Angel Kin (15 page)

As if he were privy to his thoughts, Bren gave his hip a warning squeeze. He was right. Madigan didn’t need to get worked up just yet. Thankfully, his guardians moved them to another section of the seating area so Madigan could finally get a good look at what was around him. The décor was simple but elegant, white and pink rose petals scattered down a white cloth aisle that ran the length of the space. The happy threesome stood under a rough wooden arbor decorated in creeping vines with white and green and pink blossoms. The chairs were also polished natural wood, but at the ends of the aisles matching bouquets of flowers hung from dark and light green ribbons. It was a lovely space.

His eyes slid over the audience. Everyone here was ridiculously attractive for the most part. The human families were easy to pick out on the left side of the aisle. They all sat clustered together and just didn’t seem to have that extra something that separated the celestials from everyone else.

Madigan wondered if Levi and Erik missed their mothers. Both of them were apparently killed by hunter factions when they’d first reached maturity. Madigan couldn’t imagine not having his mother at his wedding. She had been all he’d had for so long that the thought of not having her around made him a little sick to his stomach.

He turned his thoughts away from the subject and focused on Levi and Erik who stood on either side of Marius. They both had on white tuxedos with white shirts and pale pink ties underneath. It seemed to suit the nephilim, giving them that bridal quality that Erik had protested earlier in the day. Marius, on the other hand, wore black, but his tie, too, was pastel pink. All three of their hands were linked, and they stood before two very large angels who Madigan assumed were Levi’s and Erik’s respective biological fathers. Behind them stood four more angels in a strange-looking black-and-navy-blue uniform with silver sabers at their sides.

“Who are they?” Madigan asked Bren as they waited for the ceremony to begin.

“They are Elite Guardians. It’s a special e and position given to guardians who have given their lives to protect their charges,” Bren explained.

Madigan frowned. “So they’re ghosts?”

“Nope.” Bren shook his head. “They’ve been resurrected by the seraphim to serve in a special guard position. Think of them as the special forces of heaven’s National Guard. Usually, they’re gifted to certain angels who have proven themselves worthy and in need of them to use for their own purposes. I have no idea why Levi’s and Erik’s fathers brought them, but it may be just a way of showing respect. It’s a high honor to have them present.”

“Do you think they’re expecting trouble?” Madigan asked, a trickle of fear finding its way into his mind.

“Not in dress uniforms, they’re not. It’s all for display. No one is anticipating actually having to use those weapons.”

The music began to play, and Madigan was happy to hear the ushers tell everyone to be seated, though he did wince when his ass collided with the unforgiving surface of the wooden chair. Man, their quickie had been vigorous. The harps and violins rose in crescendo and then fell silent.

“Welcome, friends and family, to the union of these three gentlemen in holy matrimony…” The words were comforting and familiar in their cadence, and Madigan found himself listening more to the tone of the speaker rather than the actual words. After one of the fathers spoke, the other one began speaking about the joys of marriage and the rightness of a proper union. Madigan would’ve thought it was all lovely except that it seemed a little off for some

reason.

“Methinks that someone’s daddy is not happy his son is marrying a Fallen,” Bren whispered in Madigan’s ear. Yeah, that was probably it because the dark-haired guy on stage did not look very pleased as he lectured about love. If anyone else noticed, they didn’t look like it, but Madigan definitely detected a little tension.

“Happens at every wedding, Madigan. No worries. Family drama is par for the course,” Michel said in a low voice. “It’ll be okay once we get to the reception. We put your wedding present by the cake for them to use.” He added the last with a wink, and Madigan felt relief that they had arrived on time. He’d ordered the cake servers and champagne glasses only a few days ago, and it had been a question on whether or not they could be engraved and delivered in time.

“I’m glad. I hope they’ll like them.”

“Madi, you have great tastes. I’m sure they’ll love them,” Bren said from his other side.

“As is tradition in the heavenly realms”—the first father was speaking again, louder this time as if he wanted everyone in the very back to hear him clearly—“myself and my friend gift unto you these guardians to watch over you and yours as you begin this new life together as married partners.”

Madigan’s mouth hung open in shock, and Marius exploded. “What the
fuck
?” Erik grabbed Marius’s arm before he could go at the two angels who wore matching looks of smug satisfaction on their faces. The entire collection of guests began to murmur in unease as Erik and Levi started whispering rapidly to Marius in an effort to keep him calm.

