"This is a security nightmare," Mercury said, staring at the seating chart for the umpteenth time. Like that was going to make it any better.

Kaden pushed his white-blond hair out of his eyes. Mercury was right. This was a complete nightmare on a lot of fronts. As head of the Order and Keeper of the Watch, security was most definitely in his job description. Usually that meant making sure the royal household stayed safe, looking after small groups of civilians and keeping his Guardians on the straight and narrow. Since the King mated with Lena, Kaden's job had become a lot more difficult.

While both Thorn and Lena were warriors in their own right, their pairing made them vulnerable. What made them strong as a couple—their depth of feeling and connection to one another—was precisely why they were now targets for the Fallen. Granted, Thorn had always been a target, but it felt more real now, more difficult for Kaden to manage. If the Fallen took a shot at Lena, they were also aiming for Thorn. If Lena was injured, Thorn would feel her pain as if it was his own. If the wound was fatal...

Shit. Kaden couldn't stand it.

"Boss?" Mercury nudged him.

"Huh?"

"I asked you whose brilliant idea it was to invite everyone."

"Thorn's."

Mercury scowled. "'Had an 'orrible feelin' you were gonna say that."

"We'll just have to figure something out," Kaden said with a sigh.

"Yeah but everyone?"

Thorn had insisted the entire race was invited to the royal handfasting. Politically, Kaden knew Thorn was right. With so few of them left, it didn't seem right to exclude anyone. All the great Houses were coming from as far afield as New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States. Hell, even the damned Squires had been invited. House Blackwood needed to show strength, and they needed the support of the dwindling population as they fought to turn the tables in the war against the Fallen. It made perfect sense that no one should feel slighted at not receiving a beautiful, handwritten invitation.

In reality, it was the stupidest idea Kaden had ever heard.

"It's going to be difficult. I won't deny it," Kaden answered. "But unless half of them go down with food poisoning or something, that's the way it's going to be."

Mercury arched a brow, his good eye burning with mischief.

Kaden folded his arms and squared up to the guy. "That was not an invitation to poison them, Mercury."

The Guardian flashed a crooked grin. "Don't have to be anythin' serious, you know? Nothing people can die of or anythin'."

"Mercury..."

"Maybe just give 'em all the squits..."

Kaden could hear the cogs turning overtime in Mercury's head. No doubt the guy already had some very plausible solutions. "I'm serious."

"So am I!"

Kaden couldn't help but laugh. "Fine. Poison them. This is the handfasting of the millennium—they'll come anyway. Then you can explain to Soraya and Lena why half the guests are throwing up and the other half are locked in the bathroom."

The smile fell from Mercury's face.

"Chicken."

"You blame me?"

Kaden clapped the guy on the back. "Not at all, my friend."

He meant it too. Lena and Soraya were the unlikeliest of friends, but Kaden had to admit, when those two joined forces they were formidable at best. At worst, they were downright impossible.

Thorn Blackwood strode into the Command Centre. The daft grin on his face was an almost permanent feature nowadays. "What are you two up to?"

Kaden inhaled, catching a whiff of Lena's unique scent. No wonder the guy looked happy. It would seem love's young dream was still going strong. "Just looking at this seating chart," he answered.

Thorn frowned. "What's wrong with it?"

"There's too many bloody seats on it," Mercury grumbled.

"Believe me, I'd far rather we had a choice of attendees. As it is, there aren't that many of us left and I need all the support I can get. I don't have a choice," Thorn replied.

* * *

"Where are we with security?" Thorn asked his Keeper of the Watch.

Kaden puffed out a heavy sigh. "It's going to be very tight. Without more bodies, I'm really not happy about it. We need more Guardians."

Thorn nodded. Kaden was right, but they weren't exactly overrun with volunteers. Ryver was the latest recruit, and he’d joined over twenty-five years ago. If Thorn counted himself in the numbers, there were eight of them. Not exactly an army. Added to the fact that no one really wanted to talk to Marin and that Lena and Thorn couldn't very well provide security for their own wedding, they were up shit creek.

