Casey
The day of the wedding bloomed bright and clear. A desert sun was shining, but there was a cool autumn breeze. The sky was blue, clouds drifting back and forth, mimicking what was going on in my head as I stared out the window of my parents’ kitchen restlessly. There were a million things to do today, but it was nowhere near time to get ready. My nail appointment was at eleven, hair at one, and makeup at two thirty. Then I would head to the Charleston and my entourage and I would get dressed in a private suite on the first floor, just next to the chapel.
“You’re up early.” Mom came down the stairs in bike shorts and a T-shirt. She kissed the top of my head and poured herself a cup of coffee.
“Couldn’t sleep.” I smiled. “Why are you up?”
“Well, it’s my usual time on the exercise bike.” She sat across from me. “You really are glowing, sweetheart. I can’t believe you’re marrying Erik today. I’m so happy and excited for you.”
“Did you think you’d get a son-in-law and a grandchild all at the same time?”
She shrugged. “You know me—I go with the flow.”
“What about Dad?”
“He’s good—you know he adores you no matter what you do.”
“Why am I so nervous?”
“Wedding day jitters are supposedly common.”
“I feel sick to my stomach, like something bad is going to happen.”
“Nothing bad is going to happen,” Mom said softly. “Erik loves you. I’d bet my life on that.”
“You are supposed to be on cloud nine today, young lady,” Dad said, coming in and giving me a kiss. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but it sounds serious so cut it out.”
“Yes, sir,” Mom and I spoke in unison.
“So, what’s for breakfast?”
I threw a napkin at him. “Aren’t I the blushing bride? Shouldn’t you be serving me?”
“Only reason you’re blushin’ is ’cause you got knocked up before the weddin’.” He teased me relentlessly sometimes.
I leaped out of my chair and thumped him on the back of the head with my thumb and middle finger.
“Ow!” he yelped, reaching for the dishtowel and taking a swipe at my backside.
“I guess I’m making breakfast,” Mom muttered, shaking her head as she went to the refrigerator.
My dad and I chased each other around the kitchen for a few minutes and then he hugged me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him. “Now you’re the one getting serious all of a sudden.”
“Just seems like yesterday you were born,” he said softly. “And now you’re getting married and making me a grandfather. It’s a lot for an old rocker to wrap his head around.”
“Would you quit calling yourself old?” I demanded. “You’re not old.”
“Wait until you’re in your fifties, then you’ll see what I mean. But anyway, is anyone making breakfast?”
My mother turned and gave him a dirty look. “You ask about breakfast one more time and you’ll be driving to McDonald’s for it.”
“Sorry, baby.” He reached out and pinched her ass, making her laugh and me roll my eyes.
“You guys are definitely not old. No one old would behave like you do.”
“Damn straight.” He winked and poured himself a cup of coffee.
I was ready right at four o’clock. I stood in front of the full-length mirror and stared at myself in disbelief. The woman in the mirror was absolutely stunning, and I had a hard time believing this day was really happening. My hair and face were coiffed and made-up to perfection, my figure still trim and sleek, and the swell of my breasts peeked out from a push-up bra while still managing to look tasteful. My gown was made of silk and lace, with a full, flowing skirt and ten-foot train. My veil hung from a diamond-encrusted tiara, on loan from Aunt Kari, and a necklace and bracelet of pink diamonds circled my throat and wrist, a gift from Uncle Ben, who said they matched my ring.
I gazed down at the diamond on my finger and sighed happily. Kari always wore fabulous jewels, but I was more of a tomboy, so I’d never thought about something so big or extravagant. I sure didn’t much look like a tomboy today, though, and I resisted the urge to twirl around in my dress a few times.
“Wow, are you gorgeous or what?” Jade came bustling in, looking just as radiant as I did in the ruby-colored dress I’d chosen for the bridesmaids.
“So do you.” I smiled and held out my hand. “Can you believe it’s here? Can you believe this is going to happen?”
