Eternally Yours (12 page)

“Alright, I will call the couple names, and you will find your mate. Then together we will repeat the vows aloud to each other, in front of your fellow kinds.” He clears his throat and adjusts his glasses as he peers down at the list of names. “Kyrian and Mira, Rahab and Isadora, Aria and Zephraim, Wraith and Kaia--” Kaia hisses in a breath next to me, and I turn to see if she's pleased or not with this result.

“Well? Is that good or bad?” I ask.

“Not good. He's nice and everything, but just not my type.” She hangs her head, exaggerating, but not before I notice her blush.

I follow Wraith with my eyes to judge him physically. He is definitely hot stuff in my book. Although he’s not as tall as Gabriel or Shadow, he is more broad shouldered and stout. His chest muscles are plainly visible under his shirt, and he is by far the most muscular
angel
here. I'm not sure what exactly it is that Kaia doesn’t think is her type. Surely not his dirty blonde hair that’s spiked tall in the front and gradually descends toward the crown of his head. Hopefully it’s not his pretty green eyes or smooth, milky white skin. Or maybe it’s just me; maybe she likes super skinny, lanky
angel
s with black hair and dark skin.

“Maybe because your usual type is ugly,” I snicker.

She glares at me. “Remind me to make an appointment to get your eyes checked, Alexia. It’s not all about looks anyways.” She huffs. “I just sort of hoped I would be with Gabriel,” she whispers with disappointment. “Plus, what kind of name is Wraith? They're an extinct kind for crying out loud, and he's an
angel
!”

Oh, just what I figured. Wraith could be the
Overlord
and Kaia wouldn't notice unless he was Gabriel. His name is strange though. What were his parents thinking?

I pull her in for a hug. “Hey, it will be okay. It's what's on the inside that counts, Kaia. Gabriel may treat you like crap, then how would you feel? Wraith may treat you like a queen, and think you're the best thing in the world. Plus, I think you could do a lot worse for yourself. Wraith looks delicious to me,” I say, just to pep her up a little. If Kaia thinks I'm jealous, he will appeal to her a little more.

She gives me a half smile, conceding to my point as Wraith falls in line between us.

“--Elaina and Phantom, and last but certainly not least, my son, Gabriel and the extremely lucky, Alexia.”

Gabriel's eyes meet mine and he smiles charmingly. He seems pleased with this arrangement; I wouldn't doubt it if he told his dad to pair him with me. I have no idea why he seems to like me so much but then again that's how he acts with half of the female
angel
population. I try to picture my future with him but when I picture him being my children's father, Shadow’s face appears instead. Remembering him, I search the audience but he escapes my hungry eyes. I wonder if he sees me searching, and knows that it's his face I seek, but before I can finish my search, Gabriel steps in front of me and blocks my view.

He smiles sweetly at me. He seems like a nice guy, I'll give him that.

“I feel like the luckiest boy in the world right now,” he says sincerely.

This is the first time I have ever seen him act so humble. I wonder if it may all be an act that he puts on when he becomes the confident, cocky, son of the
Overlord
. Maybe I will see the true him behind closed doors and this will all be okay.

“Out of all the
angel
s, I'm glad I got you as my fiancé,” I say, trying to be truthful. I couldn't say that there isn't anyone I would have wanted more...because there is. But I won't think about that right now.

He takes my hands in his, ready to recite the vows. His grip is tighter than Shadows and I can’t decide how I feel about that right now. He definitely isn't afraid to break me, where I think Shadow thought I was as delicate as a flower. I try not to analyze that because I'm afraid I won't like the outcome.

Everyone has found their mates and the
Overlord
proceeds, “Alright, now turn to your betrothed and grab each other’s hands. Boys repeat after me: I stand before you, humble as I invite you to share my life. With kindness, unselfishness and trust, I will work by your side to create a wonderful life together. I take you to be my mate, once we have truly bonded and from that day forward, for as long as we both shall live. This is my solemn vow.”

We were forced to memorize these vows when we were sixteen, and were quizzed frequently until now to ensure we remembered them. Gabriel says these to me, flawlessly, and very seriously. Each word rolls off of his tongue decadently. This is a rare side of him that I'm seeing, and I really like it. He's so serious about this as he stares me in the eyes, it intimidates me and I fight the urge to avoid his gaze.

Soon it's my turn to say the same vows, and I do. Unfortunately, I can’t get Shadow out of my mind as I say them. I feel my hope plummeting toward its doom as I pledge my life to Gabriel.

“Alright, you may now kiss to seal the vow.”

He tugs me closer and releases one hand to cup the back of my nape. So very slowly he closes the distance between our lips. I shut my eyes last minute, anxious to find out what I’m going to feel when our lips meet. Nervous to find out if it’s going to be anything compared to Shadow’s kiss. His confident lips finally touch mine and it's a simple, pleasurable kiss. It’s not the kind of kiss that sends fire through my veins and stops my world on its axis. A deep growl reverberates through my mind, replacing my disappointment and confused musings. It’s very similar to the voices Shadow was projecting to me through mind-link and I can't help but think that it's Shadow as he watches me from the audience.

I'm starting to wish I hadn't even went over the walls with Shadow, because then I wouldn't know what I'm missing out on. I also wouldn't be feeling guilty for thinking of another boy right now when I just pledged myself to Gabriel.

“Congratulations
angel
s! You may now go to your shared living quarters and start your month of courtship!” The
Overlord
starts a loud, powerful clap and a few seconds later a loud applause from the audience drowns out anything else.

As we exit the stage hand in hand, the
Overlord
announces that he will now couple the
demon
s and my heart lurches in my chest. I try not to let it show in my face when Gabriel looks to me and smiles.

“Do you want to wait on your friend?” he asks. I’m shocked that he’s so thoughtful.

