A Blaze of Sun (A Shade of Vampire #5)(70)

When she showed up, everything and everyone else faded into a blur, dimming against the radiance of her light. Standing on the other end of the aisle, holding her bouquet of lilies, she was breathtaking in her intricately embroidered gown. When she raised her downcast, green eyes to meet mine, I was done for. She had me breathless and captivated – even more so when that brilliant smile began to light up her countenance. Her glistening eyes were fixed on mine as she winked at me before beginning her march down the aisle.

It felt like an eternity waiting for her to come to me, to be in my arms, but watching every single step was absolutely worth it. I wanted to freeze that moment in eternity. That tantalizing vision of her in that white dress, looking more ethereal than ever before, would forever be etched in my mind.

When she took that final step toward me, taking her father’s hand, so that he could bring her to me, one truth hit the very core of my being. I was racking my brain for the past three days wondering how to express myself once we exchanged our vows, but when it came time for that, I knew exactly what to say.

I could barely look at her as I said the words. It was a strange emotion I wasn’t well-acquainted with. I was about to gush over my love for her and despite all the acclaim and the power I had as Derek Novak, the king of The Shade, in that moment, eighteen-year-old Sofia Claremont made five-hundred-year-old me feel like a boy.

“You saved me, Sofia. You rescued me from myself. You gave me room to feel again, to love again, to once again believe in goodness and kindness and the possibility of light even in the darkest of nights. I’ve lived under the shadow of the prophecy about bringing my kind to true sanctuary. The cure might be my kind’s true sanctuary, but I know now that it’s not mine, Sofia. Your smile, your heart, your life, your love… You, Sofia, are my true sanctuary.”

Chapter 43: Sofia

Chills ran down my spine as I listened to him utter each word of his vows. I had no idea if I was just seeing things, but I could swear that he was blushing. I wasn’t even sure if it was possible for a vampire to blush.

“I will protect you with my life, Sofia,” he proceeded to say, his hands clasping mine.

I was trembling, overwhelmed by the emotions coursing through me. I didn’t know that I could be capable of loving someone this much. “I will love you and support you and do everything that I can to make sure that I too become your sanctuary as surely as you are mine.”

When he finally raised his eyes to look directly at mine, a lump formed in my throat. Then a tear ran down my cheek. “I love you,” he mouthed to me and I responded in kind.

I tilted slightly to the side and smiled at him. “You already are my sanctuary, Derek.” He caught his breath and I couldn’t help but do the same as I brushed my thumb against his hand. “You have been since the day I met you. I am who I am, because you brought out the best in me. You challenged me to become all that I could possibly be and continue to challenge me to live life that way. We are our strongest selves together, our weakest apart. I can’t imagine a life without you and on this day, I hope you know without doubt that my life, my heart, and my love is yours.”

When his brilliant blue eyes began to moisten, I couldn’t stop the waterworks. I didn’t want to cry anymore, but the emotions were so gripping and strong, so overwhelming. In my attempt not to sob, I laughed nervously, and I guess he felt the exact same way because he began to laugh too.

“Sunshine,” he whispered, as he put the ring on my finger. “You’re like sunshine. You light everything up.”

I could feel blood heat up my cheeks as I clung to his hand, sensing both his strength and vulnerability at the same time. I found it strange how he made me feel at that exact moment. I felt both powerless and powerful all at the same time. I was vulnerable to him, and I knew it. But I also knew that he was just as vulnerable to me.

That realization immediately spoke to my longing for intimacy. When Corrine finally pronounced the words that sealed my marriage to Derek, I couldn’t wait to have his lips press against mine. Corrine hadn’t even yet recited the traditional, “you may kiss the bride,” and Derek was already holding my waist and pulling me against him, his lips covering mine.

I lost myself in the heat of his kiss. When his lips pulled away from mine, I found myself leaning forward, practically begging for more until I saw a huge grin on his face.

Derek winked at me. “I want to kiss you, Sofia, but if we go on like this, I might end up hauling you out of the wedding reception and right to my bedroom.”

Right then, I became fully aware that we weren’t alone. Our friends and loved ones were still surrounding us. I practically jumped from where I was standing when they began to applaud us – the newlyweds.

“Sofia Novak.” Derek’s smooth baritone pronounced. “Mmm… I love the sound of it.”

As much as we tried to keep a show of chastity during the rest of the wedding festivities, we simply couldn’t keep our eyes or hands off each other. The idea that I was Sofia Novak was still ringing in my head, emphasized even more when our friends approached us with unadulterated glee.

“You did it!” Ashley exclaimed, as she threw her arms around me. “You married a vampire.” She then gave Derek a teasing look-over from head to foot. “This vampire at that. Who would’ve thought? You better take care of her.”

Derek grinned, his eyes focusing once again on me. “I’d better. She’s my life.”