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“You must prepare,” she said, cutting me off. “The ceremony is in the morning, and your wedding is just hours away.”
A lump formed in my throat. “I know.”
“Have you spoken to Sebastian?”
“Barely,” I admitted, my fingers flexing against the arms of the chair.
Even with the cuddling last night, we hadn’t spent much time together. So there wasn’t much to say, I guessed. I was dragging him down with me. He never wanted to marry, let alone stay a vampire. Because of me, any dreams of mortality were gone, no matter how unlikely they were to happen. But he was alive. “I’m just glad he’s going through with this.” My engagement ring glinted in the sun. It was handpicked by Erianna when we had to fake an engagement to carry out our plot to replace me as queen, one I didn’t have any intentions of going through with. I just wanted to find my mom and Draven.
“You saved him. He’s lucky it’s this instead of….” She trailed off, and my heart hurt. Her long braid bounced over her chest with each step. The strands, blacker than night, somehow shone as she walked to the door. “I have some things to take care of. So I cannot come tonight. Not until you become princess, and I get my pardon.”
I forced a smile. “I’ll make sure it’s the first thing I do.”
She nodded once, and as she opened the door, my gaze trickled to her wingless back. My barrier lowered once she left, and a pinch of sadness shot through the air before she sped down the staircase. She had sensed me looking, and it only worsened the grief she felt from the loss of her wings. She hated pity, so I reminded myself not to stare. Even though all I wanted to do was hug her, cry with her and share in her pain. But Erianna wasn’t like me—or anyone I met, really.
I hated my father for going through with it. He so callously took her wings, planning to take Zach’s next, then throw them back into the dungeons as if it was a gift to me. That was before Sebastian helped them escape. I’d heard shreds of information, about how without Erianna’s wings and both their jobs, they’d lost their dignities. Rumors reached me of how Zach walked around, barely an echo of who he once was with not even a snarky remark left in him. Erianna pretended to be fine, but I could feel her aching inside.
I only hoped I was there when she crumbled—so I could help take the pain away.
My eyes closed against the sunlight. I would become a vampire in less than a day, and while I could still feel others’ emotions, I would lose the ability to manipulate people’s feelings. My magic would be gone, and I would be a princess of vampires and the wife of a man who didn’t want me. Yet, he’d torn out Hamza’s heart because he hurt me, and as twisted as it sounded, that meant something to me. Even if it was reckless and stupid, because if he was caught, they’d have his head.
I closed my eyes, falling back on the bed. It was dark when I opened them again, and I realized I must have fallen asleep. My stomach grumbled, aching for food. I’d missed dinner. But nerves suffocated the hunger. A knock sounded at the door, and my mom walked in holding a long, black gown with lace sleeves—my wedding dress. “It’s time, honey.”
TEN
Sebastian
I adjusted my sleeves, smoothing down the front of my tunic. Silver silk threaded through the midnight-black creating constellation patterns, as if the fabric had been stolen from the night.
Roses harvested in full bloom entwined the metal arch over my head, with a tangle of ivy and thorns nestling between the pure white and crimson red. The fresh cuts intensified the floral notes hidden behind the musky scent of the roses, radiating a sweet smell.
An ache tightened in my chest as chatter flooded the throne room. Rows upon rows of satin-covered chairs were quickly filled with hundreds of vampires, many of who had traveled a great distance to witness the wedding and shadow kissed ritual of their princess. Mortal servants rushed to relight candles as the billowing cloaks of vampires swept the wind into the flames, putting them out.
I spied Astor, who kept to the shadowed corner of the room, occasionally glancing over at Gwen and Velda, who sat in the front row, wearing plunging red dresses. Gwen’s glacier-blue eyes found mine, her jaw clenching as she rubbed a fallen, silk petal between her delicate fingers. Averting my gaze from her, I spotted several nobles who were fond of sitting in the middle section. Beyond them, strangers craned their necks to get a better look, each holding a wedding program. I wondered where on that piece of paper listed the time of Olivia’s death tomorrow.
A trumpet sounded, and the room silenced, save for hushed whispers lost to the breeze. A loud voice boomed over us, jolting several vampires. “His Majesty, King Sargon of Sanmorte, and his queen, Her Majesty, Queen Ravena of Sanmorte.”
Every vampire in the room stood, bowing as they stepped through the double doors, and made their way up the white-carpeted aisle.
Large rings covered Sargon’s fingers, candlelight occasionally catching on the rubies and emeralds. I bowed when they reached halfway. Ravena was dazzling in red, her raven tresses flowing down her back.
She smiled when she reached me and placed her hands in mine. “Take care of my daughter.” I could feel a thousand more words she wanted to say in them, but she couldn’t speak freely, not here in front of her tyrannical king.
“I will.” I forced as much conviction into my tone as possible, then folded my hands over my stomach. I would take my vows seriously. I peered over Sargon’s shoulder, missing the faces of Erianna, Zach, and Anna.
“You will make a fine prince,” Sargon said, and I lifted my eyebrows.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” I slipped into another bow, and they stepped past me, then took their seats upon their tall thrones.
Rich, melodious music signaled her arrival. Draven was the first to enter. He must have walked her downstairs. Goosebumps spread over my arms, pricking cold into the nape of my neck. A lump formed in my throat as the music loudened, emotion heavy in every key of the piano and violin.
Slowly, I turned my head, watching Olivia walk toward me. My lips parted slightly, my next breath stolen by her beauty. Sheer gloves covered her arms. Her off-the-shoulder, lacy, black gown flowed as if she was the goddess of the night herself. A diamond-encrusted tiara glittered from her red, pinned-back hair. She lifted her black veil, revealing her face in the light.
Her eyebrows knitted together, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she glanced around the room. Then, slowly, she lifted her head, her green gaze meeting mine. Relief flooded her delicate features, and the ache in my chest settled. A slow smile curved my lips, and the moment I’d been dreading for the past three days suddenly wasn’t as soul-wrenching.
She closed the distance between us, her eyes darting around to the faces of Gwen, her father, and others. I didn’t look away. No one else mattered in this room. I held her hands, steadying mine to still the tremble in hers.
“I’m scared,” she mumbled, and a jolt of pain shot through me.
