An End of Night (A Shade of Vampire #16)(54)

He stepped back further, moving toward the steps.

“I bow out, with respect.” Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode off down the mountain.

I remained staring in his direction long after he’d disappeared, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

Still unsure of whether there was anything to draw from the experience, or perhaps even some reason to feel offended by it, I turned my back on the night and entered the cabin.

Whatever the case, even if nothing else, it would make a good tale to tell our children one day. That I had passed the test of the artist of romance, the dragon prince himself.

Chapter 39: Rose

Corrine was over the moon to work on my dress. We spent the rest of the day fixing my outfit, making arrangements for the venue, and then organizing invitations. All throughout, I kept thinking back to what Caleb was doing, but I didn’t have much time to ponder.

I would’ve loved to go personally around the island to invite everyone, but instead Ashley, Becky, Abby and a few other classmates offered to do it. Rumors spread like wildfire among my peers, so I wasn’t worried about the message making its way around the island.

Once I had finished all the tasks that I needed to be directly involved in, my mother returned with me to the penthouse. I washed off the subtle makeup we had applied during the dress rehearsal, and then my mother took me to my room and tucked me into bed, as she used to do when I was a child.

“Sweet dreams, my darling,” she said, planting a kiss on my cheek.

“Good night, Mom. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

She gave me a watery smile before retreating out of the room. As her footsteps disappeared, I could have sworn that I heard a sob.

I tossed and turned that night, trying to fall asleep. My mind was just so alert. I was thinking about all the things that we had discussed today, and how everything was going to go tomorrow. But more than anything, I was thinking of Ben. How he should be sleeping in his bed further along the corridor. How I would have barged into his dark room early in the morning to wish him a happy birthday. How my mother would have cooked us both our favorite breakfast.

How he would miss my wedding.

Perhaps that had been the cause of my mother’s sob.

* * *

The next morning went by so fast I could barely believe it. Before I knew it, I was staring at myself in the mirror, dressed in a gorgeous white gown that covered my feet, my hair flowing down my shoulders in soft curls.

Although I hadn’t gotten much sleep, I was buzzing more than if I’d just shot myself up with ten cups of coffee.

Today’s the day Caleb’s going to make me his.

Everyone who’d been floating around the apartment helping with final preparations had now left for the venue. It was just my mother and I left in the apartment.

She approached behind me, running her hands down my arms and kissing my cheek.

“How are you feeling?”

“High,” I murmured.

She chuckled.

“Is that how you felt when you married Dad?”

“Something like that… Are you ready to leave?”

“I think so.”

I looped my arm through hers and we made our way out of the apartment, down the elevator and along the forest path. I could hear the chattering of a large crowd even from this distance. My palms began to grow sweaty—something I’d noticed a lot since I discovered my fire powers.

I suddenly had a horrible vision of my mascara melting from my body heat and dripping down my cheeks as I walked down the aisle.

“Is it usual to imagine everything that could possibly go wrong?”

“Yes,” my mother said, giggling. “You’re going to be fine, honey. Before you know it, it will all be over. Just enjoy it while it lasts.”

As we approached, I was taken aback by the sheer number of people who’d gathered for my wedding. I’d expected many to turn up, but not quite this many. For as far as I could see, chairs were spread out among the trees, all circling around the main gazebo that Corrine had set up. The gazebo was draped with light pink and white silk fabric and lined with roses, and it had been erected on a raised platform. Hanging back from the crowd, and standing on the path before us, were my father and my bridesmaids, Abby, Becky, Ariana and Ashley. The bridesmaids were dressed in matching lilac dresses.

I gave them all a weak smile.

As soon as my father laid eyes on me, he choked up. I said hello, but he didn’t respond. He just nodded, his eyes sparkling. My mother, tears in her own eyes, took his hand and kissed his cheek before hugging me once more.

“Good luck,” she said. “I’ll see you on the other side…”

“Thanks,” I croaked.

Ariana handed me a delicate bouquet of roses. Then I turned to my father. He held out his arm for me to take and I clasped it tight.

“Thank you,” I whispered, “for being the best dad in the world.”

He looked down at me, then shook his head. “No, Rose,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Thank you. I couldn’t have wished for a braver, smarter, more beautiful daughter. I couldn’t be prouder of you.”

I felt my own eyes well with tears.

“Dammit, Dad. You’re making me cry. My makeup is going to smudge.”

“You don’t need makeup anyway,” he muttered, turning to face the gazebo.