“Of course. You and Erik are meant for each other.”
“I feel so…” I hesitated. “Unreal. Like I’m dreaming.”
“You’re not.” Jade grinned. “Where’s Skye, by the way? Shouldn’t she be here?”
“Not sure,” I said. “She was here earlier, helping me get my gown on and stuff, along with our moms and a few others, but she disappeared after she got dressed.”
“Probably desperately pleading with Erik, one last time, to change his mind.”
I chuckled. “Stop that—we’ve buried the hatchet, I think. At least I hope so. She’s going to be my sister-in-law whether she likes it or not.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want to think about anything negative,” I said, looking back toward the mirror. “This is my day, and I’m going to enjoy it.”
“Sweetheart, the photographer is here.” Aunt Kari peeked in the door. “We need to shoot the bridal party now, before the men arrive.”
“All right.” I moved outside with Jade beside me.
“Are you gonna be bummin’ if I go sneak a smoke?” Jade whispered.
“Yes, but go ahead and do it anyway.” We snuck the occasional cigarette on tour. It was our private thing.
“Thanks.” Jade wandered off, motioning to Vicki, who was standing around taking pictures.
“Are you all right, love?” Kari slipped her arm around my waist. “You shouldn’t overdo it, you know.”
“I’m fine. I’ll probably need a little rest and a snack between the pictures and the ceremony.”
“Casey!” a voice called out from the courtyard, and I turned to see Tabby hurrying toward me, also resplendent in her bridesmaid gown. Tabby had been the band’s tour manager until she and BJ had gotten married, which was when Lance took over. Although we weren’t as close now that Tabby and BJ were so settled, I’d wanted her to be in the wedding party.
“Tabby, you look beautiful!” I grinned.
“Look at you!” Tabby’s blue eyes grew round. “You really are glowing! Are you pregnant?!”
I flushed but shook my head. “I’m just so happy!”
“Well, you look it.”
“Casey!” My name was being called by a dozen people, and I hurried to greet guests who had arrived early to watch the picture-taking process.
It took an hour for the pictures to be taken, and then all of us returned to the suite beside the chapel. I disappeared into the bathroom and touched up my makeup. Then I found a bottle of water and sank into a chair, kicking off my shoes.
“You all right?” Mom asked, kneeling beside me.
“I’m fine, just resting now, while I can.”
“It’s going to be a long night, so don’t hesitate to take little breaks.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“You want me to get everyone out of here for a few minutes so you can relax before the ceremony? There’s just fifteen minutes.”
“That would be awesome, Mom.”
“All right.” Mom squeezed my hand. “I’m so proud of you, honey—and you’re going to be the most beautiful bride ever. I mean it.”
“Thanks, Mom. I love you.”
“I love you too.” Mom made short work of dispersing the lurking bridal party, and soon I was alone with my thoughts.
I gazed out at the Las Vegas Strip that I’d always loved and smiled to myself. Hopefully, Erik would someday love it the way I did, and I’d do everything in my power to make him happy and to share the best parts of my life with him.
There was movement by the door, and I glanced up, startled out of my thoughts. “Sandor.” I stood up quickly, slipping my shoes back on. “What are you doing here?”
He looked uncomfortable and quietly cleared his throat. “You look—unbelievable. I can’t put it into words.”
“What’s wrong?”
He cleared his throat again. That’s when I noticed he wasn’t in his tuxedo, and my stomach dropped. I knew something bad was coming.
“He’s not coming, is he?” I asked in a shaky voice.
He shook his head. “He, um, he sent this.” He motioned to a large, rectangular box I hadn’t noticed before.
“Are you kidding me right now? He sent me a package and didn’t even have the balls to talk to me personally?”
“He’s not breaking up with you, sweetheart. He’s trying to save your life. Anwar…”
I swallowed back tears as bile rose in my throat. Damn him. I should have known he would do something like this. I should have known his showing up in our bed drunk in the middle of the night two days before the wedding was some kind of goodbye.
