#weddingchapter

Weeks later, after our disagreement and our apologies, we grew even closer. I didn't think it was possible, but it happened. The air between us felt different, charged, not with tension, but with a marrow deep understanding.

Before the world could pull us back into the chaos, I made a stop at Akso Hospital. I needed to see Zayne for my heart checkup and between the nausea, the headaches and everything else, I needed to know I was still fit for the field.

The checkup was thorough. Zayne moved with his usual clinical precision. After the tests, he looked at the data.

"Your heart is strong and stable, finally," he said, though his eyes lingered on me. "Everything looks great."

I let out a breath of relief, but the unease remained.

"That's good. But Zayne... I’ve been feeling ill, nausea, constant headaches. I just don't feel like myself."

Zayne leaned back, his eyes searching mine.

"Do you have any suspicions as to what it might be?"

I hesitated. "I... I might have an idea, but I’m not sure."

I kept it vague; I didn't want to spark the inevitable friction that came when Sylus's name entered the room, even now, as they grew closer through my recovery, there was still some tension there and I finally came to understand the reason behind it, so I didn't want to make it worse.

Zayne nodded slowly, understanding right away, his face unreadable. 

I swallowed and forced a small smile. "Actually... forget it. I’ll check on it myself. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable."

Zayne’s expression didn’t change, but his voice sharpened ,calm, measured, but unmistakably admonishing in that quiet, unyielding doctor way he had.

"Stop."

I froze.

He set the chart down on the desk with deliberate care.

"As your cardiologist, right now, the physician in charge of your overall health, I decide what tests are necessary. Not you. Not your concern about my comfort. If there’s even a remote possibility that your symptoms could be pregnancy-related, we test it out. Properly. That’s not optional, that way we can move forward accordingly. "

I opened my mouth to apologize. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to..."

He raised a hand, cutting me off gently but firmly.

"You’ve done nothing wrong. Nothing. You’re allowed to be cautious. You’re allowed to protect the people around you. But don’t protect me by keeping me from doing my job."

He turned to his screen, already pulling up the order form.

"I’m running the test. Full hormone panel. Results in half an hour. One hour the most. Sit down."

I exhaled shakily and sat back on the exam table. He didn’t look at me with pity or judgment , just that same steady, unshakable focus he always had when he was in doctor mode.

He sent a nurse in, and she took my blood and everything that was needed and then left the room, leaving me in a silence so thick it felt like it was pressing against my lungs. My heart hammered, not with the erratic pulse of my illness, but with the sheer weight of possibility. I sat on the edge of the exam table, my hands gripping the cold paper covering.

What if?

Sylus and I had discussed families before, but never with any certainty. It was always in passing, a stray comment during a late-night drink, a hypothetical mentioned while watching the sunset. We’d never gone deep into the "how" or "when" because our lives were unconventional.

What if I really was? How would he react? Would he be angry? Our lives were a constant battlefield, a storm of bullets and shadows. A child was a vulnerability, a target. Would he see a positive result as a burden on his empire? Or would he be happy? 

I tried to imagine those fierce, crimson eyes softening at the sight of a tiny life that was half him and half me. The thought made my breath hitch. I could almost see him, the most dangerous man in the N109 Zone, trying to navigate the fragility of a baby.

The door clicked open right then, taking me out of my thoughs. I didn'r know how much time had passed when Zayne walked in, his face unreadable as he looked at the results.

"The test is negative," he said, his voice flat and professional. "You are not pregnant."

The words hit me like a physical weight, and my reaction was a messy, tangled knot I couldn't unbind. On one hand, a small, logical part of me felt a sharp prick of relief.

Good, I thought. The world is too dark right now. We're about to go to war. How could I protect a child in the middle of a raid?.

It was the safe answer, but on the other hand... the non-relief was louder. It was a hollow, echoing disappointment that settled deep in my bones. The relief was shallow, born of fear, and realism, but the sadness felt deeper somehow, born of love. Not because I wanted us to have kids or because I thought I could only be fulfilled if we had any, but because I hadn't even realized I was already picturing it until the door was slammed shut.

Externally, I forced a small, practiced smile.

"Right. Good. That's... probably for the best, given everything."

Zayne watched me, his gaze lingering a second too long.

"You're a bit anemic. That explains the headaches and some of the fatigue. It’s easily fixed with the right supplements." He paused, his voice softening just a fraction. "You’re faking it."

"Faking what?"

"The relief," he said simply.

I didn't want to hurt him, didn't want to dive into the complexities of my life with Sylus in front of him, so I just stood up.

"I'm fine...Thanks, Zayne. I’ll...I'll take the supplements."

I didn't want to explain why a "no" felt like a loss, so I took the supplements and left it at that.

On the way to the association, the feeling gnawed at me. I was much more disappointed than I thought I'd be. Why did I feel so... empty? I stared out the window of the car, watching the city blur past. I hadn't even realized I wanted it until someone told me I didn't have it.

My mind kept drifting to the idea of a life created from the two of us, a mix of my stubbornness and his lethal grace. I felt a lump in my throat that I couldn't swallow. I didn't expect this reaction from myself. I was a Hunter; I was supposed to be relieved that I didn't have a "weakness" to worry about. But as I touched my stomach, all I felt was a quiet, profound sadness.

The thought stayed with me all day. Later, at the Association, I overheard Tara talking to a Hunter about a colleague who had just gone on maternity leave, mentioning how the office was going to feel empty. That small, casual comment felt like a spark in a tinderbox.

Once I got home, the house felt warm, safe, and somehow... too quiet. I found Sylus in the living room, leaning over a map of EVER's supply lines. I sat beside him, the silence stretching until I finally breached the subject randomly.

"Someone at work is going on maternity leave," I said softly, looking at the fire. "It got me thinking... about us. About kids. Is that... something you’d ever even want?"

Sylus turned his head, his crimson eyes scanning my face, looking for the root of the question.

"You're curious all of a sudden," he noted, his voice a low rumble. "Why the interest in little shadows, kitten?"

I let out a fake, airy laugh, brushing it off with a wave of my hand.

"Oh, no reason! Just... idle thoughts. The office was talking about it, and it just popped into my head."

It was because Zayne told me I wasn't, I thought, still surprised with my own reaction. It was because I spent the whole car ride home mourning someone who didn't even exist yet.

