“Thank you.” I nodded, patting more tears from my eyes with a tissue. Serena hugged me and moved to stand back next to Aida and Vita. “So something old, something new, something borrowed… What’s next, something—”
“Blue,” Vivienne said, and stopped in front of me.
Aida’s grandmother was a vision in her own right, wearing a superb navy-blue chiffon dress that complemented her curves and offered a beautiful contrast to her pale skin. Her long black hair was straight and combed back, and her blue-violet eyes radiated warmth and affection.
She smiled and handed me a beautiful blue lace band. I stared at it for a moment, not sure what to do with it, as if my brain had suddenly stopped functioning. The girls, on the other hand, were all grins and giggles.
“Tha… Thank you?” I managed to say, prompting Vivienne to laugh.
“This is a bridal garter, Anjani,” she said. “It goes on your thigh, and, later tonight, at the wedding party, Jovi will have to use his teeth to remove it. It’s another quirk of our Earthly weddings. And it’s blue.”
“Woah, Grandma!” Aida exclaimed. “I never knew you had a dirty mind!”
Vivienne smiled coyly. “Just something I remembered from your grandfather’s and my wedding…”
Victoria raised her eyebrows at her mother, while Aida doubled over with laughter.
“Do you think Jovi will be able to do it? I can already see him choking on it,” Aida said, making me giggle.
“We’ll find out,” Vivienne replied, and gave me a playful wink. “Welcome to the family, Anjani. We are honored to have you.”
I just nodded my thanks, as I was busy swallowing back more tears.
“Okay, let’s stop now, because Anjani’s eyes are going to get all puffy before the wedding is even over!” Corrine said, and blew a smooth pinch of dust in my face.
I held my breath, taken by surprise, but I could feel the dust penetrating and relaxing the skin around my eyes.
“Call it a small, cosmetic artifice.” She winked.
“Thank you… thank you all,” I said, and bowed respectfully before the creatures who had become such an important part of my life. “I never thought I’d live to see such a day, because I didn’t think it existed… I’m about to marry my soulmate… Peace has been restored in Eritopia… The incubi and succubi are living in harmony, sharing their cities once more… It feels like a dream.”
“We’ve fought long and hard to make it a reality, Anjani,” Hansa replied gently. “Now it’s time we sit back and enjoy it.”
“You seem incredibly calm today. What happened?” I asked, finally noticing the obvious.
Hansa had been on edge from the moment I’d said yes to Jovi’s marriage proposal. She’d gotten involved in the entire organizational process, from floral arrangements to dinner menus, and all the other bits and pieces that were meant to make today perfect. I’d heard her bellow over a mismatched table cover and I’d seen her cry when Corrine had first shown us the wedding dress design.
And yet today, the most important day of my life—and hers, too, apparently—she was all mellow emotions and timeless wisdom. I would’ve expected her to be even snappier until Jovi and I kissed and were declared husband and wife.
Hansa chuckled, then took out a small glass bottle filled with a pale green liquid. She unscrewed the top and took a swig, then dropped it back into the hidden dress pocket from which she’d produced it.
“Ori and Malachy were kind enough to make me this special potion,” she said. “It relaxes me completely, and I think it was the best thing I could do today to stop myself from going on a murderous rampage over the littlest things.”
I laughed and hugged her again. She wrapped her arms around me and held me tight, resting her head against mine and humming gently in my ear. I recognized the song; it was a lullaby she used to sing to put me to sleep when I was little, and she’d sung it to her girls, too. Hansa had been with me my whole life, and I knew just how much today meant to her as well.
For ourselves, as succubi, getting married was a rarity. As in, once every few decades one of us would fall in love and run off to marry an incubus. But now that our species had unanimously agreed to put aside our differences and once again peacefully coexist in the free cities of Calliope, more succubi were choosing to spend their lives with their soulmates.
We’d been raised and conditioned to believe that we didn’t need males in our lives.
We didn’t. But we simply could no longer refuse the concept of love. I loved Jovi with all my heart, and he worshipped me in return. Our souls were already bound, and the wedding was simply an official stamp. It only brought us closer.
