Chapter 20
Chapter
Twenty
It was the sort of wedding I’d never known existed.
No humble chapel with a few close guests, and me in a simple dress that was my best. Instead, I was wearing a fortune in pearls and diamonds, embroidered over clouds of silk that billowed as I walked down the aisle clinging to Ever Storm’s arm, six months after Gavriel’s love brought me to life.
“A lot of nonsense,” Ever grumbled, but his eyes were filled with peace. He’d been a constant in my life, like Gavriel, both of them with me every slow and stilted step of recovery.
I was still slow, but I wasn’t going to collapse on that long walk down the enormous cathedral’s aisle to the broad landing where Gavriel waited with our wedding party.
I kissed Ever’s cheek before he helped me up to stand next to Gavriel, who was looking like an untouchable sculpture. Gavriel gave me a slight wink that warmed my heart. He was still mine even if I’d never be able to carry him up the stairs.
Lorien stood behind him as his best man, and Richard stood behind the stand holding his notes, a gleam of trouble in his eyes. Now would be the perfect time to kill him, when his guard was down and he was distracted by trying to make Gavriel uncomfortable.
His parents and grandparents were here, looking as perfectly untouchable as he was. I was dressed for perfection, thanks to an entire team of angels who told me over and over again how lucky Gavriel was to have me, and how beautiful I was, and how happy everyone was that Ever Storm had a family.
They were all so very kind, sincere, genuinely happy for me, like spite hadn’t ever occurred to any of them. They really were angels.
It was strange to sit and let people touch me. Only Gavriel’s touch was perfectly natural.
“We have come here together to marry these two incredibly beautiful people, Gavriel Hartshorn, and the lovely Louisa Storm. Yes, that Storm. Of course Gavriel swept her up out from under everyone else’s nose before they had a chance to woo Ever’s long-lost daughter.”
Richard shook his head at Gavriel while someone murmured in the back of the incredibly elaborate cathedral.
Someone stood up in the pew, someone who was sitting between a small ogre and the Grand Commander.
“Rich, if you don’t give this occasion the dignity it deserves, I’m going to knock you unconscious and marry you off to the first person who volunteers.
” Mirabel, the music master of Singsong City was at my wedding.
Ah. Gavriel’s ex fiancé. That wasn’t awkward at all.
“Like anyone would volunteer for that,” Lorien muttered not very quietly.
Richard rolled his eyes and continued. “Do you, Gavriel, promise to love Louisa, Ruby, Blood, Barlow, Stone for the rest of her life, and beyond should she accidentally become undead? Of course, you will. And do you, Louisa, Ruby, Blood, Barlow, Stone take Gavriel Hartshorn the fifteenth or something ridiculous like that, to love and respect, to allow to worship you with all the devotion his heart can hold?”
Gavriel sighed heavily. “I Gavriel Hartshorn, take you, Louisa Storm, to have and to hold, for better or worse, in sickness and health, as long as heaven will stand. My heart and soul are yours permanently. It has been sealed by Tranquility.”
The crowd oohed at that announcement.
“Yes, we all know,” Richard said.
Gavriel gave him a good glare. “She’s thinking how many ways she could kill you. There are many, many ways, and many, many who would be extremely willing to help.”
Richard shrugged. “I’m not sure how that’s relevant, although having a wife who is thinking about other men…”
I stomped on his foot, making sure my heel did as much damage as possible.
Richard gasped and looked at me in outrage. “The delicate flower has spoken. She has put her foot down. But what does it mean? Do you take him or not?”
I stared into Gavriel’s eyes. “I love you. You have my heart forever. It beat for you alone and it always will.”
“Beautiful. And now, by the power…”
Gavriel pulled me into his arms and kissed me in a shockingly impolite way, his hands crushing me against him, his lips burning against mine, and his heart beating so hard I could feel it thudding against my own racing heart.
He kissed me until I was drowning in his kiss, his love, hanging onto him for dear life.
Finally, he straightened, pulled a ring out of his coat pocket and slipped it on my finger. It was a simple gold band without a single interesting thing about it, except that he’d given it to me. That made it the most exquisite thing in the world.
“That’s the ring?” Richard asked, shocked. “It’s so small and insignificant.”
Lorien nudged him. “Understated, but not insignificant. Can’t you see its spelling?”
