Kyle takes his last bite and drinks down a bottle of water, then turns his attention to Eden. “Dude, did Ally tell you what she did to the cop in Trixie’s earlier today?”
Eden’s eyes lock with Ally’s for a moment, then he looks back at Kyle. “She did. It was a bit reckless, don’t you think?” he asks Kyle.
Kyle makes a weird huffing sound. “More than a bit. I just about tore out of the booth, pushing past poor Laura to get to Ally before he did something horrible to her,” Kyle says, then wags his finger towards Ally. “He could have taken you to jail, young lady.”
Ally rolls her eyes. “That joke of an officer couldn’t have taken me to jail. He still needs to apologize to you. I’ll see him around again, I hope,” she says, and Eden shoots her another look.
Eden turns his attention back to Kyle. “I’m glad you were there to make sure she didn’t get herself in too deep. She said she had a very good time with all of you,” he says, then leans up, placing his elbows on the table and lacing his long fingers together. He looks at me. “I want you to know I’m not taking her from any of you. She’s free to visit and have visitors. I only wish to be a part of her life, not her entire world. There’s room for all of us.”
I see why she loves him. He’s perfect!
Kyle touches my leg, then I feel him squeeze my knee as he says, “I’m not going to sit here and act like I don’t believe you took her from me, because you did. What I do want to say is, I think it was meant to be. I have to admit Ally glows like I’ve never seen her do before. It’s because of you that she has a confidence about herself she never had before. It’s because of you that she has a gleam in her eye she never had before.”
Ally turns pink. “Cut it out. You’re making me blush.”
Kyle smiles. “I will not cut it out. I also want to say thank you to Eden. Without your intervention into our relationship, I would have never known how wonderful this girl right next to me is,” he says, and his arm wraps around my shoulders. “She is more exceptional than I ever realized. So thank you, Eden, for allowing me the freedom to find that out about her.”
Eden smiles and looks right into Kyle’s eyes. “I’m very happy to hear you say those things, Kyle. Laura is a wonderful girl and I do believe she’s needed you for some time. Perhaps nearly as much as Alyssa and I have needed each other. In the spirit of maintaining a long-lasting friendship with you both, I’d like to invite you to come with us to New Orleans for our wedding tomorrow. You can stay the whole weekend and see some of New Orleans. Our driver will take you anywhere you care to go.”
Kyle freezes for a few seconds, then turns to me. “Is that something you want to do, Laura?”
I nod. “It would make us all happy. Don’t you think?”
Kyle looks past me to Ally. “You really want me there, Al?”
“I do,” she answers.
I watch Kyle’s eyes begin to glisten. I believe he’s near tears. He blinks a few times, then laughs. “Better hold on to those two words, Al. You’ll be saying them a lot tomorrow. Of course we’ll come,” he says, then turns to Eden. “Thanks for inviting us, man. I know it wasn’t easy for you. It’ll take us a little time, but we can get through this bump in the road. When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be, right?”
Eden smiles at him. “Right you are, Kyle.”
Wow! I didn’t think it would go this smoothly. This all seems a little too good to be true.
And you know what they say about things which seem too good to be true. They usually aren’t
CHAPTER 32
ALYSSA
My hair is done and my make-up perfect as I hang onto my father’s arm. Flashes of light blind me as people take my picture as I’m led outdoors to a waiting crowd of people, most of whom I don’t know yet, but soon will. The veil which covers my face blurs the scene, which I assume is ideal.
I can hear Eden as he sends me an, I love you, and a You look gorgeous.
I stare straight ahead until I hear another voice. I can’t believe it’s not me at the end of the aisle. It’s Kyle in my head.
In another world, it would be him, but I live in this world and my life is with Eden. In a bizarre twist of fate who I thought to be the perfect man for me is not. Instead, I’ve found myself not entirely human. A bird has dwelled in me, lying dormant until this very night when it shall be unleashed.
What will the air feel like as it flows across my face and body? How will things smell to me? Will I enjoy it?
