Bonus Chapter Royal Vampire Wedding
Willa walked in carrying a long, lacey, white wedding dress. She brought it up to Lucie and laid it out across the bed.
“I remember when I wore this dress,” Willa said, reminiscing on her distant past. A faint smile spread over her face as she looked up longingly, seeing something only she could see in her mind’s eye.
She shook her head slightly and sighed, “It’s tradition for this gown to be worn by the future queens. ”
“It’s beautiful.” Lucie reached out and touched the lacey dress, admiring it. “I just wish my mother could have been here …”
“As if I would miss it,” Freja said as she shut the door.
“MOM! What are you doing here? I thought you weren’t allowed to come.” Lucie ran into her mother’s arms and turned to look at Willa.
“We’re bending the rules. At the very least, we thought they should be able to be here too.
” Willa smiled widely. The royal vampire weddings followed strict traditions, and one of them was that the wedding was only for the nobles living in their vampire kingdom.
But Derrick had planned something special for Lucie.
Breaking tradition. And part of that surprise was her parents being here.
“Your father is here too. He’s talking to Alaric.” Freja reached up and brushed her daughter’s hair behind her ear.
“How are Aedan and Deeana?” Lucie asked. She noticed a slight flicker in her mother’s eyes.
“Today is about you, Lucie.” Freja smiled. “Don’t worry about them. They’re fine. Come on. Let’s see what you look like in your dress. I bet Derrick will be completely stunned.”
Lucie sighed and nodded as she followed her mother.
It wasn’t long before the two women had stripped Lucie down and slipped her into the wedding gown.
The fabric settled against her skin like cool water, whispering as it fell into place.
Freja worked the row of tiny pearl buttons up the back while Willa smoothed the bodice at her waist, their hands moving in the quiet rhythm of women who had waited a long time for this day.
The gown hugged her frame in a soft ivory silk, the neckline a delicate sweep across her collarbones, the sleeves trailing off her shoulders in gauzy drapes that caught the light when she moved.
Fine silver beadwork scattered down the bodice and bloomed at the hem, tiny stars winking against the fabric.
The train flowed behind her, long and airy, the delicate lace edging trailing across the floor like mist.
Lucie turned slowly to face the mirror, and the breath left her lungs.
The woman looking back at her barely felt like herself.
The dress cinched her in all the right places and flowed where it needed to, every detail precise, every line made as though the gown was an extension of herself instead of a separate piece.
The silver threaded through the silk caught the afternoon light and shimmered faintly, alive against her skin.
She turned her head to find her mother, and the sight stopped her a second time.
Freja was crying. Not loudly, not messily, just the quiet kind of tears that welled up and slipped down without permission.
Her hand was pressed to her mouth, and her eyes shone as she took Lucie in from head to foot like she was trying to memorize her.
“Aww, Mom,” Lucie said with a faint smile.
“You look so beautiful. My baby is getting married and will be having her own baby soon.” Freja hugged Lucie tightly.
“Enjoy every moment, Lucie. Life goes by so fast. One day, you’re getting marked by your mate, and then you blink and you’re helping your daughter put on her wedding dress.
” She stood back and held onto Lucie’s hands, smiling at her.
“I’m so proud of you. Enjoy today. It’s all about you and Derrick. ”
“Thanks, Mom.” Lucie wiped her watery eyes and took in a deep breath.
“Okay, no more tears. It’s time to put the final touches on your hair and makeup.” Willa pulled up a chair and motioned for Lucie to have a seat.
The whole moment felt so surreal. She was about to get married to the man she loved more than herself.
At the beginning of this summer, she’d dreaded this day, and now …
she couldn’t imagine feeling happier. She was about to marry her soulmate.
Her connection to Derrick started out as an arranged marriage, but who could have imagined it would be so much more?
She rested her hand over her little growing bundle and smiled.
She was right where she was supposed to be.
“Would you quit pacing? You’re making me dizzy.” Jasper chuckled as he straightened his black suit jacket.
“Right. I don’t get what you’re so nervous about. I mean, you already figured out how to make a baby and perform, sooo …” Justice smirked, making Jasper snicker quietly.
“Careful, Justice. You can’t talk about these things in front of the kid.” Jasper pointed his finger in Abe’s direction. “Don’t worry, sonny. We’ll explain it all when you get older.”
