by T. M. Smith
“Sor…sorry, what?” Raven choked out.
Gabriel and Cirian chuckled, Rian shook his head, and Maya ignored them. That was more like it. “I said, why don’t we simply…well, simplify the wedding?” Rian laughed at his own joke. “Seriously though, many of the things that need to be done in the background are already done. We need to reel Ari in and not let her turn it into the extravagance she was initially planning.” Leaning across the table, Rian patted the top of Raven’s hand. “I’m dealing with this Raven, with everything that happened, one day at a time. I don’t want everyday life to stop because of an act of violence. I think the best way to remind ourselves, our friends and our families we are strong and stable is to put our best foot forward. What better way to do that than with a wedding?”
“And a christening?” Maeve asked, coming into the kitchen and leaning on the back of Rian’s chair. “Oh, you gonna eat that?” she asked, pickle already in her hand and heading toward her mouth.
Rian shook his head, grinning. “Nope, go right ahead.”
Maya stood, a more serious look on her face than moments before when they were all joking around. “You know what? That’s actually quite perfect, Maeve. We can do the christening in the morning, then have the wedding in the afternoon.” Pausing, she looked around the room as if she expected someone to disagree, but no one did. “Perfect.” She clapped. “Come on Maeve, let’s go find Ari and figure out all the details.” The two women left the kitchen, heads together, whispering conspiratorially.
It was late by the time Raven made it back to his, Tanis, and Apollo’s rooms that night. Tanis had fallen asleep with the lamp on, a book on his chest. He crossed over into Pol’s room; the little guy had passed out in almost the exact same position as his father. Standing in the middle of the bathroom, Raven looked left, right, and then left again. He could see them both from where he stood and took a few minutes to watch the boy and the man that were alike in so many ways. Blond hair, blue eyes, enigmatic personalities, fierce, loyal and loving…and they were his. Raven quietly walked over to Pol’s bed, taking the toy horse from his hands carefully, not wanting to wake him. He set it on the table and bent to kiss the sleeping toddler on his forehead.
“Good night my sweet boy; sleep well.” Pulling the blanket up and tucking it tight, Raven stood and flipped off the lamp, leaving the room as quietly as he came in and closing the door behind him. Back in his and Tanis’s room, he went about his nightly routine, not realizing his husband watched him as he did…until he moved closer to the mirror and caught the man he thought was fast asleep staring at his ass with hazy blue eyes.
Turning, Raven sauntered over to the bed and climbed in, slowly crawling up Tanis until he reached his lips. The kiss was soft, sensuous and full of innuendo. Once they were both hard and desperate, Raven rode Tanis until they both reached their peak. Afterward, he lay wrapped in his lover’s arms and shared the conversation he’d had with Rian and the others in the kitchen.
“I completely agree, babe. I know a lot has happened, but when is it ever dull here?” Tanis said jokingly. “The palace is full—there are people here from every House, and a wedding has been promised. I think a christening for Ian followed up with a simple ceremony for us will satisfy the people of House Gaeland. We should be celebrating life right now, sweetheart, not hiding from it.” Tanis watched him, anticipation in his eyes. Perhaps he thought Raven might argue with him, but he wouldn’t.
Smiling and nodding, Raven ran his hand through Tanis’s sweat-soaked hair and pulled him close for one last kiss. “Of course babe, you’re all right. I’m still worried about Rian, emotionally. What happened to him…I don’t know if I could handle it if it were me—I don’t know how he does it.”
Of course, Rian didn’t expect Raven or his children to keep things from their spouses. So he told the three of them just that, to tell their partners. “Marriages should never have secrets,” he’d said.
Sitting up, Tanis reached down and wiped the ever-present stray strand of purple out of his husband’s eyes. “You most certainly could get through it, Raven, and you know why? Because you’re a strong man, just like Rian. And because you have a husband who loves you unconditionally, a husband who would move the heavens and earth for you, just like Rian. Love, compassion, trust and commitment aren’t just words, Raven. They are feelings that live and breathe because of the people that share them.”
