It had taken a bit longer to have that talk with Ezra than we had planned, since he had wanted us to leave the house to have it, so it was dark by the time I burrowed Lynn’s SUV. When we had first entered, we had mutually — silently — agreed to sidestep Elder Zeller since he was still standing in front of the window, but this time holding a bottle of whiskey, which was half gone. Lynn hadn’t said anything, but he must have remembered I had told him Cahal had recently lost his mate because all he had done was lower his eyes and follow us upstairs.

It had been Brann and Brenna who had kept us there, running about, exploring the vacated home. You would think little monsters wouldn’t be able to hide in a home that had no furniture and was stripped bare, but together they had somehow managed it. There had been one particularly high point when we had caught them playing with their tiny cars on top of Antonio’s still-slumbering form. Lynn had been, for the most part, horrified, apparently deducing who Antonio was, but Ezra and I had only lifted the kids and gotten them out of the room before Lynn had a complete meltdown.

I was now driving us down the town’s main strip with the plan to pick up dinner for everyone, while Ezra sat silent on the passenger’s seat even though he had wanted to talk. “So,” I finally relented and broke the silence, “what did you want to speak to me about?”

And, holy fucking shit, he just blurted, “Will you marry me?”

Surprised didn’t even explain what jolted through my system. More like utter and complete astonishment. I physically jerked, the SUV also swerving with my motion, and Ezra’s hand blurred, reaching over to grab the wheel and right our direction before I plowed into a van. “Did you…,” I blubbered, gripping the wheel tight to keep it straight on the road, my eyes darting back and forth between him and the street, “Did…did you…I…” I swallowed hard, trying to breathe normally, my heartbeat racing like mad when he only stared at me, not taking his words back. “Did…did you just ask me to marry you?”

He held his hands up. “Just hold on and hear me out before you answer.” He was scrutinizing me like someone might watch a cagey animal. “First, I’m not asking because my mother was killed yesterday, and I’m looking at life like it’s too short to waste, although, that reasoning is true, just not because I lost my mother. I had planned to ask you that night after we left the ice-cream parlor. Remember I had told you I wanted you in a good mood to ask you something?”

I blinked, gulping in air, swallowing hard as my thoughts swam in a million different directions, but I did remember him saying that right before Antonio had his vision, so I bobbed my head, an odd sound making its way out of my throat.

Confusion. Fear. Shock. Surprise.

All of these emotions were slamming at me, and not to mention I also felt…thrilled.

Fuck, I was a mess.

He gestured around us. “Well, when we figured out we were going to stay in Vegas, where there’s a chapel on every damn corner, it reminded me of some friends I used to know, and I didn’t think there would be another opportunity like this for us, with the war approaching.”

I blinked, and amazingly, yet another new emotion swamped me. Upset. I was damn upset. “You want to marry me right now because it’s convenient?”

He stilled, and then shook his head hard. “Shit, that didn’t come out right.” He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Can you find a place to park?”

My lips pinched as I was still feeling hurt, but I did find a restaurant to park in. I took my seatbelt off and turned to face him. His lips were lifted slightly as he stared at me, even though his eyes held that vulnerable cast I had seen in the parlor before everything went to hell. He leaned over and pushed my glasses up on my nose when they slipped. “I don’t want to marry you because we’re in a convenient location.” He gestured to a cute white chapel I hadn’t even noticed across the street. “If you say yes, we won’t be married in a Com chapel. It’ll be done secretly and legally by Mysticals who are friends of mine, per our traditions. Plus, their expedients will be faster.”

Oh…duh. Again, Com-thinking in action.

He took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. “And, in all honesty, this isn’t a convenient time for me. I did just lose my mother, and I would much rather be feeling what I felt before her death than what I am right now.” He slipped the glasses back on and stared me in the eyes. “I love you. You are who I want to spend the rest of my life with. I was scared at first, but once I got over that hump, I could see what a fucking idiot I was not to push for us to be a couple before. I’m seeing clearly now. You are who I want, so now I’m going to push as I should have before.”

Slowly, he lifted my trembling hand from my leg, holding it tightly. “I want to fall asleep next to you every night even when you’re cranky. I want to wake up next to you every morning even when I’m grumpy. I love the fact that when you snore it sounds a little like your wolf. I love that your mind is just as scheming as mine. I love the tiny smile you show only me after we’ve made love. I love the compassion you show to your subjects when other Rulers wouldn’t, but at the same time your intelligence and determination when you know you can’t. I love how loyal you are to those you love. And when it’s time to have children, you’re the one I want to have them with.”

