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“Are you crazy? Like I’m going to turn that down so I can get married in my shorts?”

Beth gathered up the dress and nearly ran to the bathroom. Stepping into the gown was like stepping back in time, and when she came back out into the chamber, she couldn’t stop herself from fluffing the skirt. It was a little tight in the bodice, but she didn’t care if she never took a full breath.

“You look great,” Wellsie said.

“Yeah, because this is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever had on. Can you do the last buttons up the back?”

Wellsie’s fingers were cool and quick. When she was finished, she tilted her head to one side, clasping her hands together. “You do it justice. The whole red-and-black combo really works with your hair. Wrath’s going to pass out when he sees you.”

“Are you sure you want to lend it to me?” What if she spilled on the thing?

“Clothes are meant to be worn. And that gown hasn’t been on a body since 1814.” Wellsie checked her diamond watch. “I’m going to go upstairs and see how the prep’s coming. Fritz is probably going to need help. The brothers sure know how to eat, but their kitchen skills are deplorable. You’d think they’d be better with knives, considering what they do for a living.”

Beth turned around. “Give me a hand undoing these buttons and I’ll go with you.”

After helping her out of the dress, Wellsie hesitated.

“Listen, Beth…I’m happy for you. I truly am. But I feel like I should be honest. Having one of these males as a mate isn’t easy. I hope you’ll call me if you need someone to vent to.”

“Thanks,” Beth said, thinking she actually might do that. She could see Wellsie giving good advice. Probably because the woman looked like she had everything under control in her own life. She just seemed so…competent.

Wellsie smiled. “And maybe I’ll be able to call you once in a while, too. God, I’ve waited so long to have someone to talk to who understands.”

“None of the other brothers have wives, right?”

“You and I are it, dearie.”

Beth smiled. “So we’d better stick together.”

Wrath went upstairs, wondering who’d slept where. He knocked on one of the guest room doors, and Butch answered. The human was drying his hair with a towel. Had another wrapped around his waist.

“You know where V is?” Wrath asked.

“Yeah, he’s shaving.” The cop nodded over his shoulder and stepped aside.

“You need me, boss?” V called out from the bathroom.

Wrath chuckled. “Well, isn’t this cozy.”

The “fuck off” came from both of them as Vishous sauntered into the bedroom, boxers hanging low on his hips. His cheeks were white, and he was dragging an old-fashioned razor across his jawbone. Both his hands were bare.

Oh, man. V’s left hand was actually in the breeze, its sacred tattoos spelling out the dire consequences if anyone came into contact with it. Wrath wondered whether the human had any conception what V could do with that thing.

Probably not, or the cop wouldn’t be so damned relaxed dancing around the room half-naked.

“So, V,” Wrath said, “there’s a little issue I need to settle before I’m mated.”

Usually he worked alone, but if he was going to take care of Billy Riddle, he wanted Vishous as backup. Humans didn’t obligingly disintegrate when you stabbed them, but his brother’s left hand would take care of the body. Work of a moment and that corpse would be ether.

V grinned. “Give me five and I’m ready.”

“Good deal.” Wrath could feel Butch’s eyes on him. Clearly, the guy wanted to know what was up. “You don’t want to get tangled in this one, cop. Especially given your vocation.”

“I’m off the force. Just so you know.”

Interesting, Wrath thought. “Mind telling me why?”

“I broke a suspect’s nose.”

“In a fight?”

“During questioning.”

Somehow that was not a surprise. “Now why’d you do that?”

“He tried to rape your future wife, vampire. I wasn’t inclined to be gentle when he said she was asking for it.”

Wrath felt a growl come out of his throat. The sound was like a living thing as it rose up from his gut. “Billy Riddle.”

“Beth