Scion's Freedom (Siren Publishing Classic)
Page 14
The ring rose into the air and came to rest on Cassy’s right middle finger. The engraved D gave the polished, smooth, obsidian surface texture. A small blood-red ruby set on either side of the center stone was embedded in the gold band.
“There. I think you are finally finished. Now, I believe there is a young man downstairs waiting most impatiently for you, my dear,” Lady Ursula said. She opened the door with a wave and led the way. Her metered pace was too slow for Cassy. It was all she could do not to run ahead of her escort.
The house had been filled with Yule trees and festive decorations for a week in preparations for the coming holidays and festivities. Candles flickered on every flat surface making the corners as bright as the center of the rooms. Tonight there were no dark shadows lurking anywhere. Winter flowers graced the opulent home. Evergreen swags draped the full length of the spiral staircase banisters tied with bright red bows. Mistletoe hung from every doorway and floated under the chandeliers.
The indoor courtyard’s palms had been replaced with a bowery altar decorated in Yule colors. It was open on all sides to allow the occupants to be viewed by the whole room. Under it stood Lady Helena in her best black satin robe tied with a spun-silver cord belt. Beside her were two tuxedoed men. David wore a holly-green tie and cummerbund and stood absolutely still staring as she walked down the stairs. He looked at her as if he were seeing her beauty for the very first time.
* * * *
David’s insides felt like a churning sea. He discreetly double-checked his tuxedo for lint. His satin, holly-green cummerbund and bow-tie were straight. Mills stood beside him whispering reassurances to him. After all, they were already a permanent couple. What was there to be so nervous about anyway?
He knew they going to be together forever, but this somehow made it seem official. The guests had come to watch him make an honest woman of the High Prince’s wayward daughter. The whole house was decorated for Yule. Extra decorations had been brought in to mark the occasion. Watching the details go into place over the last few weeks had driven home the seriousness of the ceremony.
The instant she came into sight on the stairs, he knew it. Her gaze pulled his. His heartbeats strengthened because she was so near. Lady Ursula’s paused procession gave him a chance to really look at her in all her finery.
The intricately braided chocolate hair piled up playfully with her curls. The bright leaves and berries stood out against the dark mass. Her deep red taffeta corset dress made a mesmerizing swishing noise as she moved. The black and red of the fabrics made her creamy-pale skin seem whiter than usual. She was a beautiful porcelain doll made just for him. She was looking at him, smiling at him, coming down those stairs just for him. For a moment, they were the only people in the entire world.
* * * *
Everyone smiled as music began, announcing the start of the ceremony. The gathered crowd parted to let the bride pass. Familiar faces she had known over the many long years and some that were new watched. Uniformed officers mixed with the supernatural.
Cassy felt so light and jubilant her feet hardly touched the ground. The click of her heels disappeared after a few more steps. She walked on air the rest of the way. She was sure, if she had wanted, she could have flown.
As she reached her final destination, she offered him both hands. Relief and satisfaction filled her instantly as they touched. A similar look of contentment crossed his face. It was like coming home after being gone for too long. The rest of the world melted away. As far as she was concerned, they were the only two people in the room.
Lady Helena began, “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathering tonight to officially bring into sanctified union this man and this woman. Yule has forever been the favored night of vampires. As is tradition, this couple will exchange vows on the longest night of the year to symbolize their desire to live their lives together as one endless night.” She launched into the handfasting service.
Cassy had eyes for no one and nothing else. She barely heard the elder crone recite the ancient ritual. Twice her responses had to be prompted. She was lost to his rapt attention. The world could have ended, and she would not have noticed.
He grinned at her in return. More than once his best man, Mills, had to elbow him. In the end he remembered his lines and repeated his vows along with her. He managed to get the wide band of gold onto her left ring finger, never taking his eyes from hers.
A thin white ribbon snaked its way into a knot around their clasped hands. It became warm and gave off a golden glow. Once the light had faded away, it remained around their hands but untied.
“Remember, it is not the knot or ring that binds but the soul. I ask the Mother of us all to bless these two lovers with the eternal night they each desire. You are now and forever as your hearts have always held you to be, husband and wife,” Lady Helena announced.
Around them applause broke out along with sniffles and cheers. A few wolfish howls were heard. Zinging of sprite and fairy wings hummed around their heads.
“Well, go on. Kiss already. You have an eternity to stare at one another,” Lady Helena teased with a chuckle.
David needed no further prompting. He drew Cassy in, kissing her sweetly on the lips. More cheers erupted. Pixie dust landed on her cheeks and lashes. Cassy went up on tiptoe to return the kiss with more earnest effort. She did not want this moment to end.
* * * *
All David could see were Cassy’s silver-gray eyes staring up at him. There were long pauses where he was sure Lady Helena was reciting something, but he did not hear anything except the in-time beating of their hearts. Cassy spoke directly to him. Those words he heard. She promised to love, honor, cherish, and keep him as long as the moon rose and the sun set.
Everything went quiet again. Mills elbowed him in the ribs and whispered the response. It took two tries to find his voice when his turn came to recite the vows. Every word he spoke rang through to his very soul. She would be his and only his. He would be hers and only hers for as long as the moon rose and the sun set. Forever.
The ring shook as he managed to get it onto her finger. A thin white ribbon tied itself around their clasped hands, glowing gold, fading, and then untying. Lady Helena’s words finally made it through to his ears when she added a bit of magic to them at the end.
When she instructed them to kiss, he drew Cassy to him and gently kissed her sweet lips. Cassy lifted up on tiptoe to better kiss him back. Their hearts soared, and, for a moment, the Earth stopped turning.
* * * *
“Okay, you two. There’s a banquet to get to,” Mills reminded them. “Some of us still eat real food, you know.” Laughter came from the immediate group close enough to hear his comment.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Lord David and Lady Cassandra of the House of Dracul,” Lady Helena announced. More clapping was followed by people filing by on their way to the dining hall. Elves, fairies, and brownies lingered by the greenery as the witches, werewolves, and vampire guests left the room first.
Cassy was a little saddened by the end of the kiss. She pouted her lips slightly. “Can I have another later?”
“You can have anything you want. Tonight, and tomorrow, and every night for the rest of forever,” David said, resting his forehead against hers and rubbing the end of his nose on hers.
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born and raised among the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, J. Annas Walker was brought up in a culture rich with oral history and storytelling. Wrought out of this tradition, writing had always been a hobby for her. After acquiring a bachelor of science in Civil Engineering Technology from UNC-Charlotte, she continued writing and retelling stories learned in childhood.
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J. Annas Walker, Scion's Freedom (Siren Publishing Classic)