Unbound (The Captive #7)(106)
His attention was pulled back to Xavier when he asked William to recite his vows, which he did in a loud, clear voice before Xavier turned to Tempest. She proudly repeated what Xavier asked her to say.
“Rings,” Xavier instructed.
William turned to Aria. She smiled at him when she handed him the delicate wedding ring with a row of diamonds set into the gold band. Jack and Braith stood behind her, watching him over her shoulder and grinning in that “cat that ate the canary” way they’d both had since the wedding planning started.
William turned back to Tempest as Pallas handed her a band for him. He recited what Xavier told him to say once more and slipped the band onto Tempest’s finger. For the ceremony, she’d removed the engagement ring he’d created for her, but she’d proudly worn it every day since he’d first given it to her, and she still refused to let him replace it with something else.
Her hands shook as she slipped his band onto his finger and recited the words Xavier told her to repeat. “I now pronounce you man and wife,” Xavier said. “You may kiss the bride.”
William didn’t have to be told twice. He wrapped his arm around Tempest’s waist and pulled her against him. She was laughing when he crushed his mouth to hers. Her laughter faded away as her body melded against his.
“Now it’s time to celebrate!” Jack declared, breaking into their kiss as loud applause echoed around the garden.
William turned to face the cheering crowd while Tempest blushed prettily. He led her through the clapping humans and vampires as they threw handfuls of red and white rose petals at them. Within the crowd, he spotted Mary and waved to them as he tried to avoid being covered in the roses. It was a battle he was happy to lose.
CHAPTER 41
Aria
Aria stretched leisurely the next morning and cracked open her eyes to find the thick drapes tugged over the windows, blocking out the sun. She rested her hand on the indent where Braith had slept; it was still warm, but she knew he was gone from their rooms. She climbed out of bed and made her way to the bathroom.
Yesterday had been a day of celebration, the first one in months, but today was back to reality. After she’d showered, dressed, and entered their main sitting room, her gaze fell on her beautiful ice blue gown lying on the sofa where Braith had tossed it. She’d have to see if Maggie could fix the zipper Braith had ruined last night in his eagerness to get it off her.
Lifting her head, her gaze fell on the window seat where she spent many hours with Braith while they read together. Walking over to the window, she peered out the glass and down on the gardens that had already been cleaned up since last night. All of the chairs and rose petals were gone. The dew covering the flowers within the garden glistened in the morning sun.
Her gaze fell to the fountain, the one Atticus had created in memory of Genny. The one where the two lovers would always gaze upon each other, but never touch. The memory of her dream with Braith and the black roses teased at the corners of her mind, but she shoved it aside. She would not think about the unhappiness of that time when they had so much to look forward to.
Turning away from the window, she hurried to the door and slipped out. She walked down the hallway and descended the steps to the main entranceway below. The first time she’d entered the palace, it had all been so overwhelming and foreign to her. She’d been certain she was being led to her death. Now, it was her home.
Her footsteps were silent in the foyer. The call of her blood within Braith let her know he was somewhere in the palace, but she would find him later. He was most likely in a meeting if he’d left while she slept.
A vampire stepped forward to open the front door for her. She bowed her head in thanks to him before stepping outside. She tilted her head back to take in the sun as she savored the noises of the town. Children ran to and fro in the streets, shouting happily to one another. Hammers rang out from the town as more buildings were repaired and new ones were built. Chickens squawked, and the jingle of horse’s harnesses and saddles filled the air as their hoof beats sounded on the road.
Descending the stairs, she wasn’t surprised when Xavier slipped from the shadows of the stable to fall into step beside her. They didn’t speak as they made their way through the town with Aria calling out greetings or halting to speak with those who stopped her. It took far longer than she’d intended to reach the small dress shop at the bottom of the hill situated near the gates.
A sign on the door said the shop was closed, but Aria tried the handle anyway. It remained locked beneath her grasp.
“You want a dress?” Xavier asked from behind her.
Aria brushed back her braid and glanced down at her simple brown pants and forest green shirt. “You make me sound as bad as Melinda thinks I am,” she muttered.
“You avoid the tailor like cats avoid baths.”
She scowled at him as she turned away from the shop, her gaze scanning the crowd. The apartment above the dress shop led her to believe Milly lived above the store. So if she wasn’t here, then where else would she be?
Lifting her hand to shield her eyes from the sun, Aria strode back up the hill toward the palace. She didn’t go for the main door, but around the side and beneath the trestle to the vast garden beyond. After becoming queen, Aria had knocked out a wall to make it so everyone could enter the garden. Its beauty should be shared with them all.
The garden had been empty when she’d looked out earlier, but it was so large that someone could wander it for hours, enjoying the numerous flowers and trees, before ever making it to the center.