“Yes, that would be nice,” I reply faintly and try to smile.

Kaia and Wraith catch up to us, and we are all urged towards the exit before I can hear who Shadow gets paired with.

“So apparently we have the rest of today and all day tomorrow off from our jobs so we can get to know our mates,” Wraith says.

We're all four standing outside of the auditorium, constantly shifting around to let the flood of
angel
s and their new mates exit the building.

“That's good, because it's not like a month of living together is going to do the trick,” Kaia snorts sarcastically and nudges my shoulder with hers, knocking me into Gabriel.

“Sorry!” I say and then give Kaia a pointed look, making sure Gabriel sees that it was her fault. Surely he won't miss that guilty smile on her face.

He gives her a wink and wraps an arm around me smoothly. So now she’s his accomplice? Knowing her, she's extremely pleased with herself now that Gabriel's praising her efforts.

Wraith watches Gabriel put his arm around me and inconspicuously grabs Kaia's hand, earning a bashful smile from her. Bashful is not a look I see on her face. Ever.  I raise my eyebrow questioningly.

“I say we go to the condo and unpack and get situated. Pick our rooms and stuff,” Gabriel says.

A big cheesy grin spreads on Wraiths face and Gabriel punches his shoulder playfully. “You guys better not be getting freaky already or I'll kick your ass, Wraith!”

Kaia actually blushes. When Kaia blushes, you know something crazy's going on. However, there isn't a word to describe how hot my cheeks are. The word 'blushing' doesn’t describe it properly.

“Uht oh! I haven’t heard a denial yet! Dang you guys, don’t you think it’s a little early for that?” Gabriel laughs, throwing his head back.

I tune out their immaturity. The wind blows my hair back and the shirt I changed into flattens against my body, making me self-conscious. I didn’t feel self-conscious with Shadow, even with my tight flying gear on. I gaze toward the doors to the auditorium wondering about him and his new partner, when the doors open on a punch and
demon
s come pouring out. For some reason, the majority of them seem to have red eyes now, and it’s probably because they all just got kissed.
d
emon
s are a little more provocative (putting it lightly) than
angel
s, but it might even be because they are anticipating what’s going to happen when they get back to their condo. That thought brings me right back to our conversation and I tune back in.

“Gabriel, don't even act like you're all pure and innocent,” Kaia winks and smiles. “I've only been here a week and I’ve heard stories from your little posse of followers.”

Gabriel stiffens beside me and color runs along his neck. He seems embarrassed and caught off guard. For once he doesn’t know what to say and that’s how I know it’s true. I despise finding this out but surprisingly I don't feel the surge of jealousy that everyone seems to be expecting from me as they look at me wearily. He risks a glance down at me and smiles cheerlessly. Just as I'm about to wonder how far my new mate has been, I sense a rush of jealousy inside me. I'm not sure where it’s coming from or why I feel it because I know it's not mine. I look back at the door and Shadow and Lilith are walking out, following the last of the
demon
parade. She's focused on him, smiling dreamily and looking him up and down as they walk side by side. I’m glad she doesn’t see that his malicious gaze is locked on Gabriel's arm around my waist. His eyes flash red for a second before going back to normal as his gaze follows my waist up to my eyes and I subtly shake my head and offer a sad smirk. I hope he understands that I'm trying to say a thousand things at once. I'm saying: It's not like that, don't cause a scene, It's not worth it, I don't feel that way for him, I wish it was you, where are you two going, what are you going to do?

Gabriel squeezes my side gently and my attention is stolen from Shadow. “--hear me? Hello?” Kaia says.

“O-oh sorry. I was just trying to see if everyone was out yet?” Yes, it comes out as more of a question than a statement and Gabriel frowns and looks to see what I might have really been distracted by. Hopefully he doesn’t figure it out, but I don’t dare look back to see.

“Never mind, you missed it and now you will just have to wonder what I said forever,” she says in a sing-song voice with her hands on her hips.

I roll my eyes. “Oh no! Anything but that! What ever will I do?” I put my hand to my forehead for dramatic effect.

She glares at me and we all start walking. Gabriel's arm is still around my waist and I nonchalantly look around, but I don't see Shadow and Lilith anywhere. I feel a pang in my chest as my thoughts stray to where they might have went and an unwelcome feeling of jealousy seeps inside me. Oh, now! How inconvenient. I work to swallow a lump that seems too large for my throat as I head toward my suite with the wrong boy.

*~*~*~*~*

We open the large wooden door with the fancy eye scanner and the boys are both still standing there jaw open, when we turn around to see if they're coming. 

“Pretty cool huh?” I ask.

“Cool. Yeah.” Gabriel looks around with an astonished expression.

“I think these are your clothes over here, Wraith!” Kaia exclaims from the closet.

“Really?” Wraith walks over to her to check it out. “They must have known the matches already because these are definitely mine. I'm guessing Gabe's are in Alexia's closet?”

Gabriel walks into our room and finds the closet. I follow him in there and now unfamiliar weapons fill up the metal display case built into the side wall of the closet.

“Those weren’t here before,” I say.

“These are my size clothes and it looks like they have all my Guard toys too, what about yours, Wraith?”

Wraith and Kaia open their display case and it's empty. “Well, I'm not the Captain so I guess I don't get anything,” he says smugly.

“Watch it, Commander or I’ll send you to the fire pit,” Gabriel jokes.

Wraith just shrugs his beefy shoulders. “Yeah, whatever.”

“Well I guess it's settled then? We'll take this room and that's yours?” Kaia asks.

We nod and agree, mumbling different version of 'yes' simultaneously.

Gabriel scans our room and his gaze stops on the balcony door with the view to the setting sun, “What time is it?”

“It's ten till eight,” Wraith answers, gazing at his watch.