Viper cursed again when Pearl asked for her shotgun. "I am not giving you that damn gun! You are dangerous enough without it," he snapped.
"Don't you dare talk to my poor, defenseless grandmother like that!" Tina said, glaring at Viper in anger. "If she wants her shotgun, you should give it to her. It is her property after all," Tina pointed out in a frigid voice.
"Yes-the one she keeps pointing at me every opportunity she gets," Viper snarled back. "Let her fill your ass with rock salt and see if you like it!"
Pearl chortled at the thought. "I bet he would volunteer to lick it off, Tina girl. Want to see if he will?"
Tina blushed a bright red and glared at her grandmother before sniffing and turning her back on both of them. "You're right, she doesn't need her shotgun," she muttered under her breath.
Aryeh, Rosario, and Illana chuckled as they watched Viper run his hands through his hair in aggravation. All of them stopped and turned when they heard the music of the wedding march begin. Vox rushed down the aisle to stand next to his brothers who were lined up, chuckling under their breath.
"Did you get it?" Walkyr asked quietly.
"Yes, she really, really wanted it," Gable added.
"She said she wouldn't marriage you without it," Qadir added with a huge grin. It had been his turn to come up with something for Vox to hunt down, and he had made sure it hadn't been easy.
"Guall's balls," Pallu muttered, trying to keep a straight face. "If Riley doesn't kill you, her grandmother will. You are late for your own marriage ceremony."
The four brothers laughed as they glanced at Pearl who was standing waiting for her granddaughter to walk down the aisle on Bob and Fred's arms. They had never seen anything like the slender older woman with white spiked hair. She was wearing more leather than all four of them put together. Pallu looked at his brother Viper who was staring-still-at the petite dark-haired female on the other side of Pearl. Viper was the only one who wasn't celebrating. Pallu's eyes widened as he saw the brief look of sadness in his brother's eyes as he gazed at the little human female before he covered it. There was more to the story than just Viper returning with Riley's family.
All eyes moved to the back of the room as Riley appeared dressed in a flowing white lace gown covered in tiny blue stones the color of her eyes. She glowed with happiness as she walked down the aisle toward Vox, who was smiling just as broadly. The swollen roundness of her stomach stuck out in front of her. Bob and Fred walked slowly as the music continued to play. Once they reached Vox, Bob and Fred held out each of her hands to him.
Vox growled loudly before he grinned. "I do. We marriaged now. I want to go back to our living quarters."
Riley's face creased into a frown, and she stamped her foot. "Oh no, you don't! You are not getting out of this. I want it done right," she growled back before turning to Titus. "Titus, get your ass up here and say the things I told you to write down. This big ox is going to agree with every one of those vows, or I want my Taser and pepper spray back."
"I've got a new Taser, Riley, if you need it," Pearl volunteered, pulling it from the waistband of her black leather pants.
"Oh gods, no, you don't! I thought I took all of those damn devices from you," Viper roared, reaching for Pearl.
"Don't you manhandle my poor, elderly grandmother, you jerk," Tina erupted in fury, grabbing the Taser before Viper could and pressing it against his chest in warning. "Now get back in line so Riley can have her wedding."
"Make me," Viper snarled menacingly.
"Okay," Tina said and pressed the button.
Viper jerked as the shock hit him, stumbling backward before collapsing onto the floor in a quivering jerking mass of twitching nerves. His loud curses filled the small chamber they had converted for the wedding. All four of his younger brothers stood around him with their mouths hanging open, trying not to laugh.
"Oh, to hell with it," Riley said in resignation. "I do. Let's go to the reception. Maybe it will go better than the wedding," she muttered over the noise of all the brothers suddenly asking Tina and Pearl about Tasers.
"How about we skip the reception and get to the wedding night?" Vox asked with a hopeful grin. "I have something for you."
"What did you get me this time?" Riley asked, rolling her eyes and chuckling.
Vox reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, squeaking animal. "A mouse!"
In a matter of seconds, a huge, very pregnant white tiger was knocking over chairs and tables as she chased the poor Sarafin replica of a mouse around the room. She wasn't alone, though. Soon Pearl, Tina, Bob, Fred, their mates, and a handful of other guests were the only ones left in their two-legged form. The other cat-shifters had joined in the fun, thinking it was part of the marriage ceremony to chase the mouse.
"Well, hell, I think that was the best damn wedding I've ever attended. I'm glad that boy chose my Riley girl. He'll keep her on her toes." Pearl chuckled. "Now, is anyone up for some grub?"
To be continued … Viper's Defiant Mate.