Page 116 of Bind Me

This is the best day of my entire life.

Hours later, I’m sitting on one of the stone seats that have been set up in the shallow end of the calm sea at a long, transparent table stretching out in front of me, long enough to accommodate everyone. The cool water laps gently around us. Bundles of white and blue flowers run down the center of the table, and food and drinks are flowing, brought out by the hotel staff. Laughter and music fill the air, and I can’t remember the last time I’ve been this happy.

Kaden’s hand rests possessively on my thigh. He hasn’t stopped touching me since I arrived, and I’m drowning in his love. I can’t get enough of it. I feel his eyes on me even as I laugh with Billie, who sits across from me, cradling one of her adorable twins, Dante. His tiny wings flap like he’s ready to take off, making those cute baby noises that suddenly have me wanting to hold him.

Then I notice Kaden’s gaze shift away from the table, and I follow it to see, standing in the water, the Siren Goddess herself, Asbesta. My mouth drops open at her ethereal beauty and her body-hugging dress of jewels shimmering in the sunlight. Most of the guests notice her presence, too, and a respectful silence falls over the gathering.

“Give me a moment, beautiful,” Kaden explains, standing and moving through the knee-high water to meet her. They speak quietly, their conversation private, yet they aren’t arguing. It reminds me of the first time I saw them talking in Kaden’s underwater cave in the fjord.

Chowder leans closer, drawing my attention to his little, serious face.

“You will have a baby like Dante one day. With wings?” he asks in his adorable, inquisitive manner.

I laugh, and Billie chuckles from across the table.

“Not with wings, Chowder,” I say, patting his head.

Chowder tilts his head. “You marry, you have baby? Is that how?”

“Not exactly, but close enough.” I grin at his innocence.

A short while later, Kaden returns as the Siren Goddess walks into the sea, vanishing beneath the waves. He sits beside me.

“Everything all right?”

Leaning in, he whispers, “Even better than I thought. I explained that I have found my fated mate and don’t plan to leave Norway. That I’m a citizen of the House of Gold and Garnet now. I asked if she’d be open to dual citizenship since I have no intention of not using the ocean.”

“And?” I ask, eager to hear more.

“She agreed with the proviso that I visit her House regularly and set up a home there, even if it’s just a holiday retreat.”

“Oh, I love the sound of that.”

“That’s what I thought.” Hugging me, he kisses me softly, lingering there.

The guests start cheering, and I laugh, breaking our kiss to see them all looking our way.

“You’re all going to make me blush the entire day at this rate,” I say, and Kaden chuckles.

“Please keep cheering. I need to kiss my new wife a lot.”

“Kissing is good. Keeps you happy,” Chowder chimes in with perfect timing.

The crowd erupts in laughter. The celebration goes on for hours, and as the sun begins to set, tiki torches are set up along the beach. I never want this day to end.

Standing, I take Kaden’s hand. “Come with me. Let’s go for a stroll.”

Chowder instantly joins us, climbing up on Kaden’s shoulder, his tail curling around the back of Kaden’s neck. The three of us walk along the water’s edge, the gentle waves lapping at our feet.

“I’ve been thinking about where to take you for our honeymoon,” Kaden states.

“Anywhere with you is perfect,” I reply, leaning into his side.

As we walk a little farther from the party, I gather my courage and just come straight out with my thoughts.

“I think I might be pregnant.”

He freezes, turning to look at me, his eyes wide. “Are you being serious, or is this one of your jokes? Because if it is, it’s not funny.”

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