54: Two left feet

In my life I had met a few people capable of making things worse than what they were. But none could hold a candle to Sebastian's outrageously psychotic mother.
"I knew it! This was all an effort to steal power from us! She had a werewolf mate this entire time. Guards, seize her!" She yelled from her corner. But Sebastian immediately raised his hands, stopping the guards from nearing me. I took it as an opportunity to defend myself.
"Wait a moment! I had no idea I had a werewolf mate." I then turned towards Demetri and flashed an apologetic look before saying, "Why don't we clear this all up after the wedding?"
Demetri surprised me, however by shaking his head and growling lowly. This was clearly not the calm and collected version of him I'd come to know. Instead, he now resembled the same person who'd mated me.
"I will not! How could you ever think I'd let *my* mate marry someone else! I won't stand for it. You need to be with the person you were destined. You need to be with me, your mate."
It seemed no one could hold a candle to Demetri either, because the man was truly beginning to make things worse for Diana. But Diana was nothing like me. Instead, she took everything in her stride.
"Yes," I said, "you're right in that regard. That is why Prince Sebastian and I are getting married." I then raised my fingers to my veil, lifted it and revealed my neck to him. I assumed that Sebastian's mark was right there.
Sebastian stood next to me, took my hand in his and then did the same, exposing his marked neck. The mark on his skin was deep and dark, and yet still fresh, as though Diana had marked him a day or so ago.
The entire room shrieked and gasped and Demetri stared at the both of us, stunned.
"I-impossible... two mates... how can this be?" He uttered breathlessly.
Sebastian sighed and then said, "I don't know either. But I agree with what my fiancé has said already. We can clear this up *after* the wedding if that's alright with you, sir."
Demetri fell silent for a while and glanced back and forth between the two marks before he sighed and agreed, very hesitantly.
The officiant then glanced at the both of us questioningly and Sebastian smirked before lowering my veil and bringing me nearer to the alter. "We may proceed." He said.
It was so strange seeing Demetri and Sebastian like this. Although Demetri was calm, Sebastian was calmer. I wondered if it had something to do with the fact that Diana had made an active decision, and an obvious one at that- she chose Sebastian, and everyone knew it. I on the other hand had remained indecisive.
"…I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The officiant said. And as soon as he did, Sebastian lifted my veil, wrapped his hand around my waist and brought me close to him before placing his lips sweetly on mine. It felt right... this moment, and it felt as though it belonged in my mind as well, as though I, myself could remember the distinct sweetness of this kiss and the amazing soft and subtle feeling of butterflies in my stomach. Perhaps these memories were finally becoming *mine*.
When Sebastian pulled away, his face was bright and beaming and blushing. "Finally, you're all mine Princess Diana Dragović."
And then it clicked. This was why Demetri had called me Princess. In a way that was what I had become... Princess of the vampire kingdom. The idea was surprisingly easier to digest now that I'd taken a glimpse into the absolute wonder that was Diana Lorenzo... or rather, Diana Dragović. The more I experienced her memories, the more I wish I had more of her in me. I wanted to be strong and firm and outgoing. I wanted to be decisive and powerful, because being in her body and hearing her thoughts made me feel so much stronger and so much wiser.
As we waited for the congregation to exit, I couldn't help but feel Demetri's eyes on me, and Diana soon felt it too as she turned towards him. I felt my lips pull up into a gentle smile which caught him off-guard immediately. He blushed slightly before turning around and following the rest of the congregation.
"What a wedding... you sure you didn't want to run off with the werewolf?" Sebastian teased.
I chuckled and shook my head before kissing his cheek. "And why would I do that when I have you? Rather the pain in the ass you know than the one you don't."
"Oh Diana, I do believe you have such a way with words. In fact, if you're not careful, I might take you right here, right now!"
"Patience my love, you promised to wait until tonight." I said.
*Clearly Diana was very old-school...*
Sebastian chuckled and then took my hand as we prepared to exit the chapel. Our exit was greeted with rice grains being thrown at both Sebastian and I, and as the rice flew all over, he grabbed me and carried me in his arms. I couldn't help but savor Diana's happiness as she kissed Sebastian again. She was married... we were married, and the thought made me blush internally.

