With a brief nod, Luna dropped to her knees. Her dress fanned out around her, and I quickly followed suit, my wings rustling behind me. I kneeled on the cold stone as a burst of bitter cold went through my body. I glanced up, only to find Luna’s eyes glued to my wings.
It was as if she’d never seen a winged creature before in her life. She probably didn’t even know my wings were a gift from Isvana, the moon goddess herself. Hoping to dispel some of the tension filling the air, I winked and reached inwards.
We were being forced into this… but if I could dispel some of that fear, I would. After all, this human would soon be mine.
Tugging on my shadows, I shifted, and my wings disappeared. Luna gasped, and a soft chuckle escaped me.
Ciro cleared his throat, and the whispers behind us died down. “Dearly beloved. Her Royal Majesty, Queen Marguerite of Eleyta, wearer of the Blood Ruby and Keeper of the North, has invited you here today to witness this sacred union. Tonight, Ipotha and Eleyta join hands, forming an alliance that will never be broken.”
The priest paused, and a smattering of applause broke out among the crowd. When it died down, he smiled.
“Yes, you are correct. This is a night for celebration. On this very evening, history is being made. Never has a human wed a royal vampire.”
Ciro took a step forward, and I caught a glimpse of a small white rose embroidered on the lapel of his robe. Something about that rose snagged my attention, but I couldn’t quite remember where I had last seen it.
The priest continued. “Before we begin, are there any objections to this union?”
No one spoke. No one even dared breathe, lest it be taken in the wrong way. Clearly, they valued their lives.
After a moment, Ciro nodded. “Thank Isvana. Let us begin.” He turned towards us, raising a brow. “Please, join hands.”
This time, Luna was the first to move. Her hand rested in the gap between us, and I stared at it for a moment before sliding my hand into hers.
The moment our skin touched, my head spun. A warmth, unlike anything I’d felt since the day I was reborn, coursed through me. It was as though a thousand fires were running through my cold veins, burning me from the inside out.
My eyes widened, and I stared at our joined hands. That one point of contact was too much, and yet, it was not enough.
I wanted to yank my hand away, but I felt Mother’s eyes on me. The threat of violence hung in the air, and I knew what would happen if I disobeyed her.
Athena’s lifeless green eyes flashed through my mind, and I blew out a long breath. Despite my every desire to turn and run the other way, I held onto my bride’s much smaller hand.
All of this was too much.
A roaring rang in my ears, but I remained on my knees, even as Luna’s heat coursed through my body. Up close, her scent was so strong it was intoxicating. I barely heard Ciro as he spoke of the importance of marriage vows, of the sacred union between male and female, and of Isvana’s blessing.
It wasn’t until the priest took a step towards us, draping the ceremonial red cloth over our joined hands, that I returned to the present.
Ciro cleared his throat. “Do you, Sebastian Marcel Jacques François Montquartier, take this female to be your wife?”
A long moment passed as my eyes swept over Luna. I didn’t want this. She probably didn’t either. But here we were. Two people whose ability to choose had been stripped away from them.
I cleared my throat, meeting Luna’s wide eyes, and said, “I do.”