Chapter 679
The music changed. She looked from her feet to the waterfall, the officiant, then to Oren with his hands clasped in front of him. His tawny hair was left long, brushed smooth and silky like a shampoo commercial. His tuxedo impeccable, as if he'd taken it off a rack and slid into it without having to unfasten a button.
Her eyes moved from him to Jorick, and stopped. His hair fell down his back in a waterfall of darkness, and the tuxedo looked made for him. The bowtie at his throat was as red as the rose in his boutonniere, but none of that was as important as his eyes. Dark warm pools, she lost herself in their depths, wrapped in the warm certainty of their love. Micah was right. They were going to be together forever.
Eternal. Unfading.
They stopped near the waterfall. Katelina handed her bouquet to Xandria. The officiant began. "We have come together on this night to witness the union of Jorick, fledgling of Malick, with Katelina, fledgling of Micah. Are both master and groom present?"
"Aye," the pair said in unison.
"In the giving away of a fledgling, just compensation must be made."
Last night Katelina objected to Oren handing over the bag of coins to Micah, as though she was an item for sale. "It's symbolic," Jorick had assured her. "It has nothing to do with sexism. Men get paid for, as well. But, since my master is dead, there's no one to pay."
At the time she wasn't sure she bought his excuse. Today she was too lost in his smile to care.
Micah stuffed the velvet bag in his pocket. The officiant went on. "Payment has been made and accepted. Do you offer your fledgling to this union, with the full knowledge that she will leave your coven, your protection, and your command?"
Micah snickered at the last word. "Yeah, I do."
He handed her to Jorick, then moved off to take his seat.
The officiant continued. "Thus this union has been blessed by those masters still living. Let neither party later decry their willingness.
"And now, Jorick and Katelina have chosen to bind themselves to one another. Though death is as uncertain as life, they enter into this contract with the knowledge that their union may endure for centuries, as we hope will their lives."
Even as the officiant addressed him, Jorick's eyes didn't leave Katelina's. "Jorick, fledgling of Malick, do you take Katelina to be your wife and coven mate? Do you pledge before these witnesses to be her protector and defender, to honor and guard her, with all your powers and ability, against any who would do her harm, and to cherish her, forsaking all others, until she or death release you from your vow?"
"I so pledge," he answered.
"Katelina, fledgling of Micah, do you take Jorick to be your husband and coven mate? Do you pledge before these witnesses to be his conscience and defender, to honor and soothe him, with all your powers and ability, in his times of need, and to cherish him, forsaking all others, until he or death release you from your vow?"
It took her a moment to realize she needed to speak. "I so pledge."
"By their own words have they made these vows. Let these rings stand as a symbol and reminder, whose unbroken circles are an emblem of unbroken love."
Oren handed the band to Jorick. He took her hand and carefully slid the silver band over her finger, then met her eyes again. "May this ring remind you of the promises we've made this day."
Katelina's stomach fluttered at the intensity of his gaze. Xandria forced the other ring into her hand with a whispered, "Put it on his finger."
Katelina shook out of her stupor to slide the silver band onto Jorick's hand, repeating the same thing he'd said.
"And now let the vows be sealed, blood to blood, life to life."
Jorick gave her a little wink as he leaned forward. She felt the brush of his breath on her exposed neck, the touch of his lips, then he bit. Swift and short, the connection more like a fast hug than the usual deep pleasure.
He pulled back, licking his lips, and nodding her on. She swallowed hard, standing on tiptoe to reach him. She'd been embarrassed enough in rehearsal but now, with everyone watching, she didn't think she could do it. She'd barely made peace with feeding and drinking blood during sex. To do it randomly-
It's no different to them than putting a ring on, she told herself. It's part of this. You know that, so do it and quit whining.
Right.
She bit his neck quickly. The warm blood blossomed on her tongue. For a moment, all she wanted was to stay there, connected to him, tasting his blood, losing herself in his mind and memories.
Don't screw this up.
At her mental nagging, she let him go and stepped back, cheeks pink. He offered her a lustful wink that promised as much blood as she wanted later.
"With the sharing of your blood, you have become one; and by your vows you have chosen, of your own will, to perpetuate this union until death or agreement end it. May your lives from hence forward be shared in joy, and may your nights be lit with the light of everlasting love. I now pronounce you husband and wife. May you seal this with a kiss."
Before his words sunk in, Jorick swept her up and claimed her lips. She melted in his arms, clutching his tuxedo jacket, dimly aware of applause from the audience.
Jorick broke the kiss to lead her down the aisle and out into the hallway. There, he pulled her to the prearranged spot so they could thank the guests one by one as they left or headed to the reception.
Xandria and Oren were first. Her mother appeared shortly after, with teary eyed kisses and a lot of blubbering. Katelina tried to appreciate it the way it was meant. She resisted the urge to pry her mother lose and send her for a timeout.
Brad was after her. His hug left her slightly uncomfortable, as did his joke about coming to "my wedding soon." Patricia blushed. Brad moved on to shake Jorick's hand before they headed for the reception.
Etsuko was next, Jayleth in her arms, Paylin stumbling behind. Though dressed in identical suits, their different skin tones said they weren't true twins.
Etsuko offered her congratulations, then Katelina asked, "How are they doing?"
"Pay-kun and Jay-kun are doing well. They've grown since our last visit."
"I thought so," Katelina wanted to ask about their plans when it came to immortality, but not with so many onlookers.
Etsuko nodded, to say she understood. "When they are of age they can choose."
The answer chased away Katelina's nightmare visions of another bonfire, with different participants.