I’m not sure if this condition is a curse or a blessing. I’ll live a long time, but I will have to endure the deaths of all those I love, save my mate. I will see even our children pass. The depths of sorrow for what I’ve yet to lose have made a chasm in my soul.
To mourn those yet to be born is ridiculous, but I do. This day starts it all, my future as a shape shifter. The other half of the only Phoenixes in this world. Chosen before birth by The Creator of all things. Such responsibility I’ve never known. Somewhere deep inside me, I know I’m up to it.
A tall and very ancient-looking man with long, white hair wears a black robe, and I think it does not bode well for all he’s about to make us promise to.
He stands on an altar above my Eden, who I’m happy to have standing next to me as we move into the next phase of our lives.
I was told this part of the ceremony was acceptable for me to have Kyle and Laura at, but what must they think of this?
As I reach Eden, my father kisses my cheek through the veil before placing my hand in Eden’s. I smile at him as we tell each other everything will be okay and how much we love each other. Then the man speaks.
His voice is booming, and I find I’m flinching at how loud it is and how close he is. “Welcome all to the marriage of two very exceptional individuals. You are all here to witness the vows they will make to Our Creator,” he says, then his arms motion outward, nearly touching Eden as they do. “I am Galchobar and you are about to witness history.”
A thunderous applause from our guests surprises me.
This is not how weddings go!
I hear Kyle thinking, What kind of wedding is this?
Deep in the recesses of an old grey-stoned church in the middle of New Orleans, we’ve come to say our vows and become one. The roof long gone, we stand under the stars, which light up the night as sconces on the stone walls add to it. I told Laura and Kyle that the wedding has a Medieval theme.
Hope they buy it.
My attention is taken abruptly as the old man’s booming voice says my mate’s name. “Eden, son of Lyle, do you vow to love this woman for eternity?”
Eden looks into my eyes. I want to melt into him right now and forget this huge drama of a wedding. His velvet voice speaks, “I do.”
Though I know he loves me, it’s very pleasant to hear him say he vows to for eternity.
“Alyssa, daughter of David, do you vow to love this man for eternity?” the old man asks me.
I answer him quickly, wanting this over, “I do.”
Galchobar looks out to our guests. His voice loud, he speaks to them. “On this night, before all of you, this couple has made a vow to Our Creator to love each other for eternity. You all are witnesses to their vows.”
His long windedness is making me think this will not go as fast as I’d like it to.
Patience, princess, Eden sends to me as he squeezes my hand.
The resounding boom of the old man’s voice makes me jump again. “Eden, son of Lyle, do you vow to honor this woman, Our Creator, and all those created for eternity?”
“I do,” comes my mate’s answer.
I await the old man’s loud voice and he does not disappoint me. “Alyssa, daughter of David, do you vow to honor this man, Our Creator, and all those created for eternity?”
“I do.”
The ancient man goes off on another tangent. His long arms raise as he says, “You are witnesses to the vow of honor they have given each other. Integrity, fairness, and honesty are keystones of the
foundation needed to live a life of servitude to the masses. These creatures have been sent to us to save others, and the vow of honor they give each other is extended to Our Creator and every creature on this planet.”
“What the hell does that mean?” comes out of Kyle’s mouth, from his seat not far behind me.
Eden sends me a look and a message, They’ll take him out if he says anything else.
Galchobar gives me a stern look and I turn to look back at Kyle, lifting my finger to my mouth in a gesture for him to remain silent. His eyes are wide as he nods back. I smile and see he’s thinking, I’ll talk to her after the wedding.
Good!
I give the old guy a nod and he continues, “Eden, son of Lyle, do you vow to protect this woman for eternity?”
“I do,” he answers as he squeezes my hand and smiles at me.
He’s beyond adorable!
“Alyssa, daughter of David, please kneel before your mate,” the old man says, and I turn my gaze from my gorgeous mate to Galchobar.
Eden’s voice fills my head, ‘It’ll be okay, Princess.’
This is not cool!
