by Tara West
Melanie’s son, who’d grown into a handsome young man, brought his grandparents for a visit every Sunday. They snuck a few slices of heavenly cheesecake and visited with Melanie and Santiago on the back porch.
Callum and Cara preferred to live in the pyramid on sub-level one rather than smelly level two in purgatory. Aedan didn’t like it, but since O’Connor men have been known to be stubborn mules, there was nothing he could do to change his brother’s mind.
So now our afterlives were almost close to perfect. Only one thing was missing, that gold band on my finger, forever binding me to the man of my dreams. Our rescheduled wedding day had finally come, and butterflies swarmed in my stomach like bees invading a hive as I checked myself in the mirror one last time.
I spun a slow circle, admiring my shapely legs and loving the flare of my pin-up model dress. After combing virtually all of the purgatory thrift shops, I’d found a bridal gown that looked almost identical to the first. Inés had sewn on a new red sash, and my grandma lent me satin red shoes and her aqua-marine earrings. I made a damn hot bride, especially considering I no longer had hair growing out of my nipples and breath that smelled like dirty butthole.
Those butterflies turned to rabid gremlins when a knock sounded on my bedroom door.
My grandpa poked his head inside. “Ready angel?”
I let out a slow, steady breath. Was I ready to finally say “I do” to the man who’d risked his very soul to keep me safe time and again? The man who loved me enough to overlook my flaws and fight for our love despite attempts from the very Devil himself to break us apart? The man who held me in his arms each night while tenderly demonstrating his love?
“Yes, grandpa.” I tilted my chin, unable to keep from smiling. “I’m ready to become Mrs. Aedan O’Connor.”
There was not a dry eye in the house as my grandpa walked me down the aisle made up of a strip of worn carpet and a few mismatched chairs and patched-up sofas. Basil had decorated the common room with some sort of garden fairy/sixties hippie motif. The giant tie-dye cardboard butterflies hanging from the ceiling bobbled awfully close to my guests’ heads, and one got stuck in my veil for a moment, until my grandpa ripped it from the ceiling and tossed it across the room. The champagne fountain was in the shape of a giant mushroom, and I wasn’t entirely convinced the herbs in the fondue sauce weren’t actually Basil’s special headache medicine.
Cam stood on the podium, his hair tied back and his wings fanned out behind him. He wore a classic Grecian style robe with gold trim and he held a tattered copy of an original Bible in his hands.
Melanie stood below Cam, wearing something that looked like a 1980s prom dress with big poofy sleeves. Inés had sprayed her hair with plenty of Aqua Net, giving her the high bangs look that complimented the dress. After getting to know and like Melanie, and getting past my stupid jealousy issues, it seemed only natural that she’d be my maid-of-honor. After all, we had so many fun stories and private jokes to share, like the ones about her boyfriend humping pillows and pissing on the floor. Callum stood across from Melanie, looking like a regal gentleman in his borrowed suit. But it was my handsome groom who was the focus of my attention as I walked down the aisle to Boner’s folksy rendition of “Here Comes the Bride” on acoustic guitar.
My grandfather handed me to Aedan, kissing me on the cheek before sitting beside my grandma and uncle.
As Aedan and I clasped hands, I couldn’t help but get lost in his smiling blue eyes. He looked so debonair in a turn of the century suit and cravat.
Cam cleared his throat and the murmurs in the crowd died down. He loudly cleared his throat again, and Crow threw a shoe at Boner’s head before Boner finally set down the guitar.
“Dearly beloved,” Cam said as his smiling gaze swept the crowd. “We are gathered here today to witness the eternal bonding between two souls in love, Ashley MacLeod and Aedan O’Connor. Rather than recite a traditional marriage blessing, Ashley has asked if she could read a poem she wrote for her husband-to-be.”
When Aedan’s eyes lit with shock, wildfire raced through my veins, heating my cheeks until they felt on fire. I hadn’t told Aedan about my vows. I’d wanted them to be a surprise, and I sure as hell hoped he liked them.
I pulled the slip of paper from its hidey spot between my breasts, my two very human and smooth breasts. My hands trembled as I unfolded it, and I nearly dropped it a few times. Why was I so nervous? I licked my parched lips, confidence surging through me when I caught Aedan’s wide smile from over the rim of the paper. I cleared my throat a few times, coughing into my fist until Melanie handed me a glass of water. After taking a few sips, I set the water on the podium and Aedan took my hand in his. I shook off my nervous energy and stared down at my vows.
“From the gates of heaven to the fires of damnation,
Through trials, tribulation, and temptation
You are my love, my light, my salvation
There’s no battle we can’t win that we haven’t fought before
I will love you a thousand forevers and forever more.”
I glimpsed up from the paper, shocked when I saw tears in Aedan’s eyes.
“Did you like it?” I asked.
He brought my hand to his lips, brushing a soft kiss across my knuckles. “I loved it, sweetheart. Thank you. I don’t have any vows written down, but I do have a few by memory. I swear to love you forever, and I promise no force of heaven or hell can tear us apart again.” Then he flashed me a coy smile, one that assured me he’d find a way to prove his love for me tonight.
