Page 173 of Heimlock

Luca and Reverie come out from the shadows, cameras in hand. Orliana shrieks and stands, yanking Fynn up with her.

“You did not!” She points at Luca. “I can’t believe you kept this a secret!”

She whirls onto Trinte and me. “You! Did you know?!”

I raise a hand, my other one holding Trinte’s. “Guilty as charged. The food was from the caterer we tried out weeks ago.”

She rushes over to give us both hugs, then immediately globs back onto Fynn’s arm. Orliana giggles, slapping Fynn’s arm. “You little sneak!” She rushes over to the photographers, giving them big hugs. “Oh, please tell me you’ll photograph our wedding! You have to!”

Luca chuckles, his huge frame swallowing her in a hug. “We’d be honored to be there.”

After hugging Reverie, Orliana motions to the table. “Come! Sit! Have a glass of femire!”

Luca’s forced to sit in a raised chair to accommodate his wings, and Reverie sits in a chair next to him. When fresh femire’s poured, we all toast. It’s been agony, hiding this from my best friend, but her reaction has made it all worth it.

After a few minutes of introducing Talia and Joulian to the photographers, we catch them up on the day’s events. Reverie eyes Trinte’s hand connected to mine. “So, I see the two of you finally gave in?”

My cheeks heat as Trinte huffs out a laugh. “You could say that.”

She exchanges a smug look with Luca. “Pay up.”

The Gargoyle raises an eyebrow. “I believe we bet on inappropriate things as prizes. Not audience worthy.”

Reverie glances at Joulian, then bites her lips together. Luca pats her thigh, and his tail wraps possessively around her ankle, giving it a little tug. I hear her inhale sharply, but Luca’s already focused on Fynn and Orliana.

“As soon as you both know the date, let us know. We’re pretty booked up, and I want to make sure we can fit you in.”

“How long have you been married?” Orliana says, eyeing the set of rings on Reverie’s finger. “When we saw one another at the battle, I never had a chance to ask.”

“The longest year of my life,” Reverie says dryly. The tail tugs more sharply on her ankle, and she laughs, bumping her shoulder against him affectionately.

Wax covers the table as the candles die out one by one. Soon, everyone is yawning. Joulian is the first to declare he wants to go to bed, so after hugs, he and Talia head to their bungalow. Luca and Reverie leave, with him throwing her over a shoulder. She giggles, grabbing his tail and licking it.

I wonder if that would work with Trinte?

Finally, it’s just the four of us finishing our femire. With a few sips left, Trinte says, “I’m deeply grateful for today.”

Orliana, staring at her ring with wonder, says, “Meeee too.” We all laugh; she looks up. “What?”

“I’m glad you love the ring,” Fynn says, kissing her temple. To his brother, he says, “What was it like, glassing the mountain?”

Trinte grins. “Incredible. I’ve always wanted to do that.”

Fynn matches the grin. “Me, too.”

Orliana juts a finger at him. “Do not think you can just go challenging someone.”

“Wouldn’t dream about it, future wife.” She visibly melts at the term. Then they’re both lost in a passionate kiss that has me looking away.

“Ready for bed?” Trinte murmurs.

At the scene unfolding on the cushions across from us, I huff out, “Yes, please.”

Without saying goodbye, we leave the two newly engaged lovers to do whatever they plan on doing and head back to our bungalow.

Within ten minutes, Trinte and I are tangled limbs in bed. He’s settled between my thighs, slowly thrusting and kissing me like my oxygen is his. As my sixth orgasm of the day slowly approaches, gently coaxed into existence from his tender love making, I let out a sigh of joy.

Cupping my head, rocking into me, he says, “What’s that for?”