Most importantly, today was also about family. My sisters, my friends, and my fiancé’s relatives were all coming together, as the Red Tribe and the Shadians celebrated our union.
Jovi
I’d been given a dressing room of my own for this. I didn’t really care, to be honest. I just wanted to stand in front of Anjani and profess my love to her. We could be naked in the middle of a field, as far as I was concerned—though I had a feeling Aida and the rest of our families wouldn’t be on board with that.
Nevertheless, I’d been made to look surprisingly presentable. The tuxedo fit me nicely, accentuating my broad shoulders and long legs, but also adding a bit of extra mass to my physique. My hair had been expertly combed, and my beard had been trimmed down to a five o’clock shadow—courtesy of Ibrahim.
All the great men on my side of the family were in the room with me, along with my friends. Draven, who’d been kind enough to let us host our wedding in Luceria, just like he, Field, and Bijarki had done before me; Phoenix and Field, my best friends and also groomsmen, along with the Druid; Jax and Bijarki, who were also present and unable to wipe the grins off their faces; Grandpa Xavier, Derek, and Lucas, who were helping my dad hold it all together—he seemed a lot more emotional than usual.
Sure, I’d seen him shed a few tears at Aida’s wedding, but that was a father sort of saying goodbye to his little girl. I was Jovi. The jester. The wolf-boy. I hadn’t thought he’d get all teary eyed as he stood there by the floor mirror, watching with arms crossed over his chest as Ibrahim made some final adjustments to my trousers.
“I have to give the warlock credit—he’s picked up a few sartorial tricks from Corrine for sure, because my wedding tux looks on point,” I said, glancing at my reflection. “I’d marry me, if I could!”
“And who’d marry Anjani, then? I think Malachy has a soft spot for your fiancée, though he keeps it to himself. Shall I get him?” Draven quipped, giving Phoenix a friendly nudge.
“Or Heron, for that matter,” Phoenix chimed in, catching on. “He’s quite smooth with the succubi.”
“Hardy-har-har,” I shot back dryly, feigning irritation. “Keep it up, you two, and you won’t be allowed anywhere near the spiced rosewater tonight!”
We all laughed. Dad came forward and placed his hands on my shoulders, looking into my eyes. I was nervous, to be honest, but I was also excited. I just wanted to be with Anjani. I’d proposed because I wanted us to have what my parents had—a life together, a partnership, a friendship that would never end. It was a tradition that emphasized the important role that Anjani had played in my existence and survival. She’d earned a ring on that finger, and a husband to worship her the way she deserved.
I was just the lucky bastard she’d fallen madly in love with, and the one honored to spend the rest of this life making her happy and giving her nothing but bliss.
“Jovi, Son,” Dad said, his voice raw and tugging invisible strings in my stomach. “This is it. Today is the day.”
“Way to downplay it, Dad, thanks!”
“Well, it’s a big day, Jovi. There’s no way to downplay it. But it’s the best day that any man could wish for. It’s the beginning of a new and better life for both you and Anjani,” he replied gently. “To be honest, I didn’t think you’d tie the knot with someone so soon. I thought
you’d want to roam through the garden a bit more before settling down, but, then again, you’ve always had a way of surprising me.”
“I didn’t think it would happen either. But then I saw her, and poof! I was hooked. Not my fault.” I shrugged.
“I think she’s perfect for you,” Grandpa Xavier chimed in. “Fierce and beautiful, smart and loyal, relentless and pure. You’ve done well, Jovi.”
“Yeah, I think she settled, but I’m not one to complain.” I grinned.
“Just don’t get on her bad side,” Bijarki said. “You don’t want an angry succubus on your hands, wolf-boy. She will eat you alive.”
“I noticed.” I nodded my approval. “Just the other day I opened my mouth before using my brain and said something stupid. The look she gave me scared me to death. I’d rather fight another Azazel than piss off Anjani—that’s all I’ll say.”
