Page 87
Chad squeezes my hand, bringing me back to the horror of the moment.
“I object!”
A voice booms through the fog of fear and grief.
My head whips around so fast I can hear it crack, and a wave of nausea hits me full force.
The world flips upside down as I take in the sight before me.
“Auggie?” I sob.
Oh no, oh no, oh no.
Chad and the rest of the people in the chapel follow my gaze to where Auggie marches down the aisle.
“You,” Chad yells, raising an accusing finger. “You tried to come between me and my fiancée!”
Auggie’s eyes find mine, and the look of relief and terror I find in their depths steals my breath.
“Are you okay, Moonlight?”
“Moonlight? What the fuck kind of name is that!? Stop talking to my fiancée! We’re about to be married, for fucks sake.”
“You,” Auggie says, taking a step toward us, “kidnapped,” another step, “my,” step, “mate.”
My head spins as the crowd collectively gasps.
Mate?
The word settles warm and soothing in my chest.
I’m Auggie’s mate.
“We’re bonded,” he continues, slowly advancing like a predator ready to strike its prey.
As if on cue, a pleasant hum takes up in my chest. I look down at my chest, placing a hand right over my heart. Auggie tracks the motions, the ghost of a smile on his lips before turning his attention back to Chad.
Chad, who looks like a volcano ready to explode. Red from the tips of his ears all the way down his face, and shaking with fury.
I vaguely note Eric entering the chapel, phone raised to his ear.
“The fuck you are! My fiancée is not bonded to some monster freak,” he spits.
An angry buzz kicks up in the crowd, many of whom I note are supernaturals.
“Oh, but we are,” Auggie says, taking a step closer and reaching a hand out to me. “And the thing about mate bonds is they are forever. And mates will always come for each other.”
My heart soars and sinks in the blink of an eye.
Chad reaches for the knife, flicking the blade open with practiced skill. He lunges at Auggie, blade raised, and something inside me snaps. I will not just stand here while this lowlife attacks my mate.
I scream as the knife makes contact with Auggie, a spray of blood arcing across the chapel floor. As Chad throws his weight at Auggie, I turn and grab a heavy vase full of flowers.
“Cordelya is mine!” Chad screams, raising the knife.
Before it comes down, I raise the vase and smash it over his head with all the force I can muster.
“Fuck you, you psycho asshole!” I scream.
