King Cave (Forever Evermore, #2)(180)
I heard both Pearl and Jack as they tried to alter their answers, coughing and choking with the effort. From the corner of my eye, I saw Pearl fall to her knees, her hand glowing golden over her throat…but still her mouth opened, and she shouted, “Yes.”
Jack gave up trying, yelling at Elder Harcourt, “I f*cking love her, you goddamn *, so have I had sex with her? Yes. And every Elder who approved this f*cking Law is going to eventually get their due.” He lifted Pearl, holding her sobbing form close. “One day, I will remember this. I know I will. No one will be able to stop me from taking my revenge.” His bare muscled chest heaved, and he dropped his glowing eyes to Pearl, holding her head close to his neck and dropping his head on hers, both of them visibly trembling.
Elder Harcourt rubbed his chin, sighing heavily, and then lifted his head from its lowered position during Jack’s emotional tirade to stare at Ezra and me. When I saw his mouth open, Ezra tilted his head down and touched his lips to mine. Gently. Reverently, his mouth stroked my trembling lips. A sob I couldn’t stop at the feel of his heated caress escaped, and I ran my hands up into his hair, gripping tight and holding him close as I cried and kissed him back with every ounce of love and adoration I had. Neither of us stopped our embrace even as we heard Elder Harcourt ask us — he was still f*cking asking us — if we’d had sexual relations, nor did we stop when the spell made each of us say yes against each other’s mouths.
He was my husband.
I was losing my husband.
Where was the f*cking Law in that?
I jerked, pulling my head away from Ezra, the answer like a bright beacon in my mind. He was my husband. By Law, he was mine. And…the Law did protect. My watery gaze flew to Elder Harcourt’s, and right as he was about to say something else, I stated, “We’re married. He’s my Lawful husband. I’m his Lawful wife. Under,” my smile was brutal because it was our most important Law, “Law One, no mates can be taken away from each other for longer than one year, up to two years depending on the severity of their punishments, even if imprisoned, for procreation is key for Mystical longevity, and this Law is not limited only to mates, but granted to married couples as well.” I waved a hand at the sphere. “And because of the truth spell, you know I’m not lying.”
In the stunned silence that surrounded us, Ezra started chuckling quietly, the sound pure evil as he held me tightly. “We also have a wedding certificate if you need it, but I don’t have it on me, so you’d have to let me out to get to it.”
My lips twitched. If Elder Harcourt let him out right now…
Elder Harcourt grinned, his face crinkling further. “I don’t believe that will be necessary, King Zeller, or beneficial to my current health.” Elder Harcourt’s golden eyes met mine. “You were almost too late.” His head cocked. “But that Law is for procreation.”
Ezra answered for me, still chuckling quietly. “The Law is for procreation but…it doesn’t say it has to be done.” Loophole. I rested my head against his shoulder, still holding him close, as he turned his head to Jack and Pearl, saying rapidly, “Lily and I won’t be able to remember each other after the sentence, but it’s better than not having a chance to meet again. Do you know the old ways for marriage?”
Jack was still standing there shocked at our pronouncement, but he blinked. Then he jerked back, his eyes glowing, and started speaking in…maybe, Latin…his hands glowing blue as he rested one over Pearl’s forehead, the other over her Core. Pearl’s tear-filled gaze went wide, but she instantly pressed glowing golden hands over his forehead and Core, stating, “I don’t know the words.”
Jack stopped speaking Latin, and stated to her, “Just say what I am.”
She nodded and quickly started repeating after him.
“That’ll hold up under our Laws?” I whispered to Ezra, glancing back and forth between Elder Harcourt, and Pearl and Jack as they quickly stated words I couldn’t understand. Elder Harcourt didn’t seem to be in any big hurry, letting them do this. Honestly, he didn’t appear to enjoy what he had to do at all.
“It should,” Ezra murmured. “It’s one of the most ancient wedding rituals we have. It was done long before we had licensed Mysticals to do weddings. All they need are two witnesses.” He glanced at me, then back to them. “Seriously, sweetheart, you need to pick up a few Mystical reference books.”
“Shut up,” I murmured half-heartedly, my gaze going back to him. “You do know…”
He nodded woodenly. “Yes.” His bare chest heaved, and he turned his attention back to me, resting his forehead on mine. “I’ll wait for you, and then seduce you all over again.”
My lips tilted sadly. “You won’t remember me.”
He shook his head. “I’ll know in my heart and mind that something’s not right.” He kissed my nose softly. “And when I meet you, I’ll fall in love with you all over again.” One side of his mouth lifted. “How many people get to fall in love with the same person twice and not know it?” The other side of his mouth lifted to equal a small smile. “This time when I meet you, you won’t be mated, and I’ll be free to do all the naughty things I thought about that first day we met.”
My chin quivered. “And I won’t be able to resist you.”