Beyond happy, Adalyn nodded.
****
Dressed in his traditionalnative tartan, Gareth was the handsomest man she’d ever seen.His kilt was blue and black plaid that signified the clan he came from.A black sporran rested in front.Its metal cantle engraved with entwined roots and his family crest.A fly plaid rested over his right shoulder and was pinned with a large silver brooch.
“Are you nervous?”he asked.
Adalyn nodded.“Of course.Aren’t you?”
“No,” he replied.“Because I have you beside me.”
“And you’re sure you want me?”
He cupped her face.“Of course.Now and forever.”
“Well, you’ll live a lot longer than me.”
“Sh,” he murmured.“No talk of that.Okay?”
“Okay.”
He took hold of her hand, and it took everything in her not to wince.She refused to allow Elgene to ruin this moment.Refused to allow her poison into her psyche.Pushing her far, far away, Gareth led her to the second floor where they joined a few other couples.All the women were dressed like her in dark blue.
They stopped at a pair of gothic-looking doors.The dramatic black ogival arch was overlaid with heavy metal ribbing, set against a deep carmine tint.
“This is where I leave you,” he murmured.
“You’re not coming inside with me?”
“I’ll be in there shortly.”
He bent and placed a warm, lingering kiss on her lips that filled her with happiness.Then he left with the other vampires.
“Are you nervous?”asked one woman.
Adalyn nodded.“I hope I don’t make a mistake.”
The group giggled, agreeing.
“I hope I don’t fall down,” one said.
“I hope I don’t throw up.”
They all giggled again.
All humor ceased when the thick doors opened and they were brought into a large temple like room.Red and black stained glass decorated the walls, back-lit to illuminate the depicted art.A large altar rested on a raised dais, adorned with a red runner.It reminded her of a church.
The women were led to the center of the room, and there seemed an undercurrent of excitement buzzing through everyone.From the opposite side of where the thralls entered, the vampires arrived, and each held a golden goblet.Gareth stopped a few feet in front of her with his warm smile that made her heart melt.Then the doors behind the ambo opened and a vampire in black robes with red braiding walked up the steps and raised his hands, just like a priest would do to give a sermon.
“Sanguis amoris,” the deep voice of the officiant boomed across the room.He held up his hands and each held identical athames.“Blood is the link between the physical and spiritual world.It is power.It is life.Blood is a sacred gift that connects us together, and we surrender as it entwines our life forces.”
The tone of his voice rose with every declaration.
“The blood of love demands the sacrifice of life.”
The officiant’s acolyte came from the shadows to systematically pour something into each cup.Perhaps the oil that Faye had mentioned.When he was finished, he returned to his station.Then the officiant left the dais, clutching the athames and followed by his acolyte.He stopped in front of the first couple, and each held up their wrist.First, he sliced the vampire, who collected the blood in the chalice.The shallow cut coagulated almost instantly.When he sliced the thrall’s, she winced, and her blood seemed to flow a little more.The acolyte handed her a small towel and she placed it over the wound.Then he wiped the blood from the blades and the officiant stepped up to the next couple.The ritual repeated down the line until he came to her and Gareth.With an inward sigh, she peeled off the glove.Keeping her hand curled like a fist so he wouldn’t see the scrapes.Like the others, she flinched from the heated slice as her blood mingled with Gareth’s.
After the last couple, the officiant handed the athames to the acolyte and turned to face them.
