Jonas~~

Alastair disembarks from the plane far too quickly for the future leader of any world. While I can't meet his eyes, it's not hard to imagine, they're scanning the ranks of my Order searching for Gwen. Behind him on the steps are two other male Amoris.

As the trio reaches us, they bow to the members of the Order individually, murmuring our titles. After going down the line, Alastair turns to me. "Where is your Tresais?"

I knew it.

"Helping my fiancée with last minute preparations." In two days I'll be married. Every time I think about it, the idea that in two days she'll be my wife still fills me with surprise that we've even made it this far, that we're still standing—literally and figuratively. Growing up, I never believed I would have the chance to be married.

And now my sister is helping to set up the final elements of my wedding.

Alastair had to expect that Gwen would be here, especially after how close they seemed to grow last time he was here, Gwen serving as his translator for French. "I look forward to seeing them both again." He motions to the two Amoris behind him, his face growing serious, and introduces them to us, explaining that they serve his father's Order. The head Order. They each bow again before excusing themselves to check on the luggage situation.

Colton steps forward and motions to our limo. "I'm sure you're eager to settle into your room. Would you join us?"

Alastair tilts his head to the side, as if questioning my brother's offer, before nodding. "Certainly."

He, my Order, and I settle into the limo for the ride back to the Society. The two Amoris who came with Alastair will be taken to the Estate after they've sorted out everything they need to at the private airport.

I let out a deep breath through my nose, hoping it goes unnoticed. It would be a lie to say I did not expect to be arrested the moment Alastair exited his ship. Did Illias, the Amoris from France who knows my secret, tell the truth when he said he told no one about my Expired Mark? Sebastian and Tobias had to leave my bachelor retreat earlier than the rest of us to take care of the Amoris since he is off limits to the rest of Society besides for Colton. They claimed they were going to set up a surprise for me. The others were too hungover to care to remember to ask about the surprise.

Alastair's seated himself next to me. "Is your sister's wrist healed?"

"I believe mostly. Though if it weren't, she would never admit it."

Eli flicks a piece of lint off the thigh of his pants. "How is our cousin?" I'm sure his question has more to do with the bargain they made about what kind of job Erik would get than to do with Eli caring about his cousin's wellbeing.

"He says he is doing well, though he hasn't had a chance to meet with me. I assure you that I have tried."

August leans forward. "Do you know what kind of house he has?"

"Or what kind of job?" Percy asks.

"I don't believe he's settled down yet, but he must have found a job if he hasn't asked for help."

That's debatable. Erik doesn't ask for help. And if he does, it's rare and usually only because he's desperate.

Seong-ho tilts his head. "Do you have spies who could keep an eye on him?"

"Zeta," Colton frowns. "I am sure Alastair has far more important things to do."

"Actually, I don't." He laughs, a bit self-deprecatingly. "My father is still Preeminence. I'm afraid I'm not incredibly important right now."

"Nonsense," Colton says. "You're being modest."

Alastair coughs, clearing his throat. "I don't believe anyone has ever called me modest, Beta." He's certainly referring to the tabloids his name constantly graces. We all have burning questions regarding his exploits, but decorum dictates that we do not ask.

Colton, though, is being suspiciously nice to the man he believed would woo, impregnate, and leave our sister. I haven't spoken much to Percy since our drunken conversation where I agreed to put in a bid for the Olympics if he'd keep an eye on Colton. I don't even know if he remembers it.

Seong-ho smiles, a completely innocuous smile. "If you had arrived earlier, we would have invited you to the Preeminence's bachelor party."

The heir bows his head graciously. "Thank you, Zeta." He turns to me. "Have everyone's marriages been arranged? My father asked that I inquire about them."

"Not yet. I believe the Undici's will be finalized shortly."

"And the Beta's and Tresais's?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Colton stiffen. "Neither are."

Alastair turns to my brother. "What of Vienna?"

Colton's jaw is locked but there is a slight waver. "There is nothing to mention."

When we reach the estate, Colton offers to show Alastair to his room. Percy tags along. I find Iris in the kitchen, fifteen plates of food spread before her and chefs standing around her.

Our eyes meet, and her shoulders relax. She spears a piece of pasta covered in a mushroom sauce onto a fork and holds it out to me. "Here, try this."

I lean forward, and she places the fork in my mouth, and for a brief instant I can picture her shoving our wedding cake in my mouth at our wedding, smearing it onto my face.

"It's delicious," I tell the chefs, and they bow, expressing their gratitude. "Do you think I could steal my bride for a little bit?" I slip my hand into Iris's, and they assure me that they've kept her long enough.

I pull her outside, headed toward the path that wraps around the lake.

