Dark Awakenings (Danse Macabre Book 2)
Page 39
The reception was in another room above the ballroom the ceremony had been held in. We were seated at a table in roughly the middle of the room with Estella, Winston, Tristan, Colette, Evan, Byron, Xavier and Leslie. Evan was complaining about having been unable to invite Garrett because he was a werewolf. He was cranky because of it and eternally pouting. Aleksi stood after a few moments,
“You guys go up, I’ll be right with you,” He quickly interjected fastening the single button of his black jacket. The others just nodded and stood.
“Do I go up too?” I asked.
“Yes, Leslie is going, and you have more of a steak in this than she does,” Winston answered with a quick smile. Nodding I stood and straightened my dress. We all approached the main table in force, and when we were halfway there Galina joined us from seemingly nowhere. You weren’t supposed to wear white to a wedding and apparently that stopped Galina from looking like the ice princess of Russia like she usually did. Instead she wore a pale grey sheath dress with a similar cut to mine, only around her hem and collar glittered with I could only assume were diamonds by the way the light danced when it hit them.
We reached the table the same time Aleksi did. He was carrying something in each hand that I couldn’t make out because of the low candle light. He was the one who stood in front of the table first.
“A wedding gift,” Aleksi spoke in a smooth even voice as he set two severed heads on the table. “I solved your problems for you.” He grinned at them. Elizabeta smirked, and Vlad looked anything but happy. “You’ll recognize Gregory and Blaine I hope. It was all within our bounds I assure you. I issued challenge and Winston witnessed Blaine’s failure and Galina witnessed Gregory’s. Also Wyatt was a traitor and he died a traitor's death… I would have brought his head but I couldn’t think of a way to travel with it.”
“I knew you had it in you.” Elizabeta beamed at him with parental pride and joy.
“That being said. Vlad, you overstepped your bounds, and I’m here with the Patriarchs and Matriarch of the Pacific Northwest region, and Galina, Mistress of Western Asian. We are kindly asking you, Vlad, oh great Uniter, to step down as Master of the Pacific Northwest and to return it to Tristan of whom it was rightfully entrusted to prior to your great awakening.” Aleksi stood straight backed as he spoke with his chin raised a little. He could have made a great leader if he wanted to.
“Certainly,” Vlad answered with grin. “But what will your role be? Colette is Tristan’s second, so what are you?”
“Isn’t it clear, Vlad?” He gestured to the heads on the white table cloth before them. “I’m his enforcer.”
“That will make the Sun Cross in the region your problem.”
“I know,” Aleksi clipped out before turning around and taking my hand, leading me away from the group.
We returned to our room without saying a word. Nikolai, however, didn’t follow us. The entire time Aleksi had this small little smile on his face and I would almost say he was excited as he unlocked the door to the suite. He swallowed as he opened the door and held it for me. Inside, the room was lit by what looked to be a hundred candles and a fire hazard. Rose petals littered the floor and I was so thankful for the waterproof makeup I wore as tears started welling up in my eyes as Aleksi closed the door behind me. He led me to the middle of the room and knelt on one knee before me and took my hands in his.
“Oh my god,” Really? That’s all you can say? Oh my god, you sound like a moron. Keep your trap shut before you embarrass us more. I pursed my lips and swallowed.
“A month and a half ago, we danced Giselle together on stage. I had originally planned this huge ordeal to take place on stage, in front of thousands of people so there could be no doubt in how much I love you. But…you were taken from me and then I realized that it’s here when we’re alone—just the two of us—that we show each other all of the parts of us the world isn’t worthy of seeing. It’s all of those parts that makes me love you. So I’m asking you now… when we’re allowed to show each other all of those parts; Autumn Sadie Darling, will you marry me?”
“Yes,” I answered before he could even get the ring out of his pocket. The speed of my reply coaxed a chuckle from him as he produced a white gold ring with a large princess cut ruby flanked by two slightly smaller diamonds. Slipping it on my finger, he practically attacked me with his mouth kissing me hard and pulling me against him. And for once in my life everything seemed to actually work.
Epilogue
EVERY ENDING IS A BEGINNING
WE RETURNED HOME A FEW DAYS LATER AND ARGUED over where we’d live. They caved and moved in with me across the street from the Westley. Tristan bought the building to give a closer option for the dancers to live. I think it was a thank you to Aleksi, because they knocked out the wall between my apartment and the one beside it and built a dance studio and two extra bedrooms. Sun Cross activity didn’t stop just because Gregory and Blaine had died. They even called for a boycott of the Nutcracker at the Westley. Vlad stepped down as promised, but he didn’t leave the region. His presence loomed over Crimson Hill like the specter of Kendra’s anger that continued to roam the halls.
I didn’t quit ballet. I did however, focus more time on writing my dissertation. Topping Nikolai had added balance to my life that I didn’t know I needed. Still, I continued to see Dr. Marla Young, my Telekinesis was increasing and my visions were becoming more frequent. That and… I had some issues I needed to work out.
“Are you still bothered about your sister leaving her husband?” Marla asked with a smile. She looked immaculate as always even though she wore a turquoise sweater dress and black leggings. My sister had left her husband while we were in Romania for Elizabeta’s wedding.
“I understand why I’m bothered by it now.” I twisted the engagement ring around on my finger, it had become a new nervous habit. “I’m just worried about the same thing happening to me. Our mother told us that we’d get married and have babies and be happy. That was what she told us would make us happy. I know there’s more to life than that. I know getting married and having a child isn’t going to make me sublimely happy. Maybe I’m guilty because I got to find out what happiness is on my own and my sister did what she thought was expected of her? I don’t know… I’m…” I shook my head. “Can we talk about something else?”
“Have you received any threats from the Sun Cross? A few of my other clients had, more I think than are admitting to it.”
“No.”
“And what about Miss Manners?”
“She’s quiet more or less. Much more than before. I’ve been trying the self-esteem exercises you suggested and they’re helping.”
“Lots of people have overly critical thoughts, and you’re not the first to personify them and certainly won’t be the last. Just keep at it, before you know that little monster won’t be on your shoulder anymore.”
“I know.”
“How is the dissertation coming?”
“It’s finally finished. I have to submit it and then defend it but I think I’m ready.”
“Well that’s good, next week is it okay if I bring in Aleksi and Nikolai to our session?”
“Sure, I guess.”
“If you’re uncomfortable with it they don’t have to come.”
“I’m fine with it I just don’t know why they both have to come.”
“You’re in a relationship with two men and engaged to one of them. I think it would be good to have a place for the three of you to voice your feelings judgement free. No matter what Nikolai says, he’s not going to be completely okay with having the woman he loves marry another man. Most aren’t wired that way unfortunately.” She laughed a little and I nodded, and then she pursed her lips.
“I know, and everything’s been going so well lately. I keep waiting for the other shoe to dro—” I couldn’t finish. I gasped as in the distance a building exploded in a massive fireball. A minute later a middle aged man in a suit rushed in.
“Holy sh
it, Marla. The Sun Cross just blew up the Sala Corporation headquarters!” He turned on the small television in the corner and sure enough they had taken over the airwaves again. The message that scrolled across the screen, however, did nothing but take credit for the bombing, and promise there would be more to come.
Table of Contents
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Epilogue