"Ahhh, I'd cry too if I had to look at you every day for the rest of my life, Vane," Colt said.
Ignoring him, Vane stood up before her and wiped her tears away with his hands.
"I'm getting better at this, Bride. I didn't poke your eye out this time."
"No," she said, sniffing back her tears, "you didn't."
He kissed her gently, then led her from the stage.
Ash met them there with Simi, who was also crying. "That was bootiful," she sobbed hysterically at Vane. Then she turned to face Ash. "Akri, the Simi wants someone to propose like that to her. Go get that model Travis Fimmel for me and make him do that, too. Please!"
"I told you, Sim, you can't just take humans away from their lives."
"But Vane took Bride."
"No, Sim. Bride chose Vane."
"Then go make Travis choose me."
"I can't do that. It wouldn't be right."
The demon blew him a raspberry before she saw one of the bears bringing a cake from the kitchen. Her tears dried instantly.
"Ooo," Simi breathed, eyeing the cake hungrily. "Chocolate. My favorite. Gotta go now. Bye."
Ash laughed as Simi ran and literally attacked the poor bear who was holding the cake. She grabbed it out of his hands and headed off to a corner to be alone with it.
Shaking his head, Ash turned back to them. "Your father is now out of your hair and I just wanted to say Congrats again to both of you."
"Thanks, Ash," Vane said, holding his hand out to him.
Ash nodded as he shook it. "By the way, you don't have to worry."
"About what?" Bride asked.
"You'll have babies and not puppies. And no litters."
Bride was more relieved than she would have thought possible. "Thank you."
"Any time."
Ash left them and picked up a pie from the table which he took to Simi, who looked up at him with her face covered in chocolate. She literally inhaled the pie in less than ten seconds.
Vane draped his arm over Bride's shoulders. As they walked back to her table where Fury and Cujo were sharing a piece of steak, Bride started laughing as she looked around her newfound zoo and family.
"What's wrong?" Vane asked.
"Nothing. I was just thinking that my life has gone completely to the dogs and I wouldn't have it any other way."
Vane shifted himself to the past. It didn't take much effort to find his parents. After all, Acheron hadn't bothered to shield their scent from him and they had only been here together for about an hour.
The Dark-Hunter leader had sequestered the two Were-Hunters on an isolated island during the fifth century. Neither of them had the power to leave either the island or the time period.
It was truly a fate worse than death.
Or at least it was about to be.
Vane flashed to the "arena" where his parents were battling each other with swords drawn. They were both bloody from the fighting, and even though he should be amused, he wasn't.