“Bethany’s army has destroyed four human towns near the coast facing our island. Our spies’ reports made it clear they have twice the number of fighters as we do, and they are coming tomorrow. I’m fucking worried,” Mason replies, filling me in on everything.
“We will not go down without one hell of a fight, brother.” Alex pats Liam’s shoulder.
“They might have the numbers, but they don’t have the skills. Each one of the men and women fighting tomorrow are skilled,” Liam replies.
“And we have our familiars. They are ancients, and their animals will not fight them,” I remind them, even if I can’t hide the nerves in my voice. “We are not powerless, and I can stop this all if I can get to Bethany first.”
“She tried to kill you last time,” Alex reminds me. “She isn’t going anywhere fucking near you unless we are there.”
I nod, rubbing my arms as I walk to them. “She surprised me, but this time I know not to trust her. I have no intention of letting her trick me with emotions again.”
“She is a cold-blooded killer, Tassie. You will remember that and not see the sister you grew up with, right?” Alex asks me. “Or I’m putting your ass in one of the hideouts.”
“I will remember,” I say. “For us, for our baby...I will remember.”
“Ana,” Liam softly says, taking my hand and pulling me into his arms. I wrap my arms around his chest, holding on tightly as I breathe him in.
“We have a surprise for you. Something we hoped to have more time to plan,” Liam says, letting me go but still holding my hand.
“What is it?” I ask them all. They share a look and nod their heads to the door.
“Showing you will make more sense,” Alex explains, holding his keys in the air. “Ready for a drive?”
“Sure,” I reply. I slide on my shoes, brushing down my leggings and purple tee shirt that falls to my knees. I’m not dressed for a date, but I don’t have time to get ready. My guys don’t seem to care anyway by the looks of it. I unplait my hair in the car, running my fingers through it. The guys all sneak glances at me, and I can’t figure out what the tension is in the car. The only thing I can come up with is that they have decided to lock me up somewhere, but I trust them enough that they wouldn’t do that.
I think.
We head into the forest and start to go up the road that leads up the hill in the centre of the island. Alex parks the car when we get to the top, and I’m excited to see what is up here. It’s likely one of the only important parts of the island I haven’t explored. I get out of the car and walk ahead of the guys to the lights. Three flames flicker in holders, and in the middle of them is an altar of some kind. A knife lies on top of it, clamped down with string, and when we get closer, I see the surface is covered with thousands of tiny initials, carved into the rock.
“This is where the familiars of the city come to get married. They bind themselves and write their initials together. Will you bind your life to ours, Anastasia Noble?” Mason asks me. I turn around in utter shock, not expecting that at all.
I look at each of my men, the men I know in my heart I would never leave. They have my heart, and while we aren’t the most normal group of relationships, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Yes,” I answer. “Yes, so much. So many times. Just yes.”
“Phew,” Liam winks. “We were worried then.”
“I wasn’t,” Alex cockily states, and we all roll our eyes at him. Mason steps in front of me, picking my hand up and kissing my knuckles ever so softly.
“We had rings made, and we have all practised the ceremony. Are you ready?” he asks me. Tears fill my eyes as I nod, and my lips couldn’t smile more even if I tried. Hell, I love them so much. This makes everything so much more. I wasn’t expecting this.
Mason guides me to the stone altar before they each move around it until we are encircling it. Mason clears his throat and pulls out four rings, placing them in the centre of the altar, and I try not to cry just at the sight of them. They are made of gold, and I can see animal shapes engraved in the gold band. I spot a wolf, snake, fox and hawk.
They thought of everything. I can’t stop the tears of happiness that fall from my eyes this time.
Alex picks up an old, long piece of silky fabric and wraps it around his hand and wrist before passing it to Liam. He does the same before handing it to me. I copy what they have done and hand the end to Mason, who ties it around his hand and wrist, ending the fabric.
“With this binding, I link our souls and bodies for now until the end of time. I, Mason Oleson, promise to protect our family with my body, to love with all my heart and to never walk away. This is my promise,” Mason never looks away from me as he talks. He picks up a ring from the table and hands it to me. I slide the ring onto his finger and lean up, kissing him softly. I pick up another ring, looking at Liam next.
He repeats the same as Mason but adds his own words at the end. “Before the gods in the sky, and the ones who walk the same path we do,