***

The reception was held in the Great Hall and was filled with tables and chairs which lined the edges of the room. The tables were filled with food and booze. To my surprise, each table sat its fair share of vampires and werewolves who laughed and talked and drank and ate together. It was amazing to see the two species socially interacting with each other as though their differences meant absolutely nothing. Even Meredith was swept away and lost in a charming conversation with a young vampire gentleman who was obviously flirting with her.
And as I watched the two chat, Diana's mother- a beautiful, extremely tiny woman with the longest brown hair I had ever seen and the most intensely coloured green eyes- shot me a small smile from her side of the table. The entire time she'd been held hostage by Sebastian's mother who refused to even look at me and instead engaged in a conversation with Diana's father, which her mother unfortunately had to spectate.
I felt my lips perk up into a smile and then held up my hand, motioning for my mother to come to me. She giggled and then slowly left her seat, making sure not to alert Sebastian's mother who was now arguing with her husband.
The second she appeared before me, I felt conflicted. She was Diana's mother, yes, but in a way, she was mine as well and the fact that she was here, before me had me excited and yet terrified. I couldn't bear leaving her behind in this memory when I would eventually have to return to my state of consciousness.
"You are so beautiful my fluttering little dove!" She said before kissing me on the cheek and smiling. My heart melted at the subtle and affectionate gesture. I'd never had a mother to kiss my cheek and smile at me the way she did.
"Thank you, mother. I'm a little nervous for my dance with Sebastian though..." I uttered in a whispered tone. I supposed Diana didn't want Sebastian hearing her little confession.
"Oh, you have nothing to worry about! The worst that can happen is you stepping on his toes... and as I recall you've been much more violent with the poor Prince in the past. Stepping on his toes will be nothing." She said teasingly.
I giggled and was about to say something when Sebastian tapped me on the shoulder gently. I turned towards him and was met with his intense pale blue eyes.
"Our first dance, my beloved." He said softly. He then turned towards Diana's mother and smiled before saying, "Mother, I hope you are not being held hostage by the Queen?"
My heart fluttered at the fact that he called Diana's mother his own mother as well. What was there that he didn't love about me?
Diana's mother smiled and shook her head. "I think it's my husband that's being held hostage. But he'll manage. Now, why don't the two of you run along. This is another moment of yours..." She said before taking Sebastian's hand in hers and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
How I wished this woman existed today. How I wished I'd met her as Phoenix too, because now I understood Diana's attractiveness. It was more than just skin-deep. It was something inside, hidden within the beauty of her soul. My own soul was incomplete, missing the rest of the pieces of her. I wondered if I had them filled, if I'd be like Diana as well.
Sebastian led me to the center of the room and all eyes were immediately placed on us as he wrapped his hand around my waist and used the other to hold my own hand.
"Ready, my beloved?" He asked softly. The way he looked at me hadn't changed one bit. It was still as loving as when he showed he cared, and my heart fluttered at this little fact.
"Ready, my love." I uttered. And suddenly the music began, and our feet began moving. It was clear, however, after a few moments of dancing, that Diana had a seriously bad case of two left feet which Sebastian covered up by holding me closer to his body. I thanked the Moon Goddess that this dress hid my left feet.
"God, you are as stiff as always, Diana." Sebastian whispered in my ear.
"And yet you married me. It's too late now, you can't get rid of me and my two left feet."
Sebastian then smiled and leaned down, kissing my lips again. I could barely breathe as the soft feeling of euphoria consumed me whole. And again, this memory felt right and familiar- a dance under the lights of the Great Hall with the man I'd just married. Yes, it fit perfectly.
After my dance with Sebastian was completed, my father insisted I have one with him as well, and I soon found the source of Diana's left feet. Good Goddess, her father (or rather, my father) was worse than Diana was and by the time the dance was over, my feet were aching as a result of his stepping on them. Was this how Sebastian felt when he danced with me?
I decided to rest against one of the pillars, wanting my feet to heal a little before I danced with more people. But before I could even remove my heels from feet, I felt the stare of a familiar pair of blue eyes on me. I turned towards the source and smiled the second I met Demetri's gaze. He tried to pretend as though he hadn't seen me in the first place but failed awfully. Eventually I held up a finger and motioned for him to come towards me. He did so hesitantly.
"Hello there." I said. It was so refreshing to experience Diana's interactions. If I was in control of this body, I would definitely have not made the first move.
Demetri smiled nervously before bowing slightly and then greeting, "Princess Diana. It is an honour to meet your acquaintance."
Diana laughed at this, only making Demetri blush more. I'd never quite seen this clumsy part of him, and it too was refreshing. "Oh, good Goddess, you don't have to be so formal. Why don't you and I have a little chat outside. I must, after all, stay true to my promise to you, to sort out this entire mate situation."
Demetri looked around nervously and then questioned, "Won't your husband mind? I'm not afraid, I just don't want to cause any more unwanted trouble on your wedding day."
I glanced towards Sebastian who was otherwise engaged in a conversation with a group of people. He met my gaze quickly and I nodded my head towards Demetri to which he responded with a curt nod.
"He won't mind. When he needs me, he'll come and find me. But for now, you have my full attention."
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Stay safe! Stay healthy! Sending my love!