Winter's War (Her Guardians series Book 4)(25)

“I’m lucky to have met you, Winter, to be part of your life,” he whispers and then steps away from me as I hear footsteps next to us. I look up to see Jaxson leaning against the door and watching us.

“Are you coming in?” he asks with a smirk, and I roll my eyes at him.

“Coming, wolfman, so impatient,” I reply, making him laugh as Wyatt slides his hand into mine, and we walk into the room. The room is a pretty basic one, with some chairs around the room, and it’s been recently painted by the smell in here. Harold is standing at the front of the room with Freddy, Leigha, and Drake at his sides. Jaxson joins my mates who are standing near the back of the room, and I smile at them all as Wyatt walks us in. We stop in front of Harold.

“I usually speak the Latin or French version of this, but this time I will use English for the new queen,” Harold says gently, and I give him a grateful smile. It would make no sense to me otherwise, and I could be swearing to protect a race of pumpkins and not know it.

“Please bow as I say the ancient words,” Harold says, and I copy Wyatt as he kneels and bows his head.

“The council has been chosen, and the chosen have come here to crown their new king and his queen. Royal vampire council crowns the new king. Only death shall break the vow you will now make. Your souls are now joined and here to protect the vampire race. May the vampires also protect their new king and queen.”

“I vow to protect,” Wyatt says, and there’s silence until someone clears their throat. Crap, I think I’m meant to say that too.

“I vow to protect,” I say and there’s silence until I feel a finger under my chin and I lift my head to see Wyatt standing in front of me.

“This ancient book has the blood of every king and queen that has ruled. You must cut your finger and place your finger on the book,” Harold explains as he comes over with a very old-looking book. It’s a weird thing, but who am I to judge?

“Okay,” I say and watch as Wyatt pulls a dagger out of his suit jacket and cuts his finger quickly. Harold opens the book; one page has two bloody finger prints on it and another language written around the prints. I would guess it’s Wyatt’s parent’s names and their blood. I watch as Wyatt presses his finger on the book and then hands me the dagger. I shake my head and push the dagger into his hand.

“I trust you to do it,” I say and hold out my hand for him. Wyatt keeps eye contact with me as he takes my hand, only looking down for a second as he cuts my finger, and I try not to wince at the sharp pain. I quickly place my finger next to where Wyatt had placed his, and Wyatt takes my hand off the book, putting my cut finger into his mouth. I have to admit it’s pretty sexy, despite the room full of people watching us.

“Later,” I mouth silently as he lets my finger go, and he winks at me in response.





15





Winter





“I seriously doubt you could have chosen a bigger dress, Alex,” I say, and she chuckles as she looks at me. The dress has a massive, black skirt at the bottom, with a white, frost pattern laced down the dress on one side, and the top part is all white lace. Alex put my hair into a bun that is on one side, and there is a little curled bit left out that shapes my makeup-filled face. I don’t usually wear this much, but the smoky eyes and pale lipstick does look pretty. The thoughts of my long night with Wyatt flash through my mind; the things he whispered in my ear as he was inside me. The way he held me in his arms all night afterwards, last night was perfect. Only when I left Wyatt’s room this morning to get dressed in my own, I didn’t expect to walk into the selection of dresses and madness that Alex had turned my bedroom into. The dress is every bit perfect for the crowning of the angel king and queen, well me and Dabriel. Alex couldn’t have chosen a better dress for me to wear, and even being in it is giving me some confidence about today. The black represents the dark angels and the white lace, the light angels. I want us all to be united, and this dress shows off that. I love that I didn’t even have to tell Alex this, she just knew.

“This one isn’t as tight as the red one I made you wear last time,” she says, reminding me of the night I was stupid enough to let the vampire king use me to open that portal. The dress was amazing, though. I look over at Alex as she straightens her long, red hair, and memories of growing up with Alex flash through my mind. I remember the first time I met her and sharing my ice cream. I remember holding her as her parents hadn’t fed her in two days and giving her my lunch before taking her back to my house for the first time. Once I told my mum, she adored and looked after Alex as much as I did. Alex was always more of a sister to me, and despite the fact the demon king has killed all my family, I still have Alex. I will fight to the very end to see her live through this war.

“You’re my best friend, you know that?” I tell her and walk over, giving her a hug. Alex has on a simple, white dress with little, black flowers up the sides. Simple, but stunning. Her red hair brings that little bit of colour to her outfit, as well as the red, jewelled necklace she has on. I don’t recognise it, but it’s lovely.

“Yes, I think so, although I miss the days where we planned our nights out and not how to survive a war,” she replies.

“I miss those, too, but I think this was always planned for us. All of it,” I say and place my hand on her still small stomach.