“Who are they?”
“They certainly don’t belong to any ofourchurches.”
“They look monstrous.”
I had never wanted to look up so terribly in all my life.
“What is the meaning of this, Garrett?” Mr. Bastrom demanded. “Who are they?”
“His friends,” I heard Garrett say, his voice heavier than usual.
I didn’t even know he was here. He should have been standing up on the stage with me, preparing the marriage ceremony.
A moment later, Azrael’s shoes appeared before me and my heart leaped into my chest. “Eyes,” he spoke quietly.
My eyes lifted right to his, bright blue and shimmering in a deadly light.
He gave me a small smile, someone standing feet behind him. “Hello, little sinner,” he purred.
My eyes flicked to the congregation and back.
“You may sign.”
My shoulders fell an inch in relief.“Hello, Azrael,”I replied, earning whispers from my right.
Pride shone brightly. “Look at you, no hesitation.”
I felt my skin buzz in delight.
“I brought friends,” he told me next. “Myfriends. Witnesses. The man behind me is Havoc.”
I glanced over his shoulder, taking the man in, my eyes widening ever so slightly. He was huge. Maybe the same height as Azrael, butmuscular. He had tattoos covering his hands and neck, disappearing under the suit he wore, and he had caramel-colored eyes.
Nobody was allowed to have tattoos. Not one person.
My eyes found Azrael’s again in question.
But if he saw it, he ignored it. “The man behind you is Alaric, and this,” he gestured to where Pastor Masters should have been standing, “is Bishop.”
I glanced over. This man was a little shorter than Azrael, but just as large as Havoc. He had tattoos too, dark hair, and his eyes were green.
“It’s nice to meet you, darling,” he spoke, his voice as smooth as Azrael’s but a little lower in tone. A daring sort of voice. The voice of a monster who lures people in before he snatches them up and kills them.
My eyes found Azrael’s.“They have warm gazes just like you.”
His smile widened. “How interesting. And look at you,” he hummed, looking me over before his eyes found mine again. “Absolutely divine.”
My cheeks warmed, my eyes flicking to Havoc and then to Bishop again. I studied him carefully before finding his eyes.“Hello,”I greeted.
“Your signing is very good. Azrael taught you well.”
My heart skipped, watching his hands.“You know sign language?”Did everyone know sign language? Or was it just the people in Azrael’s life? I never signed in front of anyone from the church, only in front of Azrael’s friends, so I couldn’t be sure.
His smile stretched. “Who do you think taught Azrael?” He looked between us. “Shall we get started?”
I turned back to Azrael, my eyes falling to his lips, my heart racing.
“Yes,” he said, his voice low and almost threatening.