Sylus watched me for a beat longer than necessary, his gaze knowing, but he didn't push.

"It's not something I don't want with you," he said finally, his voice low and serious. "As long as you want it too."

He didn’t look away. He kept his gaze locked on mine, as if he were waiting for me to take the statement back or challenge it. The air between us was thick, the map of EVER forgotten on the table between us. For a heartbeat, the "little shadows" weren't just a joke or a hypothetical, they were a choice. A choice he was placing entirely in my hands

I couldn't find my voice, so I just gave a small, shaky nod. Sylus watched me for a heartbeat longer, his expression softening in a way that always made my breath hitch, before he stood up and closed the map with a decisive snap.

"Enough plotting for one night," he murmured, extending a hand to pull me up. "I think we both need something more grounding than supply lines. Come on, kitten. Let’s see if we can manage dinner without burning the house down."

We retreated to the kitchen, the high-stakes tension of the N109 Zone replaced by the domestic clatter of pans and the hum of the refrigerator. It was a rhythmic dance we’d mastered, him handling the precision of the knife work with a lethal efficiency that made me smirk, while I took over the seasoning and the stove.

As I watched him handle the knife with that lethal efficiency, the weight of the day finally broke me.

"I went to see Zayne today," I admitted suddenly, my voice small over the sound of the stove.

Sylus paused, the blade hovering over the vegetables. I looked at him and then down again.

"I had been feeling ill... and for a moment, I actually thought I might be pregnant. I spent days imagining a life that didn't exist yet, Sylus. And when the test came back negative... I felt relief, because our lives are crazy, but I also felt...sad."

The kitchen went silent. Sylus set the knife down and turned to me, his expression unreadable but his eyes intense. He didn't look angry or burdened; he looked at me with a depth of focus that made my breath hitch.

"So that's what's been clouding your mind," he said, stepping closer until he was right in my space. He didn't apologize for the result, nor did he celebrate it. He simply placed a hand on the counter behind me, bottling me in.

"I wish you’d told me sooner," he murmured, his voice thick with raw emotion. "You shouldn't have carried this alone. Like I said, it's not something I don't want with you, kitten. As long as you want it too. But you should know... I don't need a legacy to feel complete. I just need you."

"I know" I whispered as I gave a small, shaky nod. He stood there for a heartbeat longer, his expression softening, before he closed the gap and kissed my temple. 

Later that night, the atmosphere was softer. We had finished dinner and moved out to the balcony nook. The N109 Zone stretched out below us, a sea of flickering lights and dark shadows, but here, tucked away, it felt like we were the only two people left in the world. I was snuggled against him, his arm a protective weight around my shoulders.

"Sylus?" I asked jokingly, looking up at the stars above the cliffs. "Have you ever actually imagined yourself as a father?"

Sylus was quiet, his gaze distant as he took a breath of the crisp night air.

"Maybe I have," he admitted truthfully. "Maybe I've imagined some little feet running around the house, probably chasing the cats and giving Mephisto a reason to complain...but I’d never want to pressure you about any of it, so I never brought it up."

I chuckled, leaning my head on his chest.

"How many little feet have you imagined in this house?" I asked.

"At least ten," he said, his voice perfectly deadpan.

I choked on my own laughter, sitting up to stare at him.

"Ten?! Five kids, Sylus? Are you insane?"

"At least five," he said, a wicked glint in his eyes. "Maybe ten, well, scratch that, a whole houseful of them, actually. Imagine the chaos. We'd have to build an extra wing."

He laughed and then turned serious

"But kitten, listen to me. I've imagined them because they would be yours, ours. Because a part of me wants to see what a mix of my chaos and your light would look like." He paused, his thumb tracing my lower lip with a heavy, grounding pressure. "However, don't ever think my desire for a future with you depends on it. If it’s just us, if it’s only you and me until the end, I’m already the luckiest man in this godforsaken world."

The way he looked at me not as a vessel for a legacy, but as his entire world made my heart flutter in unexpected ways, even after this long.

"I feel the same," I whispered, leaning into his touch, feeling the heat of his skin. "I just wanted to be sure. I would be happy if it ever happened, but even if it never happens, even if those little feet never run through these halls... I’m not going anywhere. What I want is you, Sylus. It’s always been you."

Sylus didn't say anything for a long moment. He pulled me closer, his hand coming up to cup my jaw. His expression wasn't mocking or surprised, it was profoundly tender, his thumb brushing a tear away before it could even fall.

​He leaned his forehead against mine, his gaze dark and absolute.

"I know what I am. I know the world I live in isn't built for innocence, and that I've spent my life making enemies." he said, his voice dropping to a velvety, serious tone. He tilted my chin up, so I had to meet those glowing crimson eyes. "But make no mistake, kitten. I’m a greedy, excessive man in every aspect of my life. If we bring little shadows into this world, they’d be the most protected and loved souls in existence. I’d turn the N109 Zone into a graveyard before I’d let a single shadow fall over them or you.”

I stayed quiet, listening to the steady thrum of his heart. The disappointment from Zayne’s office didn't vanish, but it transformed. It wasn't a hollow ache anymore.

"I think Mephisto would hate the competition," I whispered eventually, trying to keep my voice steady and to make it all less heavy.

Sylus smirked, the lethal edge returning to his expression in the most comforting way possible.

"Let him complain. He’ll just have more people to watch over. And I’ll have more reasons to keep the world at bay."

I realized then that I didn't just want a larger family, maybe, in the future, we were already one, like he had told me before, we were already whole even if we didn't have kids. But I also now had the certainty that if we did end up having them, our children would be born into a world of darkness and shadows, but they’d have him. And somehow, that thought made the future look less like a battlefield and more like home.

I snuggled deeper into his chest, a sleepy smirk tugging at my lips. "Besides... we already have enough on our hands for now. Mephisto, the cats,  Luke and Kieran basically count as toddlers most days too."

Sylus laughed, a rich, genuine sound. "True. And Mephisto is more high maintenance than any newborn. We're already a regular domestic nightmare."

"Exactly," I murmured, my eyes fluttering shut. "Just us and our little monsters. It's enough and at least they can clean their own guns."

"Fair point, kitten," he whispered with a chuckle.

