The Sun God Diaries

“Dearly beloved,” began the hunter after everyone took their seats. “We have come together to witness the union of two young souls that have come together of their own free will to become one in wedlock. Marriage is a lifelong contract that is not to be entered lightly and must be taken under special consideration. For what the Goddess has joined together, let no man put asunder.”

“Amen,” the congregation chorused in unison as Iris looked uneasy.

“Ladies and gentlemen, as witnesses of this sacred union you agree that you have come to witness this union being performed and soon made known to all mankind and the supernatural,” the hunter continued. “If there is anyone here that believes that this wedlock should be going forward for any reason, let him speak now-”

“And face sudden death,” Ryker boomed, smirking at me though his threat was very real. “I mean it, anyone who dares try to ruin this for me will be killed by my hand.”

Aside from a few coughs, silence remained.

Damn it.

The hunter, looking very distressed in his eyes yet keeping a cool facade, continued. “Ryker Howell and Malachi DuBauer, the two of you come together for your union to be made into one and blessed by the hand of the Moon Goddess,” he said. “If either of you does not believe that this union should go further, you may now confess it for it is better to be cleansed of sin and remained as you were than to be in a union without trust, loyalty, or love.”

“Malachi and I love each other,” Ryker drawled dreamily, giving me a smitten look. “We both want in on this- all the way, am I right?”

I nodded. “Of course,” I replied.

The hunter took a deep breath. “Well, I guess we should get down to it,” he said. “Ryker Emanuel Howell, do you take Malachi as your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I do,” he answered confidently.

“Do you promise that you will love, honor, and cherish him as your own?”

“I do.”

“Do you swear to make him his one and only lover and partner for all time?”

“I do.”

“And do you mind if I shoot you?”

“I- wait, what?” Ryker said confusedly, turning to the hunter.

BANG! BANG!

Ryker’s eyes went wide as blood began to spill from his mouth, two gun wounds apparent in his all-white tuxedo.

BANG!

Ryker took a step forward with shock and anger apparent in his eyes as the hunter shot him for the fourth time. And a fifth, followed by the sixth.

And then, after a bullet to his head, Ryker Howell crumpled to the ground in cold blood.

“Holy shit on shingles,” Iris breathed. She turned to the now-smiling hunter. “Jake, you shot him.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied just as there were familiar blue lights as the cars came from the forest. To me, “You okay, kid?”

“Ginger peachy,” I replied. I turned to the now-dead rogue Alpha and landed a nice kick in his balls. “That’s for kissing me all this time, prick. May the Goddess have mercy on your soul.”

“Nice,” Iris breathed as the police cars came to our aid. I approached one of the officers and explained that the rogues were planning to defect from Ryker’s control as they were mainly blackmailed and asked if they could help with transporting them to the palace.

A familiar Range Rover came into view as police helicopters hovered over us. “Malachi,” Cunningham breathed as she and Pauly stepped out, both of them wrapping me in a giant hug. “Are you hurt? Did that dickhead rape you? Are you married to him?

“No to all three questions,” I answered. “He was respectable when it came to me being pregnant and didn’t try anything funny.”

“Thank Goddess for that,” my godbrother breathed. “Your family and mates are waiting for you as we speak. And, we’ll make sure to stop for some Mickey D’s on the way.”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” I replied. “Let’s beat feet, y’all. The longer I stay here, the more my confidence flies out of the window.”

As we all made our way to the cars and left the now-empty rogue lands, I smiled thinly and patted my slightly-bulging stomach. “We’ll be home to your daddies soon, boys,” I said softly. “And after today, it’s all uphill from here.”

*************

Ryker’s POV (the LAST one, finally!)

“MALACHI!!!” I screamed, the flames of eternal damnation burning and scorching my skin as I was joined by other damned souls who committed crimes ranging from rejecting and killing mates to blasphemy. “MALACHI!!!”

“There is no hope for you, Ryker Howell,” the voice of the Moon Goddess boomed with crashing thunder as Her anger fueled my punishment. “You have dared to defy the mating bonds of My grandson and his destined mates. You tried to claim him like he was some cheap toy for you to play and abuse over and over again. And while your brother and Alyssa Cunningham have repented for their involvement, you showed no remorse.”

“I’m sorry,” I wailed, another wave of fire cascading over me. “I’m sorry, Your Grace.”

“You are damned for all time,” She intoned. “You will remain here for all eternity. You will have no second chance.”

And as Her voice faded away and Malachi’s brothers who joined Quentin in torturing the damned souls came to me with malice in their eyes, I knew that my fate was sealed. I lost the game that many have warned me not to play. And I was paying the ultimate price.

Game over.