Darklight 7: Darkfall

by Forrest, Bella

  "What's with that face on your wedding day?" Roxy asked, elbowing me playfully. I was grabbing a piece of cake with a concentrated smile. There was no seaweed in this one; it was brought from the Mortal Plane using a special box Reshi constructed. I watched with amusement as Bravi took a curious bite from the human cake and gagged. Vampires couldn’t take nourishment from solid food, but apparently that didn’t stop them from wondering what all the fuss was about.

  "I'm fine," I promised Roxy. "But Bravi might have a cavity now."

  "I just wanted to try it," Bravi muttered and half retched, spitting it out into a napkin. “Yuck.” Juneau tapped her plate with a pleading look. He had frosting on the corner of his mouth.

  "I love it," he gushed. She pushed her plate toward him, and he happily ate what was left. I wondered if Laini had ever dealt with Juneau on a sugar rush… They were sweet together and much closer than usual in the open, which warmed my heart.

  Laughing, I looked out at the rest of the party. Festivities were well underway, as the dancing had begun. Pyma was teaching a few vampire children a traditional vampiric dance. I spotted Halla sitting by herself, watching the festivities without expression. She had been quiet since Kane’s disappearance. She spent most of her time with Myndra and Sabal these days, from what Bravi told me. Myndra was still in handcuffs, but she moved her head to the music. She appeared to enjoy things sometimes and experienced moments of clarity, but Sabal kept a close eye on her. Myndra rarely spoke, but she managed a smile for Dorian when he walked over to speak with them.

  Rhome snatched up Carwin from the nearby table before the boy could smear a handful of cake into his sister's hair. He caught my eye and gave me a weary look. Roxy saw the whole thing go down and sauntered over to help, scooping Detra into her arms for a quick rescue. The kids had enjoyed tasting the cake more than Bravi, but they appeared to like throwing it more. Kreya sat quietly beside Rhome. She had been doing better, but… there was still something in her face that wasn't quite right. She was fragile, but at least able to hold a short conversation these days. One of her hands often drifted to pat Carwin or Detra on the hand as they passed by. The harvester children joined in for a game of chase with Roxy and Detra. Rhome set Carwin back on the ground, letting him loose to join the fray.

  From a spot in one of the high trees, Drigar looked down upon us in his comfy nest. I smiled up at him. It was nice to have so many people and creatures I cared about with us.

  I never expected my wedding to be so bittersweet, but it was somehow perfect regardless. It seemed fitting for me and Dorian, who’d always had plenty of pain to go with pleasure from the very beginning of our relationship. Dorian appeared back at my side, interrupting my musings. He'd disappeared with Reshi, who now smiled mischievously at me. I raised a brow at them, but Dorian shot me a look as if to say that we would talk about it later. What had they done? Made me another ring?

  Bryce came up to us, leaving the other dancers for a moment. "I noticed you two haven't graced the dance floor yet," he pointed out meaningfully.

  "I'm trying to eat my cake," I argued with a laugh. And I still had to say hello to hundreds of people trying to offer congratulations, some of whom knew of me, but I hadn't met yet. Apparently, my adventures with Dorian had spread far and wide. "A vampire child asked me if it was true that I fought off Inkarri with my hand tied behind my back. I think our tale is being exaggerated a bit."

  Bryce's eyes twinkled. "That's the magic of stories. In three hundred years, they'll say you grew eight feet tall to slay Irrikus himself with your vampire lover. It's the nature of folklore. I say let the kids have it."

  I nodded, swallowing cake. My strength and training had come back to me easily now that I was on a steady, nutritious diet again in the Mortal Plane. My muscles felt alive as I leaned against Dorian.

  "Cake?" I offered. He shook his head. Ah, so Bravi's opinion had already gotten to him.

  "There goes the next couple to be wed," Bryce said, and pointed to the dance floor, where Juneau and Laini had gone. They were dancing a mix between a ruler's waltz and a traditional vampire dance. They weathered a few disapproving glances, but the Coalition was in charge now. Mixed-caste relationships were no longer forbidden. Bryce's eye wandered to Arlonne, who was teasing the wildling she’d returned the trumpet to earlier.