“Holy shit. That is low down and dirty,” Michel muttered, crossing his arms over his chest.

“What’s going on?” Madigan asked.

“Their fathers just assigned those four Elites to Levi and Erik as additional protection. By the laws of heaven, Marius has to accept them into their home. If he refuses, he takes his status from Fallen to

irredeemable, meaning he’ll be considered a demon and have to report to the underrealm for orders. However, with nephilim hunger, the potency of the guardians will tempt even the most devoted nephilim. They’re trying to put a wedge in between Levi, Erik, and Marius. It’s a dirty fucking move.” Bren sounded downright pissed about it.

“Thank you, Father,” Levi said, his voice shaking. “We accept your warriors with pleasure.” Marius snarled something that sounded far from complimentary. Madigan didn’t know what they were going to do.

Poor Marius
.

That is terrible
.

“Then with the power vested in me by the heavens above and the Creator of all things, I pronounce you bound. May you have an eternity of happiness,” Levi’s father said.

Madigan was sure that the declaration was the oddest end to a wedding that he’d ever experienced. The four angels stepped forward and bowed over first Marius’s, then Erik’s, then Levi’s hands. None

of the wedding party looked happy about it. The two angels who’d

caused the chaos went over to the human families and rounded them

up with some cleverly well-placed instructions to get them moving in the direction of the hotel. The angelic guests were more reluctant to follow.

“It’ll work out,” Michel said firmly as they stood and began to follow the guests back toward the reception area. “Marius was worrying over how to protect Levi and Erik when he was injured on the flight over. Perhaps this will be an answer for them.”

“Still think it’s shitty.” Bren growled.

“Agreed,” Dex seconded, dropping an arm around Madigan’s shoulders as they walked. Cross remained quiet for a minute before he spoke.

“We will support them if they need it, but I don’t think we can do anything to fix it. There is enough on our plates as is.”

Madigan nodded in agreement even as he wished there was something he could do to make it all better. They had become friends since coming into their lives, and to know that on the happiest day of their lives they were unhappy…

“I promise no family drama on our wedding day,” Yuri declared as he hopped up onto a low wall that ran the length of the driveway up to the front of the hotel. He balanced on top of it, walking beside them. “My family already loves you.”

“Mine, too,” Michel said.

“I’m not inviting my family,” Bren declared with a sour look on

his face.

Madigan turned his attention to Bren. “And why not?”

“Because Lucifer’s choir is a bunch of rowdy, undisciplined hoodlums,” Cross said, shooting a grin at Bren.

Bren’s nostrils flared. “
What

did you just say?”

Madigan laughed as they started to tussle right there. He was lucky to have guardians like his. He was luckier still to have lovers who were all in the same position in life and who had enough love and warmth in their lives to create a cocoon of happiness despite the

threat of the hunters. The path ahead was looking brighter every day. Sanctuary was going to become home, and Madigan dared anyone to try and make it otherwise.

“I figured once we’re settled into the house we can invite my friends over to share the news. They’re really great people, and I want them to be a part of this,” Madigan said as Cross settled his dispute with Bren with a kiss. They were almost to the front of the hotel.

“I believe that would be appropriate, Madi,” Dex said, smiling as if the thought pleased him. “So you will begin planning the wedding after we move into the new house?”

That seemed to catch everyone’s attention, and all his guardians looked at him expectantly.

Madigan looked at them each in turn.

I love them so fucking much it’s almost too much to deal with.

“Yes. Once we move in, I’ll plan the wedding and start looking for a space to open my bakery.” A thought occurred to him. “We also need to schedule a time for everyone to get together and make family pictures. In all the confusion I completely forgot that we promised Levi that we’d get some portraits done.” He liked the idea of having pictures of all of them together.

The announcement seemed to make them all breathe a sigh of relief. Madigan almost laughed at them. They expected him to change his mind or something?

Ha
. He was more sure now than he’d ever been that they belonged together. Despite differences, flaws, or challenges, they were family now, and that tie meant more to Madigan than any wedding ring ever would. He smiled softly to himself. Well, of course, the ring wouldn’t hurt.

THE END

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jana Downs lives in the beautiful mountains of Western North

Carolina with three cats, one dog, several dozen fish, and a very understanding partner-in-crime who hates to read but makes exceptions for her stories.

You can usually find her either watching bad reality TV, buying way too many books on Amazon, or dreaming up another man or two to occupy her time because life is good but several drop-dead gorgeous nonexistent men is just better.