I fell asleep in his arms, the weight of the "no" finally replaced by the certainty of "us", together, no matter what, even if it's always just us two until the end of days.

Time passed after that, and the pace of our lives quickened again. Our plan against EVER had been working brilliantly behind the scenes. Using the intel we’d gathered with Rafayel and Zayne's help, we had been attacking their labs one by one, dismantling their research and cutting off their funding. We were slowly winning, but the tension was rising.

One evening, after a long briefing, Sylus caught my hand as I was heading to change.

"I've been wanting to do something for a while," he said, his voice dropping into that tone that meant his mind was made up. "I'd love to do it before it all gets more intense."

"What is it?" I asked, turning back to him.

"Have you ever heard about that church they keep mentioning around here?" he asked, voice even, almost bored, but I knew better, he was trying to sound bored,  almost casual, the way he always did when something mattered more than he let on.

I glanced up, curious. "The one that's supposedly vanishing? Sounds like a ghost story to scare kids."

The rumors about the vanishing church had been circulating in the N109 Zone for a long time, whispers in dimly lit bars, cryptic messages on encrypted channels, stories told by scavengers who swore the building was dissolving into thin air. No one could agree on the cause: a deepspace tunnel anomaly bleeding through, an old curse, or simply the world forgetting a place that had long forgotten itself. But the one thing everyone agreed on was that it was disappearing slowly, piece by piece, like a photograph fading under sunlight.

His smirk was faint, but his eyes were distant as he kept talking.  "It's more than that. It's real. Parts fade in and out, like the fabric of reality is unraveling. Thought we could check it out before it's completely gone."

I arched a brow, teasing. "You? In a church? Won't the holy water boil or something?"

He chuckled low, the sound rumbling through me. "Only if you're there to splash it on me, kitten. Come on. Could be fun, our next little adventure."

I tilted my head, pretending to consider. "What's in it for me? Sacred treasure? Divine intervention for my chaotic life?"

His hand found mine, fingers intertwining with a warmth that made resonance hum softly. "Time with me. Isn't that enough?"

I squeezed back, heart light. "It is...Fine, but if we get trapped in a time loop or something, I'm blaming you."

His grin turned wicked. "Deal. I'll make sure we leave with stories worth telling."

The next day, we prepared what we needed and set out , the ride was long, the motorcycle cutting through the Zone's twisting paths, past abandoned warehouses and flickering neon signs. The air grew colder the farther we went, the landscape shifting from urban decay to barren wastelands scarred by old battles and Chronorift Catastrophe echoes. Sylus's body was solid against mine, resonance a steady pulse between us that kept the chill at bay.

He didn't speak much during the ride, but his hand occasionally squeezed my thigh in that possessive way he had, with silent reassurance. I leaned into him, the wind whipping past, wondering why this place mattered enough to pull him from the Zone's heart.

The church appeared suddenly, rising from the snow like a forgotten monument. Stone walls arched high, windows cracked like spiderwebs, a bell tower that flickered in and out of sight as if reality itself was deciding whether it belonged. Parts of the structure were transparent, revealing glimpses of the barren land beyond, as if the building was dissolving into nothingness. We parked a distance away, approaching on foot, snow crunching under boots like brittle bones.

Up close, it was eerie, vines climbing phantom walls, the door hanging on hinges that shimmered like heat waves. Sylus pushed it open with a creak that echoed unnaturally, his hand finding mine again as we stepped inside.

The interior was a ghost of grandeur: pews half-vanished, leaving jagged gaps in the rows; an altar that phased in and out, candles flickering without flames. Dust motes danced in beams of light that bent wrong, casting shadows that didn't match their sources. The air hummed faintly, like resonance gone awry, making my core tingle.

We wandered the aisles slowly, footsteps echoing in the hollow space. Sylus's arm slipped around my waist, pulling me close, protectively, like always, but it felt like something more. His usual smirk was absent, replaced by a quiet introspection I'd rarely seen.

"It's beautiful," I murmured, tracing a finger along a pew that flickered under my touch, solid one moment, ghostly the next. "In a haunting way. Like it's saying goodbye."

He nodded, gaze sweeping the fading walls. "Sad, too. All this history, slipping away."

We reached the altar, where a stained-glass window that was still beautiful, untouched by the decay around it still stood, light coming through, painting the church with its colors.

"This place... it's more than just a rumor to me," he said quietly, voice carrying in the empty space. "When I first escaped Tartarus and came here from Philos, the world was a nightmare. Feared me before they even knew my name, saw the power, the crimson, and ran or hunted. I needed somewhere to hide, to breathe. This was the first safehouse I found. Crumbling even then, but it sheltered me. No one came looking in a forgotten ruin."

I turned to him, heart aching at the vulnerability in his tone. "Your first home away from... everything."

He met my eyes, crimson soft. "Yeah. And now it's vanishing. Like so much else."

I squeezed his hand. "But not the memories."

His smile was faint, thumb brushing my knuckles. "Even if it vanishes without a trace, I'll remember this place a little longer. All because you came here with me. Let's make the most wonderful memories here, before it's gone for good."

Warmth spread through me, soft and overwhelming, so I tried to tease him to lighten up the mood somehow. "Like what? Ghost hunting? Or will you finally admit that you're a big softie under all that boss energy?"

He laughed low, pulling me closer. "Close, but let me let you in on a little something." His voice dropped, serious beneath the tease. "I wish for more memories with you. Ones that are ours. I wish to fill our future with them. What about you?"

My throat tightened, but I smiled, voice soft and steady. "My beloved, I wish that your wish comes true... because every memory I make with you already feels like it's rewriting everything I thought my future could be. I want a lifetime of them, of us, until the stars burn out and there's nothing left but you and me."

He stilled, eyes widening fractionally, the usual smirk gone, replaced by something raw and unguarded. For a moment, he simply looked at me, as if the words had struck deeper than any blade ever could. Then, slowly, he lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss to my hand. He pulled me into a deep, possessive kiss, and as our lips met, our resonance flared like a supernova. A wave of crimson and gold energy rippled out from our joined hands, and suddenly, the floor wasn't just stone and dust anymore.