  My ex-captain cleared his throat awkwardly. "Say, your necklaces… Reshi, do you think you could reverse engineer them?" We stared at him. My fork hovered halfway to my mouth, frozen with shock that he’d asked outright.

  "Maybe," she said vaguely, clearly enjoying the sight of a squirming Bryce.

  "Why do you ask?" I voiced innocently, but I was teasing him. I knew exactly why.

  "No reason," Bryce blurted, and turned away to watch the musicians. Dorian grinned at me before kissing a spot of frosting off my cheek.

  His mouth twisted. "How do you eat this?"

  I rolled my eyes. "Let me enjoy my cake. You can go find a bad guy in the woods to drink from." Reshi burst out into a dry laugh and left us, shaking her head. I wondered what she and Dorian had talked about, but I'd ask him later.

  A familiar gangly figure emerged from the dance floor and collapsed onto the bench beside Bravi.

  "How's my favorite war hero?" Sike asked as he clinked Bravi's cup with his own glass. She rolled her eyes. Bravi was humble, but she was a famous general to all vampires now. Sike wiggled his eyebrows. "You know, I've had half a dozen vampire men out there ask me when you're coming to the dance floor."

  Bravi screwed up her face in confusion. "Why would a general dance?"

  We laughed, and she stared at us, clearly not understanding the intent behind the requests. Sike leaned to whisper something to her, and realization dawned on Bravi’s face.

  “Oh. Right.” Reluctantly, she glanced at the dance floor and appraised a few male vampires looking her way.

  "I'll only dance with someone who can best me in a fight," she announced, and swaggered off to challenge the potential dancers to a wrestling match first. A line formed in short order. Sike clapped his hands together gleefully. He was fully healed and energetic tonight.

  "You're in high spirits," I told him. He nodded enthusiastically.

  "It's not every day that all your kin get together to build their own city." He beamed at us. "Congratulations, by the way. I only wish Louise could’ve seen this."

  I nodded, knowing how things had ended abruptly between the two. Still, Sike regarded her as someone he cared about. We hadn’t been able to get any word from her in our recent communications, but I hoped she was okay. Our Bureau contacts had said she was on assignment and couldn’t be reached. Sike was disappointed when I told him, but there wasn’t much we could do.

  Laini called Sike to the dance floor, interrupting our chat, to join her and Juneau. He left Dorian and me to sit with our drinks. Dorian wrapped his arm around me tightly.

  "It's beautiful, even if it's hard," he muttered after a moment. I understood him completely. I wished those we lost could be here, but they were here in their own way. I felt love tonight from everyone. That was enough. The tents around us lit up with soul-lanterns as the sky darkened. Dorian's heartbeat was more beautiful than the music to me.

  As the night went on, someone demanded a toast from us. We had danced several songs in a row, so I let Dorian make it. I raised my glass as I watched my new husband address all our guests and loved ones.

  "To those who couldn't be here," Dorian said, lifting his glass. "To each of you, and to everyone you've ever loved. Let's share the burdens and the joys of this new world together."

  Cheers fully erupted now. The somber air melted away into pure celebration as everyone clinked their glasses. I drank, thinking of my brother and how—if he had been here—he would wear the biggest smile of all.

  The floating souls above us traversed the sky like Mortal Plane shooting stars. They were making their way to the afterlife. I leaned back to watch them go.

  Everything had
an end, but sometimes the end was beautiful.

  42

  Lyra

  The party lasted until the early hours of soul-dim. I rubbed my eyes, tired from the laughter and occasional tears that came with the festivities. Our friends faded out one by one, some to the communal tents and others curling up on the ground on a bedroll wherever their tired feet landed them.

  They had prepared a tent for Dorian and me. Bravi had assured us that there were full patrols out tonight, keeping us safe from any surprise attacks from rogue rulers who managed to escape Itzarriol. They hadn’t all been rounded up yet. We were not allowed to volunteer for them. Our friends had wanted us to have this night together.

