Immortals And Melodies (Blood And Guitars #2)

by Heather Jensen

  “Aurora,” he began. “I know what you’ve risked to save me. You risked your world, your kind, even your life to warn me of the danger I’m in. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you chose me, above everyone else, to love. Every move you make is proof of that choice.” I opened my mouth to say something, but Trey dropped to one knee just then, stealing away my words and my breath. Thankfully, I could do without the breathing. “I want you to know that I choose you,” he continued without hesitation. “Aurora, I would die for you. Actually, that’s exactly what I’m doing.” A nervous laugh escaped his lips. “Let me prove to you how much I want this. How much I want you. Forever. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and not just because some savage vampires are out to get me. Whether I live a few days or a century, I want to spend every minute of it making you happy. If there was ever any doubt in your mind that this is what I would have chosen, I hope this will change it.” He pulled a box from his pocket and flipped the top open, revealing the diamond ring inside. “Aurora, will you make me the happiest mortal in the world, and marry me?”

  A soft laugh escaped my lips, and I covered my mouth in surprise. This was the last thing I’d expected. Trey’s half-smile was nervous as he raised an eyebrow in anticipation. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Even more surprising was the next word that left my mouth.

  “Yes,” I said, laughing again.

  Trey let out a happy sigh of relief and got to his feet, pulling the ring from the box. He slipped the ring onto my finger, and I admired the way it sparkled in the sunlight. He bent down and kissed me, and I felt an explosion of nervous energy that burst and dissipated as his lips were on mine. I wasn’t sure which one of us it belonged to.

  “I … I can’t believe this,” I said, grinning up at him. “If I were capable of dreaming, I’d be sure this was all a dream. It doesn’t feel real.”

  “Oh, it’s real, all right,” Trey said. “In fact, I’m ready to walk down the aisle today, if you’re willing.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him for a moment before deciding he might actually be serious. Trey gave me a cocky grin and put a hand on my shoulder, turning me slowly toward the ocean and the rest of the surprise he had waiting there for me.

  A half a dozen tents were set up along the coast, ripples born of the breeze cascading along their white material. One of them was massive, framed by the smaller tents on two sides.

  “What’s this?” I asked. I thought I knew the answer, but my brain wasn’t willing to process it until I heard the words from Trey’s lips.

  “It’s a wedding,” Trey said, taking my hand in his. “Well, it will be, if you agree to do this with me.”

  “How did you-” But he cut me off with a knowing grin that silenced me.

  “Our lives are crazy,” he began. “Marriage is something I want for us. I knew we’d have a hard time planning a wedding, especially with everything that’s about to happen. This was the only way I could see to make it work.”

  Since my change, I’d thought I’d never get married. Vampires are usually too preoccupied with other rituals to bother with weddings, but here I was, standing on a beach with the perfect man, and he wanted to marry me.

  “What about the Emissary?” I asked. “We may have lost them for now but they’ll catch up to us again, and it might be sooner rather than later.”

  “Let them,” Trey said. “I hired security today. They should come in handy, and not just for keeping the paparazzi at bay. If any of the Emissary show up, we’ll know about it.” I knew he wasn’t thrilled about the idea of Emissary crashing our wedding than I was, but he wasn’t going to let it get to him.

  “But I don’t even have a dress.” The idea of trying to shop for a wedding dress in just a few short hours nearly sent me into a panic.

  “It’s okay,” Trey said, gently cupping my face with his hand. “I told you I’ve got it all worked out.”

  I eyed him questioningly. “You ... you picked out a wedding dress for me?” Is it weird that I was relieved I wouldn’t have to go dress shopping?

  “Not hardly,” Trey said lightly. “Besides, isn’t it bad luck for the groom to see the dress or something?” Then Trey glanced over his shoulder at a woman who was fast approaching us. “Aurora, you remember Ashlee.”

  “The music video lady,” I said as she reached us. But the sly grin on Ashlee’s face told me I was missing something.

