“Leslie,” Logan said, “you’ve got me worried. Ryker is going to start turning cartwheels when he sees you.”
“That’s what I said.” Nova threw up her hands with a grin to match her brother’s.
“Stunning,” Tai said. “All of you.”
His words seemed to give his brain permission to focus not on the bride, but on the bridesmaid who stood just to her left, quiet so far but filling the room with her essence anyway—at least to him.
Claire wore the knee-length, off-one-shoulder dress the same way she wore everything: as if the designer had thought of her specifically, or an artist had drawn her from imagination wearing exactly this to represent who she was. The bright, cool green somehow made her eyes more purple than blue. She must like this color. Her hair wasn’t long enough for an up-do, but it was curled away from her face, held by an elegant pearl clasp at the back.
She met his eyes, and his lips tingled with the memory of hers, challenging him, meeting him, taking him further. His scalp prickled with the memory of her fingers pushing hard through his hair.
Texting for hours was one thing. Seeing her again, the first time since that night…entirely something else.
But the wedding was minutes away. No time to test his memories against another kiss.
Later. Definitely later.
Claire nodded, and her glossed lips turned up in a smirk that made his blood dance.
From behind her, Philippa glanced from Claire to Tai, back to Claire, and then again to Tai. Her eyes grew wide, and her mouth formed a silent O.
Oops. No more lustful thoughts around the empath.
In order to avoid ranking her friends, Leslie had alphabetized the bridesmaids and groomsmen. They had an equal number of men and women, so they kept to that tradition as they lined up: Philippa and Mackey, Nova and Logan, Claire and Jake. The twins had promised no antics on their way down the aisle.
A quiet music track began to play from outside, mostly strings with a Celtic folk lilt. Down at his side, the fingers of Tai’s left hand automatically formed chords as if he held his violin.
One by one, the couples exited. In lower heels than her usual preference, Claire looked almost short beside Hannah’s six-foot-two husband.
Tai turned to Hannah and offered his arm. “Ready?”
“So ready. So happy for them. They’re going to be so, so happy.”
They would be, Tai had no doubt. Ryker hadn’t said anything after he and Leslie had shared the covenant bite, but four months after they began dating, Tai had noticed a silver mark at the place Ryker’s neck met his left shoulder, a cast of teeth as unique as dental records. He and Leslie would remain together for the rest of their lifespans, and one day not long after they reached their millennium, their hearts would stop beating together too.
Standing under the wooden arch adorned with greenery and pink flowers, Ryker watched Tai and Hannah approach with only the smallest of smiles, nothing like his mugging grin from a few minutes ago. His eyes conveyed everything, no grin needed. They glittered silver and blue, his full nature unmuted. Almost everyone present was a vampire, but still, he ought to restrain himself for Jake and Hannah’s sake.
Not that Tai had room to lecture anyone on self-restraint.
Escorting Hannah down the aisle was one of the most uncomfortable tasks he’d had to tackle in a while. Her arm was soft, a constant reminder of human fragility. Her skin was unpleasantly warm.
And he could smell her blood.
In physical contact with a human, no vampire could avoid the scent. He wasn’t thirsty. He was no danger to her. But the scent of her this close was like a thousand needles—in his brain, all over his skin. Once they parted ways at the front, he had to stand mere feet from her and Jake.
He wouldn’t breathe until the ceremony ended.
Hannah ducked her head as she and Tai neared the bower. She missed a single step, nearly walking on Tai’s shoe, and he stiffened his arm to steady her.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “I’m fine now.”
She and Tai parted to take their places on either side of the bride and groom. Tai gave Ryker a long, pointed look, and Ryker gave a quick nod in return. The riot of sparks in his eyes dimmed a little. Tai nodded affirmation. They’d have a heck of an awkward wedding if the human bridesmaid fainted from eye contact with the groom.
The music grew quiet. The doors of the hall opened again, and the little company of guests stood. A new song began, an instrumental cover of “Come Away with Me” by Norah Jones, soft and jazzy, exactly the kind of song Leslie would choose.
Leslie and her dad stepped out. He was all smiles now.
“Oh,” Ryker blurted quietly.
