Page 90 of Heatwaves

There’s been romance brewing between the two of them since Lila forgave us, although neither of them was sure if it was just sexual attraction, but the rest of us knew better. We could see the love growing between the two, and I couldn’t be happier for them. While it’s nice having an incubus in our pod, I don’t have a desire to fuck him. Neither do Carter and Oliver.

It doesn’t mean I don’t love the guy, but it’s like I love my siblings, and that’s okay.

The music changes, and my head jerks up to see Lila making her way down the aisle toward us.

She’s heavily pregnant, which is to be expected since she’s having twins—allowing us to narrow down the likely fathers—but she’s still so beautiful in the flowing lavender dress she’s wearing. Her ash brown hair is pulled up, leaving her neck—and the five new mate marks on it—on display.

She has one arm linked through her dad’s and the other through her mom’s—who is also very pregnant but not nearly as big as Lila—whileMiguel trails behind them. I’m so happy that Lila wanted to include him in the ceremony. He cried when she asked him, and I think the only thing I’ve seen him happier about is the fact that they’re having a baby.

Lila smiles as she gazes at our guests, who fill the seats on each side of the aisle, before lifting her head to find us. The love shining in her eyes has my heart beating faster.

For a long time, I didn’t think we’d ever get to this point, but I’d held onto hope while we did Bria’s bidding for ten years. I’d hoped and prayed that she would still want us, and here we are on the second happiest day of my life so far—just barely eclipsing the day Lila forgave us. The first best day was the day she announced we were going to be parents.

Shaking my head, I realize I got lost in my thoughts for longer than I thought. Lila is standing at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the platform we stand on with her parents and Miguel.

Carter’s grandmother is officiating the ceremony as the elder of his family, and she steps forward to smile at Lila. “You look beautiful,granddaughter.”

“As do you, grandmother,” Lila returns, and Granny Jessica—as she’s requested us to refer to her, or just Granny—lights up before clearing her throat.

“Who brings this woman to meet her mates for their bonding ceremony?”

It’s Miguel who speaks, grinning proudly. “Her familial pod.”

Granny Jessica grins at her grandson and nods. Lila’s parents and Miguel had their own bonding ceremony within a month of announcing Sylvia’s pregnancy.

“As you should,” Granny Jessica murmurs, offering her hand to Lila. Lila steps onto the first stair and then the second before she can reach Granny’s hand. Their fingers link together as Granny helps her up the remainder of the stairs. It’s almost funny, considering Lila has seven inches on the older woman.

Any thoughts of laughter die in my throat as Granny leads Lila over the center of the five of us before releasing her hand and moving back to the front of the platform and addressing our guests.

“Today is a special day. Today, each of you gets to witness a new pod form as they cement their bonds before the gods.”

Lila smiles as she looks over at each of us. Ty and Wyatt stand to her left, while Carter, Oliver, and I stand to her right. When she reaches her hands out to us, we don’t hesitate to touch her. We’ll never hesitate to touch our mate. Clearly, she doesn’t have enough hands for all of us, but Wyatt and I take her hands as we’re the furthest away, and the others grasp her arm.

Granny turns back to us, still smiling when she finds we’re already touching. “Oh, good, you’re going to make this easy on me. Each of you, please repeat after me.”

You are the star of each night,

You are the brightness of every morning,

You are the story of each guest,

You are the report of every land.

No evil shall befall you, on hill nor bank,

In field or valley, on mountain or in glen.

Neither above, nor below, neither in sea,

Nor on shore, in skies above,

Nor in the depths.

You are the kernel of my heart,

You are the face of my sun,

You are the harp of my music,

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