28. Well, I am a bloodsucker in every form of the word. #2
During the one rehearsal I had allowed, as we had needed the practice to deal with the train from hell and the many layers of my bejeweled dress, Emerick and I had attempted to scold the men for their posturing while the mistresses of the broods had laughed at our reaction.
“This is the dress with the fake gems, right?” I asked in a whisper.
My father refused to answer me, nor did he look me in the eyes.
I sighed. “I promised Emerick he could destroy this one, Dad.”
“He can still destroy it, just don’t lose the gemstones.
I’ll make certain the cleaning staff knows to search the floors for rogue jewels when you emerge from your statehouse.
Ideally, you will remove the train properly, and if you acquire his help, you can remove the upper layer of silk, which is where all the jewels are secured.
Everything underneath we have numerous copies of.
It’ll take five minutes, and you can delight in your husband’s impatience. ”
“I can handle that much. It’s one layer of silk. We can handle one layer of silk.”
Judging from the giggles behind me, we would have many difficulties handling said layer of silk.
The music spared me from having to defend what remained of my dignity, and I took care with my steps, as the five women behind me needed to make certain my train, using fishing line attached to fancy walking sticks, all painted to be white and also bejeweled, did what they wanted rather than attempt to make a grand escape.
The one practice session paid off, and we made it to the front of the ballroom without me disgracing myself.
My father offered my hands to Emerick, and Clarke did the same with him, and only when we stood with our hands clasped together did the pair of ancient vampires settle into posturing, hissing, and making it clear the other would pay if either one of us brought any harm to the other.
Vampires were truly remarkable yet ridiculous creatures.
Once they finished, my father stood to the side with both Clarke and my mother, as I’d protested heartily over the thought of my father being alone for the ceremony—and I liked the idea of my parents not bickering and showing some solidarity despite my mother’s position as Clarke’s new wife.
Like us, the pair had opted for civil forms being filed, and in time, they would have a ceremony as well, although it would be in a few years.
Clarke wanted every bell and whistle while Emerick and I had gone with the flow, making certain Edgar could carry the rings while the younger children of the brood and Robert’s twins threw flowers with wild abandon.
As I appreciated children being children, I’d refused to subject them to a rehearsal, resulting in a great deal of bouncing, flowers flung every which way, and only Edgar having any idea what he was supposed to be doing as Edgar lived for ceremonies.
If I had my way, Edgar would be able to fill the role of ring bearer in the brood until he no longer wanted to or he was the one slated to be the groom.
The gathered crowd of vampires and preternaturals, along with their more mundane counterparts and our friends who hadn’t been blessed or cursed with some form of power, laughed at the chaos. I smiled and gave Emerick’s hands a squeeze. “They’re adorable.”
“They really are. Just wait for our renewals in a hundred years and think about these same kids, no longer kids, doing the same shit and hamming it up as much as they can. That’s how most vow renewals work out.
Whenever possible, they use the same people.
And when they can’t, new kids are tossed into the fray, often the children of those pretending they’re closer to their shoe size rather than their actual age. ”
Every time I blinked, somebody found some way to make our future appear even brighter.
“I’ve been told we have to be careful with the train and the uppermost layer of silk so we don’t ruin the jewels.
They are not fake jewels. In good news, after we’ve successfully rescued that part of the gown, we can get to the serious business of destroying everything beneath. ”
My husband issued a rather dark chuckle. “I asked your mother to watch our kittens until tomorrow night so we do not have any interruptions, by the way.”
“All I ask is that I don’t have to text for help this time,” I murmured.
He smirked. “However sad it makes me, your request will be met due to pregnancy. Once the children are born, you’ve recovered, and they can survive without us for a few days, I will be ravishing your person at my leisure and taking away your phone so you can’t request aid.
Only when you have completely surrendered will I show you even a scrap of mercy. ”
Well, I would have a memorable tombstone.
“Just wait until after we’re certain the experiment is fully over before engaging in that plan.
Next time, additions to the family are fully planned, although I do want to repeat this experiment.
But the children we have will be grown before we have any productive dates of that nature, sir. ”
“Define grown for me, please.”
“At least thirty.”
He pouted. “How about three?”
“No.”
“Four?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ll think about it after the first two arrive. My father? He’s going to need at least a hundred years of recovering from having had me.”
“Hardly,” my father replied.
“I don’t want to know how long you’re holding out, Mom,” I said before she could find some way to embarrass me.
She giggled. “You have at least a year of freedom. You can view that as a wedding present.”
I giggled. “Thanks, Mom. I’ll do that.”
Around us, our guests laughed. I took in the crowd, which consisted of our friends, family, brood, and ancient vampires who had nothing better to do than gossip about the love lives of others. That many of those ancient vampires were both family and friends would baffle me for years to come.
In many ways, the ceremony was nothing more than a formality, acknowledging a collection of endings and new beginnings. No matter where we decided to go or how we decided to go about it, we would do so together.
