Mammon yawns then looks surprised. “What…” His eyelids droop, then he falls onto his side, fast asleep.
He will not wake again.
“Sweet nightmares, Mammon. For eternity.”
It is time for me to rest.
Two months later
Cora
“Oh shit, I’m nervous.” Fee locks eyes with me in the mirror.
Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are bright. She looks fucking stunning in the red, black, and cream dress that billows out around her like something from a fairy tale. It’s a work of art. I should know—I helped design it.
I resist the urge to clasp my hands together and simper with glee. “You’ll be fine.”
She’d almost postponed this day after Lilith’s demise, wanting to be by Samael’s side in his grief, but Samael put his foot down and insisted the ceremony go ahead.
“Are they here?” she asks for the fifth time.
“Yes, they’re here, and if it’s any consolation they’ve each asked if you’re here.”
She takes a shuddering breath. “This is so stupid. I mean, we’re together. I know we are, and that isn’t going to change. I shouldn’t be so nervous.”
“But you’re making a public commitment to be a family, to love and be loved by six guys.” I chuckle. “Babe, you’re braver than I am.”
She smiles. “Bravery doesn’t come into it. This was meant to be. These are my guys, and I’m theirs.”
“And you’ll do fantastically,” Delphine says from her perch on the chaise lounge. She looks even pinker than usual today. “Cora, take a picture, so I can show Cyril later.”
I snap another picture with the polaroid and hand it to the snake. He’ll be at the reception, but right now he’s on egg watch duty. Fee told me about Cyril’s doubts on fatherhood. Looks like he’s overcoming them.
“Are you ready?” Delphine asks Fee.
Fee’s back straightens, and I can almost see the nervous tension drop from her shoulders. “I’m ready.”
Fee
We wanted a wedding, but a wedding didn’t feel right. It didn’t fit us, so Cora did some liaising and came up with a Commitment Ceremony, one that would be officiated by a demon, a celestial and a Loup pack minister.
As I stood outside the heavy double doors to the hall Vi had sourced for us, my heart pounded against my ribs.
I was about to claim these men in front of all our friends and colleagues. I was about to say they were mine, and I was theirs. I was excited and eager and terrified.
Cora squeezed my hand. “You look gorgeous,” she said again.
And then she stepped back and Eldrick and Samael took her place standing either side of me.
The doors swung open and the room beyond was revealed. Azazel, Mal, Grayson, Hunter, Uri, and Keon stood at the top of the aisle, three on each side, and in the center, waiting to greet me, was the divine, a huge smile on his face. Lilith’s cardinal stood to his left and the Loup magistrate stood to his right. There were people, so many people, but I had eyes only for my guys.
They’d dressed in suits and tails even though I’d said they didn’t need to. They’d shaved and groomed too, and now they watched as I glided toward them. The thunder in my heart calmed beneath the balm of love shining from their eyes.
This was meant to be.
This was always meant to be.
As Samael and Eldrick stepped back and the guys surrounded me I knew that right here, among them, was my forever home.
Cora
Fee’s smile hasn’t faltered, not once. The guys take turns to dance with her, whirling her around the floor like a beautiful doll. My friend has found her happily ever after, and my heart can’t be fuller. I sip my champagne then gag. Why the fuck am I drinking this crap?
A glass of amber liquid appears beneath my nose. “I believe this might be more to your taste.”
I take the whiskey but, don’t bother to look at the deliverer. “I don’t recall sending you an invitation.”
Jasper grips the nape of my neck lightly. “I don’t need an invite, Cora. I take what I want.”
A shiver skates down my spine. “Go away, Jasper. Not tonight. Tonight is about Fee.”
He leans in so his breath tickles the delicate shell of my ear. “And tomorrow?”
I suppress a shiver of desire and finally turn my head to look at his wickedly beautiful face. “Tomorrow is another day.”
His lips curved in a hungry smile. “And tomorrow, you’re mine.”
Fee’s Story may be over, but Cora’s adventures are only just beginning.
Check out the new series The Thirteenth sign. Cora and Jasper are back in Witch Unexpected. Grab your copy HERE now!
Other books by Debbie Cassidy
The Gatekeeper Chronicles
Marked by Sin
Hunted by Sin
Claimed by Sin
The Witch Blood Chronicles
(Spin-off to the Gatekeeper Chronicles)
Binding Magick
Defying Magick
Embracing Magick
Unleashing Magick
The Fearless Destiny Series
Beyond Everlight
Into Evernight
Under Twilight
The Chronicles of Midnight
Protector of Midnight
Champion of Midnight
Secrets of Midnight
Shades of Midnight
Savior of Midnight
Chronicles of Arcana
City of Demons
City of the Lost
City of Everdark
City of War
For the Blood
For the Blood
For the Power
For the Reign
For the Hunt (novella)
Heart of Darkness
Captive of Darkness
Bane of Winter
Fate’s Destiny
Deadworld
Deadworld
Dead City
Dead Sea
Dead End
The Nightwatch Academy
Shadow Caster
Shadow Weaver
Shadow Warrior
Shadow Master
The Nightwatch Series
Ghost of a Chance
Give up the Ghost
Ghost at the Feast
Lay the Ghost
Deadside Reapers Series
Reaper Unexpected
Reaper Uninvited
Reaper Untamed
Reaper Unveiled
Reaper Undone
Reaper Unhinged
Reaper Unleashed
The Thirteenth Sign
Witch Unexpected
The Iron Fae Series
Taste My Wrath
Feel My Power
Dragon Guard Series
Dragon Trial
Dragon Rising
Dragon Ashes
Survivor’s Heart (Planet Athion World)
Novellas
Rogue
Rebel
Survivor
Standalone Novellas
Blood Blade
About the Author
Debbie Cassidy lives in Bedfordshire, England, with her three kids and very supportive husband. Coffee and chocolate biscuits are her writing fuels of choice, and she is still working on getting that perfect tower of solitude built in her back garden. Obsessed with building new worlds and reading about them, she spends her spare time daydreaming and conversing with the characters in her head – in a totally non psychotic way of course. She writes High Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Space Fantasy, and Reverse Harem. Connect with Debbie via her website at debbiecassidyauthor.com or twitter @authordcassidy. Or sign up to her Newsletter to stay in the know.