“I actually prefer, Raph,” said the male vampire taking my hand. “I hope we’ll be good friends. I haven’t seen Jonathon much, because I was dealing with my own issues back in the States or else I would have been here to help you both with Selena. So, my apologies.”
“You have nothing to apologize for and I hope we can be friends too,” I said. Raph seemed very friendly, and like the Pulmer’s, mostly human. The woman on the other hand frightened me. I realized that Raph, like the Pulmer’s, was probably a very old vampire. And with age comes wisdom, or I guess, the ability to control your thirst. Most of the vampires, actually, all of the vampires except for my mom, that I had been around were older. Evangeline was obviously newly turned and struggling to control herself. I could tell that she was also upset by that fact.
I turned towards the female and took a step back into the arms of Jonathon who was now standing beside me. “And I prefer Evan,” she said, trying to smile; only it came out more like a grimace.
“Kylie,” I said to her giving her a reassuring smile. Raphael smiled and the two left. “They seem nice,” I said, turning to face Jonathon as he held me in his arms. Little lights were beginning to come on inside the gazebo and I could hear music in the distance.
“Raph has always been one of my best friends outside of my family. You would probably do well to talk to him. He’s always struggled with what he is, being a vampire and all, he’s actually searching for a cure.”
“A cure? Do you think that’s possible?”
“No,” said Jonathon, “I don’t.”
“But Raph does?”
“He does. He’s always been quite a dreamer,” Jonathon chuckled.
I leaned up and kissed his delectable lips. “I love you.”
“I love you,” he leaned his forehead against mine. “Dance with me, wife,” he bowed, holding out a hand for me.
“Of course, husband,” I breathed in the delicious scent of his breath. He took my hands and swung us around in an elegant waltz. He did all the moving, all I had to do was breathe. I loved the feel of his hand in mine and on my waist. He was my rock. The song ended but Jonathon continued to glide us around the gazebo. “We should probably join the others. They’re bound to be wondering where we are,” I said.
He pulled away but kept his hand on my waist. “You’re probably right and I’d hate for you to only remember this for your wedding memories.”
“What’s wrong with this?” I asked. “Everything’s perfect.”
He smiled, “You’re perfect.”
I blushed. We were married now and he still managed to make me blush. I had a feeling he’d always have that effect on me. I guess until I turned into a vampire. After that my reactions wouldn’t be the same. He took my hand and we glided through the ethereal garden. I felt like I was in a fairy tale. The smell of the fresh flowers was intoxicating. We entered the reception which had a dance floor and a live band set in the corner. Many were socializing and others were dancing. Wispy pieces of canvas created a ceiling. Small little lights sparkled everywhere and a few stars were starting to appear in the darkening sky. I saw Aiden and Viola dancing and Adam and Vivian sitting at a table talking. I was pleased that they were happy but I couldn’t shake my feeling of dread. Jonathon pulled me over to the table with food. The cake was in the center of it and looked stunning. I never knew cake could be a work of art but this was. It wouldn’t be long until we cut it, even though hardly any of the guests could even eat. I guessed it was more for show than anything. Jonathon shucked his tuxedo jacket onto a chair and rolled his shoulders around like he was stiff and then unbuttoned the top couple of buttons on his crisp white shirt. He picked up a plate and began filling it with food. I just followed along. There was a table reserved for us and that’s where he sat down. “Eat something,” he pushed the plate in front of me.
“I’m not hungry.”
“Humor me,” he pleaded. “I know you and you’ve probably not eaten a thing all day.”
I realized that he was right. I had been so stressed that the thought of eating had never crossed my mind. “Fine,” I took a bite of the pasta on the plate. I chewed and swallowed. “This is actually pretty good.”
He chuckled. “I knew you were hungry.”
I stuck my tongue out at him and took another bite.
“I’ll get you a drink,” he disappeared. He hadn’t been gone more than a second before Gabriel slid into his seat.