“Please bring out the rings,” Cam said to Melanie and Callum.
Callum handed Aedan a ring with Celtic weaves and emerald ivy. It was the prettiest piece of jewelry I’d ever seen. I took the simple gold band from Melanie. It didn’t really have any special symbols, other than I’d gotten a good deal on it. Maybe too good a deal, meaning I sure hoped Aedan’s finger didn’t turn green and fall off.
“Aedan Patrick O’Connor,” Cam boomed in a regal yet angelic voice that echoed into the other rooms, “With this ring do you vow to stand by this woman through the flaming fires of hell and to honor her with love and loyalty for eternity ever after?”
Aedan solemnly nodded as he slipped the ring on my finger. “I do.”
It took all of my willpower not to jump out of my red satin shoes. The ring fit perfectly and sparkled beneath the light from the beaded chandelier overhead.
Cam turned to me with a wink. “Ashley Marie MacLeod, with this ring do you promise to follow this man through damnation and back while pledging your loyalty and love forever more?”
I didn’t even bat an eye as I slid the ring down his finger. “I do.”
Cam splayed his arms wide, grinning ear-to-ear. “Then by the powers that be, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He winked at Aedan. “You may kiss your bride.”
Aedan pushed back my veil, which had only partially covered my eyes, swept me into his arms, and kissed me for so long and with so much passion, I started to wonder if he was trying to speed up to the honeymoon and take me right there on the floor.
After we finally pulled apart, the crowd broke into raucous applause. Inés popped a cork on a champagne bottle, Callum and Santiago whistled, and Boner started playing Back in Black on his guitar.
And then the blaring sirens from above our ghosting elevator tore through our serenity like nine inch nails on a slick chalkboard.
I gaped at Aedan. “What the hell? We’re off duty.”
He frowned down at me. “It must be a mistake.”
“It had better be a mistake,” I grumbled. We had a tropical beach honeymoon to get to, and I wasn’t in the mood to go on a haunting mission, especially when there were several other ghosting units on duty that could handle the call.
Sarge picked up the clunky phone that hung from the wall by the elevator, his face unreadable as he listened to the other line. My gut just about hit the floor when he hung up the phone, swearing.
He turned back to the crowd, his dark gaze settling on Aedan and me. “It’s big. Every ghosting house has to report.”
All of the moisture in my mouth evaporated and beaded on my brow. I clutched Aedan’s arm for support. “Every house?”
Sarge solemnly nodded. “Sorry about the honeymoon. Say your goodbyes to your family. We have to report in one minute.”
My grandma fussed like a squawking chicken, making Aedan swear on his soul he’d protect me. As if he hadn’t proved himself enough. My grandpa, uncle, and new brother-in-law hugged us and wished us well.
I wasn’t exactly sure about those well-wishes. I was going on a ghosting assignment on my wedding day. Talk about a bad omen.
As we lined up with the other ghosters, Aedan pulled his scythe out of his pocket and squeezed my hand tight. “Ready, my sweet wife?”
The rusty elevator doors slid open with a slow screech.
I swallowed back what felt like a lump of cotton wedged in my throat, wishing I had some Nephilim water to calm the hornet’s nest swirling in my stomach as I gaped up at him. “Not really, husband, but it’s okay, as long as we’ll always be together.”
He winked at me before we stepped onto the platform. “I’m eternally yours.”
THE END...
A Message from Tara West
Dear readers,
I hope you are enjoying my Eternally Yours Series. I’d originally only planned on writing three books, but this series has received such amazing feedback, that Ash and Aedan feel compelled to keep you entertained. Their such attention hogs, and yes, I’m planning a book five for 2017. I hope you give my other paranormals a try, especially my recently released dragon shape-shifter two-book saga, Dragon Song and Dragon Storm.
I have a lot in store for my readers in 2016, including a three book spinoff of my Something More Series featuring Cesar Cruz: Say You Want Me, Say You Need Me, and Say You Love Me.
Please sign up for my newsletter at www.tarawest.com and as a thank you, I will send you a free download of books one through three in my paranormal Whispers series.
As always, I appreciate honest reviews at the site where you purchased this book. Getting recognition as an indie author isn’t easy, but your reviews help more than you know. It’s your reviews that help other readers find my books, so that I can continue to write for a living.
Blessings,
Tara
BOOKS BY TARA WEST
Dawn of the Dragon Queen Saga
Dragon Song
Dragon Storm
Eternally Yours
Divine and Dateless
Damned and Desirable
Damned and Deceived
Demonic and Deserted
Something More Series
Say When
Say Yes
Say Forever
Say Please
Say You Want Me (Book One in a new spinoff series
coming 2016 featuring Cesar Cruz)
Whispers Series
Sophie’s Secret
Don’t Tell Mother
Krysta’s Curse
Visions of the Witch
Sophie’s Secret Crush
Witch Blood
Witch Hunt
Keepers of the Stones
Witch Flame, Prelude
Curse of the Ice Dragon, Book One
Spirit of the Sea Witch, Book Two (releasing 2017)
Please visit my Amazon page for a complete list of books: http://www.amazon.com/Tara-West/e/B008DIXDAK/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1450675304&sr=8-1