  One of the wildlings gestured to it. Roxy, half asleep with a gaggle of harvester children, managed to tell me that it was far enough away that we wouldn’t have to worry about privacy. I almost blushed at her suggestion, but I was married now, and there was no point getting embarrassed. It was just a bit strange that everyone knew what we were going off to do.

  I said as much to Dorian as he helped me pick my way through the path of wild greenery the wildlings had forged for us. In the distance, the tent looked beautiful. It was made from thick fabrics carefully woven together with golden ropes and decorated with the same purple vines and amber flowers from the clearing. And Roxy was right: it was hundreds of yards away from anyone else. Under the soft call of immortal birds, nobody would be able to hear us. We could truly be alone.

  "All cultural traditions seem a bit strange, when you think about them," Dorian said with a tiny smile as he took my arm. "You know, in vampire culture, I'd have already made the home we would've lived in."

  I grew warm from his touch. "That would've been beautiful." Our empty apartment in Chicago and the training camp would have to work for now. "But this is perfect. I just want to be with you." I stared down at the ring on my hand and fought against the disbelief that we were truly married now. It seemed too wild. I looked up as we stopped in front of the tent. The smell of jasmine, very human, hung in the air. Some of our friends must've brought some for us. The jasmine hung on the corners of the tents alongside the amber flowers.

  Glowing lichen and candles greeted us as Dorian led me into the tent. My breath left me as I admired the carved bed. It was ornate, a king-sized thing that could've come from Juneau's estate. To my surprise, Dorian stiffened as his hand landed on the polished wood.

  "It's made from the wood the redbills nest in," he explained in a tight voice, full of emotion. "It's extremely difficult to carve, but vampires do it with the help of redbill claws. They must've spent ages making this for us." I blushed from the sheer care that went into everything tonight. I wondered how we could repay our friends, but we were going to start by enjoying their gift. I let my hand rest over Dorian's and leaned against his shoulder. The bedspread was violet and stitched with golden thread that glinted beneath the glowing lichen. Jasmine petals were strewn across the bedding. Candles rested on two tables flanking the bed, already aglow.

  It was everything a bride and groom could've wanted. My heart quickened. I’d wanted to be with Dorian for so long, but I was still nervous.

  I glanced at the corner, surprised to see more furniture crafted from the same wood. A sitting couch sat next to a stand with a washbasin in it. On the couch, presents were piled high. I immediately saw several of the flower crowns the harvester children never grew tired of making. I smiled to myself as I floated toward the couch.

  "Should we look at presents first?" I asked, trying out a smile. Could he see the pleading in my eyes? I just wanted to slow down for a few minutes. "Not that I don't want to kiss you again…"

  He rubbed my thumb with his own, an understanding gesture. "I have a present for you, so I think you have the right idea."

  I glanced at him curiously, my eyebrow quirking upward. "Does this have anything to do with your conversation with Reshi?"

  "Maybe," he answered mysteriously, and pecked me on the cheek as he joined me on the couch. He lifted a box. It was addressed to me from Laini and Juneau. I inwardly cheered at their presence as a duo on the card. Dorian lifted something for both of us from the pile.

  "You open that one while I open this," I told him as I pried the box's lid off Laini and Juneau’s gift. I gasped as a gorgeous piece of fabric greeted my eye. Laini and Juneau had given me a sumptuous robe with a portrait of a redbill spreading its wings on the back, surrounded by blooming flowers and fire. I turned to Dorian to see him holding a beautiful new blade with pearly white material at the handle.

  "‘A blade for the lovebirds, from Bravi,’" he said, reading the note attached. “‘Lovingly fashioned from the ruined remains of Irrikus’s own armory.’” How sweet and vengeful of her.

  His eyes sparked as I slipped the robe over my shoulders, showing off the gorgeously embroidered detail. "You look beautiful."

  The other gifts were small, useful things and a jar full of well wishes from everyone. I picked up the box that my robe came in and frowned, feeling a weight shift inside it.

  "There’s something else," Dorian said. "I can hear it in the bottom of the box." He organized our other gifts as I pawed at the box, the robe half slipping off my shoulders. A secret present? I found the box's false bottom and pulled it up with a tiny, hidden string.

