Chapter 62: We Mated Like...

“You look beautiful, Uriel.” My mom pulled a curl away from one whisps that was curling my hair. My hair was a fluttery mess as at least fifty of the little blue lights continued to pull and braid. They were common in the world of Bergarian. They fluttered around the mates mostly and liked to cause trouble for the men, teasing them.

I giggled as my mother tried to swat one away until they released the entirety of my hair and began working on my mom’s. Sitting down on the bench beside me, she sighed dejectedly. “I guess there really is no use in pushing them away, is there?” I hummed a quick ‘no’ and stared at my reflection in the mirror.

My hair was perfectly curled, styled down as Luci liked. The small crown of white and gold roses adorned my head while my dress was filled with fluffy tulle and sparkling diamonds around the bodice that glowed through the skylight of the magnificent tent.

My toes buried themselves in the floor's sand, yet my white toes continue to peek through the oatmeal-like sand particles. Mom’s hand brushed my hair to the side, looking down at the upper part of my chest.

“I still can’t believe in that short amount of time he marked you.” Mom’s eyes closed, letting out a slow breath. “If I had known he was your mate when I left you—” I grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently. “You never would have left me there,” I whispered.

It had been well over a week since Kronos had been officially destroyed by my new friend, Poseidon. He walked out of Tartarus a new god; his eyes actually sparkled while Zeus hugged him around his shoulders. Hades even had a newfound lightness to his steps when they entered the palace.

A celebration took over that night. Luci and I heard the yells and roars of praise as the twelve gods and their mates danced into the night. I had wanted to go out to see the commotion when we entered our bedroom, bidding them goodnight, but Luci kept me huddled up in bed and gave us our own party, even having the servants bring in the finest desserts.

Luci’s hand left no part of my body, even daring to pull me to the bathroom with him when he needed to wash. I giggled with him all night as our bodies intertwined with each other. We didn’t leave the room for a full three days until banging was heard on the other side of the door. Mom stood with her hands on her hips and dad looking on in horror.

Mom said it had been enough time, and we needed to grace the rest of the gods with our appearance since they all stayed so the Celestial Kingdom could be rebuilt. Luci didn’t like that and growled at her as he pulled me back around my body. I giggled and mom’s eyes only softened, shrugging her shoulders.

“I didn’t think it would happen so soon,” mom uttered again as the whisps finished with her hair. Mom’s beautiful updo had tendrils of beautiful curls framing her face, making her look much younger. Dare I even say look the same age as me?

“My little girl grew up overnight and got a mate all without me. I didn’t even get to give you dating advice,” she whined. I laid my head on her shoulder, smiling into the mirror.

“Would you have really given me dating advice? Or just tell me to stay away from him?” Mom’s mouth pursed together, humming in thought. “You’re right. I would have told you to stay away.” Her finger traced my jaw until my father walked into the gorgeous tent.

The enormous glass chandelier swayed as the flap of the tent opened, showing dad in his beautiful angel ceremonial garb that was slung over his chest. His wings dusted the sanded floor as he approached. Standing up, my dress coming at just tea length on my legs swayed as I gave him an enormous hug. “Hi dad,” I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“There’s my sugar.” he kissed my shoulder, letting me go. “I’m surprised your mate isn’t standing outside the tent. He hasn’t let you out of his sight since last week.” Dad rolled his eyes as he let go of me to kiss mom on the cheek. “How are you, my goddess?” Mom only pulled him down for another kiss, tugging on his ropes.

“Yuck,” I muttered. I still wouldn’t get used to mom and dad being all smoochy in front of me. “Loki is keeping him busy,” I added, to break the awkward passion my parents had. “Loki has some new power he discovered and can talk to other birds.”

“Oh?” Dad looked up in surprise. “And why does that interest Lucifer?” I shrugged my shoulders, not really knowing. Maybe he wanted to get closer to his brother now that he had his anger under control.

“Knock, knock?” Luci’s mother walked in. She was wearing a light blue dress cutting off at her ankles. Her feet were bare like everyone else. Sweet harp music began playing in the background. I smiled, running to the opening of the tent only to have Parisa stop me.

“Not so fast!” she sang, pulling me away. “There’s someone that wants to see you first.” My head tilted in question until the big god, with a slight twitch in his eye and long groomed beard, entered. “Vulcan!” I squealed, running to him, putting my arms around him.