  “Actually,” she said. “I’m a wedding planner.”

  My face must have shown my shock, because Trey chuckled and kissed my cheek in penance. “I wanted this to be a surprise,” he said. “You’re not an easy woman to surprise, in case you didn’t know.”

  “So, is it safe to assume we’re having a wedding today?” Ashlee asked.

  Instead of answering, Trey looked at me, waiting for confirmation. I gazed into his eyes, trying to gauge his feelings. He stared back at me, probably trying to do the same. I stepped closer, closing the space between us and lifted my palm to rest on his chest. His heart thrummed anxiously, and I knew just what to do.

  “Kiss me,” I said to him.

  His lips were on mine instantly, his hands on my waist. I embraced the sensations brought on by Trey’s emotions as they swirled around within me. He wanted this. It was clear now. Marriage was something he wanted for us, just like he’d said. There was nothing I could glimpse from the emotional link our kiss brought on that he hadn’t already told me during his proposal. I just needed to start listening. The real surprise came when I realized just how much I wanted the same things. If we did this, Trey would be my husband. He would be mine in every sense of the word, and I would be his. I wasn’t sure if I had all the qualities a man usually looks for in a wife, but I knew one thing for certain. I could love Trey with everything in me. The rest would work itself out. Trey’s heart was beating twice as hard now as the kiss ended. He leaned his forehead against mine, and I stared into his eyes, reassuring myself that this was all real.

  “Let’s get married today,” I said, grinning like a schoolgirl. Trey gave me another quick kiss and then we turned to face Ashlee together.

  “All right, Ashlee,” Trey said. “Work your magic on us.” We followed Ashlee across the sand toward one of the smaller white tents. “Is there anyone you want me to get here for the ceremony?” Trey asked me as we walked.

  I thought for a moment and then said, “Antonio should walk me down the aisle. Tell him Beck is welcome, too.”

  “And Mark?” Trey said tentatively.

  I shook my head slowly. “He’s still in Miami.”

  Trey squeezed my hand and said, “I could have him on the next plane here. Just say the words.” I smiled at him, grateful for his willingness. Unfortunately, I didn’t think Mark’s idea of a good time included cutting his weekend short to watch me marry a human.

  “It’s okay,” I said. “He’s visiting his new girlfriend. I don’t want to interrupt his trip.” I spoke with more confidence than I felt, knowing there was no other way. As long as Trey was still human, our worlds would be at odds with one another. I just hoped Mark would understand and forgive me for it.

  “And, Kacie?” Trey asked. “You’ll need a Maid of Honor.” He’d really put a lot of thought into this.

  “Yes,” I said, picturing Kacie’s delight at news of my impending nuptials. “But I don’t have any other bridesmaids.”

  “Serena and Tara would love to be bridesmaids,” he added.

  Serena was Karatz’s wife and Tara was Jonas’s sister. I thought highly of them both and had gotten to know them pretty well in the time Trey and I had been together. I nodded, grateful for his forethought.

  We’d reached the tent now, and Ashlee paused before the entrance, turning to Trey and I. “Kiss your bride-to-be goodbye,” she said to him. “This is where you part until the ceremony.” She checked the time on her phone. “Which begins at six-thirty. That gives us four hours.”

  Trey tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and kissed me again
, his lips smiling against mine. “I love you,” he said.

  “I love you, too.”

  “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  I nodded and watched him walk away. He waved at someone, and I saw that O’Shea and his band mates were waiting for him outside of another tent. I smiled and stepped inside my own tent. Ashlee led me over to a clothing rack where a bunch of white dresses hung.

  “First thing’s first,” she said. “You need to pick out your dress.”

  Chapter 19

  Aurora

  I STOOD STARING AT the rack of wedding gowns, blinded by their white brilliance. I ran my fingers over the different materials, trying to picture myself in each one. There were at least ten dresses here, and I’d almost gone through them all. Ashlee stood behind me, watching. I had a feeling she was biting her tongue, but I didn’t know why.