“Hey,” I gasped. “I didn’t know you were here.” I leaned across the table and gave him a one armed hug.
He smiled. “I would never miss your wedding.”
“Aww, Gabriel you’re such a softy.”
“What can I say? You melted my stone cold heart.”
“You were never stone cold, you were just sad. There’s a difference.”
“Sure there is,” he mumbled, rolling his silver eyes. I guessed it was a good thing my brothers did know about vampires now or else they would be wondering about all these silver-eyed pale people.
It still amazed me how Gabriel and I had become friends. I worried about him and despite what he claimed, I knew he worried about me too. Underneath his shirt I could see his necklace that held his wedding band and his dead wife Leah’s. His story still broke my heart but I was convinced that Gabriel could have a happy ending. He deserved one.
I took another bite of pasta as he stuck his hand into his tux pocket. “I got you guys something,” he said, handing me a small brown leather book. It was worn and the pages were yellowed. It smelled kind of funny. I opened the first page and managed to read the only three lines on the page before Gabriel slammed it shut. “It’s actually just for Jonathon,” he said.
“Oh,” I replied confused.
The lines I had been able to read had read;
There was the seer with dreams behind her eyes,
There were the blue flames shining brightly from his hands,
And there was the child with powers like no other.
It was handwritten and the ink was faded. But I knew what I had read and a sense of foreboding settled in my stomach. Jonathon chose that moment to reappear with a glass of wine and a glass of water.
“Gabriel, it’s good to see you.”
“Jonathon,” said Gabriel, snatching to book away from my reaching hand, and giving it to Jonathon. Jonathon eyed it with a puzzled expression and then something registered.
“You found it,” he murmured almost too low for me to hear.
Gabriel nodded imperceptibly and Jonathon stuffed the small book into his pants pocket. I felt frightened and I knew that I had no reason to be. But I couldn’t help it. That book…
Gabriel stood and started to walk away. “Wait,” I called and he turned back. “Where are you going?” I asked. Jonathon took the seat again.
Walking backwards so he could look at me Gabriel said, “I’ll see you later. Congratulations,” and then he was gone.
I shook my head. This was getting weirder and weirder.
I finished the food and sipped the wine and immediately regretted it. Sputtering I switched to the water. I could hear Mason’s laughter before I saw him. He and Danny appeared. Mason grabbed a chair from another table and turned it around backwards before settling into it. “Where have you guys been?” he asked.
Jonathon chuckled, “Trying to avoid people.”
Mason quirked his eyebrow. “Really?” he threw his arms out. “This is all for you.”
“We just wanted some alone time but with this many people it was kind of impossible,” I supplied.
Mason smirked and looked at his watch. “Well, in two hours you’ll be on your way to your honeymoon and all of us will be but a mere memory.”
I glared at Jonathon, “And he has yet to tell me where we’re going. It’s driving me nuts.”
Jonathon laughed and rubbed my arm. “Don’t worry, you’ll love it.”
“Where are we going?” I asked for the hundredth time.
“Anywhere and
everywhere,” he replied, which was the same line he’d been giving me for weeks. I had been told to pack all types of clothing so that gave me no clue what so ever as to the location of our destination. I wanted to kick him.
“Did you come over here just to bug me?” I asked Mason.
“No,” he frowned, “I actually came to ask you to dance. I know Joseph wants a dance too.”
I laughed and took his out stretched hand. “If you weren’t so annoying you’d be charming.”
He huffed. “I have more charm than you know.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” I said as he pulled me onto the dance floor. Mason made funny faces at me through our entire dance and by the time Joseph took his place my stomach hurt from laughing.
Joseph smiled at me. “Welcome to the family, sister,” he said.
I shook my head. “I can’t believe I’m actually married.” I glanced over at Jonathon who was still sitting at the table. His lips were twitching like he was trying not to smile. “And to the most wonderful man,” I added.
