“I’m sure that puts your mind at ease. But he keeps himself a secret from me—doesn’t really show me the vampire.”
“Just like Mike doesn’t show me the guy he is with you.”
“He will.” I nodded. “Just give him time.”
“Time is all we have,” she said and hugged me. “Come on, we have to go. It’s nearly midday.”
“Okay.”
“Are you ready?”
“Too ready.”
She left the room to gather the rest of the guests and send them out to the oak tree where David and I first held hands, and I took a moment to look around.
Things were different this time. I didn’t feel empty, lost or alone. I didn’t need to think about the sadness of childhood passing, or the longing to move on. I was happy. Complete. Ready.
As I turned to take one last glance at the bride in the mirror, I noticed a single red rose tucked into the hinge that certainly wasn’t there a moment ago.
“David?” I spun around, searching the room for the cheeky vampire. “You better not have looked at my dress!”
He didn’t answer.
“Vampires.” I sighed. “Can’t live with ’em, can’t kill ’em.” I plucked the rose from the frame and pressed it to my nose; it smelled sweet, perfumed with the approaching summer, all watery and cool.
“Meet me at the doorway to our forever,” David’s voice hummed in my mind, and I threaded his rose into the bouquet then left the room—without looking back.
* * *
The sheer curtains billowed, giving way to the setting beyond the back porch. I stood on my toes a little and peered into the small gathering of friends and family hovering closely around David and Mike, leaving only the tops of their heads visible. I could almost feel David’s nerves undulating over them all, but the old oak tree behind him seemed unfazed, expressing its cheerfulness in the sway of its flourishing leaves, full and green, despite the newness of the season.
“Shall we?” Dad stepped in from the kitchen and offered his arm. His smiling eyes crinkled around the edges, but under all that joy and happiness I could sense the icy tension of nerves in him too.
I wrapped my arm under his. “I’m not going to run this time, Dad.”
“And if you do,” Emily piped up, tying the curtains back, “I’ll chase you and handcuff you to David.”
“Knew I could count on you, Em,” I said playfully.
“As always.” She flicked her hair back then nodded to our ushers outside, who hooked a handle each and parted the French doors to open the path before us. “Let’s go.”
As Emily reached the steps, Alana and Ryan played the first notes of The Knight of the Rose, taking my mind back to that last day of forever in my bedroom where David first gave me the silver locket. And suddenly all my nerves receded, giving new meaning to the hammering in my chest. This was it. All those nights I cried, all those times I was afraid I’d never see him again, they had all come to an end as of today. I never had to fear losing him again. I couldn’t wait to get down that aisle and make this official.
As we reached the bottom step to the gentle applause and awes of the gathering, they all seemed to disappear for a moment. I looked up to the tree and flashed back to when David met me there that day he saved Skittles. The memory was so fresh, and I could see his smiling face so clearly that all the pain we’d suffered in between that had no bearing anymore.
The gathering of bodies parted then and, like sentries guarding our doorway to forever, revealed David in all his iridescent glory, waiting right where he said he’d be. It was like looking at him through a focused lens, starting its reveal at his shiny black shoes and scrolling up slowly to his pressed suit, the red flower in his buttonhole, his hands gathered at his front.
As our eyes met, the immaculate sparkle of emerald green stood out upon the dying winter sky. But even from here I could see the darkness behind them as he fought to contain emotions I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen on his face. Worry could make his eyes square, while love could narrow them, and fear could make them round, but this was like a combination of all three, and I smiled. I didn’t need to read his mind to know what he was thinking. I could almost see myself through his eyes—every thought he had illustrated in his smile. And I knew I was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. I knew he was mapping out our future from that single second I stepped out, seeing it come into focus, become possible every step we got closer—that each one of those steps started undoing all the damage the past had done.
As we neared the end of our walk, the presence of others molded into focus again. I hadn’t noticed Mike by David’s side until he laughed at me, and though I expected to see hurt in his eyes as I reached the front, he simply smiled warmly, giving a nod as if to say this is the way things should be.
And he was right.
Everything I ever wished for had finally happened. All those nights I sat looking up at those stars wishing for the impossible, trying to believe dreams came true when life and common sense always said the opposite, it was all worth it in the end, because he was here, and we were only a heartbeat away from forever together.
My fingers touched David’s and an immediate charge of electricity went through them, making us both laugh and shake out our hands.
“Static-y today,” I said.
“Just don’t take that as a sign, and run,” he replied with a knowing smile.
“Not a chance.” I tightened my grip around David’s and he led me to the arch where the celebrant waited.
“Friends, family, we are gathered here today to witness these two young people bind their lives in the institution of matrimony. These words will become their promise, and their promise will become their word,” the celebrant said. “A union of love for all time. Death will not part them; pain and sorrow will not break them. Like diamonds, their love will be forever, and like love, this union will not be broken by time.”
David’s eyes changed then, his lips making a gentle curve as the secret smile that belonged to the boy across the road suddenly became the hidden thoughts of the man I was giving my life to. He glanced down at my completely red bouquet then back up at the celebrant without looking at me, the smile growing a moment later as the meaning behind it sunk in.