Crimson Evol flowers began to bloom in the cracks of the floor, thousands of them erupting at once, their petals glowing with a soft, ethereal light. They climbed the pillars, twisting and blooming in seconds until the entire altar was a sea of red.

"Careful what you wish for, kitten," he murmured, voice rough with emotion. "Because if eternity with me is what you want... then, this is how I make it real."

Sylus pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, his own glowing with an intense, scarlet fire.  "This place... it wasn't just a safehouse, kitten. It’s where people used to come to make their vows. Eternal ones."

Before I could breathe, I felt a surge of his Evol wash over me. I gasped as my clothes shimmered and dissolved, replaced by the weight of silk and lace. I looked down to see myself in a breathtaking wedding dress, the white fabric contrasting sharply with the red flowers at our feet and a beautiful sheer veil. I looked up to find Sylus transformed as well, his usual heavy coat gone, replaced by a perfectly tailored black suit with red details that made him look like the lethal king he was.

He kneeled and lifted my hand to his lips, kissing my finger gently. A soft glow sparked, and a ring materialized, elegant, a deep black stone set in silver that seemed to pulse faintly. It fitted perfectly, as if it had been waiting there all along.

I stared at it, breath catching. "Sylus..."

He met my eyes, vulnerable and sure, thumb brushing over the ring. "I wish this wish lasts forever."

Some of the vines reached out, gentle and deliberate, winding around our joined hands and wrists, binding us together in a floral lattice before dissolving into sparks of light.

Tears pricked my eyes as I pulled him into another kiss, forehead to forehead but as we held each other, the ground began to tremble. The church was fading. The stone walls began to dissolve into silver mist, and for a fleeting moment, the air was filled with the whispers of eternity, the lingering echoes of the vows we made within those walls.

Sylus didn't panic. He swept me into his arms, his massive crimson mist erupting around us. Moving us effortlessly down the crumbling stairs as the stone turned to dust beneath us. We moved through the disappearing archway just as the last of the church vanished into the wind. We reappeared on the solid ground outside the doors, his mist disappearing as he looked at the empty space where his first home had been.

He looked down at me, his hand coming up to cup my cheek.

"Let's create more memories with each other," he whispered, "until doomsday itself arrives."

We stayed there, the church fading a little more around us, everything vanishing, the remaining walls thinning to transparency, but our bond was stronger, unbreakable. In the ruins of his past, we forged a future.

Chapter 39-Lucky scratch (includes sexual content)

As we stood there, the church shimmered, walls fully flickering, then, simply, they disappeared fully. One moment the stone, the next one, the earth, sky and silence. Just us, standing in an empty field where a building had been seconds before.

Sylus didn't blink, he just pulled me closer, one hand at the small of my back, the other cradling my jaw.

"Guess the universe approved" he murmured, lips brushing mine.

Then, he started to hum. It was that same low, haunting, familiar melody he'd hummed before, it was ancient, from the times where he was my dragon and I was his sorceress. The notes wrapped around us like smoke, familiar and aching, pulling in more memories with each note. I laughed softly against his mouth, tears pricking my eyes.

"You always remember that one"

"Always do" he whispered "Dance with me, wife"

Wife, the word hit me like a shockwave.

I froze mid step, heart slamming against my ribs. We'd just spoken vows to the universe, no papers, no ceremony beyond what we did, but hearing him say it out loud, so casually, so posessively..it made everything real. My breath caught, cheeks flushing hot even in the cool air.

He noticed immediately, his humming faltered, eyes searching mine.

"Too soon?" he asked quietly, thumb brushing my cheek.

I shook my head, swallowing hard. "No, it's just..." I laughed shakily, fingers curling into his shirt "You called me wife, out loud"

His expression softened, the usual smirk replaced by something raw and tender. "I did"

I stared up at him, throat tight. "Say it again"

His lips curved just a little. He leaned down until our foreheads touched.

"Wife" he repeated, voice low, like he was telling me a secret he had been keeping for lifetimes "My wife"

A shiver ran through me, pleasure, disbelief, joy, all tangled together. I rose on my toes and kissed him fiercely, hands fisting on his jacket, pouring everything I couldn't say into the kiss. When we parted, I was breathless, laughing against his mouth.

"You can't just drop that on me and expect me to stay composed" I teased.

He chuckled, deep and warm. "Good, I like you non composed"

After that, he started humming again, holding me tight. We danced there, in the empty field, slow, my dress trailing over the snow. No music except his humming, no rhythm except our heartbeats. We kissed between turns, laughter mixing with the melody, until his humming faded and we were just holding each other under the sky.

When we finally pulled apart, breathless and flushed, Sylus looked down at me with that rare, unguarded softness.

"Ready to go home?" he asked.

I nodded, still smiling like an idiot. "Yeah, let's go home"

He didn't let me walk. Instead, he swept me up into his arms, bridal style, effortless, my gown pooling over his forearm like liquid. I yelped in surprise, clutching his shoulders.

"Sylus!"

"What?" he asked, feigning innocence, already striding towards the waiting motorcycle at the edge of the area. "Tradition, can't have my wife walking home after her own wedding"

I laughed, burying my face in his neck. "You're ridiculous"

"You love it"

We rode back through the zone like that, me cradled sideways in his lap on the motorcycle, wedding dress and all safely tucked by him, to make sure I couldn't get hurt, as he used his own evol to keep me there, along with his arms locked around me. The engine roared beneath us, wind whipping my veil, city streaking past, but inside his hold it was just us, quiet, warm, perfect. The bike's rumble vibrated through us both and every time we hit a smooth stretch, he'd lean down to kiss my temple or murmur something sweet and filthy.

The ride ended at the gates of our home. Sylus killed the engine, swung his leg off the bike, and before I could even try to dismount, he scooped me up again, this time, flipping me ove rhis shoulder in one swift, playful motion. My veil fell forward over my face, my yelp turning into laughter as my stomach landed against his shoulder, legs dangling down his front.

"Sylus!"

"Still tradition" he said smugly, hand firm, keeping me secured. "Just a different part of it"

I laughed harder, pounding lightly on his back. "Put me down, you caveman!"

"Not a chance" He strode up the wide stone steps like a lord carrying his prize "My bride gets carried over the threshold. Properly"

I was still laughing, cheeks hot when we reached the double doors, only to be assaulted by two identical faces covered in their usual masks, bursting out from behind the columns.

