by C. L. Nelson
The wedding is tomorrow. The only thing Kian has no say in is my wedding dress. I want the first time he sees me in it to be when I am walking down the aisle towards him.
I have been going to dress fittings with Emilia and Finlay and today is my final fitting. I meet them in Emilia’s room. I was immediately instructed to undress and then I was helped into my first dress by Emilia. Yes, I have two dresses, one for the ceremony and one for the party. It wasn’t my idea, but let’s see you try to say no to Emilia.
The ceremony dress is fit for the future queen of the reapers. It is really elegant. It is an ivory tulle ball gown dress with off the shoulder lace sleeves and a lace-up corset bodice that enhances and emphasizes my breasts.
Finlay grinned at me when I came out of the bathroom. “Love, you look amazing. Kian is going to get major wood when he sees you tomorrow.”
I laughed. “Well, he better be good at hiding it because I doubt he would be able to find my vagina under this thing for a quickie.”
Emilia scanned the dress for any issues but seemed satisfied with how it looked. “It’s perfect! Of course, you are so sexy with those curves that you could make a paper bag look good.”
“That’s nice, sweetheart, but I am getting very jealous from the way you are looking at Charlie,” Finlay said to Emilia. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his lap.
Emilia giggled. “You looked at her the same way, so shush.”
They started making out like they forgot I was in the room.
I cleared my throat once and then again more loudly when they didn’t hear me the first time.
They pulled apart and laughed.
I smiled at them and shook my head. Kian makes me forget everyone else in the room too. Emilia helped me out of the first dress, and I tried on the second dress. Both passed inspection. We were ready for the big day.
•Kian•
I am standing at the “altar”, which is actually just a patch of vibrant green grass in front of a weeping willow tree, waiting for my bride to walk down the aisle.
My palms are sweaty, and my heart is beating wildly in my chest. I am nervous and excited. I can’t wait until I am officially Charlie’s husband and she is officially my wife.
Dashiel is officiating the ceremony because Jarrett can’t be appropriate, and Rhett is terrified of public speaking. It takes a lot out of Rhett to be away from his tech and amongst living beings. He and Jarrett are standing next to me as my best men. Emilia and Finlay are on the other side as Charlie’s maids of honor.
The males, including myself, are in black tuxedos. Emilia’s hair is platinum blonde and she is wearing a navy-blue gown.
The guests are mostly reapers, but there are also some special guests in attendance. Ameny and Ingrid are sitting in the front row holding hands. They both look regal in their formal wear. A few seats down from them is Jaxon, our favorite werewolf. Well, I’d like him more if he would stop hitting on Charlie. With the power boost from being King of the Reapers, I was able to transport our out-of-realm guests to the Waiting.
We also have two very special guests in attendance. The Creators graciously gave Charlie’s parents a day pass from the Everlasting and the Pit, so they could attend their daughter’s wedding. Aniela and Nox must follow rules or they are immediately sent back to their respective realms. The most important rule is that they cannot touch each other. Nox isn’t allowed to hurt or kill anyone and Aniela has to keep her ethereal allure dampened.
Aniela is sitting with the Ladies of the Waiting. Nox is with Charlie. Speaking of which, the music changed. Here comes my bride!
•Charlie•
“I am going to throw up,” I said. At least my hair is up in an elaborate up-do, so I won’t get vomit in my hair.
“You are going to be fine. You look beautiful and it’s only a short walk to Kian,” my father said while rubbing my back.
I smiled at him. “I am so glad you are here. It means the world to me that you and Mom are here for my wedding. Have you seen her yet?”
He smiled back at me. “I had a brief glimpse of her before I was ushered to you. She is still the most beautiful female I have ever seen.”
The music changed and Kian’s assistant, Sloan, told us it was time. I linked arms with my father. “Here we go.” And off we went.
•Kian•
Oh, my Creators. She is stunning, hands down the most gorgeous female in any of the realms. I can’t believe she is walking down the aisle toward me, about to marry me. How did I get so lucky?
•Charlie•
Kian looks so sexy in his tuxedo. I can’t wait to strip it off him later. I can’t believe I am about to marry this handsome stud. I am a lucky woman.
•Kian•
Charlie finally reached me, escorted by her father. It felt like both an eternity and a split second, watching her walk down the aisle. It took every ounce of my self-control to keep my hands and lips off her at that moment. It helped that her father is terrifying.
I shook hands with Nox, who then took his seat in the front row.
Reaper wedding ceremonies have a lot in common with a human ceremony. The main difference is that reapers can bind their souls together if the couple chooses to do so. The binding is irreversible, so the couple must be sure they want to do it.
We aren’t entirely sure it will work with Charlie not being a reaper. The process involves the soul being able to exit the corporeal body like reapers can do when astralocating. We know Charlie’s immortal body can survive without her soul being inside of it, so in theory, we should be able to bind our souls.
A soul binding connects the couple forever, even beyond death. Reapers when bound can find each other anywhere and can sense when the other is near. True soulmates when bound together can feel each other’s moods. It doesn’t happen too often, but I have a good feeling about Charlie and me.