“Wow.” Raven cupped Tanis’s cheek in his hand. “Just when I think I can’t possibly love you any more than I already do, you show me I can.”
Chapter 28 | Here We Go Again
Chaos…there was no other word to describe the morning of the christening-slash-wedding. Aiya and Maeve went out of their way to ensure both families’ cultures were represented for baby Ian’s baptism. “Don’t even look at me; I couldn’t care less. Throw a diaper on him and let’s go as far as I’m concerned,” Sawyer told the two women in his life when they’d turned to him for his opinion on what to dress the baby in. The grandmothers were busy arguing over which gown Ian should wear, Aiya’s or Maeve’s. So Sawyer had swaddled Ian in a blanket and escaped the madness, hiding out with Raven, Tanis, and Apollo.
“I do have an alternative for you, Sawyer,” Raven told him, disappearing into his closet. It took a few minutes to dig out the small, white box Gabry had brought over with her for the ceremony in Greece. Setting the box in Sawyer’s lap, Raven took Ian and sat down on the floor with Pol so the boy could play with the baby. Sawyer grinned when he opened the box, lifting the small one-piece outfit and holding it up to the light—a cream-colored onesie with pale blue trim around the arms and collar, a cross in the center of the chest embroidered with the same pale blue used for the trim.
“Wow. It’s perfect, Raven.” Sawyer smiled down at his son.
“It was mine. Mom brought it over when Tanis and I were married in Greece, for us to use for our own child one day. Now that we have Pol, I don’t think we’ll need it. Well, not until we become grandparents at least,” Raven replied with a chuckle.
The door flew open, Aiya and Maeve stomping angrily into the room. “What the hell are you doing Sawyer, taking off without saying anything?” Maeve cursed.
Hands on her hips, Aiya let him have it as well. “We’ve been looking for you two for ten minutes. Mom and Ari are no closer to resolving…wait, what is that?” She pointed at the outfit, snatching it out of Sawyer’s hands. “Oh my God, Sawyer, it’s perfect.”
“That’s what he said,” Raven quipped, he and Sawyer sharing a laugh as both women glared at them.
“Let me see.” Maeve moved closer, running her hand down the sheer fabric of the onesie. “It’s so simple but exquisite at the same time, and the detailing…where’d you find this, Sawyer?”
“It was Raven’s when he was baptized. I think this is what Ian should wear today, babe, Maeve, if you two are in agreement.” Sawyer waited, hoping the two women in his life would agree. He wasn’t kidding when he said he’d walk into the chapel with his son in his arms wearing nothing but a diaper.
“Of course,” both women quickly agreed. With the problem solved, all they needed to do was break the news to Maya and Ariadne—Ian wouldn’t be wearing either of the outfits they were pushing for. It was Mia that pointed out the blanket Maya clung to was the same color and material as the onesie little Ian now wore. And that the booties and tiny crown of flowers and ribbon Ari held would go well with everything else. When all was said and done, the entire christening was over in less than an hour.
Raven quietly slipped into the chapel, taking a seat in the back. He didn’t want his presence to cause any eruption during the christening. It was still a struggle for him to sit back and watch Ainee performing the ceremonies that were previously his duties, but being the Head of The Order required him to use a different skill set. Not to mention, his own wedding was in just a few hours. Remembering his and Tanis’s ceremony in Greece brought a smile to his face. Technically, Tanis was already his husb
and. They’d tied themselves together permanently on the white sands of the beach at House Orion. But the people of House Gaeland wanted—no, they deserved—to see their former Priest officially tie himself to the son of House Orion.