"Surpriiiiise!" Luke and Kieran shouted in perfect unison.

I yelped again while Sylus froze mid-step, still holding me. Luke tilted his head. looking at us as Kieran spoke.

"You guys look like you just got hitched, boss man and boss lady. You were on a motorcycle, in wedding clothes. Epic"

Sylus exhaled through his nose, then, slowly, very slowly sat me back down on my feet, keeping one arm around my waist like he was still staking his claim. My veil was completely askew now, hanging over my face. I pushed it back, laughing so hard my sides hurt.

"We were here for the game night boss lady planned, and saw you guys rolling up on the bike, all glowy and dressed like that, so, we figured we'd surprise you."

Luke nodded enthusiastically.

"Wedding gift. Scratch ticket, the good kind. From that shady vendor near the docks who always has winners. We bought it before, but we want to give it to you two. Congrats, by the way!"

I stared, veil still half on my face. "You are giving us a scratch ticket as a wedding present?"

"Best we could do on short notice!" Kieran said proudly "But hey, if you win, it'll basically be a cosmic blessing on your marriage"

Sylus finally spoke, voice dry but laced with his usual reluctant fondness. "You two have the worst timing"

Luke shrugged.

"We live to serve, boss man"

I stepped forward, taking the ticket with a smile. "You guys really are giving us a scratch ticket as a wedding gift?"

"Obviously!" Luke said "Now, scratch it! Together! For luck!"

I looked at Sylus, he raised an eyebrow but stepped closer, his hand covering mine over the ticket.

"On three" I said, grinning.

"One" Luke started.

"Two" Kieran joined.

"Three!" they said together.

We scratched and uncovered the square.

"Congratulations, you've won the grand prize! Ignite your love with a luxurious  getaway for your honeymoon at Azurie Islands"

We stared at it. Luke screamed, Kieran screamed, I laughed. Sylus just blinked once, then looked at me with something dangerously close to wonder.

"You won?" he said, slowly.

"We won!" I said, throwing my arms around his waist "Somehow we won a honeymoon, what are the odds of that?"

The twins pulled us both in, Sylus endured it with long suffering patience, one arm still locked around me like he was afraid I'd' float away.

Later, the twins finally left, with promises to "guard the fort" while we were gone and Sylus pulled me close inside the house.

"You want to go?" he asked, voice softer than usual.

"Maybe, I have some free time, but I was wondering about it. Your whole thing is shadows and night. I don't want to drag you somewhere that'll make you uncomfortable just because we got lucky with a scratch ticket"

He caught my wrists gently, turned my hands to kiss one palm, then the other.

"Kitten" he said quietly, eyes lifting to mine "It may be nice. I stayed years avoiding the sunlight because it hurt, burned, but I want this, with you. I don't mind the sun if I'm with you. Hell, I'll lie on the beach and let the sun roast me if it means I get to be with you"

My throat tightened. I leaned up and kissed him, soft at first, then deeper.

"You're sure?" I whispered against his lips.

"I'm sure" he said, smirking "New experiences are always fun. Besides, if it sucks. I'll just keep you in bed the whole time. Problem solved."

I laughed against his mouth "You're impossible"

"Let's do this, then" he said, pulling me closer. Already going for the buttons on my dress before tugging me toward our bedroom where we sealed our church, cosmic vows to exhaustion 

After that, it took us more than a week to get everything ready and planned, then, with everything settled, we left for the airport. We were on a commercial flight, because luxury apparently didn't cover upgrades. Sylus's knees were jammed against the seat in front. He should've been annoyed, but every time I looked, he gave me a small, private, just for me smile.

The journey was long, many hours and he didn't complain once. As soon as we got to the island, the sun was excruciating, so, Sylus immediately put on his sunglasses and hat before we were shuttled to the hotel we were supposed to be staying in.

The island was exactly what a scratch ticket prize would deliver. The five-star resort was a three-star beach hotel with faded paint and a room with no AC and a small ceiling fan that looked a breeze away from breaking down.

"They said it was a five-star resort"

"Maybe it's five stars out of ten here" he said, teasing.

I busted out laughing so hard I had to sit on the bed, which creaked ominously. "This is the funniest thing that's ever happened to us"

He turned to me, eyes softening as he watched me laugh. "Yeah. It is"

I wandered to the balcony after that, to take in the view, when I heard Sylus speak.

"Why are you here?"

Followed by a loud, familiar caw "Mephie?"

I ran back in and saw Sylus lifting him out of the suitcase. He cawed again, like he was complaining from his uncomfortable traveling arrangements.

"Uh-huh. Don't sneak inside the suitcase and pretend to be a toy next time." Sylus said resigned.

I stared at the scene and laughed again. "You little sneak. How did you even fit there?" I closed the distance and scratched under his beak. "Our chaperone has arrived"

Mephisto cawed once, shook himself off and hopped onto the railing on the balcony to fight some seagulls that were attracted by his caws, Sylus helping him with his crimson mist, pushing the seagulls away as he pursued.

I leaned against the railing, grinning up, looking at Mephisto chasing the seagulls.

"So...are you going to rest before we go explore?"

Sylus stepped closer, crowding me against the railing, hands on either side of me.

"Rest? Maybe later" he said, his voice dropping "Shower first. Kitten, but given the state of this 'luxury honeymoon suite' I suggest we do it together, so I don't end up using all the hot water. I want you clean...and then not so clean"

"Ever the considerate Onychinus's boss" I teased, before joining him.

The shower was tiny, water lukewarm at best, but we made it work. He set me down, but didn't let go, hands already working the straps of my dress while I tugged his shirt. Clothes hit the floor in a heap. The spray spluttered on as he crowded me against the tiles, teasing until I was trembling.

"We're gonna be late for the tour" I rasped, head tipped back under the spray.

"Exploring can wait" he murmured, dropping to his knees "My wife comes first"

We ended up staying there until the water ran cold, laughing, enjoying each other and kissing, losing track of time. We ate sitting on the floor of the balcony, legs tangled, passing bites back and forth.

"You've got something on your mouth" I teased.

