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The movies made being a bride look graceful. There were brunches with your family and friends, full of wine, and mimosas. There were spa treatments like facials and massages by sexy men. There were supposed to be dress fittings with more wine and little cheese balls on toothpicks. Thanks to the rushed nature of this union, none of that happened.
I was never the girl that grew up playing bride and groom, or had a binder full of things I wanted for my wedding. Even once engaged to Kai, I never jumped into planning the specifics, but now it’s here and I can’t help but wonder if I’ll regret not doing it.
Rolling out of the bed and taking most of the comforter with me, I land on my feet, stretching before rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Clamara ushers some of the other castle maids into the room, barking orders. It’s only once everyone is inside that her arm loops with mine and I’m pulled toward a small breakfast table.
Three hours later… I’ve been fed, dressed, and my hair and makeup fixed. All that’s left is to place the crown on top of my head and head to the altar. I stand in the mirror, eyeing the white fabric. Most of it is lace, swept across my chest in a form-fitting corset. Beneath it lays a spider web of lace that lays flush with my skin.
The low neckline connects with the satin fabric and lace that runs down my arms, and both layers flare out wide around my hips, pooling on the floor. There’s a high slit that runs from the front of my pelvic bone down, revealing the ribbons that cross in X patterns around my legs, from my panties down to my heels.
An intricate necklace that looks like tiny golden tree branches holds small diamonds, as if the gems are the leaves. My fingers dance across it, feeling the weight of it heavy against my collarbone. Matching earrings hang from my ears, drawing the eye to my face. My lips are a bold blood red, my eyes lined with a perfect winged liner, and my red curls are swept in large smooth curls that cascade down the middle of my back. Flowers have been woven into them, and my bangs have been pulled into a waterfall braid around the crown of my head.
“You’re going to have to bend, Milady.” Clamara holds up Kai’s mother’s crown and I suck in a breath, crossing the room to take a seat at the vanity. She follows me, making quick work of pinning it into place. “All set. You look absolutely gorgeous. The late queen would be in awe.”
“Thank you for all of your help,” I saw, offering her a sweet smile. “Please be sure to tell the others I’m in debt to them for putting all of this together so quickly.”
“I’m sure they’re just happy to have love flourish in this castle once more. It’s been dark since the Queen passed. Knowing this wedding will bring life to these halls again… and dare I say children one day… They’d be happy to do whatever it takes to see it through.”
She takes her leave, letting me be alone with my thoughts for a bit before I’m expected downstairs. Only the silence doesn’t last too long. The door creaks on its hinges, alerting me to the company leisurely stepping through my door. I stand from my seat near the vanity, wobbling slightly on my heels.
“Hello, Little Witch.” His voice rolls over my skin like honey, dripping through me, and settling into my bones. My feet root in place as the King of Hell steps up behind me, practically appearing out of thin air. His suit is made of a dark fabric and accented in gold, and it’s the only thing I can see from this angel in the mirror.
I shudder the moment gently fingertips ghost up the back of my bare arm, slipping beneath the flowy sleeves of my dress. As mundane as it may be, it’s enough to send butterflies spinning through the pit of my stomach, and make my eyes drift closed, but only for a moment.
“Happy to see me?” he whispers in my ear.
“That depends on your definition of happy…” I swallow the lump forming in my throat. He bends to kiss my shoulder, putting himself in the reflection of the mirror. I watch his lips tilt, but he quickly traps the bottom one between his teeth, desperate to hide his amusement.
His eyes meet mine and I let out a shaky breath. “You look stunning,” he praises, his gaze scorching across my flesh, before swimming back to mine.
“It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”
He chuckles, letting his hand slide forward, tracing the neckline with a finger. “I’ve never been one for superstitions.”
“And if I am?”
“Well, I still believe the benefits outweigh the risks.”
Squinting at him in the reflection, I’m not quite sure what he’s getting at. Honestly, the only thing I’m sure of is the fact he’s here and he shouldn’t be. Yet, I don’t want him to leave…
“Why are you here?” I don’t beat around the bush. I’d much rather cut straight to the point.
“I…” he pauses, sawing his jaw as if the simple motion will help him think straight. “I needed to make sure that this is still what you want–thatIam what you want. If your feelings about me have changed after our trip to the dead lands, we can find another way.”
Something squeezes inside my chest, my vision blurring. Of coursehe’swho I want. I love the fool… We’ve both made choices we’re not proud of, but we always come back together in the end. “I know why you pushed me. I’m not holding it against you. It was an honest effort to try to get my wings… Have things changed for you?”
He’s quiet for far too long. My heart cracking more with every second that groans past. I need to hear him say it.
“No…” One word. That’s all I needed to hear for my lungs to allow me to breathe again. “We’ve been through so much in such a short period… I do worry that the deal will rear its head, and likely in the coming days. It scares me to think the same strings demanding me to keep you safe, put you in a different form of danger.”
“The deal wasn’t of your doing. Your father made and turned a blind eye to the havoc it’s created,” I assure him, turning to search his face for any sign he’s rethinking things… rethinking this and our wedding.
“My father wasn’t the one who used magic to brand you, Alice. He didn’t make me do that, nor did he seed the thought in my head. The moment I fear for your safety, I can’t think. I can’t breathe… I can’t protect you from monsters by becoming a worse one.” His hand cups my face, and his thumb strokes over my cheek. Inadvertently, I reach up to clasp his wrist, leaning into his touch.
“I’m not scared of you,” I say, getting lost in the amber color of his eyes. “You haven’t been tugged by the fates since I became immortal and believe me, I’ve been in plenty of situations that would’ve caused you to lose it. Let’s take it as a blessing that they’ve given you peace and worry about it when we need to.”
He nods, and his thumb moves from my cheek to slowly trace over my bottom lip. “I love it when you paint your lips red… but it fills me with this odd need to smear it.”
A smile blooms across my lips. “Well, I’m sure you’ll get the opportunity later, but first, you have to say I do.” I shove against his chest, and he stumbles backward with a groan.