“You look gorgeous,” I whispered to Charlie as we turn toward Dashiel.
Charlie smiled at me before grabbing my tuxedo jacket and pulling me down to her mouth. She kissed me softly at first, but it didn’t take long before the intensity increased.
Dashiel cleared his throat loudly. “I believe you have to wait until the end of the ceremony to make out.”
Laughter and catcalling rang out behind us.
Charlie blushed, and it only added to her beauty. Also, her breasts look amazing in that dress. I can’t wait to get her alone later.
Dashiel started officiating. “We are gathered here to witness the binding of two souls…”
Charlie’s voice drifted into my head like a soft warm breeze. I am going to need you to help me change into my second dress after the ceremony. She looked at me and winked before turning back toward Dashiel.
“Uh, Dashiel, can you speed this along?” I blurted out. I turn toward Charlie and take both of her hands in mine.
Dashiel smiled knowingly at me. “If that is what the king wishes...Kian Dullahan, King of the Reapers, do you take Charlie James, Fate, as your wife and queen, to rule by your side for as long as you shall live?”
“I absolutely do,” I said with a big grin on my face, looking only at Charlie.
There were sounds of approval coming from the crowd.
“Right answer!” Dashiel said. “And Charlie, do you take Kian as your husband and king, promising to keep him in line while not letting him be too serious, for as long as you shall live?”
Charlie laughed. “Hell yeah!” she said with a lot of enthusiasm.
More laughter from the crowd. We are just amusing the hell out of everyone.
“Whoops, I mean I do,” she said.
“Then with the full blessing of the Creators, you are now husband and wife.”
I started to move in to kiss Charlie, but Dashiel put an arm across my chest, stopping me. A growl escapes my mouth.
Dashiel ignored me and continued. “Since you already kissed the bride and you are in such a rush, we will move directly to the soul binding.”
&nb
sp; I nodded and then turned to signal the guards. Charlie’s and my body will be left vacant while our souls are in the process of binding together. We may have eliminated our known enemies, but you can’t be too careful.
The guards take their positions and form a perimeter around Charlie and me.
Charlie laid down on a blanket that was placed on the grass.
At the same time, both Aniela and Nox moved toward the guards. “Move or I will end you,” Nox told two of the guards that were blocking him. “I will protect my daughter as I did for over two thousand years.”
“And I will also stand guard over my daughter while she joins her soul to her husband’s,” Aniela said.
I nod at the guards and they move aside. They are right. No one can stand against an ethereal and an infernal.
I lie down next to Charlie and hold her hand. As long as she lowers her shields and lets me in, I can take her soul with me as I astralocate out of my body.
“Ready?” I whispered to her.
“I am so ready,” she said.
My soul seeks hers out like it did when we first tried to astralocate together, only this time when I touch her soul, she doesn’t kick me out.
Her soul rubs against mine like a cat scent marking its belongings.
I am instantly aroused. The feel of her soul caressing mine feels amazing. I can only pray that my body isn’t as aroused as my soul.
With a gentle pull, our souls leave Charlie’s body. Our spectral forms soar out of the Waiting into the space between realms.
The presence of a Creator is waiting for us.
“Charlie, Kian, congratulations. The Creators bless your union.”
“Thank you, Creators,” we said at the same time.
“We also want to assure you that there is no need to worry about creating an heir. It will not affect your position as King and Queen of the Reapers.”
“That is a relief to hear. Thank you, Creators.” I said, genuinely relieved to not have to worry about that. Though, eventually, we will have to figure out the next in line for the throne.
I look at Charlie and I am thrown by her expression. She is smiling, but her eyes betray her sadness. I wanted to ask her what was wrong, but you don’t make the Creators wait for you to have a heart to heart conversation.
“Now for the soul binding. Your souls need to merge, completely connecting the two of you together. With my assistance, when you pull apart, you will leave part of your soul behind with the other, binding your souls together for eternity.”
I reach out and wrap my incorporeal arms around Charlie, hugging her soul tightly to mine. Our souls gently start melding together, becoming one. The feel of Charlie’s soul slipping into mine and completely mixing together is far more intimate than sex.
At the moment our souls are fully joined, I can feel everything she is feeling, hear every thought she is thinking, and I am completely in awe. If I was in my body, my heart might have burst from the amount of love I was feeling from Charlie. It feels like a combination of pure unadulterated joy, intense desire, overwhelming adoration, and like being home. I can also feel that she is feeling the same rush of emotions from me.
It’s one thing to love someone so completely and hope they feel the same way about you. It’s another thing to know for sure they love you the same way. It’s an amazing feeling.
We can feel the Creator start to pull us apart. Our souls resist being separated, but nothing can defy a Creator’s will. With a little force, our souls peel apart. We are once again two different souls.
The loss of the connection with her soul feels devastating at first, almost like a death, but then I feel the presence of our bond. Part of her soul is still with me and it always will be.
***
We returned to our bodies and completed the ceremony. As requested, I helped Charlie out of her first dress and into her second dress with a not so brief interlude, before joining everyone at the reception.