  “When I see the right one, I’ll know,” I said, trying to reassure her. That was how this kind of thing worked, right? But as I reached the last dress I had to stifle a desperate sigh. “How can I choose?” I said at last. “I could wear any of these dresses. They’re all beautiful. The only thing that really matters is the guy waiting for me at the end of the aisle.”

  Ashlee gave me an understanding smile. “True,” she said. “I have a feeling your guy understands you better than you know.”

  That was a strange thing to say. “What do you mean?” I asked. She held up a finger and then went to the other side of the tent, pulling out another garment bag that had been hidden. I watched with narrow eyes as she unzipped it and pulled another dress out. She hung it on the end of the rack for me to get a good look at.

  The dress was like nothing I’d ever seen before. It was cool white with emerald green accents that wound around the top of the bodice and then again at the hip. It was sleeveless, but a wrap of white chiffon ran from the top of the bodice, front and back, and wrapped over one shoulder. It continued to drape down the length of the dress on one side, all the way to the floor. A long slit ran up the left side of the dress to the thigh, allowing the flowing material to hang loosely down from there. A multi-layered circle of beadwork made up the left side of the bodice, with sheer material running in between the beading.

  “Trey told me you might like something a little less predictable,” Ashlee added. “I almost didn’t listen to him. Then I met you the other day, and I just couldn’t resist bringing this one along just in case. I thought it would really bring out your exotic features.”

  I was hardly listening to her, absorbed in the dress. “It’s perfect,” I said softly, reaching out to feel the fabric.

  “Great. On to your bouquet.” Ashlee left the tent momentarily, returning with two other women who were carrying baskets full of flowers. They set them out on the long table that stood on the opposite side of the tent. “Which one do you like?” Ashlee asked as I stepped up to get a better look. Each bouquet was unique, but the color theme was the same in all of them. There were different shades of green flowers and black and white accents in each one. In the end I picked up the one that stood out the most to me. The white lilies had a light tint of green in the center, and the other flowers that complimented them were brilliant and strange in their own magnificent way.

  “Lilies and green spider mums with guinea feathers,” Ashlee recited as if there would be a quiz later. “Excellent choice.” She turned to the women who had brought in the bouquets and started giving instructions regarding the bridesmaid bouquets and the boutonnieres for the groom and best men. They did a lot of nodding and then hurried back out of the tent, taking all of the flowers with them.

  “Now what?” I asked.

  “You need to pick out a ring for your groom,” Ashlee said before she ducked out of the tent again and returned with a middle-aged man who was carrying a silver briefcase. She introduced him as Gary and mentioned which jeweler he was from, but I wasn’t paying attention because he was opening the briefcase to reveal all of the wedding bands inside. He gestured with a wave of his hand for me to come forward and look at the rings.

  “I spoke to Trey on the phone,” Gary said. “I think I have a good impression of what kind of guy he is and what type of ring he’d want to wear. This is what I came up with.”

  I studied all of the wedding bands, picking some of them up to get a closer look. There was a good variety to choose from, ranging from simple polished bands to engraved designs. As I browsed the selection, one in particular caught my eye. I lifted it up, admiring the details. It was black with a silver heart rate line jumping up and down all along the center. I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my lips as I held it.

  “This is it,” I told Gary. “This is the one.”

  “You’re sure?” he asked, smiling.

  I nodded. “It makes me think of my favorite song,” I offered, which probably made no sense to him.

  “It’s a great choice,” Gary said. “It’s black tungsten carbide.” I handed him back the ring, and he put it in a small velvet box for me. I felt almost giddy as I held the box in my hand. I couldn’t wait to see Trey’s reaction. I thanked Gary and he showed himself out of the tent with his silver briefcase.

  “We need to discuss your vows,” Ashlee added once we were alone again. “Trey wants you to know that the minister has traditional wedding vows that you can repeat, or, if you prefer, he is prepared to recite his own vows, if you would like to do the same.”