I look back at Eden. He’s smiling and squeezing my hand a little, I suppose to reassure me. Slowly, I drop to my knees as I try hard to control the anger which is threatening to flow through my blood.
Eden sends me, ‘Thank you, precious.’
I send nothing back, as I’m having to focus on not getting up and telling Galchobar just where he can go with this crap.
“Eden, son of Lyle, please repeat these words after me. I, Eden, son of Lyle, now am and have always been your master.”
Oh, hel,l no!
Eden sends me a thought, ‘Princess, please remember this is an ancient ceremony. I have to say these words. Please don’t make a scene.’ Then the words he’s been asked to repeat come from his mouth.
My body shakes with how mad I am!
I look up at him and glare into his eyes, which widen as he knows I’m beyond pissed.
The old man’s voice can barely be heard by me as the blood pounds through my ears. “Alyssa, daughter of David, bow your head in front of your master and repeat these words after me. I, Alyssa, daughter of David, vow to be submissive to this man for eternity.”
I swallow hard because I don’t want to make the vow. The moments tick by and Kyle’s thoughts come to me, ‘No fucking way am I going to allow this to happen.’
Eden sends me, ‘Alyssa, please, princess, it’ll be all right, I promise. Just say the words, please. I will always confer with you on everything, no matter what.’
Keeping my head bowed, I close my eyes to hold back the tears I feel threatening. “I, Alyssa, daughter of David, vow to be submissive to this man for eternity.”
I think a piece of my soul has died.
CHAPTER 33
EDEN
My mate is not taking her position well and it’s almost killing me.
I send her thoughts of how I’ll never treat her with anything but the respect she deserves. If I could change the words of this ceremony, I would, but it’s out of my hands at this point.
We may be able to make changes during our reign, but we are powerless until this part is completed, putting us in charge.
The man who presides over this ceremony is something not of this world either. Galchobar is an ancient and he is immortal, sent here to oversee our kind, and other special creatures as well.
Not vampires, though, for reasons he did not care to explain to me. He detests them as well as werewolves.
“Eden, son of Lyle, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, not only in man’s eyes, but also in the eyes of Our Creator?” Galchobar asks me.
Alyssa’s hand trembles in mine as she kneels before me, her head bowed. I give her hand a small squeeze. “I do.”
“Allow her to rise now, if you are ready to,” he tells me, and I immediately pull at her hand to help her stand.
Her eyes are narrowed, thankfully not at me. No, she looks at Galchobar, and she plots to give him a piece of her mind as soon as she possibly can. I do feel a bit sorry for the old fellow.
Somehow he holds her molten gaze as he says, “Alyssa, daughter of David, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, not only in man’s eyes, but also in the eyes of Our Creator?”
“I do,” she replies and turns her head to me. Her eyes soften and her heart beats wildly.
She is beyond anything I could have ever hoped for and she is almost mine.
Galchobar holds out two silver wedding bands. A bird is etched on both. I reach out to take one from him as he says, “Eden, please take the smaller of the two wedding bands and place it on your mate’s finger.”
I do as he says and look into Alyssa’s gorgeous sapphire eyes as I do. She smiles at me and I feel her joy.
Galchobar takes her attention from me as he says, “Alyssa, please take this ring and place it on your mate’s finger.”
She does as he’s asked and I feel complete.
“By the power vested in me by the state of Louisiana and Our Creator, I now pronounce you man and wife,” Galchobar says with a flourish of his hands and a deep bow to us both. “I am your humble servant. You may kiss your bride.”
I life the veil, which has hidden her beauty from me a bit, finding the most gorgeous and perfect creature I’ve ever laid eyes on. My heart swells with emotion as I finally have her. From now on we will be as one.
My arms wrap around her as I lean her back to kiss her. One of her feet comes off the floor as I hold her in my arms. “I love you, Alyssa Fontaine.”
“I love you too, Eden,” she says with a smile, then I kiss her.
Long and slow, our kiss seals our vows. My heart beats like a bass drum, as does hers. Slowly, I bring her back up and Galchobar says, “Let me introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Eden Fontaine.”
