A Call of Vampires (A Shade of Vampire #51)(20)

It was a colorful combination to say the least, and a pleasure to look at. My mom and dad were sitting next to me, while Grace and Lawrence had been seated toward the aisle, next to Caia.

“You are looking beautiful as usual,” Mom said with a warm smile, then glanced at Caia. “Both of you, for that matter!”

“Thanks, Mom,” I replied. “Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing the bridesmaids and, of course, the bride. I understand Corrine did her dress.”

“Oh, yes, I think she’s really outdone herself this time—even though I feel like I say that every time. I only got a glimpse of Anjani before I came up here, and let’s just say it’ll be one for the fashion history books.”

The wedding procession music started playing, the violins announcing the arrival of the bride. We all turned our heads, focusing on the far end of the aisle. They would all be coming up via the stairs from the level below.

The first to emerge were the four mutated shape-shifters. They’d stuck around as honorary family members of sorts. Or, better said, pets... They’d decided to morph into two little boys and girls for the occasion, wearing tuxes and silvery dresses, their eyes bright and violet as they moved down the aisle, dropping wild orchid petals from their cute little wicker baskets. Yes, they could be creepy at times...

I’d trained with them back at the GASP base on Mount Zur—in their native forms, they were fast and downright ferocious, so it was weird to watch them pretending to be humans. Their impressions were on point, though, and, had it not been for that violet glow in their eyes, they would’ve gotten away with it.

I glanced over at Jovi, who’d straightened his back, taking deep breaths and trying to keep his emotions under control, although he was raw and positively beaming on the inside.

Phoenix and Viola came next, followed by Aida and Field, Serena and Draven, and Vita and Bijarki. The groomsmen had been expertly fitted into their black suits and crisp, white shirts, while the bridesmaids were all stunning in matching gray silk dresses adorned with a silver orchid blossom nearly covering each right shoulder, and holding small white bouquets.

They walked gracefully down the aisle, smiling at us and taking their standing positions on the bride and groom’s sides in front of Derek and Safira.

Next came Aura and Almandine, two teenage succubi and little sisters to Anjani. They giggled as they moved toward the wedding arch and tossed shimmering sparkles into the air, each bursting into a myriad of silvery bursts, like miniature fireworks.

Gasps and cheers emerged from the crowd as the young succubi moved behind Viola, Serena, Aida, and Vita. I looked back at the end of the aisle, and saw Jax and Heron rushing to take their seats in the last row.

At the same time, Hansa emerged, simply breathtaking in her gray silk dress, the fabric snug and accentuating her athletic curves and full bust. Her long black hair had been combed over one shoulder, inky curls cascading down to her hip. Jax stilled just as he was about to sit down, unable to take his eyes off her—much like most of the other males on the platform, for that matter.

Hansa was stunning from head to toe, her skin glowing with a silver shimmer. She was holding a bouquet of white roses and lily of the valley. Her emerald-gold eyes met Jax’s for a brief moment, before she stepped forward. As soon as she reached his side, however, Heron grinned and gave Jax a firm nudge that pushed him into the aisle, stopping Hansa in her tracks.

It was too late for Jax to pull back now, so he moved closer to her and offered his arm. I knew Hansa would have come up alone, based on what Serena had told me about her—Hansa was a solitary warrior succubus who’d never depended on a male for anything. Jax’s jade glare burned into Heron for a second, but he only got an arrogant smirk back from his younger brother.

He then looked at Hansa, his expression firm and unreadable. She reluctantly put her arm around his and allowed him to walk her down the aisle. They looked beautiful together, and there was clearly chemistry between them, no matter how much they’d both denied it before. The more Jax tried to stay away from her, the more the universe pushed them closer to one another. Well, the universe and Heron, who seemed to get a kick out of putting his brother in less-than-comfortable situations.

Jax and Hansa reached the wedding arch and separated, taking their positions by Bijarki and Vita, respectively.

The music grew more intense as the violins burst into a fluid rendition of the wedding march. All eyes were on the aisle again. Anjani emerged with Bastien, the father of the groom. I would’ve thought Hansa to be the one to give Anjani away, but the former tribe chief had stated that it went against the succubi’s tradition to give their blood away to anyone. Either there would be a male willing to adopt this Earthly custom and walk Anjani down the aisle, or the bride would do it herself, like the warrior she was. And so, it was up to Bastien to assume his role as the “father” of the bride, too, giving her away and receiving her into his family at the same time.

I held my breath as they walked toward us. Jovi was positively speechless and stunned, unable to take his eyes off her. I couldn’t blame him, either. Anjani was a vision in her pearly white dress, glowing like an evening star as she walked toward her future. The white of her gown offered an elegant but dramatic contrast with her black hair, which had been pulled into a stylish bun with silver orchids braided into it, and the thin, vertical red line painted on her slender neck, a sign of her tribal affiliation.