Chapter 494: Wedding Bells
I shuffled nervously at the bottom of the stairs, pulling at the spaghetti strap on my right shoulder as it slipped down over my bare arm. The flowers clutched in my hands looked pretty on the surface, but the bundled stems had long begun to brown from the fidgeting and sweat of my anxious hands.
Meira looked over her shoulder and winked at me, her matching dress perfect on her figure. My sister had a figure. Growing up way too fast for my liking.
"Stop," she whispered. "You'll wrinkle."
Sunny had to pick pink silk, didn't she? Bad enough it skimmed my body so close wearing underwear was a questionable activity, the sticky bra thingies she forced me to slap on driving me nuts. The shoes were another story altogether, so high they rivaled anything Pagomaris, my demon grandmother's aide, forced me to wear on Demonicon. Sure, they made my butt look good, but the balls of my feet were killing me.
And pink? Pink?
Oh. My. Swearword.
Don't get me wrong, I was honored she and Uncle Frank still wanted me to stand with them. They'd failed to mention Sebastian was their best man. Not like it was a problem. But now I was back home, back to my normal not-so-normal, remembering how he'd kissed me, the dream I'd had... let's just say I was feeling a little awkward about the whole situation.
Gracious as ever, if he felt awkward as well he didn't show it, though I noticed he did do his best to keep his distance, so maybe he was just better at hiding it.
I looked up as Sunny swept down the stairs, Mom behind her, the pair of them beaming in delight. Sunny looked absolutely stunning in her pure white gown, as flowing and silky as the one I wore. Except she made me look like I was wearing a burlap sack.
Gorgeous.
She kissed first me, then Meira, her lips soft and a little sticky with lipstick. Giggling, she wiped at our cheeks before smiling at Mom.
"Thank you, Miriam," she said.
"We love you so much." Mom hugged her before sliding into her black robe. "Are you ready?"
My feet just wanted to get it over with.
There had been protest from her new clan, that the wedding be held at the castle, but Sunny was adamant. "My family, my rules," she said. The wedding would go, as planned, in my back yard, the happy couple surrounded by those who loved them, no matter the clan affiliation or magic race.
Though Sunny confessed with a wicked laugh, the real vampire bonding ceremony would happen later. When she and Uncle Frank were alone together.
Just TMI.
I peeked out the back door, spotted Uncle Frank at the far end of the lawn, Mom joining him, Liam standing by in his own tuxedo. I'd been surprised when my uncle asked Liam to be his second usher, but it wasn't like I kept tabs on my family or how close Uncle Frank had grown to my Sidhe friend.
Them getting along, being buddies, kind of appealed to me.
I let my eyes land on Sebastian a moment before flickering away again. Drew a shaky breath.
Sunny giggled, looking so young and sweet and stunningly beautiful I had to giggle with her.
"I'm the one who's supposed to be nervous." She wrinkled her nose. Looked suddenly anxious. "Do I look all right?"
File that with one of the stupidest questions ever asked ever. Meira gushed all over her immediately.
"You look so beautiful I can't stand it, Aunt Sunny," she said.
Sunny flushed. Kissed her cheek again. "Thank you," she whispered. "I like the sound of that."
Music sounded as Mom turned to face us. The lovely strains of a classical piece. Leave it to Sunny to turn up her nose at the traditional march. Meira winked at us both before squaring her shoulders and tottering down the hall to the stretch of red carpet Sunny purchased for the aisle. I watched her go, a moment of sadness overcoming me. Time had passed, so much of it, with so much more to go. Sunny leaned in to me as I dabbed at a tear while my sister, the baby she was long gone, took measured steps down the carpet past happy guests oohing and ahhing over her dress.
"I love you," Sunny whispered. I turned and hugged her, wrinkles and mussed hair be damned as she clung to me.
"I love you so much, Sunny." I let her go, a little breathless, tears in my eyes, laughing and trying not to cry. "I guess I better go, huh?"
It was a long, long walk with all those eyes on me, but a happy one. I couldn't wipe the smile from my face, broke convention to hug Uncle Frank who pulled me tightly against him, cheek on my hair.
"She's perfect for us," I said.
He laughed. "She really is." His eyes lifted, attention shifting immediately and I stepped into my place to turn and watch my friend become my aunt.
I thought she was beautiful in the hallway. Under the light of the moon and the twinkling white lights and pale gauze decorating the back yard, Sunny appeared from the house like a glowing goddess. Her blonde hair cascaded over one shoulder, blue eyes framed by stunning black lashes, dress floating around her and the single white lily she carried. I'd laughed at her choice, the flower of death, but she'd been right about one thing.
It went perfectly with her dress.
No one said anything, just smiled and smiled as she progressed down the aisle to join us. Uncle Frank was long lost, her too, and even I struggled to keep up when Mom began the ceremony. In fact, I have no idea how she did it. I wouldn't have been able to focus.
In a lovely blend of vampire and witch, mixed with a healthy dose of traditional wedding designed by Sunny and Uncle Frank, two of the people I loved most in the world joined hands, hearts and souls for all eternity.
Tear time had finally arrived.
Why was I not surprised Sunny kept the best part of a human ceremony? As Mom pronounced them married, she smiled. "You may kiss your bride."
