all time. We recognize their bond, and today, we seal that bond with the blessing of the fates, in the matrimony of marriage. Remington Emily Bennett, Creek Winchester, your two souls have found each other, and we could not be happier.
Holy crap.
We're married.
And yet, he's here, willing to share me, to make me happy.
"Creek," I sigh, and he shakes his head.
"It changes nothing. Everything I've said still stands."
"You all knew?" I ask, and they each nod.
"You've joined with each of us in a way, in the lives you shared with us," Levi says. "We are bound, and nothing, even the true death can sever that. With Roman, you joined with him, accepting your mate bond." Roman snarls at Levi's words, as if he doesn't even like the sound of the words on his voice.
"And with me, ma chérie, we are blood bound. You have tasted my blood as I have yours, and so you will always live within me," Kain says softly. "You fought beside us, loved us, and while I cannot speak for your experiences with the Angel, I know that with us three, you have died for each of us too. As we would for you."
This is a lot. Like a lot.
I sit there silent, my mouth opening and closing like a very unattractive fish, unable to form the words as they tumble around my head.
"You don't need to say anything, beautiful. It changes nothing," Creek says, and kisses the top of my head from where I'm still cradled in his arms.
"I don't know how you can all be okay with this. Especially considering I swore to you all that I'd be yours. I feel like such a bitch, and a bigger hypocrite because I couldn't do it. Share I mean. I need a minute." I untangle myself from Creek and head to my room to clear my head. That was not a bombshell I expected to get tonight. I close the door behind me and lay down on the bed.
I try to work through it all, everything that's happened, and despite having barely spent any time with Levi, I know that he means more to me than we've explored. Especially if what he says is true, and deep down I know it is. That little voice inside me that keeps me steady tells me the truth of it all.
Fuck my life.
What have I done?
How can I ask them to share me, when I promised myself to each of them? Albeit in different lives, but still. I swear to the fates, I want to punch past me square in the damn vagina. What a mess she left me to clear up. I wonder if she knew this would happen. If she even cared. I know that I love each of them, so I guess past me loved each of them too, but to marry Creek, when I knew I'd already bound myself to the others, what the fuck was I thinking? Had I really been that selfish?
A knock on the door interrupts my self-flogging and I groan. Everly’s face appears round the door and I wave her in. At least it’s not the guys.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" she asks, her eyes seeing everything.
"Not really, I just. This is all a lot."
"I can imagine, but do you want to hear this old woman’s thoughts on it?" I nod, because an extra point of view isn't going to hurt anything. She comes and sits opposite me, and I cross my legs to give her space.
"So, just for reference, I know you don't remember, but this isn't the first time we've met. You remember I said my family has served Leviathan for centuries? Well, that means that I've traveled with him some, and when you were just a girl, I met you. And your mother. You look so much like her, and your spirit, it’s just as wild and free as hers was. She told me once back then, that she knew you were different from the rest of them. That you saw more, loved harder, lived truer. She knew this life would be hard for you, but she said she'd stand by your side through every second of it, no matter the cost.
I was at her funeral, and I saw you sit there, not a tear shed, and I knew that what she said was true. You were the strength your family needed, even when it cost you. You were selfless, like you have always been. You loved each of