His nostrils flared, his grip tightening on my hand. “There’s so much more I could go on about, but the fact is, I want to marry you. I want to be yours completely and forever and I want you to be mine completely and forever.” He bit his lip, something I had never seen him do, his eyes dancing back and forth between mine. “Please say you’ll marry me?”

My heart had just about melted when he began talking so earnestly, his words so humbly honest. I was watching him put himself out there — and he was scared, I could see it in the way the normally unbreakable man’s leg was bouncing up and down nervously, in his slightly sweating palm even if his grip was firm, and in the way his heartbeat was thumping faster than a locomotive. He had put his heart on the line. Tossing it to me and praying I wouldn’t break it. “You need to calm down,” I whispered, tears slipping from my eyes. “It’s killing me seeing you like this.”

He exhaled heavily, the sound explosive. “That wasn’t an answer, sweetheart.”

My eyes widened. Dear Lord. I had thought I had said yes a hundred times already. “Yes.” Fuck yes. He was who I wanted for every goddamn reason he had said about me, and then a billion more. My heart was his. “Baby, I’m yours. You should know this already. You only surprised me with the question.”

I shook my head, tears still tracking down my cheeks in pure happiness. “Well, I was shocked and scared, too, because of who we are. I never even considered marriage for us. I thought we would have to live as we were, without the option, and be content with it, but that was stupid. There’s no reason we can’t marry if you have ways to keep this quiet.” I leaned over, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Ezra, I’m yours. I’ll marry you every damn day for the rest of our lives if that’s what it takes to keep you.”

Tilting his head back, his grin was enormous, his teeth flashing white in the dark, as he cupped my cheeks. “I’m sure once will be enough.” He softly nipped my bottom lip. “You’re mine, sweetheart.”

I nipped his lip back. “And you’re mine.”

After hurriedly finding food and flashlights for the vacant house’s occupants and dropping them off there with a vague excuse of us needing to leave again, Ezra gave me directions he read from a text message. Apparently, during his walk today, he had contacted friends via phone who he had known had lived here at one point, after he had run by their old living quarters downtown and seen they were no longer there.

His friends were obviously more cautious — smarter — than Lynn Johnson, telling by the scenery we were passing. Wherever they now lived, it was in the boonies. There was nothing out here except for sand, cacti, tumbleweeds, and a crescent moon that dimly lit our way. Finally, another half-hour later, Ezra pointed to a road I probably would have missed, the only thing even showcasing it even was a road were two tiny red reflective plastic circles stabbed down into the earth on either side of the ‘driveway’, maybe an inch from the ground.

Turning down the long road — still no house in sight — I carefully asked, “Anything I should know about these people?”

“Nothing like you’re thinking,” Ezra murmured, dialing a few numbers on his cell. “They’re good people even if a bit,” he placed the cell to his ear, “flamboyant.” His eyes met mine briefly before turning back to the road. “And don’t be surprised if you see drugs being used.”

Then he stopped talking to me as the person he was calling answered. “Judge! It’s Ezra. How are you, man?” He paused, chuckling softly. “Yes, Jury told you right. I’m going to be using your mad skills to get married tonight.” A pause. “No, I’m not crazy.” Another pause. “No, I don’t need a bachelor party.”

I bristled, glancing at him, my grip tightening on the wheel.

Ezra’s lips twitched, catching whatever expression I wore. “Judge, she’s hearing everything I’m saying, and I’d rather not piss her off and have a runaway bride on my hands.” A longer pause, then Ezra turned a little on his seat toward the window, whispering, “Seriously, Judge. Don’t even think about it. If you’ve really planned something, get them the fuck out—” He stopped talking…because I slammed on the brakes and jerked the phone from his hand.

“Judge?” I asked into the receiver, damn near on the verge of violence.

Ezra was bright enough not to grab the phone back. He sat quiet. Really, he didn’t move…or breathe. God love an intelligent man.

A chuckle echoed over the line. “You must be the soon-to-be Mrs Ezra Zeller.”

“Actually, I’m Queen fucking Ruckler,” I let a bit of my growl enter my tone, “and soon-to-be wife of King fucking Zeller, but since that’s a bit of a mouthful, and you’ve apparently already taken the names Judge and Jury, I’ll go with your festive streak and let you call me…Executioner.” Oh, the irony. I growled low, my eyes flashing into the night. “And you’re going to get a front row seat to just what the Executioner does if I see one damn naked woman when we get there.” I paused. “Are you feeling me, Judge?”