Abe snorted and turned to glare at Jasper. “What are you going to teach me?” He looked him over and chuckled. “I guess you can teach me what not to do.”
“Children shouldn’t talk like that to their elders.” Jasper gave Abe a cheeky grin.
“It isn’t too late to run, Derrick. I’ll let you have a head start and hold Lucie back before she hunts you down,” Justice told Derrick, who finally stopped pacing to turn and smile at him.
“I’d never run from her. This is the last step for us to finalize everything.
I just can’t stand being away from her right now.
She needs me, you know? She needs my energy.
What if she’s getting tired? What if she needs my support?
Maybe I should go and check on her.” Derrick took a couple of steps toward the door when it opened, and Hunter and Alaric came in.
“Making a break for it, I see?” Hunter chuckled and patted Derrick on the shoulder.
“I just need to make sure Lucie’s okay.”
“Relax. She’s fine. And it’s time for you to see her anyway.” Alaric approached his son and looked him over. “You’re going to make a great king one day.” He wrapped his arms around Derrick. “Now, let’s take you to your bride.”
“Dad let you come here without him?” Justice asked, and Hunter chuckled.
“Hardly. He’s here.” Hunter shook his head with a smile as he glanced at Derrick. “They all came.”
“Wait, what?” Justice asked.
“Derrick made arrangements for Lucie’s close family to be able to attend.
I guess he likes to rock the traditions we were built upon.
” Alaric chuckled, patting Derrick on the shoulder.
It was a sweet surprise he hid from his mate, which wasn’t easy to do when they shared their thoughts all the time.
“We wouldn’t want to miss seeing this. Freja and I are so happy you’ve invited us to attend.
Though it isn’t like I have to give her away.
She was already his the moment she found out they were mates.
” Hunter looked at Derrick and smiled. “And I’m glad it all worked out like that. I can leave her with you comfortably.”
“Thank you. I’ll always treasure her.”
Lucie followed Freja out of the room, and her eyes widened in shock.
“Luce Luce!” Aedan grinned, lifting her up in his arms and holding her tight.
“I thought—” Lucie started.
“Seems like that mate of yours thought I should be here to see my sister get married,” Aedan said with a wide grin. “So, I hear I’m going to be an uncle!”
Lucie nodded her head, beaming in happiness. “Where is Deeana?”
“She’s here. She’s already seated. But I needed to sneak off and see you.” His gaze turned serious. “We haven’t really talked after everything that happened. Lucie, thank you for what you did for me. Deeana is … she’s precious to me. I only have her because of you.”
Lucie shook her head. “Don’t, Aedan. It’s okay, and I’m … I’m really good. I can’t wait to get to know her. I know life’s been really hectic lately, but we’ll make time soon.”
“I miss you, Luce. It’s a good thing I have Deeana. Otherwise, not having you around would be incredibly hard.” Aedan hugged Lucie tightly once more before pulling back. “Okay, I don’t want to make you late. I’ll be watching you. You have a good mate. I know he’ll take good care of you.”
“Thank you.” Lucie’s eyes watered slightly as she watched her brother walk away. They’d rarely ever been apart before. They even shared a womb. They both had things to adjust to, but once everything calmed down, they would work on seeing each other more.
Freja wrapped her arm around Lucie and the two of them walked down the hallway following Willa. When they reached the end, Myra was there waiting for them. She bowed her head slightly and opened the doors leading out into the garden.
“What’s this?” Lucie asked. Last she heard, she was supposed to get married in the special room set aside for extraordinary ceremonies. It was not large and could only hold the noble families for the occasion.
Willa turned and smiled. “We had a change of plans. Derrick requested the ceremony to be held out in the garden party area. We have more guests than we anticipated.”
Lucie looked at Willa in confusion as she followed her through the floral walkway. Tall green bushes surrounded the party area, and the only entrance was under a white arbor that was entwined with flowers. Under that arch stood her father, waiting.
“This is where I leave you. I love you, my Lucie.” Freja squeezed Lucie tight and left with Willa, walking through the archway.
“Daddy.” Lucie walked into her father’s arms.
Hunter held her tightly in his strong embrace.
In his eyes, she was still his sweet baby girl asking for another bedtime story.
He remembered her telling him that she was going to marry Derrick and solidify the treaty with the vampires.
She said she and Derrick got along well and that it would always be that way.
It turned out to be even better than just ‘that way’.