Zarek walked over and gave them a wry, almost mocking grin. "You're supposed to take a drink now."
They did, but Valerius choked on his. He sniffed the glass suspiciously.
"Did you poison me?" he asked Zarek in a low tone.
Zarek rubbed his eyebrow with his middle finger. "No, Valerius. Even I'm not that cruel."
"It's nectar," a woman's voice said.
Tabitha turned to see a beautiful blonde pregnant woman behind her.
The woman placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, then kissed her on the cheek. "I'm Zarek's wife, Astrid," she said in a low tone that only the two of them could hear. She turned to Valerius and gave him a kiss as well. "We couldn't decide what to give the two of you for a wedding gift, so Zarek thought the best gift would be eternity together."
"Yeah," Zarek said in a surly tone. "That's the polite version of what I said."
Astrid gave him a playfully mean look before she looked back at them. "Congratulations to you both."
She handed Valerius a small bowl of something that reminded Tabitha of Jell-O. "It's ambrosia," she said to Valerius. "Eat it and you'll be able to hurl lightning bolts back at Zarek whenever he gets playful with you."
"Hey!" Zarek snapped. "I never agreed to that."
Astrid gave him an innocent stare. "This way, I figure you'll play nicer in the future with your brother."
Tabitha laughed. "You know, I think I like my new sister-in-law."
Astrid left them to join Zarek, who looked less than pleased. "Don't worry, hon, I'll make sure you have plenty of other things to occupy your time with than harassing Valerius."
Zarek's gaze softened the instant she touched him.
Valerius rose to his feet and walked around the table until he stood before Astrid and Zarek. "Thank you," he said.
He held his hand out to Zarek, who looked at it suspiciously. Tabitha half-expected him to turn away.
He didn't.
Taking Valerius's hand, he clapped him on the back, then released him. "Your woman loves you more than you know. She's a hell of a fire-cat. I probably should have given you something in Kevlar."
Valerius laughed at that. "I hope you two will stay for the reception."
"We'd love to," Astrid said before Zarek could answer.
The two of them took a seat at the table with Selena and Bill while Valerius came back to her.
"Bon appetit," Tabitha said as she held the ambrosia out to him.
He ate it, then kissed her.
"Mmm," Tabitha breathed, inhaling the scent of her husband. "Pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo."
I intend to have my way with you upstairs and down.
Valerius smiled. "And I intend to let you." His face turned serious as he stared at her and his love for her consumed him. "Amo, Tabitha. Amo." One year later
"Look at the poor bastard," Kyrian said as he sat inside the Cafe Pontalba with Amanda, Grace, Julian, Bill, and Selena having dinner. "I should have been kind and killed him when I had the chance."
Through the doorway on their right, they could see Tabitha and Valerius walking toward the St. Louis Cathedral.
The women frowned as they watched them.