  I considered her words for a moment and then said, “I’d like to recite my own.” It wasn’t so much that I thought I could come up with something beautiful and poetic in such a short time, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to hear Trey recite vows he’d written. If they were anything like the lyrics he writes, I was going to need waterproof mascara.

  “I’ll let the groom know. When the rings are exchanged, you’ll just repeat what Trey says.”

  “Anything else?” I asked.

  “No. Now you get to sit back and let hair and make-up make you beautiful,” she said. “Not that you need it,” she added with a grin as she turned to go.

  I had a moment to myself, and right away the panic about my Emissary detail set in. Everyone I cared about was gathering in one place. What were the chances nobody would notice my vampire wannabe-security guard lurking around? I had to remind myself that Antonio would be here for the ceremony. If the Emissary showed up and tried to cause problems, he would be here to help me deal with them.

  I had to push all thoughts of the Emissary and vampire politics out of my mind when Kacie bounced into my tent a few minutes later, going on and on about how I should have told her things had gotten this serious with Trey. She hugged me, catching me off guard at first, but it helped me to realize just how happy I was to have her here with me. Apparently, even I needed a girlfriend to share this with. I spent the next hour in a chair in my tent while a girl named Jeanie fussed over me, making sure my hair and makeup were perfect. Honestly, she spent most of the time complimenting me on my skin tone and how shiny my hair was. Kacie did most of the chatting for me, which was a relief. After that, Kacie and I got Mani/Pedis right there in the tent. Trey was apparently serious about me experiencing all the usual pre-wedding rituals. My brain was whirling from everything that was happening. I’d dragged myself out of bed late this morning, going against all of my instincts, having no idea that I’d be a married woman by tonight. Trey knew me too well. He knew I’d go crazy trying to plan a wedding, especially with everything that was happening. And in some ways, touring with the band would be even crazier. I hadn’t seen much more than the inside of this tent, and, somehow, I already knew this would be a day to remember. Trey was making sure of that.

  I stood in front of a full length mirror, astonished at how well my wedding dress fit considering I’d never had a fitting or any alterations. I’d have to thank Ashlee with a painting or something. She was so good at her job as a wedding planner it was almost scary. She’d even brought in a bracelet and earrings to match the dress. She must h
ave had accessories picked out for every option she’d given me to be prepared. My dark hair cascaded down my back in loose curls and what little makeup I was wearing only accentuated my features. I wore barefoot sandals, which were actually just a strand of beads and pearls that wrapped around my ankle and then ran down to one toe.

  Kacie had gone to change into her dress in the bridesmaid’s tent, and I was alone with my thoughts for the first time. I stared at my reflection and allowed myself a moment of longing. I couldn’t help wishing my family was here to share this big day with me. My mother would have loved my dress. As a little girl, I’d always imagined her with me on my wedding day. I still had all the photos from the day she married my dad. They were so happy in the pictures, just like they’d always been. Now Trey and I had that kind of love. I understood now how two people could be made for each other in the way my parents were. I would die for Trey, and I knew he’d do the same for me. In fact, wasn’t he about to do just that in a few days? That thought stressed me out, and I forced it out of my mind. Today, I was only going to think happy thoughts. I heard a gasp from behind me and turned to see Trey’s mom standing in the opening of the tent.

  “You look breathtaking, dear,” she said as she stepped inside. The smile on her face could have melted an iceberg. I smiled back, taken by her infectious mood.

  “Kate,” I greeted her. She insisted I call her Kate on the occasions we’d spoken on the phone. “When did you get here?”

  “Paul and I flew in this morning,” she said with a knowing grin. “My son was counting on the fact that you’d say yes.” We both laughed, and she hugged me. “It’s wonderful to finally see you in person,” she added. “Let me get a good look at you,” she insisted as I turned to face her. “You looked beautiful in the pictures Trey sent me on my phone, but I must say they didn’t do you justice. Let me get a look at that ring.”