“Do we have the rings?” the celebrant whispered to Mike.
Emily took my bouquet and I wiped my clammy hands down my dress before placing them both in David’s. I could feel the eyes of every person burning in to us, making me wish we’d done this without so many witnesses.
He leaned in. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I nodded, but my hands trembled so fiercely David squeezed them firmly, letting go only to take the ring from Mike and place it to the very tip of my finger. I looked up to his eyes, sparkling with tears, his lips holding an almost amused smile.
“Your hands are shaking,” he teased.
“Shut up,” I whispered playfully.
“Our ceremony today differs from the traditional ones in that the ring seals the promise of the bearer—a ritual that is custom to our groom’s culture,” the celebrant said, smiling at me then. “Do you, Amara-Rose Thompson, take this man to be your lawful wedded husband—to love and honor in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for all eternity?”
For a moment I imagined it—how things would be if we were human; I saw his face and how it would look in sixty years, and asked myself if I’d want this: if I’d want to be married to him for all my life, grow old, get sick, suffer bankruptcy and arthritis together—and at the point his smile turned to panic, I nodded. “I do.”
He exhaled, sliding the ring past my knuckle, laughing to himself.
I laughed too, pinching it between my fingertips as Mike stepped up to hand David’s to me. It felt kind-of heavy for a piece of jewelry, yet so smooth to the touch.
“And do you, David Thomas Knight, take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife—to love and honor in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for all eternity?�
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I wondered if he’d make me wait, build anticipation for his answer like I unintentionally did, but the words came swiftly from his perfect lips, coloring me with relief as they reached my ears. Two simple words that stood to change my whole life: “I do.”
I slid the ring onto the base of his finger, his smooth melodious voice ringing in my thoughts for the last time as just the boy I loved. The next words I heard from him would be as my husband. And nothing could’ve prepared me for how that would make me feel, melting my heart and hurting it at the same time. I felt like I’d won something valuable, and I knew now that no matter what passed between us, I would never lose him. He wasn’t one to break promises, and neither was I, which meant he could do no amount of wrong that would ever make me leave him. Even though that scared me, it made me feel safe too, like I would never have to ask myself if this was right. It no longer mattered; a promise had been made, and we would stick to it for all of eternity.
“Then, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The celebrant looked at us and smiled, nodding once. “You may kiss the bride.”
David stepped into me and curled his finger beneath my chin, pressing his thumb just under my mouth to make sure our eyes met. “You have just made me the happiest man alive.”
“You still have to seal the promise,” I whispered, smiling. And the golden sun disappeared as I closed my eyes and stood on my toes, my lips reaching for his, meeting in the sweetest, softest kiss ever between us: the first kiss, our first act as husband and wife, and by far the greatest of all my life.
He was mine. I was his. Nothing would ever change that now.
David drew one long breath through his nose and whispered as he drew away, “I still love you as much as the day I met you.”
“And you will forever?”
“Soon.” He nodded. “We still don’t have forever.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the celebrant called over the gathering. “I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Knight.”
The whole yard erupted in a spray of confetti and sky-bound hands. I turned and fell into Emily’s waiting arms, moving to Vicki and Dad next, glancing quickly over my shoulder to see Mike patting David’s back.
“Congratulations, mate,” Mike said.
“Thanks, bro.” David pulled away and took a step back, ushering me to my best friend. I flung myself into Mike’s arms and he held me tight, releasing his hand for only a second as Emily fell into the hug.
“I’m so happy for you, Ara,” Em said.
“I know,” I said, feeling a little sentimental with all the romantic energy in the air. “And you know I’ll always love you guys, right?”
“We know.” Mike kissed the top of my head and then spread his arm out, offering the table behind us. “Come on then, time to sign your life away.”
The celebrant handed David and me a pen, and after scribbling A.R. Knight beside D.T. Knight on our marriage certificate, Mike and Emily signed as our witnesses, completing the promise. And from that moment on we belonged to the well-wishers. Each hug came directly after the other, breaking David and me apart at the hands until we were swallowed up in the crowd on different ends of the yard.
When I finally pulled away from the last hug, I spun around to look for David by the tree—the last place I’d seen him about ten minutes ago. Mike was there, Emily was by the gift table, Alana and Ryan were standing side by side, but no David.
“Right here.”
I exhaled in relief before turning around to the vampire leaning on the house behind me, his hands in his pockets, smiling as if he’d been watching me the whole afternoon.
“Are you okay?” I asked, moving toward him.
“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“You had a funny look on your face for a second.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “I’m okay.”
“Do you miss your family?”
“A little,” he said so casually I almost believed him.
“I’m sorry, David.” I wrapped my arms through his jacket and rested my cheek against his tie.
“Don’t be sorry, sweetheart.” He lifted my face a little. “Keeping our union a secret from them is to protect our future; it’s worth missing my uncle for a few moments in exchange for being with you forever.”
