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A soft smile moved on to my lips, picturing him at the end, handsome in his uniform. There was one moment I particularly looked forward to, but I didn’t want to hype it up in my head and be disappointed by reality.
Cobra extended his arm to me.
My arm hooked through his, and I let him guide me away. When we stepped through the door, Fang slithered past us and turned the corner, to join Kingsnake before I arrived. Viper stood there, and it was the only time I’d seen him without his sword and bow. My arm hooked through his, and we walked together.
The grounds were lit up with torches because it was fully dark. The night was clear, so the stars overhead were bright like mini suns. It was a cool evening, but there was no temperature cool enough to make me don a jacket.
They guided me down the stone-laid path around the cliff, following the line of torches until we reached the stone gazebo overlooking the ocean below, an ocean that was black with the exception of the waves that broke against the shoreline. Under the full moon, the waves were packed with momentum, and every time they crashed against the shore, it was audible.
Kingsnake hadn’t noticed me yet. He stood with Fang wrapped around his shoulders, his eyes slightly down like he was locked in a conversation with his snake. His father was there, sitting in one of the few chairs provided.
Cobra and Viper escorted me forward, and that was when Kingsnake turned.
His eyes captured me, my body illuminated by the roaring flames of all the torches in the clearing. It took only a second for his own fire to burn—and burn hotter than the sun. So hot the sun melted in inferiority. His eyes remained locked on my face like he was too entranced to look away, to examine the dress that fit my body like a glove.
As I drew closer, his flames subsided to a quiet burn, and then the most exquisite warmth emitted from him. Instead of roaring flames and melting suns, it was the light that blanketed a bed of flowers in spring, a gentleness that rivaled the wings of a butterfly. Passion morphed into love, a love so deep it was the bottom of a quiet ocean.
I felt him touch me when he was still far away. Felt him squeeze me like we were in bed, his arms around me through the coldest part of the night. My heart had been empty for a long time without a family of my own, after a man had promised all those things then replaced me with someone else. But Kingsnake gave me all of that—and kept his word.
I drew close, wishing he could feel everything I felt.
He hadn’t blinked once, looking at me like he’d never truly seen me before. Like this was the moment we were meeting for the first time—and it was love at first sight.
When I was directly in front of him, just inches away, his emotions quieted. His mind cleared, as if he felt nothing at all.
But I knew what it really was.
Peace.
Cobra and Viper released me and stepped away, joining their father in the seats.
Kingsnake took my hand, holding me with the same gentleness he would handle a butterfly. He drew me close, grasping my other hand as he held me in front of the robed vampire who would marry us. Vampires weren’t religious, as far as I knew, but the man was dressed like a priest.
In the darkness, surrounded by torchlight and a crashing ocean, the priest brought us into a binding union. He presented the rings, and when Kingsnake grabbed my left hand to place my ring, I realized it was a carving of a snake, its eyes made of small diamonds. The ring fit on my finger perfectly, snug but loose enough to be removed if I wished.
The second it was on my finger, it felt right.
Like I’d always worn it.
He presented his ring to me, a simple black band with a snakeskin pattern across the surface.
I examined it in a glance then placed it on his left hand, sliding it to the knuckle.
“As the undead, your souls can’t be bound to each other, but your blood can.” The priest presented the small dagger.
Kingsnake took it.
I kept a straight face, but a small jolt of fear gripped me.
He made a small cut in the center of his palm then held it up for me to drink.
I hesitated before I dragged my tongue across, getting his black blood on my tongue. It burned at first, dark and acidic with floral tones.
He took my hand and made the tiniest cut along my finger. It felt like a small scratch. Then he brought my finger into his mouth and sucked the drop away.
My moment of hesitation turned into one of desire. The pain was brief and insignificant, and the meaning behind it was paramount. In a single moment, I felt more bound to him than I ever had.
He returned the dagger and grasped my hand again.
