“All you have to do is walk around with these trays and stop when someone wants a drink,” Re was saying.
“They've been servers before,” a man said to Re.
This man had similar features to Re but a colder look to them. Amazingly, he appeared to be even more arrogant than Re; holding his chin in a constant, slightly-lifted position. His eyes were black but had swirls of color moving over them; a hypnotic look that intensified when he set his stare on me. I flinched.
Anubis. Re had been right; I had painted him perfectly.
“This is your bride, I presume?” Anubis asked with a lifted brow and disapproving tone.
“Wow; we haven't even been introduced and you already hate me,” I tried to cover my unease with humor—as usual. “This is a great start.”
“Vervain, this is my grandson, Anubis,” Re said as he moved beside me and took my hand. “Anubis, perhaps you could give Vervain a chance before you discredit her simply because of her race.”
“Fine.” Anubis sighed and then bowed his head to me. “Nice to meet you, Vervain.”
“Nice to meet you too, Anubis,” I said stiffly. Then I turned to Re. “Now, maybe you can tell me what all of these people are doing here, why you're dressed like that, and what exactly I'm being congratulated for.”
“Can you see to your jackals, Anubis?” Re asked.
“Of course,” Anubis said. “Leave it to me.”
Anubis turned back to the other men and started directing them on how to serve drinks and appetizers. Re led me upstairs, and Trevor followed us. The upper level of Re's palace was thankfully empty, but Re took us into his bedroom and shut the door anyway. Then he looked pointedly at Trevor.
“I think I'm going to check out the view from the balcony,” Trevor said as he headed outside.
“Re,” I drew out his name in a warning tone.
“Hear me out.” Re lifted a placating hand. “We don't know what will happen tomorrow; we could die, La-la.”
“It's possible,” I whispered.
“I don't want to die without being married to you,” he said gently.
Then Re dropped to one knee and pulled a black velvet box out of his inner jacket pocket. He opened the box and revealed a massive, brilliant cut, diamond solitaire. “Vervain Lavine, I love you more than sunshine, and I feel as if I've done so forever. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife... today?”
I inhaled deeply; looking from the ring to Re's hopeful face.
“Yes,” I whispered and held out my hand.
Re smiled brilliantly and pulled the ring out of its box. He tossed the box carelessly over his shoulder as he slid the diamond on my finger. Then Re stood and pulled me into an embrace. We were in the middle of a passionate kiss when Trevor strolled back in.
“Can I come in now?” Trevor asked.
Re and I eased apart, and Re leaned his forehead against mine as he answered, “You can come in, but don't expect me to pay you much attention.”
“Are you okay with watching us get married?” I asked Trevor gently.
“As far as I'm concerned, we're already married, Minn Elska,” Trevor said. “The Froekn bond is stronger than any exchange of vows. If you and Re want to do your own ceremony, I support that.”
“And then there's the fact that Trevor helped me plan this,” Re added.
“What?” I gaped at Trevor.
Trevor smirked and shrugged. “As I said; I support this.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“I only agreed because Re promised to share part of your wedding night with me,” Trevor said. “If this really is our last night together, I need to get my time in with you as well.”