"So, as long as Marin behaves himself, we're down to six: Mercury, Ryver, Skylar, Phoenix, Marin, and me," Kaden continued.

"Not you," Thorn replied, remembering he still hadn't asked.

"Excuse me?"

"You can't be on security detail."

"Why the hell not?" Kaden riled as Mercury just stood there open-mouthed.

"You can't be on security detail...because you'll be standing for me," Thorn told him.

Kaden's ice-blue eyes widened. "Are you asking me to stand as your second?

Thorn stared at his best friend, amazed at the doubt he could sense in the air. "You think I'd ask anyone else?"

A small smile crept across Kaden's face. "I suppose not."

"So?" This wasn't quite how Thorn had imagined this conversation going. He didn't think Kaden would leap up and do a jig or anything, but still, a little more enthusiasm would be nice.

"So?" Kaden replied, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

Thorn sighed. Kaden was still his best friend, but when Thorn took Lena as his mate, his relationship with the Keeper of the Watch suffered. Lena was Kaden's kid-sister in everything but name. Big brothers didn't like it when their sisters got mucked around, and Thorn was well aware that some of his own actions during their courtship were less than honourable. Thankfully Lena had forgiven him. Unfortunately, Kaden wasn't quite there yet. He ran a hand through his ruffled locks. The Keeper of the Watch was an honourable man. Thorn should have asked him properly in the first place.

"For centuries, you have protected me and mine, Keeper of the Watch. Your loyalty is unwavering, your honour unbreakable. As your King, I have no right to ask anything more of you. But I am not asking as your King; I am asking as your friend." Thorn held out his hand to Kaden. "Will you stand with me?"

Kaden stared at Thorn's outstretched hand for what felt like an eternity, so long in fact, that Thorn started to think the guy was going to say no. Finally, Thorn saw something dawn in Kaden's eyes, before a small smile pulled at the corner of his mouth.

Kaden clasped Thorn's still outstretched hand and nodded. "It will be my honour."

Thorn's shoulders sagged in relief, but it still wasn't the enthusiastic response he was hoping for. Kaden's attitude toward him was still edged with frost, and he didn't have the first clue what to do about it. Questions and a better conversation danced on the tip of Thorn's tongue. Of course, he didn't get the chance to say any of it.

"Bout time you two sorted your shit out," Mercury said with a laugh.

Kaden dropped Thorn's hand and went back to staring at the seating chart.

"Can we get back to what's important now?" Mercury asked.

"And that would be?" Thorn replied.

A wicked, lopsided grin spread across Mercury's face as mischief twinkled in his eyes. That look meant trouble was on its way.

"Mercury?" Thorn pressed.

The guy's smile widened. "Stag party."

Yep. Trouble was right. "Look, Mercury. I don't know about any stag party. We've got enough to worry about as it is," Thorn told him.

"Are you joking?"

"Afraid not."

"You can't get hitched without a stag party. It's against the laws of nature!"

"Listen..."

Kaden cut him off. "Maybe it's not the worst idea."

Thorn blinked at the Keeper. "I'm sorry?"

Kaden pushed his hair out of his eyes. "I think we could all do with a bit of R and R."

Thorn sighed. Maybe Kaden was right. The last six months had been hard on everyone. Whilst he and Lena had found each other, the rest of them had had little reward for their hard work.

He nodded. "Alright."

"Yes!" Mercury hissed as he fist-bumped the air.

Thorn narrowed his eyes at the guy. "But nothing crazy."

"Aww, c'mon!"

"I mean it! Just the boys and a quiet drink."

"Fine."

"And no strippers."

"Seriously?"

"Deadly. Lena would string me up by my balls!"

Kaden grinned while Mercury barked a laugh.

"You needn't laugh, 'cause when she's done with me, you'd be next on her list," Thorn told him.

The smile disappeared from Mercury's face. "Point taken."

"So something low-key. Just a few drinks. That's all. No surprises."

Mercury rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay." He shook his head and muttered, "I'll see if the library is open after dark."