Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“I, um…” I couldn’t help shooting a glace at Saint and then looking away quickly. I couldn’t tell them the truth—not here in the Dining Hall in front of everyone. Later, I might admit it to my closest Coven mates—Kaitlyn and Megan and Emma—but I couldn’t say what had happened between me and my roommate last night in mixed company like this.
For one thing, Saint would probably hate me even more if I exposed what we had done. And for another, though Griffin and Bran and Lachlan and Ari all liked and got along with me, I still didn’t think a bunch of straight guys would want to hear about the semi-homoerotic encounter that had healed my face.
“Avery?” Megan was frowning at me in concern. “Is something wrong? Why aren’t you talking? How did you get your face healed?”
“He probably went to the Healer before any of the rest of us was up,” Kaitlyn answered to my great relief. “You know what an early riser he is.” She and Ari got settled beside Lachlan with their breakfast trays.
Now why hadn’t I thought of that?
“Yes, of course.” I smiled around the table. “You know me—I couldn’t stand to be anything less than gorgeous for long. But speaking of gorgeous…” I turned to Bran and Lachlan. “We missed the two of you yesterday—at least, I know Emmers did. How are things in the Realm and what did you have to do there?”
“Oh, er, well…” Bran cleared his throat, his face looking a little red.
“We had to sign a marriage contract,” Lachlan said matter-of-factly.
“Oh, really?” I raised my eyebrows. “But didn’t Emma need to be there, too?”
“Nope. Because this was a contract between Bran and Lachlan,” Emma explained.
“Really?” I looked at them in surprise. I had only been trying to change the subject away from my magically healed face, but this was interesting news. “The two of you have to get married in order to be with Emma?”
“Essentially.” Lachlan nodded. He still didn’t seem too upset about having to marry his best friend and I remembered what Emma had said about the Fae realm being less judgmental when it came to the LGBTQ community.
“We cannot share her unless all three of us are wed to each other,” Bran explained—his face was still a bit red.
“Though they didn’t have the actual wedding yet,” Emma put in. “They only signed the contract. I wouldn’t miss their wedding for the world! Besides, it’s part of mine—all the weddings will be together,” she added. She put her arms around both her guys’ waists and gave them a squeeze.
“We missed having you with us yesterday, Emma,” Bran turned and dropped a loving kiss on her left cheek. “I wouldn’t marry another man for anyone other than you,” he added. Then he shot a glance at me. “Oh, sorry, Avery—no offense.”
“None taken,” I said airily. “I don’t know many straight men who would marry each other for any reason. It’s actually kind of fascinating.”
“It’s simply the law of the Realms” Lachlan said, shrugging. He kissed Emma’s right cheek and smiled at me. “And I don’t mind marrying another man. Bran and I have been best friends for years—why shouldn’t we be wed? Especially as we’re going to share the woman we both love.”
“So what happens on the actual wedding day?” I asked, now thoroughly intrigued. “I mean, what is the ceremony supposed to be like?”
I was hoping I would be there to see it—I knew that Emma was trying to get a special dispensation to allow her non-Fae friends to visit the Fae Ream for the big day—and I wanted to know what to expect if I did.
“Well, first I will be wed to Bran and then I will be wed to Lachlan,” Emma said, ticking off the ceremonies on her fingers as she went. “Then they will be wed to each other and then, as the finale, the three of us will tie the knot in front of both Fae Courts at once—they’re going to merge especially for our wedding,” she added, smiling.
“Of course, none of this can happen until after we are all of age,” Bran added, looking meaningfully at Emma, who wasn’t legal yet. “But there are so many technicalities, legalities, and formalities to get through in order to pull such a big, complicated event together, we’ve already started the paperwork.”
“Which is why we had to miss classes yesterday to sign our marriage contract,” Lachlan added, smiling over Emma’s head at Bran. “Isn’t that right, my husband?”
Bran’s face went red again and he nearly choked on his coffee.
Emma burst into giggles and elbowed Lachlan in the ribs, causing him to nearly spit out his own tea.
“Be nice, Lachlan! You know this isn’t as easy for Bran as it is for you!”
“The really difficult part will be on the wedding night when all three of us must consummate our union,” Lachlan said blandly. He raised an eyebrow at Bran. “Think you can handle that, old friend?”