and cast a self-conscious look at her own deep green dress. They almost looked like twins as they walked as one down the aisle, with their raven hair twisted into a knot at the back of their heads and their grey eyes bright with happiness.
But one thing set them apart.
Ember had a mating mark on her nape.
His heart thudded hard when Holly shyly glanced his way before facing forwards again, and his gaze caught on her nape, on that patch of unmarked skin. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from it, was sure she would be aware of him staring at it, aware of the hungers raging through him, a need that had him firmly back on edge.
He wanted to be the one to mark her nape.
He wanted to be her mate.
The two brides entered, Ivy wearing an elegant corseted white gown while Gabi had gone for a more conservative modern dress. He tried to focus on them as they approached their respective grooms, tried to pay attention to the ceremony, but Holly stole the whole of his focus.
He needed her.
And he would have her.
Chapter 18
The nerves Holly had managed to wrangle under control returned full force as she caught sight of herself in the mirror again. She wasn’t sure she could do this, and she wasn’t just talking about being a bridesmaid. The thought of seeing Saint had her restless, a little scared, and the thought of him seeing her in this dress had her wanting to run a mile. It revealed everything.
How had she not noticed that before?
The sweeping neckline plunged low, the loose folds of material that hung in front of her breasts baring a hint of cleavage, and the dark green satin hugged her hips and really showed off her backside.
Her fingers twitched at her sides as she stared at herself, as panic mounted inside her.
Ember placed her hands on Holly’s bare arms, pressing against her back as she peered over her shoulder, looking at her reflection too. “You look killer, Holly. Saint is done for.”
Holly hoped that was true. Ember had been telling her that from the moment she had put on the dress and had turned to Ember and sworn it was tighter than before, and far more revealing than she remembered.
“Come on. Let’s go knock them dead.” Ember looped her arm around Holly’s and pulled her away from the mirror, led her to the cabin door where Ivy and Gabi were waiting, checking each other over for what had to be the millionth time.
Holly had pulled Gabi aside when she had entered, had relayed to her what Saint had told her about the day he had tried to snatch her, not wanting her to be on edge around him or afraid. Gabi had reassured her that she wasn’t afraid of Saint and that she didn’t hold it against him, mostly because Storm did that enough for both of them. Holly had a plan to get them together later in an attempt to smooth things over between them and hoped Saint would apologise for his actions.
Saint. Was he here? Her nerves returned as she thought about the fact he might be out there, waiting for her to make an appearance.
“Someone is miles away,” Ivy’s soft voice stole into her thoughts.
Holly shook herself back to the room and smiled an apology at her.
Ivy looked beautiful in her more traditional corseted strapless dress, her dark hair twisted in a plait at the back of her head, exposing her mating mark. Her hazel eyes twinkled as she helped Gabi fasten her short, white fur-trimmed cape over her shoulders and smoothed it down against her long, figure-hugging modern ivory dress that almost resembled the green one Holly was wearing.
Only Gabi’s one had a slit up the left thigh that Holly was glad hers was missing. She was self-conscious in it enough without flashing her thigh with every step.
Gabi nervously checked her blonde hair, smoothing the braid that encircled her head like a crown, a flicker of fear in her blue-grey eyes. “I know we’re already mated to them, but this makes it all feel horribly real.”
Ivy laughed at that. “I wonder if they’re feeling the same way?”
“Cobalt looked ready to pass out when he left us. If he’s nervous, I can only imagine how Rath and Storm feel.” Ember smiled and released Holly, picked up the two larger bouquets of white roses spotted with glittering diamante, and held them out to Ivy and Gabi. “Let’s go find out,