"Thank you. Any more food and I was going to be sick."

I place a kiss on her knuckles and smile at her. "Haven't we already tried the dishes five times?"

"Yes."

I take Iris to the cove that was made for the Preeminence. Only those the Preeminence wishes to bring may come here. It's the one place I don't have to worry about being interrupted, when I can bare my Mark without worrying that someone will see.

Iris slips off her shoes, letting her feat soak in the water, the edge of her dress just brushing the surface. "How is Alastair?"

"Anxious to see Gwen."

"Where is she?"

"Across the lake at the pavilion." That's where the ceremony will be held. After speaking with Iris once we were both back at the Estate, she decided to reveal her Mark to the public after the wedding, claiming the dress she chose will cover her Mark anyway.

After taking off my own shoes and placing my phone beside them, I stand behind her and wrap my arms around her, resting my chin on her shoulder. She places her hands over mine.

"I love it here, you know," she says. "Thank you for ever sharing it with me." It was one of the first places I took her when Erik brought her to the Estate.

I place a quick kiss on her neck, and she arches against me. "What's mine is yours." I kiss her neck again, higher this time.

She lets out a sigh, her head tilting to the side and resting against my shoulder, her eyes closed. "Let's just stay here. Okay?" She turns in my arms so that she looks up at me. "We can forget about Amoris and Marks. About death. It could just be you and me." Her eyes are wide as she stares at me, and I know she's also afraid that Illias shared my secret.

I lean down, my mouth hovering over hers. "You have no idea how appealing that sounds." I press my lips to hers, and she relaxes against me even as her arms tighten around me. I slide my hand down to the back of her thigh, moving her leg to wrap around my hip. I place my hand on her other thigh, and as Iris wraps it around me, I tighten my hold on her back.

She pulls away slightly, a smile playing at her lips, and I lean forward to capture them, but she leans farther back. "The Society wouldn't approve of such scandalous behavior."

"I thought we were forgetting about everyone besides you and me."

She fists her hands in my hair. "I just like pointing out what a bad influence you are."

"Me? I was a completely innocent man, whose mother never warned him about the wicked influence of pretty young women, until you came along."

"The Preeminence innocent? What a concept." She presses her lips to mine, and it's as if I can't pull her close enough. With Iris still in my arms, I kneel down, soaking the ends of my pants in the water. I pull away just enough to ask, "How attached are you to your current clothes?"

"Not particularly attached."

I lay her down in the shallow bed of the water, draping my body over hers.

She places her hands flat on my chest. "My clothes are never safe when you're near, are they?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." I kiss her, and her hands snake over my shoulders pulling me down tighter against her. I press my hands into the sand beside her shoulders, my fingers curling in the fine grains.

She bites my bottom lip, tugging at it before pulling away with a devasting smile on her face. That's the last thing I see before she flips me over, water soaking through the back of my shirt and to the skin underneath. Her body is warm against mine, even as cold water runs over her, dripping onto my chest.

Her body fits against my perfectly, and not for the first time do I have the desire to take her by the hand and elope to forego the pomp and circumstance of a Society wedding and just marry her, make her my wife.

She kisses underneath my jaw, working her way down my neck. I dig my fingers into her back, a silent plea for her to go on. Her lips smile against my skin.

My phone rings.

I ignore it, recapturing her lips with mine. If it's important they'll call again.

I flip Iris so she's back underneath me, her dress now bunched up to her waist, soaked with only a few dry spots. She drags her hand, dotted with sand down my neck, and I shudder as the sand scratches against my skin.

My phone rings again.

I groan, sitting up.

Iris flicks water at me. I give her a dark look that sends her into a fit of laughter.

I stand, water running off of me, and my clothes streaked in stand. "Stay right there."

I grab my phone from where it lies beside my shoes. It's my mother calling.

It doesn't take long to speak with her, and after she ends the call, I sigh, making my way back to Iris before offering her my hand. She clasps hers in mine, and I pull her to her feet.

"Guests are arriving ahead of schedule. We have to greet them."

Iris takes one look at her dress and touches her hair. "How ahead? Because the amount of sand in my hair is scary."

I pull her against me and kiss her nose. "I'll buy you time. But the better question to ask is how to explain all this sand."

"I suppose the Society doesn't believe in the Sandman?"

I raise an eyebrow.

"You are aliens. Just wondering where you draw the line between what's myth and what's real."

I laugh, dragging a hand through her soaked hair. "I'll say you slipped and brought me down with you."

"Don't you dare."

I kiss her quickly on the lips. "Watch me." 

What's your favorite color? If you haven't guessed, mine is purple.