Scion's Freedom (Siren Publishing Classic) (18 page)

“Yes, sir, very, very clear,” David said, holding in whatever anger he felt for having been threatened.

“As things are, to kill you might kill her, and I vant her to live vith the shame of her mistakes. So. My judgment is this. Cassandra, you have never wanted to be a princess of the house of Dracul. You have run from your responsibility at every opportunity. If you want to live eternity as a common nobody, I vill oblige. You are hereby stripped of all title and rank, except those given by the vitches. You are not velcome in my home until such time as I feel you have paid for your stubbornness. You vill be given one million units of the currency of your choice. Make of it vhat you vill. You keep vhatever assets are currently in your possession and those of your servant, Erica Bergeson. David, you vill remain vith her forever. You vill make her happy or you vill wish you had never been born. I may not kill you, but you vill vish I had,” he commanded.

“Yes, sir, I will make her as happy as I can,” David placated. Cassy gave him a quick encouraging smile.

His hard features softened for a moment. He added, “You vill have to live somevere the outside volrd cannot harm you. The choice is yours, but I suggest seeking asylum vith these good Ladies.”

Vlad picked up his coat and prepared to leave. He stopped and knelt down eye level with Cassy and David. “I expect to hear good news in the coming years, if his eyes are to be believed. You may not be a princess, but there might still be hope for a little prince.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Elves. I vould never have guessed such vild magic could do this.” And with that he stood and left without as much as a good-bye.

Cassy turned to David and hugged him. Their joy was interrupted by a throat clearing. They turned in the direction of the noise. Lady Helena and Lady Ursula were waiting to be acknowledged.

“Thank you for everything you have done. I don’t know what you said to him but thank you.” Cassy felt deeply grateful to the elder women.

“We have a dressing down of our own to give you. You brought this on yourself and your mate. What is more, you brought danger to our door with your naïve trust. Gregory compelled our most vulnerable girls to do terrible things. One freed him, one helped kidnap and harm your mate, and one gave him a distraction to attack you and to avenge his birth by setting fire to our nursery. Mother Ellen lost her life saving every last witchling. Our judgment is thus. You will remain with us for a period of no less than 100 years to atone. You will teach in our schools, and you will allow us to observe your mate and any children you may have. We are most curious as to why he is different. Within him may lie the answer to a better way of surviving the ages,” Lady Ursula stated.

“Oh, and you will have my grandson stay on to work with you, David. It will impossible for him to return to the humans, now that he has been outed on your behalf. You and he will improve our security and retrain our young ones in more modern defenses,” she added.

“Yes, Lady. Anything else?” David was anxious. Cassy could tell he wanted to get away.

“Yes, I think there is,” Lady Helena added, “The universe does nothing without a reason. I assign no blame. The answers will come when we are ready for them. While you are here, I expect you two to find a happy, full life. Now, go, children. The night is still young. I expect you have some celebrating to do.” She gave them a wink and a wide smile. “True love ordained by the heavens is a rare thing. Make the most of it.”

Down the hall from her usual bloodred-velvet bedroom, Cassy looked around at the handwoven bright yellow silk wall coverings in Lady Helena’s room. Around her several women stood fussing with her hair, makeup, and dress. They were tittering with such excitement, the air nearly crackled with it. She could feel it brushing her bare shoulders like feathers.

Cassy stood in front of the full-length gilded mirror. Most of her hair had been curled and piled high on her head. The rest was braided into intricate patterns and intertwined with the mass of curls. Holly springs were placed along the top braid for decoration. The chocolate-colored hair made the bright red berries and rich green leaves stand out.

A knock announced a new arrival. Lady Ursula came in quietly. She watched as the last puff of powder was applied and the laces tightened on Cassy’s deep red taffeta corset dress. The full black tulle petticoats showed beneath the knee-length front of the skirt but were hidden in the back by the ankle-length taffeta. The red satin shoes were dyed to match. She gave an appraising nod of approval and dismissed the remaining helpers, who filed out of the room still giggling.

She approached Cassy, pulling a small box from her pocket. She opened the lid and handed it to Cassy. Inside was a signet ring and matching picture locket in a very old bezel. The pieces could have been called antiquities, judging by their age. Cassy thought they were exquisite.

“I thought you might like something of your mother’s on your big day. You father offered it to us as a part of his restitution payment,” she beamed. “It seemed a shame to keep these from you.”

Cassy was speechless. She put both hands to her mouth in an effort to not cry. Never had she been given her mother’s jewelry. It was a born vampire tradition that such things would be passed on as a wedding gift. As Cassy had refused to marry the man her father had selected, she was denied her trousseau.

“Thank you,” she whispered. It was all she could manage. A lump formed in her throat preventing anything else from being said. Cassy had on several occasions over the last few days wished her mother could have been with her. And here, in a small box, she was. She had to swallow hard several times just to breathe correctly.

The elder woman twirled her finger over the box’s contents. The large gold oval locket lifted out of the box, unclasped itself, and encircled Cassy’s neck. She felt the clasp catch. Inside was a small porcelain disk with her mother’s portrait painted on the creamy background. Cassy’s eyes looked back at her framed with the same chocolate ringlets she saw in the mirror. The other disk held her father’s portrait painted in the same exquisite detail. She translated the Romanian inscription on the back. “Everything comes to he who waits. To C.M.D. From V.T.D. 1829”

The ring rose into the air and came to rest on Cassy’s right middle finger. The engraved D gave the polished, smooth, obsidian surface texture. A small blood-red ruby set on either side of the center stone was embedded in the gold band.

