“Sometimes,” Elizabeth said as she ladled stew into bowls, a smaller one for Grimble. “Being a meddling old woman has its moments.” She set his bowl in front of him, placing her own nearby. She added bread from the loaf she’d baked this morning, plus some freshly churned butter, though none for her companion since he would only lick off the butter.
Grimble rose to his feet and sniffed the offering, his purr starting up again.Promise me you won’t try to arrange a match for me.
“Now there’s an idea,” Elizabeth said, sitting in front of her meal and lifting her spoon. “I hear there’s a lovely golden cat in the eastern territories who?—”
Elizabeth.
“Fine, fine. I’ll focus on my granddaughters for now.” She grinned as his grumbling filled her head, accompanied by the sharp swish of his tail.
Outside her manor window, the first stars were beginning to twinkle, as if the universe itself was winking at how clever she was. Tomorrow would bring a marriage proposal that would change two lives forever.
Neither Kieran nor her dear Cyrene had any idea what was coming.
And neither did Quandary, though Cyrene’s little sapphire drake would undoubtedly have opinions about his witch suddenly acquiring a vampire husband. Elizabeth made a mental note to stock up on fireproof mitts.
She’d raised her granddaughters after tragedy took their parents. A witch who could do that could do almost anything.
“What could possibly go wrong?” she mumbled as she lifted her spoon.
Grimble groaned. He hated when she said that.
Outside, thunder rumbled faintly in the distance.
Typical timing.
CHAPTER TWO
CYRENE
Ikept my eyes on the stone pathway beneath my feet as I walked down the aisle, trying not to die by veil strangulation before I could even meet my groom.
At least the pixies were managing my train, their tiny hands keeping the silk from tangling around my ankles. If one of them let go, I’d probably trip and tumble straight into matrimony face-first, which honestly felt like the right metaphor for today.
The weight of everyone’s stares pressed down on my shoulders, and a soft murmur rose from the assembled guests, a mix of witches, vampires, and other magical folk who’d come to witness this political alliance disguised as a wedding.
The garden hummed with enchantment. Pixie lights cast rainbow prisms across the white flowerpetals scattered across the aisle, while the moonbell blossoms released silvery chimes with each passing breeze. Even the air was showing off, all honey-sweet and sparkling with static like it had also dressed up for the occasion.
Somewhere nearby, butterfly violins played a melody that held both joy and melancholy, as if the music itself couldn’t decide which emotion this occasion deserved.
My magic itched to bubble up in sparkles, but this wasn’t exactly a sparkle-worthy event.
I’d known I’d have to marry soon. My grandmother had kept hinting. I just didn’t expect my turn to arrive so fast. I’d hoped to avoid elder matchmaking for as long as I could. Wedding someone was the last thing I’d wanted since…
Best not to think about that or I’d turn into a puddle of regret right here in the aisle. I’d do my duty, but if my newvampirehusband expected anything more than that from me, he was in for a big surprise. If he tried to bite me, I’d bite back.
Metaphorically, of course.
Probably.
Grandmother seemed to think this would be her first successful love match, but I didn’t agree.
Though if I were being completely honest with myself, which I rarely was these days when it came to my heart, a tiny, foolish part of me had wondered if lightning might strike twice. Maybe I’d discover unexpected happiness in an arranged match. Everyone else did.
That treacherous little hope had kept me awake the past nights as I imagined a partner who might understand my magic, my passion for creating joy. Someone who might look at me as if he truly cared.
But I knew better than to trust in fairy tales. Not anymore.
It truly didn’t matter who I was marrying. I’d never love him. Six years ago, I’d given my heart, and I had no intention of making that mistake again. This arrangement would be purely practical. I could create my joy-infused objects, he could rule his vampire kingdom, and in public, we’d both pretend that this was a real marriage.
