Peri’s eyes studied his face for a minute before he nodded once. “Okay. This isn’t a corporate retreat. This is our bonding ritual.”
Wash’s mouth fell open, and Peri was quick to explain himself, squeezing Wash’s hands tightly. “You seemed so hurt and sad about not having a ceremony, and I didn't want you tomiss out, so I asked our friends for help. It won’t be exactly like a regular demon ceremony, I’m not a demon and not enough of them will be here for the magic parts, but we made some adjustments and Ozen approved of them. I did my best, and I hope you aren’t too disappointed and–mmph!”
He silenced Peri’s ramblings the same way he always did, kissing him senseless until his little fairy melted into his arms and the nervous fluttering of his wings settled. Nothing he’d come up with was even close to what Peri had planned, and while a part of him was apprehensive, he was also glad for it. It’d felt wrong the past few months not claiming Peri back.
It only took two weeks for Wash to be covered from the neck down in soul blooms, and the gossip around the office spread like wild fire until every single person in the company knew he was Peri’s mate. But he hadn’t been able to give that same kind of thing to Peri. He’d thought about doing something private, maybe just biting him and giving him a ring when they were alone, but it felt wrong. Peri deserved to be celebrated. He just wasn’t sure how he would pull that off when his family would never consider hosting a ceremony for him. He hadn’t even heard from them in years.
“Thank you,” Wash murmured against Peri’s lips, cupping his neck and running his thumbs along Peri’s jawline just because he never wanted to stop touching his mate.
Peri let out a shaky breath, blinking his eyes open to look up at Wash. “So you’re not mad?”
He huffed a small laugh, shaking his breath. “No, baby. I’m not mad. I’m glad. I wanted to celebrate what you mean to me. I just didn't know how.”
He was gifted with a blinding grin before Peri jumped into his arms, peppering his face with kisses and forcing him to drop their bags so he could hold Peri up. He didn’t let them get too distracted, not after Peri went through all the trouble of settingthis up, and when he set Peri back on his feet, he smiled to show him he was sincere. “Come on, baby. Show me what you planned.”
They were greeted inside by a fairy with a headset and a clipboard, flitting around pointing the staff where they needed to go like the director of a military brigade. She only softened when she saw them come in, her feet touching the ground just long enough to give Peri a big squeezy hug.
“Hey, baby cousin! You’re finally here! We’ve got a room for the two of you, and your outfit for tomorrow’s ceremony is in the closet. I just steamed it, so no touching. Go get dressed, then you can meet everyone outside.” She beamed at Wash, wiggling her fingers in a wave. “Hello. I’m Bella. I’m Peri’s cousin and the event coordinator for this…” She paused, tapping her chin with her finger. “I mean, it’s supposed to be a demon bonding ritual, but there’s some major differences, so…”
“It’s fine,” Wash assured her. “Whatever Peri planned is perfect.”
“Aw. You found yourself a good one,” Bella cooed, squeezing Peri’s hand cheerfully. “Well, good. It was a lot of work getting this all set up in two months, and I only did it because I love my cousin and he deserves to be happy. Now, off to change, the both of you. And no getting distracted along the way. We’ve got the acknowledgement party already set up, and people have been arriving all morning. Shoo. Shoo.”
She waved them off and barked at another member of staff to show them to their room. Once they were out of earshot, Wash murmured in Peri’s ear, “Why do I feel like she could rule the world if she wanted to?”
“Because she can,” Peri snickered. “Don’t worry, as long as you don’t work for her, she’s sweet as pie.”
“Somehow, I find that hard to believe.”
The room itself was luxurious with thick bedding and an unlit fireplace against one wall. The bathroom was something out of a magazine, and Peri spent a good few minutes gaping before Wash had to remind him they were supposed to be outside. He now understood better why Peri had insisted on three suits, and why one of them was more traditional demon wedding style. He’d played his part well, gushing about how much he liked the demon suit style and how he wanted Wash to have it for special occasions. Wash still hadn’t figured out a way to tell him no, so he’d gotten it when he bought the other two. Now he knew why.
“Any other secrets about this weekend that you haven’t told me yet?” he teased as he pulled on the black on black suit he’d picked out himself. Peri had made a face when he’d originally grabbed it, but once he saw it on him, he’d changed his tune fast and tried to attack him in the dressing room. If he hadn’t chosen such an upscale suit store with a staff member waiting only ten feet away in case they needed him, Wash might have let him get away with it.
“No,” Peri snickered from the bathroom where he was changing. “At least, I don’t think so. Taron spent a few weeks researching demon ceremonies, so I think we got it as close to what–”
“Wait. Taron did research?” Wash asked incredulously. That wasn’t Taron’s style. He came up with the ideas. It was the research team’s job to gather information.
“Yes!” Peri laughed. “He loves you and wants you to get the celebration you deserve. So be nice to him this weekend. He really went all out.”
Something like affection for the shapeshifter filled his chest, which was… disconcerting. He cared about Taron to a point, but he still didn’t feel like they were close. Not like Peri, Taron,and Kian had become. Those three were a team nowadays, and whenever they got together, chaos followed.
“Wash…” Peri warned.
Chuckling, he joined his mate in the bathroom, pressing himself against Peri’s back and kissing his neck. “I’ll be nice. But if he mentions anything about a relay race, I’m out. No part of a demon bonding ceremony includes a relay race.”
Forty
Alot more people showed up than Peri had expected. The first day, which was mostly just a social gathering, was spent with Peri and Wash greeting a dizzying amount of people until even Peri was wiped out. Maybe he should have seen it coming. He’d invited his family, which was large all on its own, especially when he included cousins, aunts and uncles, and his grandparents. Taron had sent out a second secret invitation to everyone in the office, and everyone who considered Wash a friend showed up in droves. Elijah had even extended an invitation to their parents, but the conversation between them and their sons had been… awkward, to say the very least.
All in all, there were over one hundred people at their ceremony weekend, and Peri wasn’t surprised that Wash was a little shell shocked by just how many people valued him enough to show up to support him.
Wash had been dragged away by Taron the following morning since they were supposed to get ready separately. To his and Taron’s surprise, Wash hadn’t complained, giving Peri a chaste kiss and grabbing his garment bag before following Taron out. Taron had shot him a wide eyed grin before closing the door,and Peri got the feeling Taron was going to latch on harder than ever before after this weekend. An entire weekend of Wash not grumping at him would be all the permission Taron needed to declare them ‘besties for life’.
His cousins had appeared not long later with drinks, snacks, and gossip, helping him get ready while sharing the family drama he’d missed while working in the city. When Avery came to get him and Peri introduced him, the squeals were deafening when they realized he was the author of the books they loved so much. Even Nyx was smiling and shaking Avery’s hand. It took Ozen coming to steal his mate away before they’d let him go, and Peri knew by the end of the night, Avery’s phone number would be added to the family group chat.
The ceremony was held in a clearing in the forest right next to Maverick’s estate. It was big enough for the entire group, as long as chairs weren’t involved. Instead, blankets and pillows had been spread out, which Peri adored. It was like a picnic, but wedding style.
The dais in the middle was only raised a few feet, enough for them to be seen by the whole crowd, and Ozen stood waiting for them, his smile soft. He’d been surprised and touched when Peri had asked him to officiate. Since officiates were usually supposed to be close family members, and Ozen knew at least a little of what they were supposed to do, Peri felt he fit perfectly.