The room burst into laughter. My dad stepped back, and Uncle Derek took his place. He was going to be officiating the wedding today, along with Safira, one of the Daughters of Eritopia. He gave me a small black box, a smile tugging the corner of his mouth.
“What is this?” I asked.
“Open it,” Derek replied.
I did, and found myself staring at a pair of gorgeous wedding rings—two platinum bands with ancient Eritopian runes engraved on the inside. I recognized some of the symbols from our previous “studies”, back when we were taking notes on Aida, Vita, and Phoenix’s runes and Viola was translating them. I spotted the words “love”, “eternity”, and “bond”, among others. They were perfect for Anjani and me.
I looked up at Derek and failed to produce any words. All I could do was nod my thanks and continue staring at the rings. Mom had told me not to worry about the rings, that the family would take care of that, but I had no idea they’d turn out so beautiful.
“I’m honestly amazed to be at this stage in my life,” I muttered. “Looking forward to a future with my incredibly hot succubus warrior wife. I mean, three months ago I was giving my last breath, and Anjani was stubbornly pulling me out of the claws of death itself. It’s incredible. Thank you all for helping make today possible. I mean it. Thank you.”
“The world wouldn’t be the same without you,” Draven replied. “I’m glad Anjani was there to bring you back to us.”
“Speaking of things not being the same again…” I decided to change the subject, as tears were beginning to work their way into my eyes. “Does anyone have any useful advice to impart to this young and inexperienced groom? As you all know, I’m the proud owner of a foot-in-mouth syndrome who’s marrying a silvery goddess with the wrath of a volcano. How do I keep myself alive?”
They all laughed, but Derek, Lucas, and Grandpa Xavier were the first to offer advice.
“Be honest with her, no matter what,” Xavier said. “She will love you more for it than for you trying to spare her feelings. Sure, you might get a shoe thrown at your head once in a while, but in the long run, it’s worth it. It keeps the relationship happy.”
“Yeah, knowing Anjani, she wouldn’t throw shoes, though. Axes and swords, sure, but not shoes,” I mumbled, generating another round of laughs.
“It’s okay to bring her flowers for no special reason. Just because it’s Wednesday,” Lucas added. “It’s the little things, the attention, the pleasure of a gift. Don’t ever stop treating her like she’s the most important creature in your life. She is.”
“I can do that,” I replied, scratching my chin. “I can totally do that. Thank you!”
“Be patient, Jovi,” Derek said. “Whatever you two share, it lasts longer than anger, frustration, jealousy, or anything else that’s dark and nasty and might try to wiggle its way into your marriage over the years. Be patient. It’s the only piece of advice I can give you. It’s the only one that counts, at least.”
I nodded my appreciation.
“Thank you, Uncle Derek. It’s… It’s good advice to give,” I replied. “What about when she says she’s right and I know she’s wrong? Come on, guys, give me the juicy stuff, the man’s guide to survival through marriage!”
“If she says she’s right, chances are she actually is and you’re deluding yourself into thinking otherwise because your ego is clouding your judgment,” Dad said with a grin.
“Fair enough. But what if I fact-check her and find out that she’s wrong?” I sighed.
“You are marrying a very intelligent succubus, Jovi,” Bijarki replied. “She can take the truth, always.”
I nodded again, internalizing everything. Truth, patience, attention. The three ingredients I needed to add to my love for Anjani to make sure our life would be beautiful, healthy, and damn near perfect.
“Besides, should she ever prove herself to be… difficult, you can always buy her chocolate. You can never go wrong with chocolate.” Field smiled.
“Is that how you keep Aida from kicking your ass every other day?” I smirked, beaming at my brother-in-law.
“Pretty much. That and… you know…”
“Oh, no,” I shot back with faux horror. “Oh, the mental image! That’s my sister, you perv!”
“And my wife,” Field chuckled, prompting Ibrahim to double over from the laughter along with the rest of the room.
A knock on the door startled me.
“Yes?” I called out.
Alma’s curly head popped in, her eyes widening when she noticed all the males in the room.
