Thirty…

Thirty: Hearts & Souls

One picture contains brief nudity and sexual content.

Aubrey and Vaclav’s wedding was held a few weeks after her return to Shadowvale.

Just as Vaclav promised, there were a myriad of guests and beautiful decorations.

One of the immortals held Reznik.

Also, just as Vaclav promised, there was a priest.

Wow, did he look familiar.

Aubrey glared at Reverend Reese.

You fuckwad.

Then she glanced at the roomful of vampires. They still made her nervous. What if one of them were as insane as John Lansing?

Aubrey wondered if there’d ever be a time when she’d feel completely safe again… probably not as long as she lived in Shadowvale.

She gazed at Vaclav. He looked gorgeous with his illuminated skin and eyes; eyes that met hers, staring until she became lost within them.

In mere moments, she would be married to him and confined to a life in Shadowvale… bound to a creature she once believed to be an angel… who turned out to be a mythical monster.

She didn’t love Shadowvale, but she loved Vaclav. Loved him deeply, passionately.

He drew near and stroked her face. Leather-clad fingers grazed her skin, briefly touched her lips.

It was a day she’d dreamed of since meeting him years ago, when he was a ‘celestial being’. She couldn’t believe that day had finally arrived, that she’d spend the rest of her days with him. Then a thought occurred to her: would he ever ask me to become immortal?

“You were born to be together, and together you shall be forevermore,” Reverend Reese began as he recited a poem written by Kahlil Gibran.

“You shall be together when the wings of death scatter your days. You shall be together even in your silent memory. But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
and let the winds of the heaven dance between you. Love one another, but make not a bondage of love. Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.”

“Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping, for only the hand of life can contain your hearts.”

Vaclav slipped the ring on her finger.

“And stand together, yet not too near together, for the pillars of the temple stand apart, and the oak tree and the cypress grow not in shadow.”

Aubrey held up the ring; then slipped it on Vaclav’s finger.

Vaclav reached for her.

Hungrily, his lips consumed hers.

They parted, but the ceremony wasn’t quite finished.

“In order to become as one with your mate, your blood must now be consumed by Vaclav Haas,” he said.

WTF?

Aubrey tossed a worried glance at the priest; then back at Vaclav.

“It’s only a bite to the neck,” Reese assured. “It’s customary when the bride is a mortal.”

She looked at Vaclav.

He leaned over and whispered in her ear.

“I’ll be gentle. I promise.”

You’d better be, or you won’t get much of a honeymoon.

Vaclav began by brushing his fingers against her cheek.

Slowly, his fangs went toward her neck.

It began as a pinch, but morphed into sharp jabs of pain.

Ouch! This is what you call ‘gentle’??

She felt pressure as he sucked the flesh. Massive pressure. The pain was no longer sharp, but it was uncomfortable.

Not quite as bad as Shawn’s bites, but still… it felt different.

Vertigo swept over her as he parted.

“I love you forever,” Vaclav said.

“Your blood binds you together. You are now united evermore.”

The others smiled in celebration.

Aubrey’s eyes penetrated his.

‘You are now united evermore.’

Outside, the full moon reflected upon the sea; reminiscent of how Aubrey would soon reflect upon her new marriage.

…and the more she thought about Vaclav’s bite, the angrier she became.

He scooted closer and put his arm around her. She knew what would come next…

“Oh, no you don’t,” she said when he tried to kiss her.

                                                               …

“Is my essence angry about my earlier biting of her?” he asked, his tone almost mocking.

“Screw you,” she replied.

“Don’t be angry with me,” he seductively whispered.

I’m afraid you’ll end up like Shawn, she worried.

“My essence knows I’d never hurt her. It was simply a tradition used in vampiric weddings,” he said brushing his lips across her neck. “Do you want me to lick your wounds? To heal them like I used to?”

Aubrey’s heart started to race.

The tip of his tongue slid over her skin.

Shit! He’s doing it again… turning me into a quivering pile of mush.

“Feel better yet?” he asked.

Masculine fingers kneaded her thigh. Then they reached up to remove his jacket.

“I’ll give you something else to make you feel better,” he offered, unbuttoning his shirt with one hand.

His mouth touched hers. This time, without any protest from Aubrey.

He wriggled out of his shirt.

“That is a stupid wedding tradition,” she griped.

“I know. I’m sorry.” He leaned over and kissed her again.

His tongue glided in and out, his kiss wet and sloppy.

Nice.

Now she was definitely ready for him. To hell with the bite.

Damnit Vaclav! You hot, seductive bastard…

                                                                 …

Five minutes later, Vaclav was banging her.

Happy Honeymoon, Aubrey thought.

Once they finished and got dressed, Vaclav asked her about the talisman. It was the question she’d been dreading for months.

“Uh, Shawn has it.”

“Shawn has the talisman?”

“I’m sorry.”

He just stared at her.

“How did this happen?” he complained. “Now you’ll never be fully safe!”

I never would’ve been fully safe with the talisman either! she wanted to argue. Are you forgetting about John Lansing?

Dawn broke.

Aubrey had sat in a chair for two hours. For the first time ever, Vaclav was pissed at her.

Happy Honeymoon.

She walked back into the bedroom. If she were as talented as Vaclav, she could simply seduce him and he’d forgive her.

Then again, what right did he have to be angry with her? He bit her earlier. She should still be pissed at him, stupid wedding tradition or not.

But when she saw the sight before her, her heart melted.

There was never a sweeter sight… and Aubrey finally felt part of a family; in spite of its many flaws.

                                                              ****

Chapter 31 coming Monday. ♥ And for the zillionth time, thanks for reading!! 😛