will know that you are for real. Then you can join us, and we will destroy them both together.”
Sera stared back at him with something like disgust. But she didn’t flinch, or turn away. Instead, she stared, as if thinking.
“I could think of nothing that would hurt Caleb more,” Sera said, staring Kyle up and down.
And then she added: “And I could think of few better ways to exact my revenge.” To Kyle’s surprise, Sera suddenly stepped forward and kissed him hard on the lips. She leaned back and stared into his eyes, and he could feel her energy, feel that she was just as aggressive as he was.
As Kyle felt her rage, her aggression, her ambition, he suddenly realized that he and Sera were perfectly matched. It was clear to him that they would both stop at nothing to get what they wanted.
He led her into the blackness, to a grassy plateau on the periphery of the torches. As the drums pounded all around them, as Rynd’s men drank and danced and slaughtered and chanted, Kyle led Sera down to the ground, and he knew that this would be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
As Caitlin woke to the first rays of dawn streaming through her window, she felt an electric thrill to realize that this was her wedding day. She rose slowly from the comfort of bed, slipping out of the stack of warm furs, missing Caleb, his warmth beside her. They had followed the ancient vampire tradition, and had slept apart on this night before their wedding. She knew he was just down the hall, but it now felt strange to sleep in such a large bed alone, and she couldn’t help missing him.
Caitlin gravitated to the castle window, looking out. It was the first day of November, the morning after Samhain, and the day was breaking cool and crisp. The leaves shimmered in a million vibrant colors, and the ever-present mist of Skye hung like a layer over everything. The dawn spread out in a soft, orange light, and it was magical: as it struck the mist, the entire island seemed as if it were covered in a rainbow.
“Mommy! It’s your wedding day!” Scarlet exclaimed, running over and hugging her.
Caitlin looked down and smiled, and she could tell that Scarlet had been up for a while.
Ruth barked, and came limping over, licking Caitlin’s hand. Caitlin was so happy and relieved to see Ruth up and walking around again, recovering well from her wounds. Caitlin had used her healing powers on her, and it had helped; but Ruth’s wounds ran deep, and it would take time for her to recover fully. In fact, Caitlin didn’t know if she would ever fully recover from her limp—and she suspected not. Still, to see her up and walking around lifted her heart.
“We’re so excited!” Scarlet yelled. “Today you’re going to be married to daddy!” she said, jumping up and down. Ruth barked again.
Caitlin felt a tremor of nervousness at the thought of the day before her, of how momentous it was. Her wedding day. It was really here.
Caitlin wasn’t hung up on the details, on all the pomp and formalities; she just hoped that everything would go smoothly, without any drama. More than anything, she just wanted to be married to Caleb.
There was a knock on the door, and moments later, it opened and Taylor rushed in, followed by several of her bridesmaids, all carrying her exquisite wedding dress. Caitlin wondered for a moment where Polly was, assuming she would have been the first one to enter. But as the large oak door was still open, Caitlin suddenly spotted Polly across the hall, at the far end of it, exiting Sam’s room.
Caitlin smiled to herself, realizing that Polly had spent the night there. It made her feel good to think of her brother and Polly together. She thought they were the perfect match.
Polly rushed in and appeared with the others, her hair tasseled, looking sleepy, but eyes wide open, energetic, and looking more excited than she’d ever seen her.
“The day is here!” she yelled, barely able to contain her excitement, and the other girls cheered.
Within moments, Caitlin was lost in a whirlwind of girls enclosing her, dressing her, rubbing her with oils, doing her hair makeup, her hair, and a variety of things.
Suddenly, the door opened again, and an attendant appeared, holding out before him a small tray covered in a red velvet lining. Atop it sat the