Page 34 of Christmas Embrace

“Oui. Don’t be ridiculous. I’m serious as a vampire feasting on his dinner.” He laughed. “That’s me.”

“Please tell me you can do this.” Luca asked, anxiously anticipating his bride.

“Of course I can. Your lovely fiancée asked me to do this and so I shall.”

“I’m regretting it.”

“I took an online course a few weeks ago. Passed with flying colors.”

Kade laughed. “It’s going to be fine.”

“Says you. You’re not getting married by Léopold.”

“If it makes Samantha happy…”

“She’s like a niece to me. I’ve memorized that handfasting the priestess taught me.”

“He took an online course and got a few lessons from a witch. We’re good,” Kade joked.

“I’m telling you you had better…” Luca’s words trailed off as the doors flung wide open, the string quartet roaring to life. “This is it.”

“Indeed it is. Now straighten up, mate. Look sharp,” Kade advised.

Dressed in matching red satin dresses, Ava and Kate toddled down the path toward the altar, throwing fistfuls of rose petals. Laughter erupted as Ava dumped the entire basket and set off running toward Wynter. Following suit, Kate ran toward Luca but was quickly intercepted by Xavier, who scooped her up in his arms and sat in the front row.

Kade’s heart squeezed as Dominque followed the children, holding Zach, who sucked feverishly on his binky. When she reached Kade, she presented him with the wedding rings, which had been delicately tied to a small white satin pillow.

“Da, da, da, da.” Zachery repeated, smiling wide at Kade, his pacifier falling out of his mouth. Without missing a beat, Dominique caught it before it hit the ground. Kade waved to the babe, his heart tight, taken aback by how much he’d fallen in love with his son, a little pup.

“We’re going to sit right here next to Kate.” Successfully distracting the baby, Dominique stood next to Xavier. Her expression teemed with mischief, a cool smile and a hidden secret swimming behind her mysterious eyes.

Kade’s heart caught as Sydney stepped into the moonlight, her ice blue eyes fixed on his as she made her way down the aisle. Suspended in time, Kade reached to her, stunned by her beauty. Marry me. She returned his message with a silent smile. As she took her place, she blew him a kiss before smiling at Zachery. Goddess, he loved this woman and would stop at nothing to make her his wife.

The roar of trumpets broke his contemplation. Silence descended upon the guests as the radiant bride appeared upon the threshold.

An orchestra played The First Time I Saw Your Face as Samantha took her father’s arm, appearing hopeful that her very human parents would accept their new vampire son-in-law. As they reached the altar, her father dusted a kiss to her forehead before turning to Luca. The vampire extended his hand and shook her father’s.

“I’ll take good care of her, sir,” Luca promised with a wink to Samantha. “And I’m sure she’ll take care of me and Kate.”

“Don’t disappoint me, son,” her father told him.

Magick danced in the air as Léopold spun through the ceremony, recounting their infamous introduction, setting fire to her cabin. The ancient vampire helped her to discover the greatness of her magick, encouraging her to embrace her nature.

The scent of frankincense, rosemary and lavender filled the air as Samantha tossed a match into a cauldron. Léopold gestured for the rings which Kade promptly provided.

As Luca slipped the ring onto her finger, he paused with a small smile, gazing at his bride. “Darlin’. I’ve waited lifetimes to meet my soulmate. And today. Today I humbly stand before you, my beautiful priestess. I pledge to you my eternal loyalty and love. My friend. My lover. The most incredible mother to our daughter. My inspiration. My everything. I love you.”

Tears streamed down Samantha’s face as he slid the ring on her finger. Her hands trembled as she held Luca’s ring to his hand. “My love. I…I never thought I’d be here. To be so lucky to find someone like you. You’ve supported me in every single thing I do. My journey with magick. Within the coven. You are an amazing father. Our protector. Our cheerleader. And each day I wake up in your arms I pinch myself, feeling like I’m living in a romance novel. Our romance. Our love. Our family. I’m honored to be your wife. You are the magick in my life.”

“My friends. Today I bind Luca and Samantha.” Léopold bound the crimson handfasting cord around their hands. “I’ve lived centuries. I’ve watched love. I’ve lost love. I’ve fallen in love.” He winked at Laryssa and continued. “Pure love between souls is rare. It’s a gift from the Goddess that eludes many for eternity. If you’re lucky, the brass ring comes around the carousel. But you have to be ready to grab for it. You must be determined. Patient. Put it above all else. Go through whatever is necessary to reach and snatch it or you might miss the opportunity.”

Léopold placed his hand over Luca and Samantha’s. “So it is not surprising that these special individuals rose to meet the challenge. With Luca’s love and support, Samantha embraced her role as high priestess even though she was once scared of her magick. And Luca…well, Luca…he’s ugh, he’s still stubborn as an ox. There’s that.”

Laughter erupted from their guests. Luca shrugged with a half-smile, giving him the side eye.

Léopold continued. “At one time, Luca could not see the brass ring because he only embraced his own species. But what he came to realize is that he was so much more than vampire. The Goddess sparked his humanity. She brought the beautiful witch into his life and turned it upside down. And through the magick of their love, his vision became clear.” He smiled and paused. “Today the brass ring is before him. And so it is with these ribbons of love two become one. In this very human tradition, a wedding, a marriage, we celebrate our humanity and the love of the Goddess who presented the gift. I ask of both of you, do you commit to eternity, to embrace the brass ring and never forget the magick that brought you together, to love each other beholden to no others until the end of time?”

“We do,” they answered together.