Life would be good.
With Edgar leading the pack, the squealing and laughing children made it to the front of the ballroom, and they bounced around as though they had springs installed on the bottoms of their feet.
I blamed my various relatives, as approximately half of them had been in charge of the children’s party on a different floor of the ship while we’d been occupied with the murder mystery dinner.
Ben, dressed in a new suit, served as Emerick’s best man while Breanna served as my maid of honor.
After much discussion with my father and the rest of the family, we’d decided to have two officiators of our ceremony.
While I still didn’t know their names, I’d thought it fitting to have a priestess of the sun and a reformed necromancer oversee our union.
Within every person was darkness and light, and I was of the belief that the actions of both were why we’d be having daughters sooner than later.
I saw nothing more fitting than having them bless our ceremony.
Rather than a long speech or a sermon, the priestess accepted the pillow with our wedding rings on it from Edgar, gave the boy a kiss on his cheek, and returned to her place beside the necromancer, who cleared his throat and said, “Emerick, do you solemnly vow that you shall love and honor Pepper for as long as you both shall live?”
My husband squeezed my hand, smiled, and said, “I solemnly vow that I shall love and honor Pepper for as long as we both shall live.”
The priestess regarded us both before staring into my eyes and saying, “And do you, Pepper, solemnly vow that you shall love and honor Emerick for as long as you both shall live?”
I drew a deep breath before saying, “I solemnly vow that I shall love and honor Emerick for as long as we both shall live.”
The necromancer eyed the crowd with open suspicion, and I giggled at his expression. “Does anyone among you have any reason why these two should not be wed?”
Silence.
Good. Had anyone protested, I would have ruined my wedding gown and spilled blood all over my ship’s new floors.
The priestess handed off the rings to the necromancer, clapped her hands together, and bowed to us. “None have spoken. I declare you to be husband and wife in the eyes of all gods and man.”
The necromancer offered my husband the rings. “Emerick, your first act of duty as a husband is to take this ring and place it upon your wife’s finger, welcoming her into your life for however long you both live.”
He released my right hand and adjusted how he held my left, slipping off my purple sapphire engagement ring he’d produced in the months leading up to the ceremony.
He placed it on the pillow, took my wedding ring, and slipped it onto my finger.
“I welcome you to my family and into my life for however long we both live.”
Once he had the wedding band in place, he returned the engagement band to my finger, lifted my left hand, and kissed my knuckles.
The priestess took the pillow and offered the final ring to me. “Pepper, your first act of duty as a wife is to take this ring and place it upon your husband’s finger, welcoming him into your life for however long you both live.”
I took hold of his left hand with mine and used my other hand to pick up the ring and place it on his finger. “I welcome you to my family and into my life for however long we both live.”
“You may kiss,” the priestess said, and both her and the necromancer took a step back to give us space.
Emerick took care with the veil, which had jewels like the rest of the dress, lifting it up and over my head so it wouldn’t get in the way. He stepped close, pressed his lips to mine, and gave me a preview of his intentions for later, somehow managing to stay on the right side of decency.
We’d agreed that due to the number of young and impressionable children that we would not embarrass ourselves or others, nor would we force parents to give their children the talk on what boys and girls did together when left unsupervised.
“It is my honor to present Emerick and Pepper Lowrance, husband and wife until the end of their days,” the necromancer announced.
The crowd erupted into cheers. As the noise began to die down, a rain of flowers, cards, and small, wrapped presents pelted us. I shielded my face, bursting into laughter at the unexpected assault. Emerick, being Emerick, started catching as many of the presents as he could while chuckling.
Rather than throw anything at me, my father gave me an envelope.
“Your expression is priceless. And yes, it is a vampire tradition to fling presents at the bride and groom after the exchanging of vows. It symbolizes the release of all negativity and the wish for a prosperous future together. Your mother and I will handle gathering the gifts. Had Emerick’s parents still lived, they would help us, but Clarke will stand in their place for this. ”
Rather than open the envelope, I stepped with care around the gifts scattered on the floor and embraced him. “I love you, Dad.”
He kissed my brow and hugged me back. “There’s no greater joy than to see you off with a man who loves you as much as I do. Escape while you can, and expect people to throw things at you the entire way. I’m sure Emerick will take care of any bruising of your person with great care.”
I detoured long enough to exchange hugs with my mother and returned to my husband’s side. He delayed long enough to shake hands with my parents and embrace his maker before joining me and offering his arm. “I love you, Mrs. Lowrance.”
“I love you, too.” I situated myself at his side and held his hand, giggling at the number of cards and presents still falling our way.
For the most part, the presents rained down rather harmlessly, although a few thumped to the floor loud enough to catch my attention.
Rather than indulge my curiosity, I decided it could wait and began the process of navigating through the crowd so we could retire to our stateroom.
“Ready to start the rest of our lives together?”
“Indeed I am.”