Who’s getting married

After making love twice, they took a relaxing bubble bath together and popped back over to Black Rock Island. Jackson, Karmen and the rest of the guest had arrived on the island earlier than Van had expected. When Van and Harper finally arrived everyone else had already gone down to the beach to have a small pre-wedding celebration .

The clam chowder and shrimp salad was was ready to be served and the cook was boiling the water in a big pot right on the beach to cook the fresh lobster.

Harper and Van hurried to change into their swimsuits and walked down to the beach to join the family. As they approached the party area Jackson and Karmen walked over to meet them.

"I'm glad to see that the two of you are back in time."Jackson said, "Delaney told me you had left, I was beginning to think you weren't going to be able to make it"

"Sorry we're a little bit late, I took Harper to Vital to show her around the castle and to meet the staff " Van apologized, even though he didn't feel regretful at all, because mating with his little witch was worth being late. And it didn't look like they had actually missed anything yet.

Jackson chuckled "I bet they were a little surprised, you left for a wedding and showed back up with a girl by your side."

"Some of them were quite surprised about our relationship and some were excited,"Van replied, Chuckling to himself , as he thought about how shook up Commander Creed had gotten this morning.

"I'm sure" Jackson grinned knowingly,

"Well come on" he urged waving his hand for them keep walking in the direction that everyone else was headed. When they reached the table, Jackson murmured, "grab a seat, lunch will be served in about five minutes."

Jackson and Karmen walked to the end of the table as the host Jackson took a seat at the head of the table and karmen took a seat to his left. Karmen's parents set beside Karmen and Mother Sophia set on Jackson's right side. King Charles and Queen Victoria set down across the table from Karmen's parents completely filling up that end of the table.

Harper and Van looked around noticing there was no place cards reserving seats for each guest. So they set down on two of the big white pillows that set around the low table ,close to the other end . When Rylee seen Harper and Van set down she was quick to grab Ethan's hand and pulled him over to set across the table from them. She had a great time on the yacht with Karmen but missed chatting Harper.

"Oh, this is so beautiful" Harper praised the casual yet elegant low table scape that had been decorated beautifully, using simple white wooden lanterns with white candles inside . Low flower arguments with Orange, pink, and red flowers flowed down the center of the table giving it a beautiful pop of color.

"Yes it is" Rylee agreed

"Darling if you like this we can do the same thing at our pre-wedding celebration .We have a Mansion on the beach too, I will take you there when we go back home." Van murmured close to Harper's ear .

With her vampire hearing Rylee heard what Van said from across the table.Totally caught of guard by the information she just over heard, She shouted "You're getting married " Everyone at the table turned towards the sound of her voice curious to know who was getting married.

Harper turned red as a tomato, she stared at Rylee unable to speak, she really didn't know how to answer that question. Everything has been happening so fast every since she met Van she hasn't even had time to think about getting married.

Van grinned ; " Yes we are, we just haven't planned anything yet, but after we get all the arrangements finalized we will send you an invitation"

Karmen squealed pressing her hands over her heart "Oh, that's wonderful, if you're planning a beach wedding I will give you the book I bought, it has a million ideas in it to give you inspiration."

"Thank you " Harper replied shyly.

"Van ,I will give you my address after the wedding, Rylee's coming home with me .Ethan chimed in.

"You will be back home before school starts, right?" Harper ask Rylee, "I don't think we can plan a wedding before school starts back up."

"No, I'm transferrin" Rylee replied, leaning into Ethan when he put his arm around her shoulder.

"Oh, my goodness Rylee, I will show you around the city while Ethan is at work. "Monica sang out, happy to have a daughter again, even if it's just for a short while.

"Thank you Mrs. Boyett, that will be wonderful, Rylee smiled politely.

"It will be my pleasure darling, I really miss the things Karmen and I used to do together. We can go to the spa and to the mall, have lunch at The old style Inn. It's a historical place like your family's restaurant."Monica babbled "Oh Rylee ,I'm so glad you're going to stay with Ethan for a while."

" I hope she decides to stay for a long time. Someone needs to keep an eye on her now that Jackson and Harper are getting married." Ethan smirked, sliding his hand across her thigh giving it a squeeze.

"Don't even tell me you two are getting

married too."Jackson teased. Just as his Aunt Charlotte's family walked over to the table to take a seat.

"Who's getting married?" Aunt Charlotte asked as she glanced around the table to see only two other couples besides Jackson and Karmen that weren't already married.

Rylee and Ethan both pointed at Van and Harper at the same time, shouting out. "They are."

"Oh my, how wonderful ,"Aunt Charlotte gushed excitedly, however her daughter Brooklyn wasn't as excited by the news. She gritted her teeth and stared at Harper with a murderous glare in her eyes.

Harper was distracted by the overly excited Aunt Charlotte who was making her way towards them and didn't notice Brooklyn's intense glare. However Van noticed the malicious look in her eyes and the fact that she was coming towards his little witch right beside her mother. His demon raged with anger and tried to come out to protect his mate. Van pushed the old beast back instantly pulling Harper closer to him.

Harper didn't know what happened but for some strange reason she felt angry Brooklyn at the moment .She leaned into Van feeling her anger dissipate and turn into a feeling of protectiveness. With out even realizing it she nuzzled her face against his shoulder and wrapped her hand around his arm.

Van glanced down at her dainty hand holding onto his arm, he smiled, "That's the bond darling," He whispered, patting her hand gingerly.

Harper glanced up at him, she blinked "Heh?"

"The mate bond darling , I will tell you after lunch,"He whispered, Not going into detail because Aunt Charlotte and the rest of her family was already in front of them ready to meet the future Queen of Vital.

Aunt Charlotte bowed her head slightly, and so did Uncle John. However Brooklyn just glared at Harper with a frown on her face.

"Your Majesty, I'm so happy for you, it's always a blessing for a young King to find his Queen, is she from your Country?"Aunt Charlotte ask, oblivious to the fact that Harper was the same girl who had played the organ at Alex and Lexi's wedding and waited on their table at Gabby's.

"No she's actually from Evanston."Van replied with a polite smile.

Aunt Charlotte raised a brow " Really "she drawled, turning to Harper she ask,"How long have you lived in Evanston?"

"All my life, my father teaches math at the high school."

"Lady Charlotte, I'm sure you have met Harper before, she worked with me at mom's and at Eddington castle." Rylee chimed in.

" Oh, I see" Aunt Charlotte replied to Rylee, turning her attention back to Van and Harper, she ask " So I guess the two of you met at Alexander's wedding?"

" I noticed Harper the night of the rehearsal dinner, and became instantly bewitched by her beauty and talent. However I didn't get a chance to speak with her until the next morning." Van replied.

Jackson rolled his eyes placing his hand over his mouth to stifle the laughter that tried to escape his lips upon hearing the bullshit Van was spouting.

Aunt Charlotte clasped her hands together at her chest praising the couple "How romantic, the two of you look so lovely together it truly must be a match made in heaven."

Brooklyn glared down at Harper wondering what was so special about the little teenage human maid. Deciding the man must not know what a real woman can do, but she will be more than happy to show him and replace that little maid before she ever sits on the throne next to him. She smiled seductively taking a seat next to Rylee across the table from Van.