Page 67 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 2
FIFTEEN
I should be nervous. Whenever I thought about my wedding day in the past, it certainly wasn't to someone I'd only known for a few months, or in front of this many people.
And it certainly wasn't going to make me a princess.
And yet, the idea of walking to the marriage stones and exchanging blood with Linc doesn't fill me with dread. It would perhaps have been better if we'd been able to take our relationship at our own pace and get married when we were ready, but I don't mind too much that this is how it's turned out.
"Are you ready?"
I turn to find Lord Fallmartin approaching me. He doesn't look particularly nervous either. I'm not sure if he's just confident in my feelings towards Linc, or if he has spies amongst the servants who have told him that we've spent a lot of time together. Probably both.
"Yes," I respond.
"Then we should make our entrance." He offers me his arm.
I nod and flip the black veil over my face.
"You look beautiful," he tells me.
"Thank you."
"And like a true Rothorne."
For some reason, the words cause a flood of emotions within me. Potentially because they're not what I expect him to say.
He holds out his arm to me. I take a deep breath and slip my own through it. He leads me into the clearing and towards the stones.
The King stands at the wedding stones, and the first hint of nerves make themselves known. I've been aware that he's the one carrying out the ceremony ever since I realised it was Linc I was marrying, but that feels different now that I'm actually faced with it.
There's a larger crowd than there was for either Eliza or Bastian's wedding, which isn't a huge surprise given the fact that I'm marrying into the royal family. Most of the guests are probably here to see Linc get married and not me.
He turns from his position to the right of the stones, and my breath catches in my throat. I've never seen him dressed quite like this, even at all of the balls we've attended. His coat is somewhat square, and quartered in the red and blue of House Soveguine, and with the large golden crown embroidered on the front. Tassels drape over his shoulders in a way that looks far from practical but definitely gives his jacket an elegance I haven't seen before. But his light blond curls are still a little unruly, and the smile on his face is clearly just for me, reminding me that this is the Linc I know and love. Thankfully, the bruising around his nose has disappeared and no one will be any the wiser about Bastian punching him.
I ignore all of the eyes on me and focus on the man in front of me. This is the day we've been waiting for. Once we say the vows, neither of our fathers can change their minds, and we won't be stuck marrying strangers.
Lord Fallmartin comes to a stop close to Linc and gives me a surprisingly doting look. He doesn't give me any instructions about what to do or how to act. I suspect he knows that I'm going to do everything the way he wants me to anyway.
He turns to bow to the King, which I take as my cue to curtsy. I repeat the gesture to Linc as my father steps back into the crowd.
"Hi," Linc says quietly.
"Hi." I meet his gaze through my veil, glad that it's him I'm looking at.
The King clears his throat. "We're here to see the union of Prince Lincoln of House Soveguine and Lady Beatrice Fallmartin of House Rothorne," he says loudly. "Lady Beatrice, if you would."
I nod and slowly raise my veil, leaving my face unobstructed.
"I offer you my blood as a symbol of our union," I say, lifting my wrist to my mouth and biting down. There's a brief sting, especially when I remove my fangs without drinking, but I know that will pass quickly. I'm still a little worried about drinking Linc's blood in front of so many witnesses, especially when we've only ever done it while in bed together, but I know that we just have to get through this part.
"I accept," Linc says, taking my arm and lifting it to his lips.
My eyes close as he draws my blood into him. It's not the same as when we're in bed, but it's still intimate, and I'm glad I don't have to share this moment with anyone else.
Linc pulls back, swiping his thumb over the holes my teeth left. I know it's just to help them heal, but it still feels like a tender moment I didn't expect to feel at the wedding stones.
He smiles and lifts his own wrist to his mouth, sinking his fangs through the skin. "I offer you my blood as a symbol of our union."
My heart races as I step closer and lower my mouth to the blood on his wrist. "I accept," I murmur, almost forgetting what I'm supposed to do. I don't suppose the words really matter, it's the act of sharing the blood that seals the union. Or at least, I assume it is, I honestly don't know enough about how this works to be certain about that.
