Chapter 30
Camilla
“Your parents are ready to see you now,” Willow says.
“Are you sure?” She nods. “Okay, send them in.”
“I’ll see you on the other side,” she says bowing her head and backing out of my bedroom.
Great, she made it sound like I’m going to die during the ceremony.
Shit I should’ve got more detail about what to expect instead of worrying about if my parents are going to throw themselves off the roof of the building when they find that we are surrounded by gargoyles. Maybe not surrounded, but amongst them.
“It’s going to be fine,” Raven says, rubbing my back. “Everything is going to be beautiful and it will be the most special day of your life.”
Sure. Because planning a wedding isn’t stressful at all.
Putting one together in twenty-four hours in a supernatural community with a supernatural groom and families that don’t know what to expect and have never met each other.
.. I stop myself mid-thought to slow down my breathing and catch my breath.
“The only thing you need to focus on is your groom.”
I nod. It would’ve been so much easier if he agreed to do this yesterday, just the two of us. But no, he had to honor my humanity and give me the wedding experience. Stress and all.
“Oh, Camilla!” My mother’s shocked voice grabs my attention. I don’t know if I’m ready for her criticism that my dress isn’t fancy enough.
Honestly, if she goes there, I can’t blame her.
I’m dressed in a long flowing robe held closed by golden ropes, tied by magic that will only release if the eternal vows between us are spoken with love and truth.
One ounce of doubt and we’ll never be able to join physically to complete the ceremony and the ceremony will be null and void.
Taking my face between both of her hands, she leans back, then drags her eyes over me, from head to toe. “You look like a goddess.”
My father reaches out and touches one of the lengths of silk wrapped in my hair.
“You’re mother is right. You are breathtaking.”
Raven looks at me, smiling with pride. When she wrapped me in the sleeveless robe and tied my hair up in a simple ponytail, I thought this was to prepare me to get dressed, not my actual wedding attire.
“Mom, Dad,” ready to explain and apologize.
“Do not!” Mom warns. “This is all we ever wanted for you. A partner in life that will be there in the good times and bad.”
“But—”
“Does he make you happy?” Dad asks. “I mean really happy?”
I nod, not allowing myself to cry the happy tears that threaten to ruin my makeup.
“I know he does. I can see it in how you light up just thinking of him.” Dad pulls me into him. “Okay, little girl. It’s been explained that this must happen before the sunsets, so lets make our way across the street.”
“WHY DID YOU HAVE TO walk here barefoot?” Mom asks.
“To connect with Stone with the fewest barriers possible.”
The roof of the bank has been transformed.
Potted trees are dotted along the perimeter decorated with white lights.
A lit fire pit sits in the center of the roof, with a four foot pedestal on one side, beneath a stone arch with vines of ivy wound around it and white orchards appearing to grow from the vines.
I know without a doubt who designed this. For someone made of Stone, my gargoyle is very romantic with a huge heart. I stand between my parents waiting for my groom.
“Look at that,” Mom whispers. “They decorated the area with gargoyle statues.”
“Mom, I don’t think—“ The sound of rock scraping against rock interrupts me. Cracking and grinding sounds follow as the statues around us wake from their sleep. Wings spread as one by one, the statues, who I’m guessing are really Stone’s family, make their attendance known.
All at once, they leap into the air, their wings flapping together can be confused for thunder.
Three gargoyles, large and majestic, fly in a circular pattern high in the sky.
I gasp as the first one dives low and circles me, maybe only a foot or two higher than I am. A second joins. Finally the third.
The flames in the fire pit are fanned and grow in height and intensity.
My first instinct is to take a step back but I stop myself.
Stone would never let anything happen to me.
With my heart thundering like a horse’s hooves, I take a breath, roll my shoulders back and breathe.
The gargoyles land behind me, each placing a hand on my shoulder.
“We approve.” A deep voice rumbles behind me.
I open my eyes and find Willow standing on the other side of the fire pit.
“Will you place a hand on each of Camilla’s arms,” she addresses my parents.
The moment they do, I look to the sky. I don’t see him, but I sense that Stone is nearby.
I hear his approach as his wings flap in time with my heart.
Mom and Dad express their wonderment as Stone slows and lands on his feet beside me. His eyes lock on mine and the love and peace that fills me spills out in my smile. Lengths of silk hang from his arms the way they hang from mine.
“Stone, Camilla, please face each other as your family ties your ribbons together to represent acceptance of their choice of mate and the joining of the clans.
