Goddess of Night (Amaranthine Book 9)

by Joleene Naylor

  The elevator swished open. Katelina gratefully stuffed herself inside. She thanked God that once this was over her mom and Micah would never be in the same room together again. Despite being invited to Maine, Patricia and Brad insisted on staying in Ohio, though they’d moved to a neighboring town. For reasons Katelina couldn’t fathom, Brad was still going to college. She’d tried to explain the futility—he would eventually be immortal, and what good would a pharmacy tech degree be?—but her mother insisted he wanted to do it. “Besides, we need to earn a living in the meantime.”

  I told Jorick Mom would make a lousy vampire.

  Katelina looked through the glass wall of the elevator as they descended. She could see the atrium’s massive waterfall tumbling seven stories down a wall of rock to end in a gurgling pool. At its feet were scattered giant palms, miniature trees, and other plants that made the room feel like a jungle. Normally, benches were mixed among the foliage. Today, the potted plants were shifted to create dense forests along both sides of the room, leaving a thick clearing straight down the middle. The benches were arranged along the sides, a red carpeted aisle between them. In front of the waterfall stood the officiant at a little podium and, in front of him, at the end of the carpeted aisle, was a large arch made of trailing white flowers.

  “Amaranthus,” Xandria had said. “Did you know Amaranth means eternal or unfading? Isn’t that perfect for a wedding flower? It’s like a symbol of your love.”

  I hope so, Katelina thought.

  She scanned the gathered guests. On the groom’s side she picked out Maeko and her boys, and some of the Executioners. On the bride’s she saw Verchiel, sitting by Brad. Near the front, she thought she saw Sorino and Kai. She wasn’t sure she’d invited them.

  The elevator doors opened. Katelina’s mother tugged her into the corridor. Loren stood at the doors that led into the atrium. Dressed in a suit vest, slacks, and a white shirt with the sleeve tied below his missing arm, he’d loosened his tie like Micah’s.

  Xandria motioned to his suit jacket, heaped against the wall. “That’s going to get dirty.”

  The teen stiffened and looked everywhere but her. “I’ll dust it off.”

  Katelina winced. She could feel the tension between them. Though she hadn’t told Loren about Xandria and Zander, he’d found out, anyway. When he confronted her, Xandria shrugged and said, “It’s not like we’re soul mates.” And that was the end of that. She’d stayed on at Oren’s while the teen headed back to his beach house in Maine, where Micah followed. Katelina spent the months after listening to Jorick complain about their “neighbors”, and Micah bitch that he’d been “that close to California, but didn’t fucking go.”

  He could always go alone. Then they’d both quit bitching.

  Her mother interrupted her thoughts. “Kately, are you listening? We’re ready to go.”

  Loren picked up his coat and shook it out. “Do I go in and get a seat?”

  “No, pipsqueak, you have to stand out here and miss it.” Micah smacked him on the head. “You’re a door greeter. Everyone’s been greeted already. What the fuck do you think?”

  Loren rubbed his head. “Yeah, okay. Geeze. You could have just said yes.”

  “That made more of an impression, huh? Get in there. Signal them and all that bullshit we practiced.”

  Loren gave a sheepish look before sliding inside. The teen hadn’t been at the rehearsal. When faced with having to see Xandria, he’d opted to hide out instead. Katelina understood, she wouldn’t want to participate in a wedding where her ex was involved either. If only she knew another bridesmaid candidate.

  Though the doors were shut, Katelina could hear the murmur of conversations inside. Soft music started. Micah opened the door with a wink to Patricia. “You get to start things off, ol’ lady.”

  “I’ll show you old lady, you—”

  “Go,” Katelina hissed desperately, her imagination creating a full out brawl in the corridor.

  Her mother gave Micah a final glare, then sailed inside. He counted under his breath, like they’d been instructed to do, while Katelina gripped her bouquet with both hands. Oren would be entering from the side, taking his place as best man, then Jorick would follow, to stand in the middle. Her heart thumped as the finality crashed over her. She was getting Married—with a capital M. Tied to Jorick, for life.

  Oh my God.

  Micah cracked the door to peek inside, then opened it wider and motioned Xandria through. Katelina watched her disappear. It was only a matter of moments before her entrance; before she got Married.

  Oh holy crap.

  Micah checked through the crack, then moved to her side. “All right. Take my arm and—” He looked at her face. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  “I can’t do this,” she murmured weakly.

  “Can’t do what? Go in there in front of all those people? Fuck that ain’t no big deal.” He paused. “Or do you mean you can’t fucking get married, because….yeah. Not happening, Princess. I stuffed myself in this goddamn monkey suit, so you are going down that aisle if I have to drag you.”

  “But it’s forever!” She clutched the flowers tighter. “Like, really forever.”

  “That’s the way it works. You either have to break up or you’re together. There ain’t no other option. Are you going to leave him?”

  “Of course not!”

  “You plannin’ on him leaving you?”

  She glared at the idea. “He better not.”

  “Then looks like you’re gonna be with him forever. Shut up your whining and come on.”

  Before she could point out the difference—not that she was sure what it was—he pulled her through the door.

  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. “Jor
ick, 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.

  Sorino and Kai took their turn. She shook the teen’s hand, then steeled herself as Sorino pressed a dry kiss to her cheek. “Best wishes are in order, it appears. Kai.”

