Chapter 6 Aurelia #2
Her skin was smooth, save for the scars that seemed carved even deeper than before. I wanted to run my fingers down them, trace away the bad memories they left. I almost did, until I was snapped back to reality with one thought.
The Vesper in front of me was no longer mostly human with a small percentage of vampire.
She was changed.
My heart ached for her. The selfish part of me was happy that she would live as long as I would, then I was hit with the pain of the realization.
What happened to her?
I wanted to ask. Wanted to pull her to me. Wanted to run away.
But I was done running.
“You need to go,” I said through gritted teeth. Forcing the words out was harder than I imagined. It felt like barbed wire was tied around my throat.
My eyes pricked with blood as she gave me a small smirk.
“What? Are you getting tired of me saving you?”
Before I could respond to the obvious jab, I was twirled and sent straight to the arms of another. One inhale told me it was a witch. My witch.
Cedar met me with a smirk of her own. My stomach twisted as I was hit by a bitter thought.
Is she mad at me?
As her eyes flicked from mine down to my body, my next thought was, I hope she is.
“So, Brat…” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “You really thought you could get away from us?”
Shivers ran down my spine. Her hands were on me, burning their way through my dress.
“I’m doing this for us,” I hissed and looked over my shoulder to my brother, who was currently being entertained by a feeder.
Thank god. But it wouldn’t last long, and I needed to make sure that the two of them were out of here before he caught on. And before they ruined the plan.
I was turned around, but instead of going to the next awaiting vampire, I was taken back into Vesper’s arms. This time, she got close enough for her lips to brush against my ear.
It was too much. I couldn’t pull myself from her even if I wanted to.
“If you think I’m letting you get married, think again,” she said and twirled me so hard, I lost sight of the crowd. The only eyes I was able to make out were hers and Cedar’s. I couldn’t feel their lips by my ears, but I could hear their voices as if they were being whispered right next to me.
“You’re ours, Princess.”
“And we’re here to claim you.”
It wasn’t a promise. It was a threat. They were angry. They’d come here to make sure I knew where I belonged.
Their hands were on me, burning and claiming, just like their whispers.
But that was part of the problem.
Everyone was trying to put me back in my place. To quell the cruel side of me. Lock me in a cage, only to be let out to do their bidding.
They loved me. I loved them.
But it was time I let that side out.
I pulled them to me, forcing the three of us together. Our waltz jerked to a halt, just like everyone around us, who slowly started to realize that these people were not supposed to be here.
“Aurelia,” Vesper growled.
I let my hand brush across her cheek.
“Vampirism looks good on you,” I told her.
Her eyes widened before her mask was back on.
Almost like she was shocked that I would accept it, let alone like it.
I then turned to Cedar, one finger brushing across her lips.
“But this is not the time. Whatever you’re about to see, I want you to remember what you both mean to me. Trust me.”
I lingered for a moment, taking them in. I didn’t know if I would be able to see them again after my marriage, and them being here was like a slap in the face. Not because they were trying to mess everything up, but because I was going to betray them.
My guilt attacked my body like a hailstorm. It hurt to do this without them here. But now that they were standing right in front of me, it felt even worse.
Stoning my expression, I pushed them back, the tension between us changing.
Shock crossed their faces. Vesper let out a low growl, and Cedar’s hands came to her arm as if to stop her from pouncing on me.
“Who let them in?” I asked, raising my voice.
The music stopped. Vampires spoke in hushed tones. The sound of Adrian’s amused chuckle reached my ears. Using his vampire speed, he came to my side, his hand grabbing mine.
“Naughty things! They weren’t on the guest list. I could forgive that, but touching you in such a manner? Maybe I should teach them a lesson.”
I looked around, making sure General Lee wasn’t here. Luckily, my plan worked well enough to keep him away, but if I didn’t move quickly and make the announcement, it might as well be for naught.
Fear clawed at my throat, but I merely turned and looked at him with an amused smirk.
“And let them ruin our fun? Don’t forget I still have a surprise.”
I could see the slight annoyance in the way his eye twitched, but he didn’t let it show. Not when so many people were watching.
Atlas stepped forward then, her midnight black hair shining under the lights of the chandelier. I’d never seen her gaze this cold, and guilt tugged at my heart again.
In another life, she would have been the perfect person to tie myself to for eternity, but that was the issue. She was too perfect, and my brother wanted power, not my comfort. I needed someone he couldn’t refuse, someone even better than a Solei.
“Atlas, you’re a powerful ally. A strong and revered clan head,” I said, raising my voice so there would be no doubt about what I was saying. “So you know what your actions mean. You bringing them here is unacceptable.”
“I meant no disrespect.” Atlas lowered her head ever so slightly. “I came, excited for your announcement. They are merely part of my guard.”
I scoffed, but my brother, on the other hand, couldn’t contain his laughter.
“Take them outside,” he ordered. “As a show of mercy,” If I weren’t so scared for Cedar and Vesper, I might have let out a laugh at that. “I will let you off with a warning, but hear me when I say that there won’t be another. If you can’t keep your pets on a leash, I will have to lead by example.”
When he said the last part, he wasn’t looking at them. He was looking at me.
I didn’t cower from his stare, making a point to look right at him as they dragged my lovers out.
“Well,” I said with a clap, calling all eyes back to me. “Now, since I have everyone’s attention, I’d like to inform you that you are not here for an engagement.”
Seeing Cedar and Vesper’s gaze as they were being pulled from the room almost had me faltering. My brother was silent, but I could feel the murderous intent radiating off him.
I was stealing his show. Good.
“You’re here for…” I held out my hand as Caspian detached himself from the crowd. Tall, midnight hair with a blue tint, playful red eyes, and dressed in a deep red that matched my dress. “Our wedding.”
He kneeled before me and made a show of grabbing my hand and placing a kiss right on my wrist, a promise to myself and the crowd of what was ahead of us.
“Is that… Caspian Hart?”
“The Hart family hasn’t been heard of in decades!”
I didn’t care about their murmuring because all I could hear was the pained sounds my loved ones were making as they were forced out.
Adrian looked at me with an unreadable expression. I had one-upped him. In front of everyone. His lapdog wasn’t here to intervene, leaving just him and an angry Solei king right behind him.
“Alright,” he finally said, his smile turning vicious. “A wedding it is.”