Her second dress was even better than the first one. It was extremely form-fitting, hugging every curve of her perfect body. Her butt looked so phenomenal that I was instantly hard again, even after our satisfying “interlude”. I am not entirely sure that she didn’t pick that dress to torture me for the rest of the night.
As we learned during our tryst, we can feel what the other one is feeling. Charlie and I are true soulmates. There is going to be a steep learning period while we learn to manage those feelings. It’s nice to know Charlie wants me as much as I want her but feeling her want me makes me want her more and that is a slippery slope.
***
Charlie and I make our way through the crowd, my arm around her waist. We bumped into Jaxon first. He was getting rejected by a couple of reaper females.
“You seem to be losing your touch, Jax,” Charlie said.
“Nah, I am just saving my good material for you, baby girl,” he said before taking her hand and placing a kiss on the back.
I glared at him, but he ignored me.
Charlie laughed. “Sure, you are. You can give it your best shot if you want, but I can’t promise that my husband won’t lose his temper and rip out your soul.” She grinned at him and shrugged her shoulders.
Jaxon paled and then finally turned his attention to me. “You know I am only joking, right? I would never make a serious play for Charlie now that she has chosen you.”
I remained silent for a moment and let him sweat before saying, “That’s a wise decision. I would hate to have to hurt you when Charlie likes you and you were so helpful when we were trying to save her.” I smiled at him, letting him know that we were fine.
We shook hands and then I excused Charlie and myself so we could go find our family. We walked through the room, holding hands.
Charlie spoke to me mind-to-mind as we walked toward our table. You handled that well. It wasn’t too long ago that another male flirting with me would have set you off.
I have been wanting to try something since we formed our bond. I was irritated at first, but then I remembered how much you love me.
I could feel Charlie’s surprise at my thoughts in her mind. Woah! This is so cool. Is this a side effect of a soul binding?
No, angel, I think it is unique to us, as reapers don’t have telepathic powers. I think the part of your soul that I carry within me allows me to speak to you mind-to-mind. I said to her as I looked at her and smiled.
She smiled back at me, her skin glowing from her happiness. I love you, Kian.
I love you too, angel. I pulled on her hand to stop our movement. I place both hands on either side of her face and lean down to press a soft kiss to her lips.
“Aww, I love love,” Emilia said, putting her arms around the both of us.
Finlay was suddenly on the other side of us, putting his arms around us too. “Group hug!”
Charlie laughed. “I freakin’ love you guys.”
“We love you too, CJ!” Emilia said as they both pulled away from us. “So, Finlay has some great news to share with everyone. Let’s gather with the others so he can announce his news.”
We rounded up my other siblings so Finlay could announce whatever he was announcing.
Emilia was smiling as she held Finlay’s hand. You can tell that the two of them are very much in love.
I don’t usually like anyone dating my baby sister, but I like Finlay. He has proven himself to be a worthy male. Also, him dating my sister has the added benefit of keeping him busy and me getting more time with Charlie.
“So, tell us your news, Finlay. This better not be an excuse for you to propose to my sister. You need my permission for that!” Jarrett said, his arms crossed over his chest.
Emilia rolled her eyes. “We don’t need permission from you to do anything. Don’t be a butthead.”
Everyone laughed.
Finlay cleared his throat and we turned our attention back to him. “So, I have been visited by the Creators.”
Everyone stared at him in silence.
“I am to be rewarded for my dedication to Charlie during her trials and for my complete faith in the Creators’ plan,” he said, a proud smile on his face.
“What does that mean, Fin?” Charlie said, looking visibly concerned.
I can feel her anxiety through our bond. I put my arm around her to comfort her.
Finlay took a deep breath before saying, “I am being promoted to ethereal. I leave with Aniela as soon as the reception is over.”
Being promoted to ethereal is extremely rare. As ethereals are a species, for a hybrid to become an ethereal, the creators have to remove any trace of human DNA. Finlay’s personality won’t be changed, but he will be much more powerful. Powerful, but stuck in the Everlasting. I look at my beautiful wife. I can feel her grief as if she is mourning the loss of her best friend.
“WHAT?” Charlie shouted. “No, you can’t. You will be stuck in the Everlasting.”
Finlay let go of Emilia’s hand and pulled Charlie away from me. He wrapped her in a hug, “I am not leaving you, love. You can visit me any time you want since you have ethereal blood.”
“What about Emilia?” Charlie asked, not letting go of Finlay.
“I am not leaving her either. She can visit me for short periods every day. The Creators said they would extend her time, so we can have two hours together every day. They even offered to roll over any hours we don’t use, so we can end up spending longer days together,” he said.
Charlie pulled back but held on to Finlay like she was afraid he would disappear if she let go. “I’m sorry, Fin. I am being selfish. I’m happy for you, really. No one is more deserving than you are.”
“Thanks, love. That means a lot to me,” he said before kissing her softly on the forehead.
I can feel Charlie’s love for Finlay through our bond. It is similar to the intensity of the love she feels for me, but there is a clear difference. She doesn’t desire him as she desires me. She loves him like family.
I was so happy knowing that Charlie only loves him like family that I immediately hugged Finlay. I let him go when I realize what I just did. “Sorry. I am just so happy…for you.”