He leaned forward. "Get it for me"

I kissed him. He groaned and pulled me into his lap. "Careful" I whispered "People might see"

"Let them" he said, kissing me deeper "I want the whole island to know I'm married to the most beautiful woman alive"

I melted and gave in.

The days unfolded quickly after that. One afternoon after that, we were out with the tour group decided to not join them for their next event, as people kept interrupting us and rented some jet skis instead so we could go see the dolphins we missed before.

The boardwalk at the island was a rickety stretch of weathered wood, lined with faded souvenir shacks, a few food stands selling fried dough and cold sodas, and the jet ski rental booth at the far end. Tourists wandered past in flip-flops and sunburns, music drifting from a tinny speaker somewhere, the whole place smelling of coconut oil, hot oil, and sea salt.

Sylus rented the jet ski as I stood beside him, he wore his black swim trunks and I was still on my coverup, a loose white button down I'd stolen from him and then thrown on over my swimsuit, a new one I never got to wear before.

We were already halfway to the jet ski when I slowed, tugging Sylus’s hand to stop him beside a shaded bench near the rental shack. He glanced down at me.

“Change of plans?” he asked.

“Sort of.” I grinned, as I spoke, low enough for just him to hear "I'm gonna change real quick. This shirt's too hot"

Sylus turned, eyebrow lifting "Here?"

"Here" I confirmed, already unbuttoning the cover-up.

Sylus's eyes narrowed, but the corner of his mouth twitched. I shrugged the shirt off my shoulders, letting it drop to the sand at my feet.

The red bikini underneath caught the sunlight like fresh blood on fire, it was tasteful, but enough to drive him crazy, that much I knew. The top was simple, tied with thin strings, hugging me just right. The bottoms slung low on my hips, leaving my waist bare, adorned with delicate matching waist chains that glinted gold against my skin. A mid sheer crimson skirt cover draped from the ties at my hips, gauzy, translucent, fluttering slightly in the sea breeze, hinting at everything without revealing it.

Silence crashed over us like a wave.

Sylus went still, his eye flaring bright even in broad daylight. His jaw clenched and one hand flexed on his side like he was physically restraining himself from reaching for me.

I turned slowly, once, twice, letting him see every angle. The sheer skirt swirled around my thighs, the waist chains catching light with every shift of my hips. When I faced him again, his breathing had visibly changed, shallower, rougher.

“Well?” I asked, voice light, teasing. “Think it’ll do for dolphin hunting?”

Sylus exhaled through his nose like a bull about to charge. He stepped forward, close enough that I could feel the heat rolling off him and leaned down until his lips were at my ear, voice so low only I could hear.

“Are yoy trying to murder me?,” he growled. “Right here? In public? On a goddamn boardwalk?."

I smiled sweetly. “Is it working?”

His hand shot out, fast, controlled, thumb pressing just above the waist chain.

“You know it is,” he rasped. “I’m two seconds from dragging you behind that shack and showing you exactly what this does to me.”

He released me, reluctantly and bent to pick up my discarded cover-up, draping it over his forearm. I laughed, breathless, delighted and sauntered toward the dock, feeling his stare burn into my back the whole way. He followed a second later, jaw still tight, hands still flexing like he was physically holding himself back.

When we reached the jet ski, he climbed on first, I climbed behind him, but he twisted and caught my wrist and tugged me forward instead.

“Front" he said, voice low.

I raised a brow, "You want me to drive?"

"No" he shifted, making space, then pulled me down so I was sitting sideways across his lap, legs draped over his, my back against his chest, his arms caging me in as he gripped the handlebars "I want you right here. Now, my dear wife, hold on tight” he murmured against my ear, voice still rough. “Because if you move too much, we’re not making it off this dock.”

I leaned back into him, smiling wickedly. “Promises, promises.”

He groaned, low, tortured and started the engine.

The jet ski surged forward, cutting across the lagoon in search of fins and leaps and the kind of joy that only existed when it was just us against the endless blue.

We managed to actually see some dolphins. We spent hours in the water, splashing, racing, kissing every time we came up for air. He lifted me onto his shoulders for no reason other than to hear me laugh. I tackled him under a wave and kissed him until we both ran out of breath.

Later, floating together with my legs around his waist, his hands under my thighs, he rested his forehead against mine.

“I love this,” I said softly. “Just us. No plans, no emergencies, no Zone.”

I kissed the tip of his nose.

“Me too." he said

"Even if the motel smells like mildew.” I teased.

He chuckled. 

Later that night, back in our room, we were in the middle of a slow, heated session of lovemaking when the bed finally gave up.

We were lost in each other, his body moving deep and steady over mine, my legs wrapped around his waist, both of us breathless and chasing that perfect edge, when the frame let out a loud, ominous crack.

The entire bed collapsed with a dramatic thud, mattress tilting sideways and dumping us onto the floor in a tangle of sheets and limbs.

We froze for half a second.

Then we both started laughing, helpless, breathless laughter that shook us even as we were still joined.

“Oh my,” I gasped between giggles, clutching his shoulders. “The bed just died.”

Sylus’s shoulders were shaking with laughter too,  even so,he didn’t pull out. He just leaned down and kissed me again, slow and deep, still rocking into me gently even as the broken bed frame creaked beneath us.

“Couldn’t handle your power,” he murmured against my lips, grinning.

We kept kissing, lazy and smiling, the laughter fading into soft, lingering touches. Eventually he eased out of me, fixed the mattress to the floor, then, rolled onto his back and pulled me on top of him. I rested my chin on his chest, still catching my breath.

“We’ve slept on worse,” I said, tracing idle patterns on his skin.

He hummed in agreement, one hand stroking my back. “Yeah. That dilapidated warehouse we hid in when we were being pursued after that deal gone sideways comes to mind.”

I groaned at the memory. “Yeah, that place was disgusting. Remember the canned food? Whatever that gray sludge was supposed to be…”

“Tasted like regret and motor oil,” he said, chuckling. “We had to eat it cold because we couldn’t risk a fire. Slept on the car.”

I laughed softly, pressing a kiss to his chest. “We’ve been through a lot, haven’t we?”

“We have,” he said, voice quieter now, more serious. His hand came up to cup the back of my head. “And I don’t regret any of it. Not the running, not the fighting, not even the nights we thought we might not make it. Every single moment led me here. To you. To this.”

