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Lila
MY HEART BEGAN TO POUND against my chest like a sledgehammer at just the sight of Alessandra.
I wasn’t sure what scared me the most: being just feet away from the princess who wanted to kill me or knowing that Sebastian would be hers in just a few short moments.
Of course, a big part of me was still clinging to hope—hope that the wedding might not happen, hope that either Alessandra or Sebastian would back out of this at the last minute.
As Alessandra moved past me, I took in the black dress she was wearing. Zoe had mentioned that the color a vampire bride wore was supposed to represent what they planned to bring to the coven they were marrying into.
What did black signify? Only one word came to mind. Death.
I watched as she made her way up to Sebastian, where she stood next to him. I watched as he took her hands in his.
Just the sight of the two of them together made me want to vomit.
And yet, I couldn’t look away.
The man who stood behind Sebastian cleared his throat. “We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Alessandra Isabella Allegro and Sebastian Charles Stark. We have journeyed from many kingdoms to witness this event. Let us remember that this is more than just a marriage we have come to celebrate. It is the union of two covens, of two kingdoms. It is the end of one coven and a new beginning for our kind.” He paused and then turned to the audience. “Before we continue, let us take a moment to allow anyone who feels there is a reason this marriage should not occur to speak up. If anyone feels they have a reason to contest this union, please speak now or forever hold your peace.”
“I do!” I blurted out. “Please don’t do this, Sebastian.”
Zoe turned to me with narrowed eyes. “No one can hear you. The spell. Remember?” she whispered.
“Oh, yeah.” I had gotten so caught up in the moment that I had nearly forgotten no one could hear me. And it was a good thing they couldn’t, because I would have gotten myself killed. I slumped back in my seat and folded my arms across my chest.
When I stared ahead, I realized Alessandra must have heard Zoe whisper to me. Her eyes were fixated on Zoe, and there was an angry look behind her stare. Crap.
“Since no one has any objections, let’s recite the vows that you have each selected,” the wedding officiant continued. “Sebastian, please repeat after me.”
I leaned forward, listening attentively, as Sebastian repeated his vows.
“I, Sebastian, promise to love, honor, protect, and defend Alessandra from all of the cruelties of the world until the day she dies or as long as we both shall live.”
“Alessandra, please repeat after me,” the man went on. He read the vows and Alessandra repeated after him.
“I, Alessandra, promise to love Sebastian with every ounce of my being, to defend him in all of life’s battles, and comfort him when he needs comforting as long as we both shall live.”
“You may place a ring on each other’s finger,” the man instructed.
I watched as Sebastian slid a ring onto Alessandra’s finger and then as she did the same.
The man turned and reached for something. As he handed it to Sebastian, he said, “You may now place this crown on your bride’s head.”
I watched as Sebastian placed the crown. Even from afar, I could see the way it sparkled under the dim lighting.
“Alessandra, please place this crown atop Sebastian’s head,” the officiant instructed.
I watched as she placed the crown on top of his head. It was shaped just like the crowns I’d gotten as a kid at Burger King. The only difference was that this crown wasn’t made of cardboard; it was made of gold.
Darting my eyes over at Zoe, I asked, “Are they officially King and Queen now?”
“Not yet,” she whispered. “There will be a coronation later on. It’s just for appearances.”
“Oh.” I was about to ask her if they got to keep the crowns in the meantime, but then I heard the words I had been dreading.
“And now you may kiss the bride.”
As Sebastian leaned in close to Alessandra, I knew that I should have turned away, that I shouldn’t have looked.
But I was stupid. I didn’t look away.
I allowed myself to watch as the guy I loved kissed his bride; I watched as his kiss sealed their fate as husband and wife.