soloist began, he lifted his arm in a loving command and Mackenzie descended the steps toward him. After piano notes joined the hauntingly beautiful singing, he started walking toward her and they met in the middle.
As he looked down upon her upturned face and felt the heady warmth rolling off her body, he was struck with the desire to bow at her feet. She’d called him her savior, but it was he who should be worshipping her. She was the one who’d saved him and brought him out of the darkness.
Eres la luz que ilumina la oscuridad de mi vida. Thank you, Lord. He lifted his eyes to the heavens.
Mackenzie untied the silk ribbon of her coat and slipped it off her shoulders. A sweet fragrance wafted up from her skin and hair, somewhat familiar and yet different. It was gloriously musky and he closed his eyes for a moment as it invaded his nostrils. Was it from the ritual oils anointing her body or the smell of her since her change? They had not lain together yet so he couldn’t be sure.
When she bent on one knee, her pale peach toenails peeked out from the hem of her dress. Dropping her coat at his feet, she looked up into his eyes and began to speak.
“All that I was, all that I am, all that I will be, I surrender myself to you.” Her voice, though soft, rang out through the still night air for all to hear.
He grasped both of her hands and pulled her back to her feet. With a shrug, he slipped off his cloak, revealing his bare chest, and wrapped it around her shoulders as a sign of his protection. From his pocket, he pulled out a princess-cut diamond solitaire, flanked with tiny emeralds. She gasped as he slipped it on her finger, where it nestled against her filigreed wedding ring.
Oh my God, Dom, it’s absolutely beautiful.
She twisted it around and watched as it sparkled in the candlelight, shooting tiny prisms onto her gown. Moisture tinged her dark lashes as she looked up at him and his heart soared. Exactly the reaction he had hoped for when he had it designed. He’d purposely not told her about this little detail of the ceremony.
Then, after turning to take the ornately carved sword from its scabbard, which Chuck held in outstretched hands, Dom bent on one knee at her feet. He repeated the same vow to her and offered her the weapon.
“I give to you my strength and power. Your enemies are my enemies and I will give my life to protect you and our family.”
He stood and with his hand over hers, pulled the blade across the palm of his hand. Then he did the same to hers, careful to barely knick her skin. Chuck took the weapon from him and sheathed it without wiping off the blood.
His hand still joined with hers, Dom was bending his head to kiss his wife, his mate, his forever, when he heard her sharp intake of breath.
She was looking at her coat, still crumpled at his feet.
What is it, love? he started to say until his thoughts to her stopped. Several drops of their mingled blood had dripped onto the coat, marring the delicate ivory fabric. His knees almost collapsed at the sight.
Dios mio.
How was this—? His heart swelled impossibly larger in his chest and his hands, clasped over hers, began to shake. When she lifted her chin to him, he felt her concern but couldn’t see it etched on her face. Everything was a blur through his warm tears.
What’s wrong? I’m not upset about the coat, just surprised.
He lifted his eyes to the night sky. Lord, how is this even possible?
Dom, what?
He blinked a few times and saw confusion reflected in her fiery green eyes. Of course, she had no idea. Running a finger down the side of her face, he freed a wisp of her hair that, as usual, had tangled in her earring. He wanted to laugh, to twirl her around.
A child, my love. Oh my God, a child. The blood on your marriage coat signifies you will bless me with a child.
That’s not possible. You know the doctors have told me my womb is unable to carry a baby.
Going through the conversion repairs many physical imperfections. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to raise your hopes. But my darling, you were meant to carry my child.
Without waiting for the official, Dom pulled her into his arms. When her lips parted for him and he tasted her intoxicating sweetness, the world around him seemed to dissolve until it was just the two of them in the cool night air. Oh God, that beautiful scent was hers. This angel in his arms was his. What could he possibly have done to deserve—
Shouts of encouragement from the onlookers brought him out of his mesmerizing reverie. As waves lapped gently against the rocky shore, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bridal suite to get started on their future.