“I’m happy for you both. It’s nice to see him happy. He was a mess before you came along.”
I looked up at Joseph. “Diana’s said that too.”
“He was really messed up by our parents’ murder. He ate himself up with guilt. No one blamed him, but he blamed himself, and that’s the hardest blame to deal with. He was hardly living at all. I know he tried to find a way to kill himself, but it’s impossible unless you can get a vampire to kill you. We watched him like a hawk. I was worried that he might sneak out and get someone to do it for him. Just when I thought he might break, you showed up. You gave him a light back in his eyes. You made him whole again. Guilt and grief can eat up a person and that’s what was happening to him. But one look at you and he was smiling. Smiling! It was incredible. He had been sour for so long. He basically sequestered himself in his room and all he did was paint. That was it. Do you know that the day he picked you up for school was his first day back since our parents’ died?”
“What?” I said. “He never told me. But how? The teachers seemed to know him?”
Joseph chuckled. “Most are vampires. The human ones know him as Patrick’s depressed nephew. We were all shocked when he demanded admittance for the next day. He had been up to the school some, taking a few classes here and there, and of course Diana, Danny and Mason, went there so the students and staff sort of knew him by association. It was funny having to convince the humans to let him in with only hours’ notice. But Patrick demanded it and since he’s the one that started the school and supplies most of the funds, they listened.”
“Why did Patrick create the school in the first place?” I asked.
Joseph chuckled, “Isn’t it obvious?”
I shook my head.
“He started it for the vampires. We have to go to school every decade or so. We need to keep up with the ways of humans, as its always changing. But he had to be able to admit human students too, otherwise it wouldn’t work.”
“And Coven members?” I asked. Isaac, his sister Isobel, and his friends had all been Coven members.
Joseph said, “Well, we thought it would be a good way to keep an eye on them. Unfortunately, members aren’t fully initiated until they’re eighteen.”
“What’s happened to them since Aleksei betrayed them?” I asked. I had had no contact with any of the Coven members since the day Isaac died. I couldn’t bear to see them. It hurt too much. I was pathetic.
“Isaac’s dad, Gregory, is their leader now.” I looked down at our feet as Joseph glided us along the dance floor. “Hey, don’t be like that,” said Joseph. “You know it’s okay to be sad.”
I looked up at him fighting tears. I wiped a stray one away. “I thought I was doing better,” I glared at the treacherous tear.
Joseph smiled. “You are doing better, but you’ll always miss him just like you’ll always miss your dad. It’s been decades since our parents’ were murdered and we still feel sad and hurt. Even Patrick.”
I shuddered. “I’d hoped you’d say it would disappear.”
“No,” said Joseph. “I don’t lie.”
“Maybe you should learn,” I smiled. I had to enjoy the moment. I couldn’t let tears ruin my day.
Joseph quirked his lips, “I’d rather not. I’ve heard lying is a nasty habit.”
The song ended and he led me back to Jonathon. I took a sip of water. My feet were beginning to ache so I kicked off my heels and tossed them under the white table cloth where hopefully Diana wouldn’t see them.
Jonathon took my hand. “It’s time to cut the cake.”
I smiled. The evening was beginning to wind down and soon I’d be headed God knows where, but I knew that as long as Jonathon was by my side the trip promised to be wonderful. We did the customary cake in the face thing but poor Jonathon couldn’t actually eat it. The months after the battle, he was much more human, and he seemed to have retained some of that. I could tell that he was remorseful. I licked the cake off his face which made him smile and then I kissed his lips. His hand cupped my waist. “I’m so happy,” he whispered.
“Me too,” I breathed.
“And the night will only get better,” he twirled me onto the dance floor.
“Really?” I asked raising an eyebrow.
“Oh yes,” he said dipping me down and putting his cold lips to my neck.
We danced for a while and then it was time to leave. In a way I was sad. So much time and energy had been spent on this one day and it was coming to an end. “Are you ready Mrs. Pulmer?” he whispered in my ear as the others lined up to usher us out.
