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FOR A SPLIT SECOND, I thought that Lucius had changed
his mind about our marriage, and I felt all of my blood
draining away. But then he lowered his eyes—and raised
them again—and I realized that he was actually giving me
one last chance to back out. In the last moments before I
committed myself to Lucius forever, he let me see that dark,
damaged place inside of himself that had driven him to press
a sharpened stake against my chest, then break down and cry
out, “Everything around me is destroyed!”
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We were in public, and he couldn’t say anything. But I
knew what he was doing: reminding me, one final time, that
I was about to enter a very different—sometimes violent—
culture, for good, with a vampire who’d once promised that
he’d always be “treacherous.”
There was no way our guests had any idea what was
passing between us as we stood there, just staring into each
other’s eyes. They probably wondered if I was about to call off
the wedding. Claudiu, at least, no doubt wished that was
happening.
He wouldn’t get his wish.
Without the slightest reservation, I spoke my vow, too.
“Yes, I accept Lucius as my husband, now and always, for as
long as I shall exist.”
Lucius smiled—as if he’d ever thought I’d really turn him
down. Then we released our hands and both turned back
toward Alexandru, who nodded first to Raniero, then to
Mindy, signaling that they should reach for the small silver
cups filled with our blood.
Continue to Chapter 21...
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