My hands shook as I tried to fit the key in the lock. The package under my arm threatened to slip as I twisted the doorknob, and I prayed the contents hadn't been damaged in my rush to get home. I had been tempted to look inside a half dozen times just to be sure I hadn't made it all up, but I resisted, fearing I might accidentally drop something.

Now I was home, and the bond's intensity told me Calix was home, too. In just a few minutes, I was going to give him the best gift. I was going to give him—

"What is this?" I gasped, mouth falling open as I stepped inside the apartment and found it filled with lit candles and dozens of bouquets of peonies.

Calix emerged from the shadows. He wore black dress slacks and a white button up with the sleeves rolled to his forearms and the top two buttons undone. A trendy cut and hair gel had tamed his wild black hair into submission, though a single strand broke free and fell over his tanned forehead in defiance.

I swallowed and fell back against the door to shut it. Had our bond somehow allowed him to read my mind? Because that outfit, that hair, and that wicked smile seemed like they were plucked straight out of my deepest fantasies.

"Calix, what is all this?" I whispered, still using the door to hold myself up.

Our relationship had been through a lot. We'd started out as enemies who grew tolerant of one another. We'd fought together and rescued each other. Became lovers—in body and spirit. But this...This looked a lot like romance, and truth be told, that was uncharted territory.

He gestured around the room with one hand. The other remained at his side, clenched around an object I couldn't make out.

"Nas and Kinley informed me there was another human custom I needed to observe in order to marry you."

Paper crumpled as I shifted the envelope to the other arm. "You asked my father for my hand. Until the actual wedding, I'm not really sure what else there is you can do."

"Well, that's the thing."His Adam's apple bobbed, and he dropped to one knee. He peeled back the lid on a jewelry box. "I never asked you."

My suddenly very human heart turned over in my chest as I took in the four carat, oval, colorless diamond solitaire sparkling on a diamond encrusted platinum band. Eyes bobbing between the ring and my mate, I struggled to find my voice.

Calix, for maybe the first time ever, sounded nervous as he asked, "Aren't you supposed to say yes? Is it the ring? I knew I should've picked something bigger."

"No!"

The box hit the floor, and the ring bounced out, clinking on the tile entryway. Calix swayed, the propped up knee dropping. Silver eyes wide, he stared at me.

"No? No, you don't want to marry me?"

"No, I meant you shouldn't have picked out a bigger ring. Yes, I'll marry you."

I laughed, tears streaking down my face as I threw myself into his arms. He wrapped them around me, nearly crushing me as he hugged me and buried his nose into my neck.

"Fucking hell." A tremor went through him.

"Why would you ever doubt that would be my answer?" I pulled back and cupped his cheek. "I agreed to bound my life to yours when I accepted the mate bond. A marriage is nothing compared to that."

"Nas—the bastard—told me you might say no because I'd fucked up by not asking. He said human women were very particular about their mating rituals, and that my assumption made me look like a woman hating neanderthal."

I kissed him. "He's not entirely wrong, but I'm not entirely human."

Reaching around me, Calix picked up the ring and slid it on my left ring finger. A primal gleam entered his eye as he examined the ring.

"I have to admit, there's something satisfying about this custom. Now every male will know you belong to someone else. You're off limits."

"Only yours."

I shrieked as he suddenly stood, tossing me over his shoulder. The envelope dropped.

"I have a sudden, intense desire to fuck you while you're wearing nothing but that ring."

My core clenched at the idea, but I shoved aside my need. We would have plenty of time for that after.

"Wait, I need to show you something first."

His hand went up my skirt, his fingers curling around the edges of my underwear. Fabric ripped.

"Calix!"

"Whatever it is can wait, little moon. I've been thinking about this since the dressing room."

A sudden thought came to me. My body protested, but it might be the only thing to distract him right now."Wait! There's another custom. It's a big one."

In the bedroom doorway, Calix paused. "What is it?"

I wiggled out of his grip and smoothed my skirt over my hips. "Humans wait until their wedding night to have sex."

His expression morphed to one of horror. "You're lying."

"I'm not."

"But..." Calix paced, a low growl rumbling through him. "You weren't a virgin the first time we were together."

"Well, no—"

He came to a halt, grabbing the doorway so hard it splintered in his hand. "Have you been married before? Are you still married?"

"What? No! Not every human waits to have sex before their wedding. I mean, some do, but many choose to abstain before the wedding so that the wedding night will be special. It's something to look forward to."

Calix's lip twitched. "I don't need to abstain to look forward to fucking you. Every time we're together, it only makes me want you more."

"Awe."

I patted his cheek before bending to pick up the envelope. As sweet as that was, the more I thought about waiting, the more I liked the idea. He would be so feral with need by the wedding, he would ravage me. I wouldn't be able to walk right for days.

"I smell how turned on you are right now," he fumed, following me into the bedroom. "How do you expect me to deal with that?"

"You'll figure it out. Here."

He grabbed the envelope without looking at it. "This is cruel."

"Look inside."

Grumbling, he opened it. Two seconds later, he sat on the edge of my bed, his lips parted and tears in his eyes. The picture in his hand shook.

"It's a photograph. Like the one on your wall."

"It is," I said, resting my head on his shoulder. "And is that who I think it is?"

He nodded, a tear breaking loose from his lashes and falling. "It is. That's my mother."