“As if I’d ever change my mind,” I said, wrapping myself around his arm and kissing his cheek. Butterflies fluttered through me as I felt him smile underneath my lips, the forming groove so delicious I couldn’t help dipping my tongue into it for a quick taste.
“Yeah, I know. But now that I’m no longer the pack alpha, I was trying humility on for size.” He made a sour face. “I don’t like it.”
I laughed and snuggled closer, enjoying the zing of having his large hand circle my thigh. “That’s why I didn’t bother asking if I had a say in whether or not we get married.”
“You do. As long as you say yes,” he teased, twisting his head so that our mouths aligned.
The prelude music changed, and we all stood as the bride marched down the aisle—for the second time today. Poor Natalia probably hated me even more now than she did when I’d pinged her in the head with that heavy silver collar they’d put on Conall.
Wearing an ethereal dress with a plunging neckline and embroidered lace flowers that flowed into a gauzy skirt, she appeared to be floating. Although I couldn’t be sure she wasn’t, I did catch a peek of peep-toe heels. People gasped as she passed, and I understood why. Statuesque, with loose blond waves that fell to her mid back, she was beyond beautiful. Her expression remained so carefully impassive, as though she were afraidto betray her true feelings, and even after everything that’d happened, my heart went out to her.
As she passed by, it formed the perfect gap for Andromeda to cast me and Conall a death glare. A shiver ran through me, and Conall curled me closer, a low growl rumbling through his throat.
“She can request your help, but I won’t let her or anyone else hurt you,” Conall said, and I nodded. With him by my side, we’d get through it together. It didn’t mean she was going to make it easy on us, or on Diego for that matter.
The witch conducting the ceremony spoke about the union of two souls, and how it’d bring about the uniting of both sects of people who worshipped the moon. It would’ve been beautiful had the marriage not been the result of coercion.
As they reached the part with the “I wills”—another thing that would be romantic under different circumstances—I held my breath. Conall sucked in a lungful next to me, his fingers tightening around my palm.
“I will,” Diego said, and sweet relief flowed through my veins.
The same question was posed to Natalia.
Silence fell over the audience in a thick blanket as she remained perfectly still. Her gaze moved to her mother, and whatever she saw in Andromeda’s features had her pivoting back to Diego. Although she stared more through him than at him as she replied with, “I will.”
The witch pronounced them husband and wife and mentioned the kiss.
Awkwardness crowded the air. Neither of the newlyweds moved.
Suddenly, every shifter tensed and growled, practically in unison. Conall pulled me to stand along with him, as the entire groom’s side also leaped to their feet.
The witches looked at each other, clearly as confused as I was. Then Diego grabbed his new bride’s hand and rushed her up the aisle, opposite the way she’d come.
Diego stopped next to me and Conall, tucking Natalia behind him as Conall did the same to me. I glanced at her, as though she’d tell me what was going on, even if she knew. Her wide eyes met mine, and then whispers erupted on the bride’s side as several figures took shape.
“Are these unexpected visitors you and your coven’s doing?” Diego snapped at Natalia, so harsh that I winced at his tone.
She, on the other hand, remained as stoic as when she’d walked down the aisle. She moved to stand next to Diego, head held high. “No. With all the cloaking spells, they shouldn’t have been able to find us, either.”
Right as I opened my mouth to demand someone tell me what was going on, a world rumbled through both sides of the aisle, one that turned every one of my organs to stone.
Vampires.