  The teen held out a small paper wrapped box with a bow.

  Katelina looked to Jorick, who shrugged. When Kai inched the present closer, she took it. “Thank you.”

  She tugged at the ribbon, but Sorino laid a hand on hers. “Tut, tut. Don’t waste your guest’s time on such frivolities. Open it later.” His smirk turned smug, as he stepped back. He shook Jorick’s hand stiffly.

  Kai cocked his head to one side, as if studying her. “Master’s quest is now revealed, though in the end the joke meant more than the prize.” He bobbed and hurried after Sorino.

  Katelina blinked. When Micah stepped in front of her, she shoved the package off on Jorick.

  After Micah was Ark, who stiffly offered his best wishes, then Jamie. He kissed her hand politely, and teased, “You may have a time keeping Jorick in check. He can be difficult.”

  “You’re telling me,” she agreed.

  He moved on to shake Jorick’s hand. Verchiel took his place, trailing three women. “Have you met my dates? Sharon, Amy, and Tonia.” The redheaded woman was busy giving Micah a once over. Verchiel coughed loudly and repeated, “Tonia.”

  “What? Oh, nice to meet you. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks,” Katelina said uncertainly, while the other two giggled. The women gave her a little wave, then stepped close to where Micah leaned on the wall, an unlit cigarette in his mouth.

  When Katelina was sure they wouldn’t hear her, she asked, “Three of them? I thought all the women here knew better.”

  Verchiel shrugged. “These girls are new. Besides, I think they just wanted to go to the wedding. But hey, if I play my cards right I think I can get at least one of them to leave with me.” He craned his neck in their direction. “Maybe two. Three if Micah stops winking at Tonia.”

  “You couldn’t spare one for him?”

  “Oh, I suppose, but it’s more than he deserves.” He turned serious and took her hand in his. “Best wishes. Really.”

  She flushed and pulled away. “Thanks.”

  He leaned closer and dropped his voice. “Though now that you’re married it’s going to be hard to run away together.”

  Katelina blanched. “What?”

  He laughed. “I’m only joking. We both know it would never work. Although…” He leaned closer, until his breath tickled her ear. “They say forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest.”

  She gaped. He took advantage of it to kiss her on the cheek before he moved on, chuckling.

  Jorick growled low while she laid a hand to her face. “What in the hell was that?”

  “Nothing,” she muttered. The last thing she needed was Jorick murdering someone on their wedding day. “Verchiel being Verchiel.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  “He’s not a bad sort, really,” Jamie said. “He means well. Sometimes.”

  Katelina wasn’t sure who some of the next well-wishers were. Among strangers, Maeko’s thirteen-year-old face was a welcome sight.

  “Kate-chan!” The girl threw her arms around Katelina and laughed. “We were so happy when the invitation came. I did not think Jorick-ue would be able to overcome your commitment phobias so quickly.”

  Katelina patted her and tried to escape the hug. “I don’t know that he has.”

  The girl pulled back with a wink. “Oh, I believe so. Kate-chan doesn’t mind that we will come to visit for a few days?”

  Jorick had already arranged for Makeo and her boys to stay with them in Maine. They’d cleaned out the spare room in the basement for them. Jorick even went to the trouble of
a couple of air mattresses, though he put his foot down on anything else. “I don’t want them to stay forever.”

  Considering the accommodations, there was no chance of that.

  “Of course I don’t mind. We’re looking forward to it.”

  Jorick made a noise and she elbowed him as Maeko moved to offer her congratulations. Hikaru, Takeshi, and her human Ryuu, all bowed and offered the appropriate wishes.

  Aine, Beldren, and Zuri, all Executioners, moved through the line, followed by more vampires Katelina didn’t know. Finally, at the end, was a face she recognized but hadn’t expected.

  “Ume?”

  It was Verchiel’s sister. After years of hunting for her brother, she’d found him, only to leave when Jorick killed her master.

  The vampiress offered an uncertain smile. “I know I wasn’t officially invited, but Aki thought it would be all right.”

  Aki. The name she called Verchiel. “Of course it’s fine.” Katelina made a mental note to smack him. He should have mentioned his sister was there.

  Though Ume wasn’t a mind reader, Katelina’s face must have given her away. “He didn’t tell you, did he?”

  “Um…”

  “It’s okay. I decided that just because of…” A sideways glance to Jorick held more venom than Katelina was comfortable with. “I understand why he did what he did. Regardless, it has nothing to do with Aki. To allow another’s actions to further estrange us…That would be wrong. I can’t say what will come of this. I don’t see myself living here permanently, and I doubt Aki would want the burden, but we’ll see.”

  “Good luck,” Katelina said for lack of anything else.

  “Thank you.” Ume shook her hand and dropped her voice. “I don’t hold you responsible, either. The weight of one’s deeds should be carried only by the doer.”

  “Right.” Katelina pumped her hand. “Wise words.”

  Ume smiled, then stepped away, skirting Jorick before she slipped into the elevator.

  Jorick took Katelina’s hand and breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s done. I’m not sure it was completely necessary.”

  “If you have a wedding, you have to do it right,” Katelina said, like she had every time he’d mentioned cutting and running after the ‘I dos’.