I hold our clasped hands up in the air as our guests cheer, clap, and shout out congratulations to us. It’s overwhelming how many people are here in this dank and dark old church. As my eyes scan the crowd, they land on Kyle and he is frowning.
“I must talk to him first, Eden. He’s upset,” Alyssa whispers in my ear.
I nod at her, knowing she needs to do this.
Am I happy about it? No!
We approach Kyle and Laura. Kyle frowns, but Laura is beaming. It’s she who speaks first. “How dramatic. So cool! I love theme weddings!”
“I thought it was barbaric,” Kyle says as he reaches out for my mate’s hand. “Is this how you wanted it, Ally?”
Ally smiles reassuringly to him as she allows him to hold her hand. “Sure, Kyle. It’s kind of cool, don’t you agree?”
“No,” his voice is flat and he searches her eyes for the truth he knows is hidden behind them.
“We can talk later. We have a lot of guests to thank for coming. You guys go get some drinks and something to eat up in the patio area. We’ll join you soon,” Alyssa tells them as she pats Kyle’s hand.
He kisses her cheek, “Okay, we’ll be up there waiting for you. Are you sure you’re okay, Ally?”
“I am, Kyle. Scoot!”
Laura hugs Alyssa and then me. “I loved it! See you in a little while.”
Kyle shakes my hand. “Congratulations, Eden. You have a great girl here. Promise me you’ll always treat her right?”
“I promise, Kyle. Thanks for being so understanding.”
They turn and walk away from us. “I miss them already, Eden,” my mate says.
“They’re not going anywhere, Princess,” I say, feeling her heart aching as they move out of her sight.
Though I’ve never felt such deep connections to anyone other than my parents and Alyssa, I am able to feel what she does now.
A physical pain in her chest when Kyle walked away stabbed at mine as well. Emotionally, I was unaffected, but this ability to feel her pain is new. I wonder if we’ll start to feel each other’s emotions as well.
Married but a minute and alre
ady new things are happening to us!
“Come, princess, let us thank our other guests,” I tell her as I lead her to meet some of our protectors.
Linda comes towards us, and involuntarily, I remember our last kiss.
Huge mistake!
Alyssa’s body goes rigid as I hold her around her waist up against my side. “Why did you never tell me?” she asks with a tremble to her sweet voice.
“I’m sorry. I’ll tell you all about it, but later,” I say as Linda places her hand on my shoulder, then pulls me into a quick hug. “This is Linda Davis, Alyssa. She’s our fashion coordinator. She’s purchased all of our clothes and accessories for us.”
Alyssa smiles at Linda, but it’s taking a lot for her to do it. “So nice to meet you. Eden hasn’t told me a thing about you, Linda.”
Linda bats at my arm. “Oh, Eden, how could you? I thought for sure you would tell her about me. After all, I am a little bit more than just your fashion coordinator.”
Alyssa speaks to her with a sharp tone to her usually angelic voice. “I’m quite aware of what you were to him. A tutor of sorts, I see. Just for future reference, if there is ever another young man who you find in need of tutoring, I like the way Eden handles me. The gentleness you taught him does nothing for me.”
Linda’s eyebrows raise and surprise fills her eyes. “I see. I do apologize, Mrs. Fontaine.”
“No need,” Alyssa says, finally softening her tone. “It is I who should apologize. I’m possessive and jealous. Two unattractive things to be. It’s something I have to work on. Thank you for all you’ve done for us, Linda.”
As if my heart could take in anymore, pride wells up in mine. To witness the acts I’ve done with Linda and deal with them so quickly is amazing. She dealt with this so much better than I did with Kyle.
I move on to other guests and the night moves on. After meeting the entire room of people, we’re both tired. Then Galchobar looms in front of us.
“It is time. You will be transported to the transformation ceremony. It’s at another location and has been prepared by other protectors. We must leave now,” he informs us and motions for us to follow him.
“I need to see Kyle,” Alyssa says as she refuses to move.
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