Page 88 of Tower of Ash and Darkness
“You know I’m very astute,” she says with a wink, flicking my nose lightly with her finger.
I glance at her, a grin tugging at my lips despite my growing embarrassment. I feel my face flush deeper, knowing exactly where this is going.
“Maybe…” I mumble, burying my face in my hands.
“I knew it!” she laughs triumphantly.
Sera flits about, basking in her victory, before disappearing intothe bathing chamber. A moment later, the faucet groans to life. The sound of rushing water fills the room, soft and steady, as steam curls into the air, delicate and slow, fogging the mirror and wrapping the room in warmth.
“Now get in here. We’ve got to wash that desire off you before your future husband sees it!” she calls over her shoulder, her teasing tone cutting through my thoughts.
I follow slowly, each step feeling heavier than the last. The realization hits me like a blow, my cheeks burning hotter as I stop in the doorway.
It’s my wedding day.
The bells toll in the distance, their chimes echoing through the castle walls and into my chambers. The sound reverberates inside me, surreal, as though it belongs to someone else’s life. I linger in the doorway, frozen, until Sera peeks her head out from the steam-filled bathing chamber.
“Lailah!” Her voice jolts me back to the moment. “We don’t have all day to stand around. Get in here!”
The warm air wraps around me as I step into the chamber. The water glistens, inviting, but it does little to soothe the unease twisting in my stomach. Sera busies herself with preparations, her movements quick and purposeful. The occasional sound of a pin dropping or fabric rustling breaks the silence.
I sink into the water, letting the heat soak into my skin. My mind drifts, but the nervous energy buzzing under my skin refuses to settle. The bells toll again, louder this time, pulling me back to reality.
When I step out of the bath, Sera is waiting, cloth in hand. She gestures toward the vanity with a firm motion, and I let her guide me, too distracted to argue.
Her hands move quickly as she begins pinning my hair with her usual practiced precision. The silence is punctuated only by the occasional brush of her fingers against my skin. I close my eyes, inhaling deeply, trying to stay calm. Jason’s face flashes in my mind, his golden-brown eyes filled with a warmth I used to know so well.
I wonder what he’ll think when he sees me tonight, when this union becomes reality.
The wedding day—though, more accurately, the wedding night—is unlike anything humans would know. For vampires, such unions are rare. They marry only when they find their other half, the one who completes their soul. It is said they marry for love. Humans, though… We marry for survival, for alliances, for power. I can only hope love might bloom again in the cracks between.
When Sera steps back, I finally look up, catching my reflection in the mirror. For a breath, I don’t recognize myself. The long burgundy tulle dress clings to my figure, cascading to the floor in a dramatic train. The bodice rises tightly around my neck, forming a delicate collar, while the daring slit down the center reveals far more than I’m used to. My hair tumbles in loose waves to my waist, and atop my head rests a jagged black diamond crown, its spikes cutting into the air like stars caught in shadow.
My eyes, lined with thick black liner, look sharper than usual, their ocean blue hue even more piercing. My lips are painted a deep red, darker than the gown, darker than my thoughts. Sera clasps a black diamond bracelet around my crimson-gloved wrist, her doe-like eyes wide with awe.
“You look…” She pauses, stepping back, her hands resting lightly on my shoulders. “Deadly gorgeous,” she whispers, her smile soft but proud.
The bells toll again.
I glance down, inhaling deeply as I brace myself for what comes next. My father will be pleased, seeing me draped in the blood-red hue so beloved by our court. The color will make me a vision, a temptation, a prize. But as the thought lingers, another image sears itself into my mind—evergreen eyes, pulling me into memories I shouldn’t dwell on.
My breath catches, my hand moving instinctively to my stomach as I try to steady myself.
“Are you ready?” Sera asks, her voice low, as though sensing the weight of the question.
I meet her gaze in the mirror, lifting my chin as I exhale slowly. The answer sits heavy in my chest, a truth I can’t avoid.
“I am,” I say, steadying my voice though the nerves beneath it threaten to crack.
It’s just a marriage of opportunity. Nothing more.
I lift my eyes, only to find that I look more lethal than bridal. A small smile tugs at my lips, but it’s cold, controlled. I try to command my mask to hide away the weaknesses that stir beneath the surface.
“Let’s do this,” I finally say, my voice firm.
As we move down the grand hall, cool night air brushing my skin, my gaze settles on my father standing by the temple doors. The hall leading to the temple is more open to the elements than enclosed, each pillar framed with wide, open doors. The long passage stretches a hundred yards along the base of the palace walls. No one comes to the temple anymore, save for the priests of Astral. My father was never thrilled that my wedding ceremony was to be held in the confines of a human religion, but then again, I’m marrying a mortal man.
As we turn to face my father, I catch his eyes drifting over my frame, a satisfied smile forming as they linger. His gaze meets mine once again, and without a word, he unfurls a blood-red cloak, draping it over my shoulders. The heavy fabric falls around me, both protective and smothering. As my father bends down to kiss my cheek, he stays silent. Nothing needs to be said. This is simply what is required of me.