“Hey, Alma.” I gave her a friendly smile.
The teen succubus nodded, tucking one of her black curls behind her ears.
“Hey, Jovi. So… they’re ready to start the wedding,” she said, trying hard to mask her excitement.
“Perfect, we’ll be out shortly,” Derek replied, then nodded at me with an encouraging smile. “Come on, Jovi. Let’s get you and Anjani hitched!”
Alma smiled then vanished behind the door. I gave myself another look in the mirror.
Eritopia had been brutal, but it had also been kind to me. In the middle of adversity, I’d glanced into Anjani’s emerald-gold eyes and I’d found the meaning to my life. I’d found a purpose. I’d found love.
Today, I was going to stand in front of Anjani, and I was going to give myself to her, body and soul, for the rest of my life. It was still a new and scary concept to me, but every time I looked at her, any trace of anxiety went away, my heart swelling with love and my soul eager to touch hers.
I was a lucky wolf-boy, indeed.
Harper
(Daughter of Hazel & Tejus)
This wasn’t the first wedding I’d attended. It wasn’t even my first in Eritopia. But still, I couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of the event.
Two worlds were coming together in Luceria to celebrate the kind of love that transcended time and space and was undeterred by the fact that the couple involved came from different universes altogether.
The entire castle of Luceria was decorated to mark this occasion. The white marble walls were adorned with silver torches and wild orchid arrangements. White and gray organza curtains were elegantly folded on either side of each floor-to-ceiling window.
Hundreds of guests from both The Shade and Calliope were expected to arrive after the wedding ceremony was over. Jovi and Anjani had tried to keep the numbers relatively low for their vows, mainly because they wanted their families, close friends, and allies to share this special moment with them, while the many others were invited to join them for the dinner party.
A delicate fragrance of jasmine and lilies wafted through the castle, and I could hear harps being played in the banquet hall, just one of the musical ensembles rehearsing for the dinner. I was on my way up to the platform, where Jovi and Anjani had chosen to have the actual ceremony. It was to be officiated by Great-Grandpa Derek and Safira.
Jovi wanted to bind his life to Anjani’s on the same platform where he’d nearly died, where the succubus had saved him. He wanted to have nothing but good memories tied to that part of Luceria, and
it made sense to me. What better way to muffle the darkness and violence associated with a place, if not by turning it into an essential part of a wedding?
I reached the platform and felt the need to stop and take it all in, because it was breathtaking. The white marble floor was polished to perfection, with intricate silvery details embedded into each slab. The arches stretched lazily in a circle, pouring into columns that bordered the giant terrace. Like with the Plateau, a swamp witch spell had been put in place to prevent anyone from falling over. It made standing on the edge a thrilling experience, as hundreds of square miles of the Antara continent unraveled below in rolling green hills, colorful orchards, dark jungles, and sweet-water rivers snaking toward the ocean.
The sky was a perfect blue, with wisps of white scattered across, and the giant sun was bright and happy to see us. However, its warm rays couldn’t touch us directly, as another swamp witch spell had been cast above, encompassing the entire top level in a white sheet of energy that blocked the sun from shining through but reproduced its brightness artificially. It looked amazing.
The platform itself had been extended by the Druids to hold up to two hundred guests—it turned out that our immediate families, friends, and allies were many, and needed additional space. It was connected to the floors below and the ground level through two sets of spiral stairs, wide and sturdy enough to support the ascension of Dearghs. Zur and Inon had been invited, and it would have been a shame to let Luceria’s original architecture prevent them from enjoying today with the rest of us.
Silver orchids and tulle ruffles were mounted on all arches and columns in tasteful spirals, and bluish fires burned in large dome-shaped vases made of stainless steel. As a wedding gift to his best friend, Phoenix had brought in a small band from Earth, a group of six of our witches with a huge talent for classical music. They played their violins nestled between two columns, the notes gently enveloping the entire platform with an overall sense of harmony and peace.
A Shade of Vampire 51_A Call of Vampires Page 6
