“You bet your ass,” she said as she pulled his head down for a kiss. “Now. Let me look at you.”
She eyed his burgundy velvet blazer with its charcoal gray lapels. He’d paired it with a dress shirt of the same color and black slacks. In his jacket pocket rested a burgundy, black, and gray square.
“Perfect,” River said as she smoothed her hands over his shoulders.
He turned her so they could look at themselves side by side in the mirror. “I’m glad I asked what color you were wearing.”
“Me, too,” she said, turning her head to him.
He winked at her. “I left Breac with Balladyn. I’d better go check on them. We’ll leave whenever you’re ready.”
River touched her ears to make sure the silver dangle earrings were in place. “I’m ready.”
Kyran held out his arm for her. She took it, and they walked out of their room together and then down the stairs. They found Breac standing next to Balladyn, who sat on the sofa. Breac was busy giving Balladyn all of his toys. Kyran halted. River glanced at her mate to see his shock. She took a closer look at Balladyn and saw that there was a softness about his face that she hadn’t seen before. He looked relaxed. And his laughter surprised both of them.
“Mummy,” Breac cried when he saw her.
He moved too fast and tripped over Balladyn’s feet. The Reaper quickly grabbed him and set the boy upright so he could continue to River. She lifted Breac into her arms and smiled.
“I figured you had enough to take care of,” Kyran said when she noticed that their son was already dressed.
Breac was dressed exactly like Kyran but in a black blazer and burgundy shirt. River placed a kiss on her son’s cheek. “You look as handsome as your father.”
River then turned to Balladyn to find him in a thick, red, V-neck sweater with a white button-down beneath, and a deep brown and red tweed blazer that he’d paired with black jeans. He had his long hair pulled into a queue at his neck.
“How lucky am I to arrive with three such handsome men?” River said as she smiled at Balladyn.
He inclined his head to her, a smile playing about his lips.
“But I’m the handsomest, right?” Kyran said as he took Breac from her.
River flashed a knowing grin to Balladyn before turning to her mate. “Without a doubt, sweetheart.”
“Are we ready?” Kyran asked excitedly.
River licked her lips, suddenly nervous.
“It’s going to be great,” Balladyn said into the silence.
She turned her gaze to him. “Thanks.”
Kyran cleared his throat. “I’ll be happy to take us there, baby, but you have to tell me where we’re going.”
“Oh,” she said with a laugh and took both his hand and Balladyn’s so they could all go together. “The top of the mountain. Talin said you’d know the one.”
“Ah,” Kyran said.
In the next instant, they were on the mountain with snow flurries dancing in the air. Breac erupted in laughter and tried to catch them. River wrapped her arms around herself to keep warm.
“River,” Kyran said in awe as he looked around at the structure and landscaping. “You did all of this?”
Balladyn released her hand and took Breac from Kyran. “This is breathtaking. You and Kyran enjoy it while Breac and I go explore the rest.”
Kyran didn’t even seem to realize that Balladyn had taken their son. He was still looking around at everything. River hadn’t seen some of it because Erith had wanted to keep it a surprise.
Outside of the structure, on either side of the double doors, were three, four-foot fir trees swathed with white lights and a smattering of red jingle bells for color. Between each tree were clumps of ten or twelve-foot-tall sticks of lights.
“If this is what it looks like out here, I can’t wait to see the inside,” Kyran told her.
She took his hand with a smile and led him through the doors. They weren’t the first to arrive. Several couples were already there milling about. River halted them just inside and let Kyran look his fill. His lips were upturned, his eyes bright with excitement. Only the soft glow of candles and the festive lights illuminated the inside. The chandelier above them had been dimmed, as well. The tree looked beautiful in the back corner. The other three corners held stunning arrays of red, white, and pink flowers with lights strung through the arrangements.
“Baby, this is…I don’t have the words,” Kyran said as he looked down at her.
She tugged him after her to one of the side tables laden with various drinks such as eggnog martinis, sangria, and cranberry mojitos. She picked up a blackberry ombre sparkle cocktail with blackberries in a simple syrup at the bottom, champagne, and a sprig of rosemary for garnish. No surprise to her, Kyran chose a smoked cherry Old Fashioned. They clinked their glasses together and took a drink.
“Show me the rest,” he urged.
River didn’t need to be told twice. She pointed out the dessert tables laden with so many scrumptious treats she could barely believe it. River had her eye on the strawberry and vanilla macaron trifles in individual glasses. She laughed when Kyran’s eyes lingered on the decadent chocolate layer cake.
He paused to look at the garlands strung around the room, pointing out different ornaments. They had been through so much, but she and Kyran had never paused to celebrate like this. Not at something the Reapers had done for themselves. Yes, they had been at Dreagan, but that wasn’t their party. It was the Dragon Kings’. And while they’d had a grand time, tonight was all about the Reapers.
River’s heart swelled as she glanced around to see other Reapers just as engrossed as Kyran. They weren’t simply placating their mates, either. There was genuine happiness on their faces.
They were just turning the corner to the other set of double doors that led outside. “Not yet,” River hastily turned Kyran so he wouldn’t see what awaited them outside.
He chuckled but said nothing. His feet halted, however, when he saw the tree. Kyran let out a low whistle, and River’s chest puffed up with pride. This season had always been one of her favorites, but this was a first for them—and it meant so much more.
“Babe,” he whispered in awe.
Her eyes raked over the tall tree of white, gold, and red with its white lights. “It was a group effort.”
“It’s stunning.”
“There’s more,” she said with a smile and tugged him onward to the tables of food.
They found Balladyn and Breac at the hors d’oeuvres table. The former King of the Dark held their son and let him choose what he wanted to sample before Balladyn handed it to him. River’s eyes teared at the sight of Balladyn alone.
“Don’t cry for him,” Kyran whispered. “He promised me he was all right.”
She turned her head to her mate. “But he’s alone.”
“Sometimes, that’s for the best. We’re all looking out for him. Don’t worry.”
She sniffed and nodded. When Breac saw them, he flashed a smile and waved but was content to remain with Balladyn.
“Besides,” Kyran said, “it looks like our son has chosen him as date tonight.”
River brought Kyran closer to the tables as they looked their fill at the delicious array before them. They spent several minutes simply inhaling all the amazing scents that awaited them. When Kyran’s stomach rumbled, she turned him around to see the table.