  I lifted a garment out, along with a note. "‘Lyra, Laini doesn't know I'm putting this in. Don't tell or she'll yell at me. Enjoy your wedding night in style. Love, Juneau.’" I let out a chuckle as I spread out the garment before Dorian, who stared at it with wide eyes.

  "Oh, that's very nice."

  "Of course you'd say that," I said, amused despite myself. It was a ruler's lingerie piece, fit for a queen. The white lace was intricate, with plenty of shiny beadwork. If I wore it, it would scarcely cover me. "Juneau is quite the designer. You know, I think I recognize this design from one of his murals in the bath." Lingerie wasn’t exactly my thing, but the fabric in my hands emboldened me. I did want Dorian to desire me, and maybe I would try it on someday, but… it was a bit much, for tonight. I didn’t need any help tonight. I folded it and set it back inside, silently appreciating Juneau for the joke and the release of tension that came with it.

  Dorian grinned. Warmth sparked in his patient, loving eyes. "Don't remind me of that torturous night."

  I met his gaze with a challenging tilt of my chin. “There’s no curse between us now,” I reminded him. “No wandering eyes to come find us.” As I spoke, the heat inside the tent seemed to increase. I didn’t think it was the candles.

  Dorian’s grin turned rakish, but he hesitated before removing a small box from the pocket of his wedding tunic. It was black and plain, but I knew that Reshi often delivered her inventions without much fanfare.

  "What is it?" I asked as he opened the box. Two metal bracelets… or anklets rested on velvet fabric. They were plain silver, with no inscriptions. I reached for one and curiously picked it up to examine in the candlelight. It looked similar to the necklaces around our throats. "This is what you were talking to Reshi about?"

  In the soft light of the candles, Dorian's sheepish expression gave me pause. His brows were knit together seriously, so seriously that I thought I'd just made a grave misstep by saying something offensive on accident. Had he planned these to be special?

  "Not that they’re not lovely," I said hastily, fumbling for the right words.

  "It's not that. I didn't ask her to make them beautiful." It was his turn to search for the right words. His hand came to rest on my knees. "I asked Reshi to provide us with something to prevent fertility."

  Everything fell into place. "Oh," I said faintly. Pregnancy had been the farthest thing from my mind until this moment, but I was glad Dorian had thought of it. "That’s a good idea."

  I had occasionally wondered if Dorian and I could even have children. Were our bodies compatible enough? How would the child turn out? Would it even be safe? Due to our difference in species, it would be irresponsible to risk preg
nancy if we had no idea what sort of life we’d be giving him or her. Echen had told me tales of a hybrid child when he once mistook Sike and me for a couple, but we’d never found evidence of one. It could have been a vampire’s version of an urban legend. We would have to think about it later… after we’d found our parents, and after we managed to answer the questions about what being a human and vampire couple meant in the long run, whether it could even result in a healthy child.

  Dorian gently gestured to my foot. So, it was an anklet. He slipped mine on, and a tiny jolt of warmth flew up my leg. His fingers brushed against my skin, and another spark followed, but it was decidedly pleasant this time. I sighed and did the same for him, enjoying the way he tensed and then relaxed under my touch. I let my fingers hover over his anklet. The higher planes were weighing me down with jewelry these days, between the arbiters’ necklace, Lanzon’s stone, and my wedding ring. Fortunately, the anklet was inconspicuous.

  Dorian's hand went to the stone around my neck. I hadn't realized my fingers had fluttered to it, like a moth to a flame, when I’d thought of it. I’d wanted to wear it to our wedding, but a large clunky bracer would’ve spoiled the effect of Juneau’s beautiful dress.

  "I remember giving you that stone as if it happened yesterday," he muttered hoarsely. His voice straddled the line between desire and nostalgia. "I always knew it was yours."

  I closed the space between us, unable to resist the sight of his lips any longer. He pulled me hard against him. He was warm and safe. I sighed into the contact, enjoying the way my hands knew to instinctively lace into his gorgeous dark hair.

  We made our way to the bed. Dorian led me with a steady hand. The mattress was soft and perfumed, although only subtly. Dorian chuckled as he sniffed.