She was nodding, her face buried against the heavy muscles of his chest. “So who else is coming to our wedding?”
“The mayor. A few others you know.”
“I wasn’t asking about them. I was asking about your friends. Our wedding is taking place in the middle of the night to accommodate your people.”
“Our people,” he insisted. “Naturally, Desari’s brother and his lifemate are attending, and another member of her band—Barrack and his lifemate, Syndil, who is also in the band. The only other person whose name you might recognize is Savannah Dubrinsky, the magician. She is the lifemate to one of our greatest healers and vampire hunters and the Prince’s right hand man, Gregori. They might attend also.”
“I’m not doing this. I’m not. Those people are famous. And what’s this about a right-hand man to the Prince? He sounds important. Why would he come?”
Lucian laughed softly. “Angel, I am considered rather important in our world. Gregori is of my lineage, and he is attending our wedding out of respect. The Prince would have come, also, but he is not in the States at this time.
Naturally Gregori would represent him if they can make it here in time. Savannah, by the way, is Prince Mikhail’s daughter.”
Jaxon was shaking her head at him. “Don’t tell me any more. I can’t take it. You really do have all that money, don’t you?” She made it an accusation.
“Money means nothing to our people, Jaxon. It is used only to make things run smoothly in the present time period.”
She thumped his chest with a clenched fist. “Still, all those people sound so important. Why are they coming? You need to tell them to stay home.”
“Actually, I am interested in meeting Desari and her brother, Darius. I am related to them. And it just so happens that Gregori is my younger brother by a thousand years or so. I gave him much advice when he was a fledgling and would very much like to see how he turned out.”
“Your relatives?” she said accusingly. “They’re all related to you? Your family? Really, Lucian, I don’t think I can do this.”
“Of course you can, angel. I will be right there beside you. Together. In your mind, in your heart. And, technically, we are already married, so they are all related to you, too. When this is over you will feel that they are your family. You will know that we are family. You will love this, angel. It’s your dream wedding.”
She managed a nervous smile. “Sometimes the dream is better than the reality, isn’t it? This sounds terrifying.”
“This from the woman who helps me destroy vampires and ghouls and runs around like a maniac chasing criminals?” His fingers tangled in her blond hair. “Settle down, angel. Francesca is coming down the hall to help you dress.”
“Kiss me now, Lucian, or I might run for it.”
He made absolutely certain he did a thorough job.
*****
The wedding was out of a fairy tale. Barry Radcliff walked Jaxon down the aisle, and she didn’t see a single face to make her nervous as she walked slowly toward the altar. Her eyes remained locked with Lucian’s. He looked tall and handsome and impossibly courtly. Beside him was his twin, looking every inch an Adonis. Still, she would have known the difference between them anywhere, anytime. Lucian took her breath away. As she approached on Barry’s arm, she knew this was right. She loved Lucian, and she would for all eternity. They were two halves of the same whole. And now, after all these lonely years, he was giving her a family too.
With her eyes held captive by his smoldering black gaze, Jaxon put her small hand in his large one without hesitation, fully prepared to make their vows.