There was an extended pause over the line, then booming laughter. “Oh, fuck. That’s perfect.” More laughter as he mumbled, “I’m feeling you. No naked women will be in…sight. Now, can I talk to my man?”

My wolf growled. “My man.”

A gurgled chuckle. “Alright, can I talk to the apparently newly crowned King Zeller?”

I turned my glare on Ezra, holding out the phone to him. “I’ll kill him if he’s lying.”

Ezra studiously nodded, carefully taking his phone back. He leaned over just as slowly, kissing my cheek. “Calm down, sweetheart, because even if they can’t get rid of all the strippers, you’re the only woman I’ll be looking at.”

I blinked. All of them? He said it like it was a freaking shitload, not the one — or two — I had been visualizing. But, of course, who could see Ezra Zeller having only one or two strippers at his bachelor party? Naive, I was currently being, and I wasn’t about to voice it.

Jerkily, I put the SUV back into gear and continued down the road. A soft growl permanently vibrated in my chest and possessive anger oozed from my very being, even as Ezra ran his hand up and down my leg in repetitive soothing motions.

Holding the phone up to his ear, Ezra stated severely, “You pissed her off, Judge.” There was a lengthy pause. “Yes to all questions, and I suggest you do as she said unless you want your head ripped off,” yes, it would be, “because she wasn’t kidding. We’re almost there, I can see the house ahead,” uh, I couldn’t, “so I need to try to fix your damn mistake.” He snapped his phone shut.

Instantly he leaned over, nuzzling at my neck and purring, “Sweetheart, you know—”

I lifted a stopping hand. “Shut it. I’ll calm down better if you don’t try to placate me.” I wiggled my shoulder, dislodging his face from my neck. “So back off.”

“No,” he stated brusquely, grabbing the other side of my neck, keeping his face flush against my skin and placing hot kisses across it. “We’re getting married and I don’t want you jealous or upset.” Soft nibbles on my earlobe. “I’m yours, sweetheart. I don’t give a shit about any woman except you. I didn’t ask for them to plan something, nor do I want it.” Said earlobe was gently sucked into his warm mouth. “All I want is you.”

Truth. All of it.

That quickly, I felt my wolf recede, possessive anger slowly dissipating at his honest words and his gentle petting. I tilted my head to give him better access, finally seeing lights ahead, even as I mumbled, “If there’s any T and A in view, you had better,” I cleared my throat as his knuckles brushed my collarbone, his lips beginning to suckle at my neck, “keep your eyes averted if you’re wanting to keep them.”

“I like my eyes right where they are.” He sighed softly. “On the woman I’m going to spend the rest of my life with.”

Ah, now that was just sweet. “Alright, alright. I’m not mad anymore.”

“Hmm?” His lips still played at my neck. “I know.”

A soft giggle left my throat as he continued his exploration of my neck. “God, I love you.”

The house I pulled up in front of reminded me of an igloo mansion, but it appeared made of sand instead of ice, and had large windows placed sporadically with red or gold lighting pouring from them. I parked in the circular ‘drive’ instead of going around the extensive front to the back where I saw another road lead and was probably where they parked their cars normally. Exiting the SUV, I sniffed the air, scenting the sizzle of Mage magic, a few Shifters’ scents, and a whole helping of marijuana. My ears were attacked by loud music, proving that this home placed in the middle of fucking nowhere was an excellent pick. It also told me this was a refuge of sorts for a variety of Mysticals, because there were too many intermingled scents for a simple home dwelling.

“On my walk today I got these in case you said yes,” Ezra said softly when I moved around the SUV to stand next to him. He handed me two small velvet boxes. “We can wear them on our thumbs, and no one will know what they are except us.” He placed his hand on my back as we moved toward the front door, guiding me as I opened them. “They’re not diamond, but I think you’ll understand.”

I smiled as I stared down at two plain rings, their bands thick. One was black on the top and on the inside, and the other was black on the outside while the inside was red. I pointed to the red and black one. “This is the one I’ll wear?” He nodded, stopping us at the front door. “They’re perfect.” And really, they were. They would signify who the partner was, but still remain secret to any who looked at the rings, Ezra’s only looking like a normal piece of black jewellery, same as mine.

“There’s an inscription,” he mumbled, his jaw quickly clenching. “It’s the same on both.”