“There. I think you are finally finished. Now, I believe there is a young man downstairs waiting most impatiently for you, my dear,” Lady Ursula said. She opened the door with a wave and led the way. Her metered pace was too slow for Cassy. It was all she could do not to run ahead of her escort.

The house had been filled with Yule trees and festive decorations for a week in preparations for the coming holidays and festivities. Candles flickered on every flat surface making the corners as bright as the center of the rooms. Tonight there were no dark shadows lurking anywhere. Winter flowers graced the opulent home. Evergreen swags draped the full length of the spiral staircase banisters tied with bright red bows. Mistletoe hung from every doorway and floated under the chandeliers.

The indoor courtyard’s palms had been replaced with a bowery altar decorated in Yule colors. It was open on all sides to allow the occupants to be viewed by the whole room. Under it stood Lady Helena in her best black satin robe tied with a spun-silver cord belt. Beside her were two tuxedoed men. David wore a holly-green tie and cummerbund and stood absolutely still staring as she walked down the stairs. He looked at her as if he were seeing her beauty for the very first time.

* * * *

David’s insides felt like a churning sea. He discreetly double-checked his tuxedo for lint. His satin, holly-green cummerbund and bow-tie were straight. Mills stood beside him whispering reassurances to him. After all, they were already a permanent couple. What was there to be so nervous about anyway?

He knew they going to be together forever, but this somehow made it seem official. The guests had come to watch him make an honest woman of the High Prince’s wayward daughter. The whole house was decorated for Yule. Extra decorations had been brought in to mark the occasion. Watching the details go into place over the last few weeks had driven home the seriousness of the ceremony.

The instant she came into sight on the stairs, he knew it. Her gaze pulled his. His heartbeats strengthened because she was so near. Lady Ursula’s paused procession gave him a chance to really look at her in all her finery.

The intricately braided chocolate hair piled up playfully with her curls. The bright leaves and berries stood out against the dark mass. Her deep red taffeta corset dress made a mesmerizing swishing noise as she moved. The black and red of the fabrics made her creamy-pale skin seem whiter than usual. She was a beautiful porcelain doll made just for him. She was looking at him, smiling at him, coming down those stairs just for him. For a moment, they were the only people in the entire world.

* * * *

Everyone smiled as music began, announcing the start of the ceremony. The gathered crowd parted to let the bride pass. Familiar faces she had known over the many long years and some that were new watched. Uniformed officers mixed with the supernatural.

Cassy felt so light and jubilant her feet hardly touched the ground. The click of her heels disappeared after a few more steps. She walked on air the rest of the way. She was sure, if she had wanted, she could have flown.

As she reached her final destination, she offered him both hands. Relief and satisfaction filled her instantly as they touched. A similar look of contentment crossed his face. It was like coming home after being gone for too long. The rest of the world melted away. As far as she was concerned, they were the only two people in the room.

Lady Helena began, “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathering tonight to officially bring into sanctified union this man and this woman. Yule has forever been the favored night of vampires. As is tradition, this couple will exchange vows on the longest night of the year to symbolize their desire to live their lives together as one endless night.” She launched into the handfasting service.

Cassy had eyes for no one and nothing else. She barely heard the elder crone recite the ancient ritual. Twice her responses had to be prompted. She was lost to his rapt attention. The world could have ended, and she would not have noticed.

He grinned at her in return. More than once his best man, Mills, had to elbow him. In the end he remembered his lines and repeated his vows along with her. He managed to get the wide band of gold onto her left ring finger, never taking his eyes from hers.

A thin white ribbon snaked its way into a knot around their clasped hands. It became warm and gave off a golden glow. Once the light had faded away, it remained around their hands but untied.

“Remember, it is not the knot or ring that binds but the soul. I ask the Mother of us all to bless these two lovers with the eternal night they each desire. You are now and forever as your hearts have always held you to be, husband and wife,” Lady Helena announced.

Around them applause broke out along with sniffles and cheers. A few wolfish howls were heard. Zinging of sprite and fairy wings hummed around their heads.

“Well, go on. Kiss already. You have an eternity to stare at one another,” Lady Helena teased with a chuckle.

David needed no further prompting. He drew Cassy in, kissing her sweetly on the lips. More cheers erupted. Pixie dust landed on her cheeks and lashes. Cassy went up on tiptoe to return the kiss with more earnest effort. She did not want this moment to end.

* * * *

All David could see were Cassy’s silver-gray eyes staring up at him. There were long pauses where he was sure Lady Helena was reciting something, but he did not hear anything except the in-time beating of their hearts. Cassy spoke directly to him. Those words he heard. She promised to love, honor, cherish, and keep him as long as the moon rose and the sun set.

Everything went quiet again. Mills elbowed him in the ribs and whispered the response. It took two tries to find his voice when his turn came to recite the vows. Every word he spoke rang through to his very soul. She would be his and only his. He would be hers and only hers for as long as the moon rose and the sun set. Forever.

The ring shook as he managed to get it onto her finger. A thin white ribbon tied itself around their clasped hands, glowing gold, fading, and then untying. Lady Helena’s words finally made it through to his ears when she added a bit of magic to them at the end.

When she instructed them to kiss, he drew Cassy to him and gently kissed her sweet lips. Cassy lifted up on tiptoe to better kiss him back. Their hearts soared, and, for a moment, the Earth stopped turning.

* * * *

“Okay, you two. There’s a banquet to get to,” Mills reminded them. “Some of us still eat real food, you know.” Laughter came from the immediate group close enough to hear his comment.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Lord David and Lady Cassandra of the House of Dracul,” Lady Helena announced. More clapping was followed by people filing by on their way to the dining hall. Elves, fairies, and brownies lingered by the greenery as the witches, werewolves, and vampire guests left the room first.