I lifted my head to look at him, eyes soft. “I don’t regret it either. Even when it hurt. Even when we were bleeding and exhausted and eating canned sludge. It was worth it because it brought us here.”

He pulled me down into another kiss, slow, deep, full of everything we didn’t need to say out loud anymore.

The kiss quickly grew heated again. His hands roamed my body, mine slid into his hair. We shifted on the broken bed, careful but eager, and started making love once more, slower this time, hands pinned above my head, his mouth everywhere, whispering “my wife” like a mantra until I shattered under him, sobbing his name.

The rest of the days after that, we spent sharing every moment we could with each other. Showers became a ritual, most days spent on the beach or at the waterfalls all around, we even managed to take some time to spend with the other tourists from the tour and learned a lot about the island, its history and many other things. Sylus even let free and we ended up singing and dancing around a bonfire

On the last day, still buzzing from the day and each other, we wandered the boardwalk after a long day. The sun was dipping low, painting everything gold and pink. Stalls lined the wooden planks, shell necklaces, fried plantains, cheap sunglasses and one little clothing booth caught Sylus’s eye.

He stopped in front of a rack of garish camp shirts, pulling out a neon-bright one with two cartoon dolphins leaping toward each other, their noses almost touching down the center seam.

“This one’s calling my name.”

I stared at the shirt, pink, turquoise, painfully loud. “You’re joking.”

He held it up to his chest, smirking. “What? You don’t think I can pull it off?”

The vendor, a cheerful older woman with a flower in her hair, leaned over the counter.

“Oh, honey, that shirt’s perfect for you! The dolphins kiss when two people stand side by side. Romantic, right? Buy two, I give you 2% off!”

Sylus turned to me, eyes glittering with mischief. “Come on. Match with me.”

I crossed my arms. “You’re serious.”

He shrugged, already slipping the shirt on over his bare chest. The dolphins sat proudly across his pecs. He buttoned it halfway and looked at himself in the tiny mirror, then at me.

“Scared you won’t look good in one?”

I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly saw stars. “Your reverse psychology is tragic.”

He just waited, patient and smug. Ten seconds of silence, then I sighed, grabbed the matching shirt off the rack, and marched behind the flimsy curtain to change.

“Fine. But you’re paying.”

“Wouldn’t dream of making my wife pay.”

I emerged a minute later, neon shirt tied in a knot at my waist over my bikini, dolphins perfectly aligned with his when we stood side by side. The vendor clapped like we’d just won an award. We spent the rest of the day strolling the boardwalk hand-in-hand in our ridiculous matching shirts. Tourists stared. Kids pointed. One old man gave us a thumbs-up. Sylus called me “wife” to every vendor who complimented the shirts, and I pretended to be embarrassed while secretly loving every second.

When the sun finally sank below the horizon and the moon rose over the sea, we wandered back toward the room, along the beach. The sand was cool and soft under our feet, touched by the tide. I stepped into his footprints, matching them perfectly.

Sylus glanced back, catching me and smirking.

“Someone’s in a good mood.” I teased.

“You’re practically glowing yourself.” he teased back, holding me close and kissing my temple 

As we reached the balcony of our room; the hammock swayed gently in the breeze. Sylus dropped onto it first, then lazily patted the space beside him. I settled in, the fabric dipping under our combined weight, swinging us slowly back and forth.

I leaned my head on his shoulder, the neon dolphins crinkling between us.

“I was worried you’d hate this trip" I said. "The sun, the heat, the crowds… it’s the opposite of your usual.”

Sylus turned his head, lips brushing my temple. “I love what you love.”

I huffed a small laugh. “Smooth.”

“Truth.” He pulled me closer, the hammock rocking gently. “The plane seats were cramped, but you fell asleep on my shoulder like it was the most comfortable place in the world. The shower water was barely warm, but you made it work with me anyway. The sun was brutal, but you came prepared with sunscreen and everything we needed to not burn… I know you packed half a pharmacy in that bag just in case.”

I buried my face in his neck, cheeks burning. "You should've said something"

"Look, the itinerary was packed, chaotic, nothing like my usual meetings. People everywhere, but now, we are just us. I liked it. I really did”

"I liked it too, even if it was unusual" I said.

We stayed there, together, and a while later, I got up and walked inside to look for something in my suitcase, finding the small, black velvet box I'd hidden under my clothes.

"Sylus" I called as I walked out to the balcony again.

He looked over, curious.

“Yeah, kitten?”

I opened the box. Inside was a black onyx band with thin crimson and silver inlays, simple, masculine, perfectly matching the ring he’d given me at the church.

His breath caught.

"I wanted you to have something..." I said softly. "From me. To match mine.”

I took his left hand, slid the ring on. It fit like it was made for him, because it was.

He stared at it for a long moment, then at me. His throat worked.

“Kitten...” His voice cracked just slightly. He pulled me into his lap, kissing me deeply, reverently. When we parted, he rested his forehead against mine, ring hand cradling my cheek.

“I love it,” he whispered. “I love you.”

I smiled, tears pricking. “I love you too... husband.”

The word hung between us. His eyes flared, then softened into something raw and unguarded. He exhaled shakily, thumb brushing my cheek.

“Say it again,” he murmured, voice rough, almost pleading.

I cupped his face, smiling through the emotion. “Husband.”

He closed his eyes like the word physically hit him, then opened them again, soft, burning, completely undone.

He breathed, before kissing me hard, hands framing my face like I might disappear. When he pulled back, he was smiling, small, real, in a way I rarely saw.

“Say it as many times as you want. I’ll never get tired of hearing it.”

I laughed softly and he kissed me again, slower this time, hands cradling me like I was precious.

"My wife," he whispered against my lips

 Right there on the hidden balcony hammock, slow, his hands slid under the neon shirt, pushing it up inch by inch until it bunched under my arms. Cool night air kissed my skin as he peeled it off completely, tossing it aside with a low chuckle when it caught on the ropes.

His palms were warm against my bare back, tracing the line of my spine, fingers dipping beneath the bikini top to untie the strings with deliberate slowness. The fabric fell away, and he groaned softly at the sight of me in the moonlight, skin flushed, waist chains glinting like tiny stars.