Again, he was breaking my damn heart as his unexpected bashfulness flared. I took his out, tilting it under the bright lighting of a window next to the door. It read: The Beauty Is Found. Okay, so I sniffled a few times. I clutched the ring in my trembling hand, peering up at him. “I love it.” I lifted on tiptoe, kissing his jaw. “Thank you.”

“Promise? I know the rings aren’t what a woman—”

I covered his mouth with my hand, stopping his nervous babbling. “They’re just what I would want. I swear.”

I felt him grin behind my hand, and I lowered it when he leaned down, still grinning like a fiend, to whisper, “Once Elder Farrar wakes up, see if he can spell yours to allow you to shift while wearing it.”

My eyebrows rose. “Excellent idea.” My Queen ring was spelled that way.

He pulled me close, his warmth wrapping around me as he lightly kissed my neck…and bit. “I don’t want you to ever take it off.”

“You know I won’t,” I murmured, tilting my head to kiss his lips softly.

The front door swung open and, startled, Ezra and I pulled our mouths away from each other. There stood a handsome Mage, about our age and wearing a shit-eating grin, staring at us. He wore a white linen shirt and pants, his feet bare. He tilted his head to the side, taking a drag off a joint, and smiled around the smoke as he blew it above our heads, murmuring, “By God, it’s fucking true.” His gaze roamed up and down my frame before returning to Ezra. “Holy shit, the King Vampire is marrying the Queen Shifter.” If possible, his grin only increased. “And I’m going to be the one doing the ceremony.” He chuckled, nodding. “Fuck, yes. I’m loving it,” his eyes swung to Ezra, “and now I understand why Jury said you wanted it quiet and a memory spell done afterward.” And yet, he was still grinning.

Ezra released me for all of a second to give the Mage a manly hug in greeting before his arm circled my waist, pulling me close. “Judge, this is Queen Ruckler.”

I had already guessed as much.

He grinned, his eyes narrowing slightly as they met mine. “I believe she wants to be called Executioner.” Again, his gaze ran up and down me as he took another drag. “Sure you can hold up to the title?”

He had balls. As long as there weren’t a mess full of nudist inside, I decided I kind of liked the man. I held out my hand, lifting my lips in a friendly manner, yet giving them a slightly brutal touch. “I think I can handle it.” He took my offered hand, shaking it firmly. “It’s nice to meet you, Judge.”

“Oh, no. Believe me, this pleasure is all mine.” He opened the door wider when a Vamp, who was only about five feet, nine inches tall blurred to his side, nodding her head while appearing out of breath. “I believe Jury has taken care of your instructions, so it’s safe for you two to enter.”

My lips twitched. “Thank you.”

We stepped inside.

The rings fit our right thumbs perfectly. The grin on my face couldn’t be wiped away for anything, and I was thrilled to see that Ezra was smiling just as goofily as I was, setting aside his loss to be just as blissful as I was for our wedding. We stood in a study remarkably like Antonio’s, the room golden with an added silencing protection spell shimmering on the walls. We had been led down a deserted hall, given white robes to change into, and then brought into this room, no one else in sight except for Judge and Jury. And I was floating on pure joy, even though I had to focus somewhat while being coached by Ezra, since I had never been to a Mystical wedding before, the traditional wedding process slightly varying from a Com’s.

But throughout the entire wedding progression, Judge conducting it and Jury filming it per our earlier request, all I could think was that I was marrying the man I loved. The man my heart and mind chose without an ounce of magic.

We were crazy perfect for each other. Simply, we fit.

“I love you,” I mouthed, love pouring through my veins like an elixir.

Ezra’s eyes crinkled, he was smiling so blindingly, and he mouthed, “I love you, too.”

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Judge said quietly. “You may now kiss your bride.”

Ezra hummed softly, “I don’t mind if I do.”

“And I don’t mind if you do,” I whispered.

Ezra surprised me, though, lifting me straight off my feet. I squealed like a girl, wrapping my arms around his neck. Lips hovering in front of mine, his Vampire riding his voice hard, he purred, “Wife.”

A soft moan escaped as his lips found mine, our mouths moving together possessively. Spicy heat transfused my senses as our tongues collided, gliding together sensually in blatant ownership of each other’s mouths, but at the same time, I didn’t even need to have a Vampire’s senses to feel the pure adoration and love pouring off the two of us through our embrace. It practically filled the room, our emotions so potent they made me dizzy. My wolf rode my own voice, albeit a bit breathless when we eventually pulled apart, as I whispered, “Husband.”

