The ring slid over his knuckles with ease. I withdrew my hand, breaking the vampire’s stare. Without those dark storms boring into me, it felt like my lungs could function again. I drew in a deep breath as the vampires at my back whispered, their murmurs too low to hear.
Sebastian was staring at the ring on his finger with dread.
Before I could question it, the priest brought his hands together. The booming clap echoed through the throne room and a horrible smile crept onto the priest’s face. I shivered at the sight. To call it wolfish would have been an insult to wolves everywhere.
The priest stepped forward, clasping his hands in front of his heart. He stared at us, his eyes shining with something sinister, as he said, “You may kiss the bride.”
I stilled, and my heart pounded erratically in my chest. The atmosphere was thick, like soup, and I could barely breathe.
Kiss.
Why did weddings always involve kissing?
Moreover, why wasthatstill included in this ceremony? Sebastian and I didn’t know each other. We had just met. How come the priest omitted asking whether I agreed to take the prince for my husband, but the kiss was still included?
My mind continued to whirl with questions as my heart sped up. My hands grew clammy and my mouth dried.
I was going into shock. I had read about this in my research when I was looking into Marius’s wasting illness, but I had never experienced it before. I could barely think, let alone try to calm myself down.
This wouldn’t be my first kiss. Back home in Ipotha, I’d had a few beaus. Nothing serious, but I understood the ways of the world. I knew enough—I’d done enough—to know their stolen kisses and quick, inexperienced touches would pale in comparison to anything the male in front of me could offer.
Even while kneeling, power came off the Prince of Darkness in waves. Not only that, but he was incredibly handsome. Every one of his features was perfect, from his tousled black hair to the symmetry of his face. He looked like a god brought to life.
A god I apparently had to kiss.
Black spots edged at my vision, and I felt faint. Just as I was spiralling into a well of panic, the prince met my gaze once more. The swirling storms were gone, and in their place was deep concern. Was he concerned for me, or was it because he had to kiss a lowly human?
Before I could ask, black wisps of shadows slipped out of the prince’s palms. They pooled on the cold stone around him, and those large, dark wings unfurled behind him, forming out of thin air. They solidified, and an enormous black wing curled around me, hiding me from the murmuring crowd.
I inhaled, willing my heart to slow. “Thank you,” I whispered.
His act of kindness in a castle full of predators was small, but it made my mind churn Who was this male I was marrying?
The vampire in question dipped his eyes in acknowledgment. “You’re welcome, Luna.”
With slow, careful movements, he leaned in close. My heart skipped a beat once more, but this time, it was for a very different reason.
Every part of me focused on the male in front of me. The Prince of Darkness reached up and gripped the edge of the lace. I tensed, my lips parting, as he slowly raised it.
The veil lifted like a curtain, revealing stars glistening in the prince’s swirling black orbs. I stared into his eyes, and I forgot my panic as he leaned forward.
His crown tilted and my heart pounded in my chest. My palms grew slick as Sebastian’s lips parted, giving me a perfect view of two sharp white fangs nestled in his gums. They gleamed in the purple light, and I was willing to bet my entire library at home that he could tear out my throat without a second thought.
He drew in a deep breath—who knew vampires still had to breathe? I certainly did not—and he closed the distance between us.
I forced myself to remain still.
This is your duty.
I repeated the words to myself, hoping that maybe if I did it enough, they might somehow make this all better. It wasn’t working.
A foot became six inches.
Then two.
Suddenly, all I could smell was the prince’s crisp, male scent. I forgot all about the cool stone pressing into my knees, about the powerful vampire queen staring at me, and even about the crowd at my back.
The male beside me became my entire world. Sebastian’s wings curled further around me, drawing me towards him in a gentle but assertive manner. The prince raised his free hand, cupping it around the back of my neck. His touch was cool and his fingers were firm as they gripped me.