Atrocities of late had caused a shift in the planning of the “Royal Wedding” that Ariadne, Tanis, and Maeve’s mother had originally envisioned for them. Black ties and ball gowns had been tossed aside. Instead, the majority of their friends and family would be wearing the same outfits they wore in Greece. Raven had painstakingly put together an amazing outfit for himself that he intended to wear. He still got a sour taste in his mouth remembering having to wear pants to his own wedding. This time he’d be dressed in a gorgeous purple and black kilt, a knee length, double-breasted waistcoat, and a black top hat that was covered with the same material he’d used for the lapels of his coat.
He’d also designed a suit for Tanis to wear: black linen pants, white button down shirt sans the tie, and a loose fitted black suit jacket with the same material used for the lapels that Raven had used for his own coat and hat. The ceremony would take place outside the main gate that separated the palace from the rest of the land. Ariadne had summoned all the muscle to set up the makeshift altar and a large, open area for seating. People were already making the journey from their homes up to the site for the ceremony. Raven watched over the walls of the palace from his perch on the walkway as the seats began to fill with family, friends, and strangers.
“Are you ready, babe?” Tanis startled him. Raven jerked, then exhaled a sigh, reaching for Tanis’s hand when he was close enough.
Stepping back and giving his partner a once-over, Tanis grinned, nodding his head. “You look good, babe. But seriously, let’s get down there before Mom sends out a search party.” Raven took a moment to admire his husband as well, leaning in for a quick kiss before taking his hand and following Tanis down to the grounds where Ainee waited to “marry” them, again.
The ceremony was simple but beautiful, and Raven was fine with that. He’d had his dream wedding on the beaches that circled his husband’s house, with the people he and Tanis cared most about in the world standing beside them. Aside from having to wear pants—Raven shuddered at the thought—and Pol not being with them, it was perfect.
“Heads up, groomie!” Aiyan cackled as he and Kaden danced past Raven. It was hard not to follow them across the makeshift dance floor to retrieve his top hat that now sat happily on Aiyan’s head. His best friend winked and blew him a kiss, laughing hysterically while spinning his own husband in a circle.
A hand on his shoulder briefly drew Raven’s attention away from the mad hatter. He turned, smiling at Rian and Cirian. He moved a bit slower than normal, his face still carried a bit of bruising, and Raven had yet to see the silver gleam return to the man’s eyes…but all in all, Rian was doing much better. Cirian was very attentive, biting the head off anyone that dared move close enough to Rian to touch him unless they were family, or invited. But the tension in the House had evaporated, for the most part.
“I haven’t had a chance to thank you yet, Raven.” Rian smiled, though Raven could tell it was half-heartedly.
“For what?” Raven asked
“Figuring out the Morse code. God knows what would have…”
Raven cut Rian off with a slight wave of his hand, placing the same hand on Rian’s shoulder. “Don’t even finish that thought, much less put the words out there. It’s over, Rian. That man can never hurt anyone else again. Focus on the here and now, on life, Rian.…Don’t dwell on the past. But if you need me, I’m here.”
Rian studied him a moment before nodding, then turning and taking Cirian’s hand, leading him out onto the floor as the pace of the music slowed. Raven couldn’t help but laugh as Aiyan and Kaden ambled toward him, giggling and still spinning each other in circles. Much too caught up in their shenanigans to pay attention to where they were going, Aiyan spun Kaden right into Maya, who was on her way to congratulate Raven, Tanis by her side.
She huffed, flinging the champagne that landed on her hand during the impact into the air in front of her. “Would you two watch what you’re doing? And don’t think I didn’t notice the top-to-bottom crack in your bedroom door.” She turned and traded the empty glass for a full one as a servant passed, thanking him gracefully before turning back to her son, glaring at him and his husband. “What is it with you two? I mean, seriously, why can’t you plow each other into oblivion on the bed, like most married people do?”
Aiyan sputtered and coughed on the swig of champagne he’d just taken. “Mom! For Christ’s sake. We were not…we didn’t break the door fucking on it,” he barked as quietly as possible.