Our eyes were glowing fiercely as they met.

We were married.

Filling out all the paperwork was a bit ridiculous. There was a damn form for everything. Cahal had already called, checking to make sure we were alright, but chiefly to complain because Brann and Brenna were starting to get restless in the strange, dark house, wanting to see us before they obeyed their father and laid down for bed. Both Ezra and I were feeling guilty, leaving his dad there as he was to handle them, so Ezra had both Judge and Jury working to finish this up, no time for celebration.

I had also tried to hide my middle name when I was signing the paperwork in front of him, the God-awful name that it was, but he had seen it and choked on his coffee, which Jury had brought in earlier. “Not one word. I plan to legally change it to Zeller later, and if you want that, then I would suggest you not make a comment.” I wouldn’t be able to take his last name, and he knew it. I could just imagine a Shifter asking me if I was Queen Ruckler, and I saying yes, but the Shifter smelling the lie. It couldn’t happen.

And it wasn’t my fault my mom had been so doped on Mys pain meds after my birth that she’d spelled my middle name wrong. It was supposed to be my grandmother’s maiden name. Shiltz. But she had left out the ‘l’, making it Shitz. Nice.

Ezra’s lips trembled as he stared between my face and the piece of paper I had just signed, but in the end he kept his trap shut…like a good husband. Of course, I already knew his middle name, which was Cahal after his dad, but now he knew why I had never mentioned mine to him. I still glared when he stoically signed his name underneath mine. He raised an eyebrow, lips pinched. “I didn’t say anything.”

I sighed, handing the sheet over. “You didn’t have to. It’s written all over your face.”

He made an odd gurgling noise, but luckily for him, he still didn’t say a word.

As did Judge, who blinked at the sheet in his hand. Stared. His lips twitched, but no comment was forthcoming, even as stoned as he was, which was damn remarkable. He then glowed golden, disappearing with our paperwork and taking it himself to wherever Mysticals turned in their paperwork for marriages so it would be kept quiet without passing through the hands of anyone else who would see our names together.

During the lull, I ran my hand ran up and down Ezra’s thigh. We had changed back into our normal street clothes. It was soft leather over heated skin I was touching. “Maybe I should have Jury take a picture of us, so I’ll have a photo of you in these pants.” Mmm. I grinned as Jury rushed out of the room, not even needing to be really asked, quite the dutiful assistant. We had the DVD of our wedding in hand, but I wanted a picture. “Where did you get them?”

He rested back further on his chair, spreading his legs wide. “I borrowed them from a store.”

I laughed outright. “Borrowed?”

“Indefinitely, naturally,” he murmured, lighting a cigarette and smirking. “So, you do like them? You haven’t said anything yet.”

I leaned over and stroked his lips with mine a touch hungrily, tasting spice and tobacco. “Uh-huh. They hug your ass perfectly.” And, dear merciful heavens, did they. And said ass was mine. My wolf growled a little.

Ezra’s chuckle vibrated against my lips. “I’ll have to borrow a few more if they make you react like this all the time.”

Ignoring the fact I was panting a bit, I nipped his lip. “Promise?”

“Oh, yes,” he whispered, eyes roaming my face, flaring with heat. “Most definitely.”

Jury took two pictures for us. A close-up and one at a distance — to get his pants in the picture — then she quickly scanned them, printed the shots, and deleted the images from the memory card. Judge reappeared right about that time, grinning like the devil as he waggled the copy of our official marriage certificate in his hand. All went into an envelope — marriage certificate, pictures, DVD — that we addressed to the spelled PO Box I had in New York, since it wasn’t safe to cart items like these around, risking being caught. Ezra had surprised me initially by mentioning the PO Box when I had sat stumped after they had asked for an address, apparently he having memorized the list I had given him about all my hideaways worldwide, but it was genius. So after we watched Judge physically sigh in resignation, his fun done before completing the memory spell on both himself and Jury, we left the house unnoticed, both Judge and Jury snoozing and completely oblivious to the events that had taken place in the study. We had our stamped envelope, our rings, and a life together ahead of us.

“You’re so mine, wife,” Ezra rumbled against my ear, holding me from behind as I unlocked Lynn’s SUV.

“Yes, I am,” I purred, turning my head to kiss his bristly cheek. “And you’re so mine, husband.”

“Mmm.” He nuzzled against my neck, growling softly, “Yes, I am most definitely yours.”