“I’m surprised you remembered me,” his voice cracked. His hand came up to my head, petting it gently. My head barely reached his mid-chest, and his beard tickled my chin as I gazed up at him.

I hadn’t seen Vulcan since my near-death. He had taken it upon himself to help find all the missing monsters that had fallen into the ‘inbetween,’ worlds. It was dark and cold and the wind had settled there. Poseidon spent most of the week with Vulcan as they pulled every single one and had them go back to the Underwater palace to heal.

“Of course, I remember.” I squinted at him playfully. “How can I forget my brother?” Vulcan smiled, his pearly white teeth a sharp contrast to the blackened beard. The sentiment had his eyes glassy until mom and dad walked up around us. The large group hug felt warm and familiar, like it should have always been this way.

“Remember what I said, family vacation with mates and children once things settle down,” mom reiterated again. Vulcan’s mate, Tamera, had given birth to the triplets just the day before and busy was an understatement in our family.

Amaryllis, Alexandra, and Angelos were dubbed the two girls and one boy. I loved the names instantly and couldn’t wait to cradle at least one baby in my arms. The way gods could heal so quickly after birth, Tamera was more than happy to bring the new family of five to the Bonding Ceremony today. Now I could finally meet my new sister-in-law at the party and play with the babies to my heart’s content.

“Watch out, you might give Uriel baby fever,” mom warned. “I’m not sure she is quite ready for that.” Mom eyed me warily, and it was true. I wasn’t ready to have a baby, just yet. But having fun with other god’s babies had me feeling all gooey inside.

“I only want to be Luci’s good girl right now,” I said absentmindedly, trying to look out the tent flap and hearing the music play outside. “He tells me all the time what a good girl I am taking his…” Vulcan slapped his hand over my mouth. I tried to mumble the word, but mom’s eyes had already widened.

“Excuse me?” she choked. Vulcan removed his hand, only to shake his head. Hanging my mouth open, I glanced back at my parents, who were visibly disturbed.

“Um,” I patted my fingers, trying to figure out something else to say, but I had nothing. Mom continued to stare at me until Parisa broke the tension.

“It’s starting,” she whispered, ushering Vulcan out of the tent. Mom and dad silently stood on either side of me, my arms hooking in with both.

“She’s mated now, Hera,” my dad whispered to her. I smiled, remembering that I was already mated. Luci was mine, and I was his and there was nothing or nobody to ruin it.

“Yes, we are definitely mated, we mated like,” I held my hands up trying to count just how many times, but father shoved my hands down quickly with a nervous chuckle. “She doesn’t need to know. Your mother is always going to see you as his innocent little girl so let’s not remind her so much.”

I shoved out my lip. My mom was still tense at the thought I was mated. Dad is the one that should be more over-protective. That was how all the stories and movies I had watched. Dad looked at Luci with such pride now, though. Maybe it was because Luci had saved me, and he knew we match each other so well. Mom, even with Kronos influencing her decisions, deep down thought of me as hers and hers alone.

Shrugging my shoulders, I reminded myself she just had to get over it.

“Ready?” Parisa whispered, opening the white leather flap. The salty air filled the tent, and the beautiful lull of the ocean sent a calming wave of ease as mom took a breath. Squeezing my arm with hers, we stepped out into the light sources of the privacy of the Dragon Isle.

The rows and rows of beautiful white padded seats held not only the gods but werewolves from Parisa’s home pack, even her parents, Alpha’s of the Night Crawlers, Rosalie and Jack.

Enormous white and red flower petals lined up the aisle where we were to walk. The smoothness along with the grainy sand had a rush of happiness run through me. Before we took the next steps to meet my mate, who I had yet to see, four little hands pulled at my dress.

To my surprise, Thalamere and Alyssa, the prince and princess of Atlantis, whispered my name. “Goddess!” Their faces lit up like a thousand stars. Letting go of my parent’s arms, I hugged them both tightly. I never thought of inviting them. My eyes, that had been firmly planted in the sea of roses in the sand, glanced at the end of the aisle.

Luci, normally in his black attire, was wearing sandy-colored dress slacks with a white button-up shirt with the first buttons undone at the top. His face was cleanly shaven, his hair gelled back to perfection. My eyes watered, looking at how handsome he was. His smile only graced me as he stared.

“We have to go back now,” Thalamere pointed back to the row with his parents, the King and Queen of Atlantis. “Kiss him good.” Alyssa kissed my cheek while I giggled watching them meet their friends Manta and Scurry on the seats that were far too large for them.