“You’re mine now, Camilla Ramos.” Stone squeezes my hands and wiggles his eyebrows.
“As you’re mine.”
“Happy to be so.” He winks at me with a smile.
“May I have the blessings?” Willow asks, picking up a large stone bowl from behind her.
“Sugar,” the older female that I’m guessing is Stone’s mother, steps forward with a tiny bowl. “To keep your life together sweet and bountiful.” She smiles at me with a nod of her head and takes her place behind Willow.
“Ash,” The older male gargoyle booms in his deep voice. “A protection that any evil that seeks you out shall be put to flame and transformed into purity.
He pats Stone on the back, hands Willow his bowl and joins his wife behind Willow.
“Lavender, rosemary and thyme,” says a younger female gargoyle. I had no idea that Stone had a sister. There’s still so much to learn about him. “For calm, courage and loyalty.” After handing her bowl to Willow, she joins her parents.
Willow incants some words I don’t understand as we stare into each other’s eyes. Stone’s eyes never leave me. Even when I look to the side to see what Willow’s doing, he’s focused solely on me.
“I invite the rest of our guests to come stand on this side of the fire. Once my parents and our friends join Stone’s family, Willow continues.
“Join me in silent prayer as we unleash our protections and allow them to burn as Stone and Camilla make their vows to one another privately.” Willow tosses the contents from the bowl into the fire, igniting the flames to shoot higher and brighter once again.
“Intense huh?” Stone says.
“Very,” I take a deep breath as Stone’s tail snakes around my waist and draws me up against him. His wings unfurl and wrap me inside.
“You’re shaking.” Stone looks worried.
“I’m excited,” I clarify, placing my hands over his chest. “I didn’t know we needed vows—”
“Speak from your heart.” He cups my face between his large hands. “Like you did yesterday. I’ll go first.” I nod, waiting with baited breath to hear my groom express his love for me.
“My kind ages slowly. Yet you have transformed me from a young, clumsy boy, to a virile man with love in his heart, patience in his mind and courage in his soul. I will fight the gods if I am put to the test, to protect you with anything and everything it takes.” Stone’s raspy voice covers me like velvet blankety.
“You have my heart, body and soul. Until the end of days.”
“That’s so beautiful.”
He shakes his head with a smile on his lips. “Not as beautiful as you.”
I close my eyes and give his hands a squeeze.
“Stone Flint, you barreled into my life bringing chaos and doubt. You dragged me into a state of trust and friendship and through that process, you transformed me along with you.” I sniffle, feeling my entire body beat with my heart.
“I was cynical and jaded. I didn’t believe in love or sacrifice.
I thought truth was a word men used as a weapon.
Not only didn’t I believe in love, I didn’t think I was worthy of it, if it did exist. My truth that I’ve discovered with you is that I’ve never felt more beautiful or cherished than I do when I’m with you.
That’s because those aren’t punchlines to you, those are the meaning of life.
I promise to love and cherish you with my entire being until the end of days.
It feels like he’s moving in an unstoppable motion, albeit it slow motion as Stone dips his head down and presses his lips against mine.
My mouth opens, inviting him into my heart, into every cell of my being.
After a long, passionate kiss, Stone rests his forehead against mine.
He traces my bottom lip with his calloused thumb and the action lights a raging fire in my lower abdomen.
“I need to mark you,” He whispers, holding my hands close to his heart. “It might hurt for a moment, but just close your eyes and breathe. My love will fill and heal you. Ready?”
“Yes,” I whisper, holding my breath.
“This is also where I test if the rope keeping your robe closed opens.” In other words he gets to test to see if I meant my vows.
That’s fine. Fear no longer has a hold on me.
“No one will be able to see you through my wings.” The lump in his throat bobs as he slowly tugs at the golden rope.
I feel his body fill with relief as it gives slack and the knot becomes undone.
My robe opens just enough for Stone to look down and soak in my naked body. He meets my stare one last time allowing me to see the flames in his eyes. With speed and deftness I didn’t know he possessed, his warm breath skates across my shoulder, Just as I think it’s over, his fangs pierce my skin.
I gasp from surprise. Seconds later, his tongue drags along the surface, and in that instant, the pain turns to immense pleasure as I feel him seal the puncture with love.
“Are you okay?” He rests his forehead against mine again as our friends and family cheer.
“Is it time for our honeymoon yet?”
Stone laughs. “Hold on, Mrs. Flint. Let me fix your robe and present you to the crowd.