Outside, they were surrounded by their friends and family, all wishing them well.
Bryony clung to Stefan’s hand, finding it difficult to be in the center of so many people, so many beating hearts.
Gradually, the crowd thinned as people sought their carriages and began to make their way to the Barrett estate where a lavish dinner and dancing awaited them.
Stefan stood a short distance behind Bryony as she and Veronica hugged each other, while Maida, Eli, Robert, and Barrett looked on.
“We should be on our way,” Barrett said. “It’s bad form not to be home when your guests arrive.”
He had no sooner finished speaking than a dozen men rode up. Stefan was reaching for Bryony when one of the men threw a net over her. She let out a startled cry, followed by a gasp of pain as the thick silver threads woven into the net touched her skin.
The other eleven men drew their weapons and aimed them at her.
Stefan glared at the hunters and then at Barrett but said nothing. He could smell the silver in their ammunition and knew it would destroy Bryony if so many of them fired at her. She was a new vampire, still highly vulnerable.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Barrett exclaimed. “Charles, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“We’re just doing our job,” Charles retorted. “All we want is the male.”
“Then let my daughter go.”
Charles shook his head. “Not until we have him under our control.”
“Let her go,” Stefan said, noting that the hunters were careful not to meet his gaze. “I will not fight you.”Not so long as Bryony is in danger.
Eight of the men dismounted and moved warily toward Stefan, guns leveled at his heart and his head. Two others, carrying thick silver chains, followed them.
“I won’t have this,” Barrett said furiously. “As hunters, you have all sworn a sacred oath to protect members of the Guildandtheir families. This man is now part ofmyfamily.”
“He’s not a man!” Sinclair exclaimed. “He’s nothing but a damn, dirty, bloodsucking vampire!”
“There are no exceptions in the oath,” Barrett said, his angry gaze raking each man in turn. “Now put your weapons away, turn my daughter loose, and get the hell out of here.”
“Dammit, I’m sworn to destroy vampires and these two are vampires!” Sinclair insisted. “Nowyouget the hell out of the way and let me do my damn job!”
Leyton turned his gaze on Charles. “Are you going to let him do this?”
Charles scowled at Barrett for several tense moments, then huffed a sigh of resignation. “He’s right, men. Turn the girl loose and let’s go home.”
There was a good deal of cursing and grumbling as the hunters freed Bryony then mounted their horses and left the area.
Stefan stared at Barrett, unable to believe what had just happened. In a million years, he never would have believed Bryony’s father would defend him or claim him as kin.
Looking sheepish, Barrett returned his gaze. “I don’t like you. I don’t trust you. But like it or not, you’re family now.” Hetook a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh. “And I owed you a favor for repaying my debt,” he said, holding out his hand. “Welcome to the family. Son.”
Stefan smiled wryly as he shook Barrett’s hand and then turned to gather Bryony into his arms. “Are you all right, love?”
She nodded. It was mostly true, though her skin still tingled unpleasantly where the silver had touched her. But it didn’t matter. Nothing else mattered now that the two men she loved most in all the world had called a truce.
“Come on,” Barrett said, slipping his arm around Maida’s shoulders. “We’re late for the party.”
Bryony sighed as she glanced at their surroundings. Eager to be alone, they had left the reception early and transported to Italy, where Stefan had reserved a suite of rooms in Rome’s finest inn. Stefan had sent their bags ahead.
“I can’t believe we’re really married,” she murmured as he wrapped her in his arms. “So much has happened.”
“Nothing as remarkable as what your father did tonight,” Stefan remarked, planting gentle kisses on her cheeks.
Bryony laughed softly. Nothing could have surprised or pleased her more. Her laughter quickly turned to a gasp of pleasure as Stefan ran his tongue along the length of her neck, skimmed over the hollow of her throat, kissed her cheeks, her brow, her eyelids, before claiming her lips with his.
