Chapter Fifteen

 

Caroline was beside Sloane, and they stood together as a couple in front of the Cleric. She carried a bundle of red roses in her hands. The great hall was packed with royalty and noble men and women from Bernehart and Scollfyld, as well as neighboring allies. Keeping her back straight and her neck high and proper, Caroline peeked at Sloane from the corner of her eye. He looked so handsome in his finest clothes, and you couldn’t tell at all that just days before he looked like a prisoner of war. That was the magic of being an Other, she supposed. The Cleric pronounced them married, and Sloane turned to face her. He slipped a heavy emerald green onto her finger. With a heart full of hope, she titled her head up and watched him through the veil of lace. He lifted it, put both hands behind her head and leaned down. The kiss was far more intimate and longer than what was normally proper, but Caroline knew the guests would overlook that in light of recent events. Finally, they parted and turned to the audience to walk down the aisle and towards the dining room for the feast. Well wishes and huzzahs rained down on them from all sides, and her cheeks started to hurt from smiling so hard.

The servants of Bernehart had outdone themselves with the wedding feast. The table stretched from one end of the large room to the other, and it was laden with delicacies and treats of every kind imaginable. Roast turtle dove, venison, oysters, and candied apples, oranges, and pastries as far as the eye could see. All of this, when the Royal family, aside from Caroline, wouldn’t eat a bite. After they had sat at one end of the table, Caroline noticed several silver pitchers.

“Is that wine?” she asked a servant who was spooning gravy over a platter of quail. “No, your Highness, it is blood. Sheep, boar, venison, and bear, I believe. Would your Highness care for some?”

Caroline shook her head fervently, “Oh, no. No thank you.”

She knew she would eventually have to drink blood, once Changed, but she couldn’t stomach the idea while still being mortal. However, she did notice Sophie sipping a goblet of a thick, red liquid. How odd that her sister was Changed and she was not. Aside from their eyes, it was their first physical difference. It made Caroline a little sad, but she shook the thought. Sophie sat beside Lord Chase, and Caroline noticed the Other doting on her sister. He even filled her glass before the servants had a chance to notice.

Apparently, even Sloane took note. He leaned towards Caroline and whispered with some mischief in his voice, “I think your sister will do just fine here in Bernehart.”

“When did Lord Chase take such an interest in Sophie?” she whispered back.

Sloane smiled knowingly. “For an Other who doesn’t normally drink human blood, willingly Changing someone creates a strong bond. Of course, I haven’t experienced this first hand. Yet.”