“Listen to me.” I pulled my beautiful engagement ring off my finger and held it out. “You take this to him. You take it to him and tell him he has to come back and put it on my finger again or I won’t wear it. We can and will fight that bastard. I’m not willing to give up everything I love because one lunatic hates us. I won’t. I refuse. Tell him that.”
“Casey, I can’t—” he began.
“Instead of staying to protect me—us—he’s leaving me to handle it on my own?”
“No. He’s leaving it to me to handle.” Nick stood in the doorway and I whirled around in frustration.
“What in the ever-loving fuck are you talking about, Kingsley?”
“Sandor, will you shut the door and give us some privacy?” he asked.
“No, don’t shut the fucking door,” I snapped. “Take the ring back to him and tell him what I said. Do you understand?”
We stared at each other until Sandor finally looked away. He obviously had no experience with a hormonal, pregnant, jilted bride on her wedding day. I would not, could not, back down. Not for something so important.
“Casey, he can’t do that.”
“Damn all of you!” I hissed angrily. “Take the fucking ring.”
Sandor took it reluctantly and backed out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
“Open the box, Casey.” Nick folded his arms across his chest.
The look he gave me brooked no argument and though I was on the verge of exploding, I took a deep breath. I had to think about the baby because I was overheating and my heart rate felt high. I was a little clammy too, which wasn’t good. I sank into the nearest chair and took a few breaths.
“Could you get me some water?”
Nick grabbed a bottle and opened it, kneeling beside me. “It’s going to be okay. Trust me. Open the box.”
I looked in that direction suspiciously. What the hell was it?
“Would you bring it to me, please?”
He did as I asked and laid it at my feet.
“I’ll give you some privacy,” was all he said.
Then I was alone with a weird-looking box and my stupid wedding dress. With a sigh, I put down my water and gingerly sat on the floor next to the box. It wasn’t that heavy, so I angled it to where I could open it and fidgeted with the top.
I had a pair of scissors in what we’d called my wedding emergency kit and I used them to cut through the packing tape. I slowly slid off the top and froze. The tears came before I could brace myself and my fingers shook as I gently lifted the most beautiful guitar I’d ever seen out of the box. A folded piece of paper fluttered to the ground and I reached for it, tears blurring my vision as I tried to read it:
My beautiful bride,
Right now I know you’re heartbroken and angry, but please know I love you. Yesterday, today, and forever—you are my love, my light, my hope for the future. I’d never willingly leave you, but I also have to protect you. Anwar is crazy and he’s going to do everything in his power to eliminate every possible blood heir to the throne, which means me. And my son that’s growing inside of you. I know you don’t believe me, but it’s a boy. We haven’t had a girl born first in a thousand years…ask my father. But even if it’s a girl, she’s still in danger. As are you. This was the only way to save you.
In the meantime, my wedding gift to you—another pink dragon for my beautiful pink dragon. I wish I could have seen your face when you got this, but I hope you love it and will think of me each time you play it. Vicenzo swears it’s the greatest thing he’s ever created and I agree.
Trust in my love. Trust that I’ll be back for you. Trust that I’ll never let you fall.
Erik
Laying the note down next to me, I lifted the guitar out of the box and stared at it in wonder. It was everything I could have wanted in an electric guitar. When I put the embroidered strap with my name on it over my head and let the body rest against mine, it fit me like an extension of my torso. When I ran my fingers down the neck, the frets seemed to meld with the tips of my fingers and I plucked out a basic melody, testing the sound. It was so beautiful, I was startled enough to have to pause, taking a moment to tune the strings. I wanted to hear it sing for me because I already knew it would.
I had an almost psychic connection with my guitars. I knew within seconds of picking one up whether or not I would be able to play it well. Most of the time, the answer was a resounding no, but not today. This one, this gorgeous, handmade pink guitar inlaid with a dragon carved from ivory, was going to be special. Not only because Erik had given it to me, but because it was the most magical thing I’d ever held in my hands.