Not like Uncle Frank needed the encouragement.
Sashenka pulled me aside the moment I was free, hugging me and gushing over my dress. "I'm so happy Sunny invited me," she said. "It was really lovely of her."
"I know." I turned and watched as the pair laughed with a group of witches, the perfect, flawless, movie-star couple. "She's awesome."
"I know this might be bad timing." Sashenka grasped my hand and led me to the corner of the yard while Mom and Gram orchestrated a magical transformation, turning the seating area into a dance floor and buffet dining, food appearing from nowhere-the family's kitchens, they'd been cooking all day-to fill the tables.
"Trust me," I said. "I've had a hell of a week. Just hit me."
She laughed. "It's nothing bad," she said. "At least, I hope you don't think so." She drew a breath and blurted on. "I've been thinking about what we talked about. And I'd like to join the Hayle coven."
Wow. "You would?"
"If you want me." She dimpled, blushed. "You don't have to make me your second or anything, but I'd do a great job if you did, I promise. I've had lots of experience."
"Have you talked to Tallah?" Wow. Did I say wow?
"Not yet." Sashenka's face fell a little. "But if you want to move forward, I will." She waited, every emotion showing on her face. "No rush or anything."
I laughed and hugged her. "We'll talk to your sister," I said. "Together."
And hope doing so didn't ruin a loving family.
Food and laughter and a half a glass of champagne later and I felt overwhelmed. Uncle Frank had always promised to take me out in the middle of nowhere and get me drunk when I turned eighteen, just to see what would happen. Most witches didn't deal well with alcohol, and considering my particular situation, with my luck I'd total something large and necessary.
We never had the chance. Made me sad to think about it. Liam appeared at my side while Sashenka was off dancing with a handsome vampire and swept me to the dance floor myself.
"No looking sad on such an amazing night." He smiled down at me, Sidhe power sliding around me like a hug.
"Sorry," I said, hiccupped. "Time just goes by so fast."
Liam leaned down and kissed me. Without hesitation, without his normal feeling of waiting for me to reject him. He just kissed me and let me feel his heart through his magic before laughing as his lips set me free.
"Good thing you have lots of it then," he said.
Smartass.
Uncle Frank liberated me from Liam after a few dances in which I was actually really starting to have a good time. My handsome uncle spun me in circles to a pop tune, and only then did I realize what a great dancer he was.
"Thank you for loving me," I said, tears coming again. "For always having my back."
He swept me up, spun me around, lips on my ear.
"Syd," he whispered. "What are favorite uncles for?" He set me down, bowed over my hand as a slow song started. But before we could go on, Sebastian stepped up and took his place, Sunny at his side.
"Shall we exchange partners?" Sebastian handed Sunny off to her husband-more tears-and watched as the happy pair joined together and danced away as though floating above the ground.
I offered my hand, sliding it over the smooth, cool skin of Sebastian's palm and let him lead.
"I want to thank you," he said. "The clans are no longer at each other's throats. There is hope for real peace between us."
"Nice to know." I caught Liam watching, saw his jealousy and actually grinned at him until he ducked his head and blushed.
"We need to talk." Sebastian's tone was light, but he lowered his voice as he spoke. "About how I feel for you."
That was unexpected. And totally floored me.
"Okay," I said like a total idiot.
He smiled, humor lighting his eyes. He really was absolutely delicious. "The first time I bit you, to save you from the sorcerer's powder, I felt it." Sebastian shuddered just a little, hunger rising in those laughing eyes. "The connection between us. When I did , some of your spirit returned to me. Linking us together."
I seemed to have that effect on people. "I'm sorry," I said.
"Don't be." He sighed. "At first, I was merely curious. But when the vampire essence took over, when death called to me with so powerful a voice, it was you who saved me."
"Me?" I would have stopped dancing, but he had a firm grip and kept us moving. "Why me?"
"That part of your spirit, it kept me sane, at least sane enough to retreat to the cave and hide so I wouldn't harm anyone." His head lowered, lips next to my temple, heat rising between us. "When you rescued me from my perpetual death, I tried to tell myself it was only gratitude that led me to kiss you. But I know better."
Oh boy. I wasn't sure I was ready for this blurting of feelings from him. But he was still calm, casual, as though he needed to speak it, even if nothing happened after.
"When you absorbed the essence, became vampire, the pull became stronger yet." His fingers tightened on my back but his movements never wavered. "And with the second bite, since you asked me to free you a second time, I must confess, I'm finding you rather irresistible."
Well now. Everything else went away in a rush as the passion in his eyes flared and threatened to devour me. And I was more than willing to let that happen.
"You have shaken me to my core, when I thought no one could touch me," he said. "Not after all these years. And though I have sworn to remain alone forever, I'm finding it a pity you are part of another clan."
"Clan loyalties can change," I said without thinking. "And forever is a long time to be alone."
Sebastian gently released me as the song ended, shattering the spell holding us together. He bent over my hand, kissed it gently, a spark of spirit passing between us.
"Indeed," he said. "Thank you for the dance."
As I watched him go, I hovered between giggling and blushing though I knew now, no matter what happened, how long I lived, if I chose to pursue it, the future always had possibilities.
***
