The Crimson Bond (19 page)

            Just then I heard Alex’s voice in that intimate way only he and I could communicate.
Brooke, give your excuses to Anna and Paul. We need to get out of here.

I rolled my eyes at the order and responded as sarcastically as possible.
Yes, master
.

CHAPTER 22

            Once I stepped out of the bar, I immediately saw Alex’s BMW parked by the curb. I could see a member of his security team in the driver’s seat, so I climbed into the back seat. Alex was sitting inside waiting for me, his face giving away nothing.

            Knowing I would want to know why we were leaving so abruptly, he wasted no time in explaining. “Ethan came by to alert us that some of his security had spotted a couple of vampires known to work for the Regency in this area. He thought we might need to lay low for a while until we see what their intentions are. My guess is that they‘re just keeping an eye on us. I think your father is keeping them off our backs for now.”

            Oddly enough, this information didn’t concern me like I thought it would. Maybe I was still riding the high of an eternity with Alex. Plus, not only did I have some pretty awesome powers, I basically had an army of vampire security guards protecting me. Not to mention the fact that Alex and Ethan were vastly powerful in their own right. I smiled to myself at the thought of how protective Alex was of me. After years and years of feeling like I had no one that truly cared what happened to me, it was mind boggling that this man cared so much. Even as a small child, I was pretty much on my own, struggling my way through life. Having Alex worry about me, protect me, and anchor me, was the best feeling ever.

            “You know what? I‘m thinking that I owe the Regency big time for providing that timely exit. As happy as I was to see Anna, I was so ready to get you all to myself.”

            I slid over in the seat and up into his lap. I was, for the first time in my life, so perfectly content that even the Regency, or my father, or Lucien couldn’t dampen the feeling. The sun, moon, and stars had finally aligned for me and I was exactly where I needed to be- in the arms of the one who made an eternity worth living. “How did I get so lucky?” I brushed his dark hair off his forehead, marveling at how stunningly perfect he was, even up close.

EPILOGUE

            Oh, boy I was nervous. As the silky underlay of the delicate white lace dress slid over my head and down my body I took a steadying breath. I looked up into the full length mirror and couldn’t believe that this was really happening. My hair tumbled down my back and was swept away from my face with a series of intricate twists. I looked desperately over at Anna who seemed to read the panic on my face.

            “Brooke, don’t freak out. You and Alex have been to hell and back, literally, and you deserve this day.” Her gaze took me in and she smiled. “Seriously, you’re gonna blow him away.”

            I wasn’t really sure what it was about actually getting married that I found terrifying. Heck, I had handled being turned into a vampire like a champ, but now all I had to do was walk down the aisle and into Alex’s arms and I was a nutcase. A lot had to do with the huge number of guests that awaited me outside. I really, I mean really, didn’t like getting in front of crowds and most of the people out there I had never even met. Somehow our little wedding had ended up transforming into an event. With Alex, that shouldn’t have surprised me. I closed my eyes trying to channel my inner starlit. It was no use, I wasn’t going to feel comfortable being in the spotlight and that wasn’t going to change in the next few minutes. I opened my eyes and turned to face Anna.

            “Thank you so much for being here for me. I don’t know if I could have done this without you.” I rolled my eyes. “Why couldn’t I talk Alex into eloping?”

Anna gave me a playful look. “Because, Brooke, Alex wants to make sure everyone knows you’re his. There was no way he was letting you get away with that.”

            “Ugh, lets do this thing.”

            When I stepped outside and saw the dark night lit with thousands of twinkling lights I was stunned. Alex had made me promise to let him handle this part, which I thought was a little odd, but he reasoned that it was his fault we were having this massive wedding, so he would take some of the wedding planning stress away from me. And boy had he delivered. He was giving me something I hadn’t even known I wanted, until now. A long red velvet runway sprinkled with white rose petals led through rows of guests to an archway covered in massive amounts of blood red roses. And there Alex stood, looking so utterly gorgeous that I forgot all about feeling nervous and thought of nothing except him. Everyone and everything else melted from my vision and it was just me and Alex.

            Finally, I took a step forward, intent on making it too him, and was startled when an arm slipped through mine. When I looked over, I could not have been more shocked.

Demetrie smiled down at me and then leaned to whisper into my ear. “Brooke, please let me do this for you. I know I have failed in a lot of ways, but please let me do something right, for once.”

            Our eyes met and held and something passed between us that felt like a truce of sorts. I nodded and turned my eyes back to Alex, who was watching me intently. He smiled when he realized that I wasn’t upset with my father’s appearance, and I wondered if he was behind that too. I walked up the aisle with my eyes on Alex and no one else. When my hand finally slid into his and he pulled me next to him, it felt like the sun, moon and stars were all aligning and everything in my world was right. I made it through the vows without missing a beat, but knew I was in trouble when Alex turned to me with a devilish grin. My eyes widened as he pulled me to him and then dipped me backwards in a long kiss. The crowd cheered and I could feel my vampire blood going straight to my cheeks. He pulled back a little and looked at me with his gorgeous glowing blue eyes. If my heart could have skipped a beat it would have.

            “I love you Alex,” I breathed.

            Alex ran the back of his hand gently down the side of my face. “Je t'aime de tout mon coeur, pour le reste d'éternité.” It was absolutely beautiful and I picked up the French word for love, but other than that, I had no idea what he said. I looked at him quizzically. He smiled and said. “It’s French for; I love you with all of my heart, for the rest of eternity.”

            I pulled his lips back to mine. “You are such a show off,” I whispered against them. And then I kissed him with everything I had.