Ronan shrugged. “It’s my calling. Purebredshave to be kept safe or destroyed.”
“And turned vampires?” Ethan inquired.
“The race must be protected at all times,”Ronan replied. “No matter what the cost.”
Paige shuddered at his words, but all shereally wanted was to go to sleep right now. Sensing this, Ianwrapped his hand around her elbow, said goodbye to everyone, andled her down the hall toward the first room on the right. The roomwas small, but the bed was one of the most inviting things she’dever seen.
“I need out of these clothes,” shemurmured.
Ian turned the shower on in the adjoiningbathroom before returning to help her strip out of her clothes.Purple and black bruises marred her ivory complexion on her backand arms, but they were fading fast. He pressed a kiss against abruise the color of a plum on the inside of her right wrist, beforeleading her into the bathroom. Joining her in the shower, hetenderly washed the blood from her skin and hair before scrubbingit off of himself.
He wrapped her in a plush towel beforeleading her over to the bed. Pulling back the covers for her, hewaited until she climbed in before joining her. He slid his armsaround her and pressed her back against his chest. “I love you,”she whispered.
“More than anything,” he told her and kissedher temple. “Fair warning, I plan to marry you.”
Despite her exhaustion, a bubble ofexcitement grew within her. “I’d like nothing more.”
“Good, because I know just the place.”
She laughed when the mental image in hismind drifted into hers.
***
Paige found she much preferred this part ofVegas, it was quieter on the outskirts of the main strip and a loteasier for her to focus. There were still casinos and people here,but the noise and crowd wasn’t anywhere near as overwhelming. Theyweren’t here for the casinos or the people right now though.
The men had all fed before leaving the condoon a few women Ronan had called to come over. Paige didn’t like theidea of Ian feeding from a woman; it made that little green eyedmonster come back to life, but at least these women had beenwilling, well paid, and well taken care of to keep theirsecret.
She could also tell Ian took no pleasure,other than the quenching of his thirst, on feeding from them. Hismind stayed with hers the entire time, reassuring her with love andwith his wish that it was her instead. By the time he’d returned toher, she’d been exceptionally hungry and eager to do more than feedfrom him. She’d known hunger and desire as a human, as a vampirethat hunger amplified ten-fold, but she was getting better atcontrolling it. The desire was due entirely to Ian; she doubtedshe’d ever get it under control, and she didn’t want to.
Well sated now, she looked curiously aroundthe small chapel on the outskirts of town. Ian took hold of herhand and squeezed it. The music drifting through the speakers madeher bounce on her toes. She swayed to the beat of the melody asthey waited for the chapel to be prepared for them.
“Are you sure the rest of your family won’tmind missing the ceremony?” she inquired.
“They’ll understand,” he assured her. “Plusthere’s so many of them they’ll probably be glad to miss one or twoweddings.”
“I’d agree with that,” David said from wherehe was flipping through a brochure about ceremony packages. “Jackwill be thrilled.”
“Of course he will,” Ethan snorted.
“Jack’s a bit of a grump sometimes,” Iantold her with a smile. “I’d consider him the Moe of TheStooges.”
David lowered the brochure to staredisapprovingly at Ian over the top of it. “You’d consider Jack theleader?”
“Of course not, but he is the grumpiest ofyou all,” Ian replied with a grin. “And so was Moe.”
“We’re not the dwarfs,” David retorted.
“You’d all be Dopey if you were.” Ian swunghis arm around Paige’s shoulders as David glowered at him. “I doprefer The Stooges to the Dwarfs. It suits the four of you better.”He turned toward her. “There’s four of them but we call them TheStooges because…”
“Of Shemp,” she told him with a smile.
Ian poked the tip of her nose. “I knew therewas a reason I was marrying you.”
“You know, I’ve done many things in my life,but this…” Ronan’s voice trailed off as he gazed around at all ofthe Elvis memorabilia lining the walls. “This is definitely afirst.” She hadn’t expected the eldest vampire to join them here,but he looked mildly amused by it all as he continued to walkaround with a smirk on his face and his hands clasped behind hisback.
“And a last?” Aiden inquired.
“Most likely, but I’ve learned to never saynever.”