I understood that, but I knew how much it would’ve meant to him for his uncle to see him finally get married, after being together for a hundred-and-twenty years.
“Couldn’t you have at least told him? Surely he wouldn’t have reported your whereabouts.”
David grimaced. “He would be legally bound to. I wouldn’t expect him to break the law for me.”
“I doubt he would’ve minded.”
“That’s not the point though, is it, my love?”
I looked up at him, squinting against the sun’s glare. “I don’t know if I like this law-loving side of you. It scares me.”
“Why?”
“Well, because… what if I broke the law? Would you report me?”
David’s jaw stiffened.
My mouth dropped. “Would you really?”
“I—” He pressed his lips tightly together, breathing out through his nose. “Would Mike?”
“Yes. But that’s human law—it’s different.”
“Why, because you grew up with it?” David stood up from his lean on the wall, wordlessly indicating the need for distance. I stood back from him a little. “I grew up with vampire law, Ara. I always knew what my uncle was. And from the day we moved in with him, we lived by his laws. Breaking vampire laws, to me, is as serious as breaking a human law to you.”
“But—”
“But nothing, Ara,” he reasoned, his voice softening. “Just because you’re new to this world doesn’t make our rules any less significant.”
“That’s a little harsh a conversation for your wedding day, don’t you think?” said a familiar voice from behind.
“Jason?” I turned around, my face unintentionally lighting up.
David stiffened, vertebrae by vertebrae growing straighter. I never noticed it before, but Jason was ever so slightly taller than David. “What are you doing here, brother?”
“Offering my congratulations.” Jason extended his hand, his friendly smile warming the whole afternoon.
David looked away.
Jason cleared his throat, dropping his proffered hand. “May I at least kiss the bride?”
“Don’t even think about it.” David stepped slightly between Jason and me.
“Come now, there’s no need for hostility,” Jason said.
“Then leave,” David said, his eyes slipping across the yard as Mike looked over. And the sky turned gray and cold over Mike. He dropped Emily’s hand and marched toward us, the kindness in his face masked by the hunger of impending battle. I needed to distract them, or this would turn out very bad.
“He’s your brother, David,” I said chirpily and stepped into Jason. “Of course he can kiss his sister.”
Jason offered David a smug grin as he leaned down slowly, and with such familiarity, pecked my cheek.
Mike stopped dead. Emily covered her mouth, and I didn’t even want to know what David did.
“Brother?” Jason smiled, keeping his arm around my waist. “Let’s not make a scene—that’s not why I came.”
“Then why did you?” David said through his teeth.
“I—”
“Hello there.” My dad stepped up beside David. “This must be the brother.”
“Yes, sir.” Jason shook Dad’s hand, his arm tightening around me, while my thoughts rushed suddenly down the path of what Dad would do if he knew Jason was the one who attacked me.
“David said you were overseas and couldn’t make it?”
“Turns out you can bribe your way into anything if it’s to help your brother.”
“Well, it’s nice to finally meet you. I didn’t er…” Dad looked between the two faces, touching his chin. “David never mentioned you
were twins.”
“Well, that’s because I’m the better looking one.” Jason winked at me, figuratively poking the raging bull across from him. To anyone else, David looked clam and almost amused, but I knew that smile was hiding his intentions.
“Well, you should come meet Ara’s friends.” Dad nodded over to the tree. “And Emily’s here. She mentioned you two dated once.”
“That we did,” Jason said, following my dad, and as they turned their backs, a hand landed gently on the nape of my neck.
“Why did you do that?” David pressed my face to his chest, keeping his eyes on Jason.
“Do what?”
“Let him touch you.” His voice trickled with disgust.
“I’m sorry. I knew it’d shock Mike out of his battle walk.”
“Fine.” David exhaled, releasing me. “Just don’t ever do that again.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t.”
Dad walked Jason over to Mike and Emily, branching off to Vicki’s call before making introductions. Anyone who knew Mike could see the hatred mark the invisible line of conflict between them, but all in all they kept things pretty civil.
“If only Dad knew what he just did.” I laughed a little. “By sticking Jason and Mike in the same vicinity.”
We watched Jason offer the exchange of friendship first, and to my surprise, Mike actually obliged, gripping his hand firm enough to break it had Jason been human. He leaned in then and muttered something through his fake smile, his teeth like a cage.
I cuddled into David, wrapping my fingers around his lapels. “What are they saying?”
“Shh.” He held his index finger up, watching intently as Jason’s words sent Mike completely stiff before his head whipped up in our direction.
“Ara.” David’s tone made my blood chill.
“What is it?”
“We have to go. Now.”
“What? Why?”
“Now, Ara,” he repeated, grabbing my arm.
“Go—just go,” Mike said, still running toward us. “I’ll take care of the rest.”
David dragged me in the direction of the low-lying hedge. “Come on.”
“Uh, ladies and gentlemen,” I heard Mike say. “If you’d like to head inside, we have some refreshments and cocktails…”
Dark Secrets Box Set Page 114
