Mrs. Kaidan Rowe,” Blake said.

“Aw,” Marna said with a sigh.

“Words I never thought I’d hear,” Ginger murmured.

“Me neither.” Kaidan pecked my lips once more. He looked more alive and content than I’d ever seen him.

“Now to your final destination,” Blake said as he headed for the cockpit.