Maya threw her head back and laughed—well, cackled like one of those women in black hats that rode brooms.…What were they called? Oh, right, witches. “Oh, yeah. Right.” She guffawed, turning when she caught sight of Mia across the yard.
“Jesus, that woman—ow!” Aiyan shrieked when Raven smacked him on the back of the head. “What the hell?”
“You know better. Don’t take the lord’s name in vain around me—you just did it twice.” Raven stared, one eyebrow raised as if challenging Aiyan to respond.
Familiar arms wrapped around his waist, pulling him toward the dance floor. “Dance with me, babe. You can beat on Aiyan another time,” Tanis whispered seductively. Wrapped up in his lover’s thickly corded, inked-up arms, Raven felt safe and secure. When Tanis leaned in for a chaste kiss, more than anything Raven wanted to open up to him and be devoured by the man he loved. But there would be time for that later. At the moment, he planned to take his own advice: focus on the here and now.
Epilogue
“Really? That’s all you have to bring with you?” Hector eyed the two bags sitting on the floor of the bedroom he’d shared with August for the past week. Compared to his own larger bags, they seemed smaller than they likely were.
August continued to rifle through the box on the bed. “Pretty much, unless I find anything in here I want to take, which isn’t likely.”
Wanting to leave his family on the right footing, August had taken Hector to meet his parents, to introduce them to the man he was falling in love with and collect any minuscule items he may have left at his childhood home in his rush to flee—how long ago was it? It seemed like years had passed since he’d last been there, but in all honesty, it’d only been months. Standing before his father, the disapproving glare marring the man’s wrinkled face, only served to remind August why he’d left in the first place.
“August, hon, are you sure you want to walk away from your life here with so few possessions? No reminders of this place?” Hector asked, reaching for his hand.
Shoving the box aside, August took Hector’s hand and pulled him close, nuzzling his face in the crook of his lover’s shoulder. His father had rarely shown any affection toward August unless it was followed by disapproval. Being held by Hector so openly only solidified August’s resolve that he was making the right decision to accompany him to Greece. “I’ve got everything I need right here.”
Laughing, August leaned back, laying his arms over Hector’s shoulders lazily, staring at him like he hung the moon. And in August’s eyes, he truly did. One last kiss and a glance around the room to be certain they weren’t forgetting anything and Hector led August from the room, down the winding halls and out to the stables where they would gather with the others to begin their journey to the clearing.
Taryn and Theresa were going back to Greece along with Hector and August, with Li and Sam following in their ship to collect their Samurai before heading home to House 人之初 rén zhī chū. Rigston was accompanying Gabry back to House Gilley at her request. Her nephew had yet to meet someone to capture his heart, and for some reason, Gabry thought Rigston might change that. The Ambassador to House Ulura had veered off the path Anthony Smith set in motion after GWI in his own way by divorcing his husband. Apparently, the man was a lot like Tanis had been before meeting Raven.
The problem was, Rigston’s ex-husband hadn’t stopped bedding a different lover in every port, even after they were married.
In the week since the wedding, August had discovered most of what he perceived to be fact when it came to the Houses, Ambassadors, and the people that dwelled within the walls of each House’s palace was false. Cirian had never warmed up to him though, and neither had Aiya or Maeve. What shocked August most was the kindness he’d gotten from Rian. It messed with his head. He’d been the one to point Cillian in Rian’s direction, and it was something that would haunt August for the rest of his life. Seeing what had been done to the kind, gentle man who wanted nothing more than to love his husband and be with his family—it left a mark on August he knew would never wash away.
“You be good to him, you hear? Cause I can and will come back home just to kick your ass if you hurt him.” Tanis came up behind August, clapping him on the back. Maeve walked past them, bouncing baby Ian in her arms, giving August a murderous glare. “Yeah, you’ll likely be on your deathbed before that one forgives you.” Tanis leaned close, whispering conspiratorially.