“Ah. That’s all right then. Are we ready for the cake and dancing? There’s angel food cake, which is the most bland, dull, flavorless cake imaginable, which is why it’s so perfect for an angelic wedding.”
Gavriel tucked my arm in his and led me out the side door to the large beach with the broad ocean stretched beyond. “Do you want to fly away now?”
I leaned my head against his shoulder, smiling happily and feeling more than slightly shy. We were married. Or were we? I straightened up. “Was that legal? Richard didn’t take his duties very seriously.”
“It was very legal. He has a license to marry people. He’s so terrible at it, but people keep asking him to do it. He must be very charismatic.”
I gave my husband a small smile. My husband?
How could an old spinster like me be so lucky?
“That’s the only explanation for why I haven’t stabbed him yet.
I keep thinking of ways to kill him, except during the wedding, I was only thinking of ways to get you out of your tuxedo.
” Was I blushing? Vampires don’t blush, but I wasn’t a vampire anymore.
I cocked my head as I studied him. “No one’s mentioned how shocking it is that such an old woman has snatched a baby out of the cradle. ”
“How old are you?” the Music Master of Singsong City asked, coming over with a piece of cake on a plate.
I blinked at her, feeling incredibly awkward. “That depends if you’re counting dead years or just live years. Just live years, I’m thirty-two. Dead years, I’m a hundred and forty-three. Your husband is older than me if we’re counting both.”
She nodded as she studied me. “We were talking about you at the sushi bar after you went to the Scholar’s lab for blood.
Gabby adores you, you know. You’re her favorite assassin.
Libby was saying that the Ruby was formerly some notorious demon’s assassin, the Blood.
That’s you? Very cool. Do you still do the odd job? ”
I felt very awkward in that gorgeous gown, talking about whether I still kill people. “I’m trying to put that behind me. Although I’m going to kill your brother if he ever singes my husband again.”
She sighed. “Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone can actually kill my brother. He’s kind of indestructible, otherwise he’d be dead.”
“I can kill anything, particularly with the help of my crew.”
She blinked at me. “You have a crew? You didn’t even have a bridesmaid.”
“Because she wouldn’t allow anyone she cared about to be on a platform that makes them such an easy target,” Chira said, spiraling down while tossing flower petals out of her basket.
They were dark red, like blood. She landed lightly and then handed me Crucible, who settled against my neck before chirping angrily at Mirabel.
I was finally able to exhale deeply. The ceremony was over, which was the greatest security risk today. I’d hired Shane and his crew for security detail. It never hurt to have another layer of security, because angels, like everyone else, could fall.
“The perimeter is secure,” Shane said in my ear com, staying in the shadows.
“The wind is good for a fast flight,” Tiago said, coming out from behind Mirabel and eying Gavriel through his monocle before turning to Mirabel. “Music Master. You should play for the guests, give your old friend a chance to escape with his sweetheart.”
She raised her brows while her face soured. “Tiago? You know a world-renowned assassin and you never told me? I am not even slightly surprised. You never tell me anything.” She grabbed his guitar and stalked towards the guests before grabbing Richard.
“We’re going to play a duet for the happy couple. Please everyone, come give us your ear.”
Tiago followed, more like he was concerned about his guitar than anything else.
“You look like an angel,” Chira said, staring at my dress in fascination. “Are those real diamonds? They are! And your cheeks are so pink and pretty. Can I hug you, or will it ruin your outfit?”
I scooped her up into a tight hug, not having to worry about crushing her. She still squeaked until I put her down with a laugh. “Be wary, Chira. Don’t be a fool about the darkness.”
She stuck out her chin. “Who’s going to hurt me when I have your signature on my contract? Nobody. Alive or undead, you’re still my protector.”
I smiled and then carefully handed Crucible over to her. I wasn’t the same indestructible force I’d been, but I’d been working on it, and I’d keep working on it so I could have a long, happy life with my husband. Was I really married to the handsomest angel in the world?
“You’d like me to watch him while you’re on your honeymoon?” Chira’s eyes twinkled while I blushed. I’d forgotten how easily I blushed when I was alive.
“Yes. I’ll see you soon. Take care. All of you,” I added to Shane.
He nodded from the shadows, and then Gavriel scooped me into his arms, and with a rush of wind and ruffled feathers, we were in the air, speeding towards heaven.
“You know,” he murmured close to my ear so I could hear him over the rush of wind. “We could have stayed and eaten cake. Also music.”
“The only music I want to eat is yours.”