“Yes…no…I guess so.”
He chuckled. “Well, you better be.” He took my hand and we walked through the makeshift aisle made by the guests as they tossed more flower petals onto us. I could see an old looking, but beautiful, white convertible waiting for us. The customary Just Married sign attached to the back. I could see now that the car too was bathed in white flower petals.
“Wait!” my brothers called and Jonathon paused. All that was left of the crowd was Jonathon’s family, my brothers, and Vivian and Viola. It hadn’t escaped my notice that Gabriel was nowhere to be seen. My suspicion was that after he gave Jonathon the strange book he had left. Gabriel may have made great strides but he was still a peculiar fellow.
Adam and then Aiden pulled me into a hug and each kissed a cheek. “Be good little, sis,” said Aiden.
I rolled my eyes.
Adam said, “We’ll see you soon. At least I hope we will. You guys are coming to our graduation aren’t you?”
Oh, crap. I had completely forgotten.
Jonathon saved me by saying, “We would never miss it.”
I smiled at my brothers. “I guess this is goodbye for now.”
With tears in their eyes they hugged me again. “Our little sister is all grown up,” they chimed.
“Oh, stop it,” I smacked both their arms.
Jonathon’s family each took turn hugging the two of us and then Jonathon was ushering me into the car. Before starting the car he put his hand on the side of my face, breathed in my scent, and then kissed me.
He started the car and drove away. I risked a glance over my shoulder and saw our family standing there waving. I waved back and Jonathon did the same as his musical laugh filled the night as the stars sparkled above us.
This was heaven. It had to be.
Chapter Five: Honeymoon
Jonathon pulled into the airport and around to his family’s private plane. I didn’t think I would ever get used to all the luxuries his family possessed. He stopped the car and a man immediately took Jonathon’s place and another unloaded our luggage from the trunk. Jonathon took my hand and led me towards the plane as the one man drove the car away. The other followed quietly behind us with our suitcases. Another man waited at the top of the stairs that led into the plane.
“Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Pulmer,” he said in perfect English.
; Jonathon nodded his head and I gave him a smile. I plopped down into one of the plush butter colored leather chairs and Jonathon took the one across.
“Are you going to tell me where you’re taking me yet?” I asked.
“I already told you,” he said patiently. “Anywhere and everywhere. You did say you always wanted to see the world. Well, here’s your chance. Take your pick,” he handed me a map of the world.
“Are you serious?” I asked with a smile.
“Completely. Anywhere in the world. It’s all up to you,” he threw his arms out. “And to make your decision easier we’re not going to just one place, although I do have a surprise up my sleeve along the way.” He saw me about to speak so he held up his hand and added quickly, “It’s a wedding gift and that’s all I’m going to say on the matter.”
I smiled. “Okay.”
“Okay? I expected more of a protest.”
“Well, this was a surprise and it was a good one, so I’m thinking I can trust you.”
“Oh, you were thinking were you?” he raised a brow. I smacked his arm and he leaned across and kissed me. “Pick,” he breathed against my parted lips making me feel faint.
I looked down at the map in my hands. I didn’t really need to look. I knew exactly where I wanted to go on the first night of my honeymoon. “Paris.”
Jonathon quirked his lips, “You heard the lady, Anton, Paris it is.”
The man that had stood at the top of stairs disappeared into the pilot’s cabin without a word. A moment later the indicator light to buckle up came on. I clicked the belt in and Jonathon did the same even though I knew it was unnecessary. The plane began to move and before I knew it we were in the air on our way to Paris. My stomach bubbled with excitement.
Jonathon took my hand and kissed my engagement and then wedding ring. He looked up at me and his silver eyes were pooling with emotion. “Oh, Jonathon,” I breathed.
He smiled. “I can’t believe you’re really mine.”
“I could say the same,” I replied.
Forever (Fallen Series Book 3) Page 6