A Call of Vampires (A Shade of Vampire #51)(19)

Two worlds were coming together in Luceria to celebrate the kind of love that transcended time and space and was undeterred by the fact that the couple involved came from different universes altogether.

The entire castle of Luceria was decorated to mark this occasion. The white marble walls were adorned with silver torches and wild orchid arrangements. White and gray organza curtains were elegantly folded on either side of each floor-to-ceiling window.

Hundreds of guests from both The Shade and Calliope were expected to arrive after the wedding ceremony was over. Jovi and Anjani had tried to keep the numbers relatively low for their vows, mainly because they wanted their families, close friends, and allies to share this special moment with them, while the many others were invited to join them for the dinner party.

A delicate fragrance of jasmine and lilies wafted through the castle, and I could hear harps being played in the banquet hall, just one of the musical ensembles rehearsing for the dinner. I was on my way up to the platform, where Jovi and Anjani had chosen to have the actual ceremony. It was to be officiated by Great-Grandpa Derek and Safira.

Jovi wanted to bind his life to Anjani’s on the same platform where he’d nearly died, where the succubus had saved him. He wanted to have nothing but good memories tied to that part of Luceria, and it made sense to me. What better way to muffle the darkness and violence associated with a place, if not by turning it into an essential part of a wedding?

I reached the platform and felt the need to stop and take it all in, because it was breathtaking. The white marble floor was polished to perfection, with intricate silvery details embedded into each slab. The arches stretched lazily in a circle, pouring into columns that bordered the giant terrace. Like with the Plateau, a swamp witch spell had been put in place to prevent anyone from falling over. It made standing on the edge a thrilling experience, as hundreds of square miles of the Antara continent unraveled below in rolling green hills, colorful orchards, dark jungles, and sweet-water rivers snaking toward the ocean.

The sky was a perfect blue, with wisps of white scattered across, and the giant sun was bright and happy to see us. However, its warm rays couldn’t touch us directly, as another swamp witch spell had been cast above, encompassing the entire top level in a white sheet of energy that blocked the sun from shining through but reproduced its brightness artificially. It looked amazing.

The platform itself had been extended by the Druids to hold up to two hundred guests—it turned out that our immediate families, friends, and allies were many, and needed additional space. It was connected to the floors below and the ground level through two sets of spiral stairs, wide and sturdy enough to support the ascension of Dearghs. Zur and Inon had been invited, and it would have been a shame to let Luceria’s original architecture prevent them from enjoying today with the rest of us.

Silver orchids and tulle ruffles were mounted on all arches and columns in tasteful spirals, and bluish fires burned in large dome-shaped vases made of stainless steel. As a wedding gift to his best friend, Phoenix had brought in a small band from Earth, a group of six of our witches with a huge talent for classical music. They played their violins nestled between two columns, the notes gently enveloping the entire platform with an overall sense of harmony and peace.

Dozens of chairs had been laid out in the middle, separated by an aisle covered in silver petals leading up to a gorgeous marble arch, which was dressed in a plethora of wild and silver orchids, with white and silver ribbons swirling in and out of the floral arrangement. The arch itself was placed on a low white marble platform, where Great-Grandpa Derek and Safira waited patiently. Derek looked handsome, downright breathtaking in his black tuxedo, his hair elegantly combed to one side.

Safira, one of the Daughters of Eritopia, looked stunning and ethereal as usual, a golden mask covering her face. Layers of white silk had been neatly wrapped around her body, snug but fluid around her curves, while gold-and-gemstone rings and bracelets added splashes of color to the outfit. Her long, straight reddish pink hair was styled in an ample up-do, with more gems and golden leaves braided throughout. Her eyes were bright and violet as she looked across the platform at the mixture of guests taking their seats.

Jovi stood by Derek’s side, dapper in his black tux, with his designer stubble and wide, green eyes that shimmered with excitement. Today was his and Anjani’s day, and I couldn’t help but feel everything he was feeling through my sentry nature. Happiness and love were oozing out of him in soft ribbons of gold and pink, and his good humor was downright infectious, making me smile as I made my way toward the front row, where my parents, Caia, and her parents were already seated.

Caia looked beautiful in her teal chiffon ballerina dress—it brought out her eyes and complemented her slim, sculptured legs. I’d gone for a long and dark gray satin dress that fit snugly against my curves and left my arms and shoulders bare. My black hair was straightened and combed over one shoulder, and I’d completed the look with a diamond earring and necklace set that made my bluish green eyes pop.

I took my seat next to Caia, giving her a warm smile as I glanced around the platform and admired the dazzling array of dresses and tuxes that our families and friends were donning for this wedding. Fiona, Scarlett, and Avril were sitting behind us, accompanied by their parents. Victoria, Xavier, and Vivienne were seated on the other side of the aisle, along with Sofia, River and Ben, and Rose and Caleb. The Red Tribe succubi had taken the rows behind them, along with the Master Druids, the Green and White Tribe succubi, Tamara and Eva on behalf of the Lamias, and a shimmering throng of incubi from Grezzi’s ranks. On our side, the Hawk brothers, the Maras and Jax’s wards, Zeriel, and a Tritone delegation were occupying the back rows, along with more of our Shadians, including witches and fire dragons.