He kissed down my throat, open-mouthed and reverent, teeth grazing the hollow where my pulse hammered. One hand cupped my breast, thumb circling the peak until I arched into him with a quiet gasp. The hammock swayed gently with every shift, ropes creaking in rhythm with our breathing. I tugged at his shirt buttons, impatient, until I could press my palms to his hard chest, feeling his heart race beneath my fingers.

He rolled us carefully, still trying to keep us in the hammock, until I was straddling him. The fabric dipped low, swinging wider with every roll of my hips. I ground down slowly, feeling him hard and hot beneath me through the thin layers still between us. His hands gripped my thighs, thumbs pressing into the sensitive skin just above the bikini bottoms, guiding me in a lazy, teasing rhythm that had us both breathing raggedly.

“Kitten,” he rasped, voice wrecked. “You’re killing me.”

I leaned down, kissing him deep, tongue sliding against his, tasting salt and want. His fingers found the ties at my hips, tugging them loose until the bottoms slipped away. He lifted me just enough to shove his own shorts down, freeing himself. Then he guided me back down, slow, so slow, until he was buried inside me to the hilt. We both groaned, foreheads pressed together, breathing each other in.

He started moving, long, deep rolls of his hips that made the hammock swing like a pendulum. Every thrust pushed me higher, pleasure building in tight, coiling waves. My nails dug into his shoulders. His mouth found my breast again, sucking hard enough to leave a mark, tongue flicking over the sensitive tip until I cried out.

The ropes groaned louder, straining.

I rocked faster, chasing the edge. He matched me, hands gripping my ass, lifting me just enough to slam back down harder. The hammock lurched violently.

One final swing, and snap. The side gave way. We tumbled in a messy heap, half on the ruined hammock, half on the cool balcony floor. The impact knocked the breath out of me. Sylus caught most of my weight, rolling so I landed on his chest with a soft thud. Neon fabric tangled around us, his shorts halfway down his thighs, my bikini in a useless pile somewhere nearby.

We stared at each other one stunned heartbeat. Then burst out laughing, helpless, breathless laughter that shook us both.

“Romantic,” I gasped, still giggling.

“Perfect,” he countered, already rolling us so I was beneath him on the wooden planks.

He took the rest of his pants off an slid back inside me in one smooth thrust, deep, claiming. No more gentle swaying, just raw, desperate need. My legs hooked around his waist, heels digging into his lower back. He took me hard and deep, every stroke deliberate, hitting that spot that made stars explode behind my eyes. I clawed at his shoulders, moaning his name into the night air. His mouth crashed down on mine, swallowing every sound, hips snapping faster, rougher.

“Mine,” he groaned against my lips. “My wife.”

I shattered around him, hard, clenching, crying out as pleasure ripped through me in waves. He followed seconds later, burying himself to the hilt, groaning my name like a prayer as he came, body shuddering above me.

We collapsed together, sweaty, tangled, breathing hard, laughing softly against each other’s skin as the adrenaline faded.

He kissed my forehead, then my nose, then my lips, slow, lazy.

“Floor’s nicer than the hammock anyway.” he murmured.

I smacked his chest weakly.

“You broke it.” I said, grinning. “That’s two pieces of furniture in this ‘luxury’ stay. First the bed, now the hammock. At this rate we’re going to owe them money for damages before we leave.”

Sylus chuckled, pulling me closer and pressing a lazy kiss to my shoulder.

“Worth every broken slat,” he murmured. “Besides… we’ve broken worse things together."

He rolled us again, so I was draped across him on the balcony floor, both of us staring up at the stars, hearts pounding in sync.

I smiled against his skin, content and warm in his arms, already looking forward to whatever came next, broken beds, ridiculous shirts, quiet nights, and all.

“Linkon next,” he murmured, breaking the silence. “Paperwork. Legal names. The whole legal thing.”

I laughed softly. “You really want that?”

“I want everything with you,” he said simply. “Even the simple parts.”

"Yeah, I want everything with you too"

Right then, Mephisto also joined us at the balcony after being gone for the better part of the trip, chasing seagulls and we laughed at his unceremonious cawing for attention as we tried to cover ourselves with the broken hammock, before calling him over and just staying there, together.

We'd fly home the next morning, rings glinting in the sunlight, hands tangled, hearts full, back in Linkon we’d finally do the paperwork, make this marriage official, legal, binding in every way the world cared about.

Paradise hadn’t been luxurious, but it had been ours and that was more than enough before we went back to our lives and keep going through with our plans.

Chapters 40&41

Masterlist

Tag list @thatonegothblond

If you want adding or removing of the tag list, lmk. Thanks for reading and the support!

A/N-Yapping incoming!

Just wanted to clarify that while, yes, they talked about kids, and I'll write a pregnancy in very soon, and it's been in the tags just in case, but I won't ever make it a centerpiece of the full story as this is a MC/Sylus based specific story, maybe some chapters will be about it, but it would never just be only about it.

In my head canon Sylus has always wanted his own family with her as he has spent so many lifetimes alone and now, he can finally speak about having a family even if his life is dark and dangerous.

Anyway, this chapter was inspired obviously by the found fam vibes Sylus/Luke/Kieran give me that prove to me he'd be a great dad or caregiver.

Chapter 38 inspired by Sylus’s card Alternative Darkborne for the engagement/marriage with my own words around it and obviously my own interpretation of how Sylus can use his evol to change clothes lol, cause he's a fashion icon and the King of the N109 zone is always looking amazing, same with his Queen and to leave no doubt, yes, this is their version of a wedding, just them two and vows tossed at the universe.

This card is one of my favorites of him and in all honestly, this scene alone was inspired the start of this story. I wrote the whole thing around this scene happening eventually and I hope I did it justice in the middle of this story as I developed it even further into an actual mystical wedding.

I couldn't help but get them married before it escalates a bit.

I also couldn't help but to give them an actual honeymoon chapter and a plan to make it official in paperwork too in the end, cause their ship is permanent and sealed in every single way. Chapter 39-Inspired by Sylus Lovespeed ride card, but the events are almost all different in their own way and the way it starts is different too, basically mostly got the idea of the failed luxury vacay from the card and scanned it and made sure to keep his personality and hers throughout it and even added some scenes directly from it, in my own way.

I hoped you liked reading it as much as I absolutely loved writing it!