Chapter Sixteen

 

 

Etienne stood for the first time in twenty-four hours, swayed a little, then steadied himself. He crossed the room to his bureau and pulled the top drawer open. He palmed something before she could see it and came back to stand before her.

“I know this is the least romantic way to do this. I promised you romance and all the trimmings, but after almost losing you, I can’t wait another minute.” He got down on one knee before her, popped the lid of a priceless, seventeenth-century carved wooden box, and held it out to her.

Willa gasped. A smaller, daintier, very feminine version of Etienne’s daylight ring lay nestled in the box.

“Willamina Josephina Donnella Witt, will you make me the happiest man on the planet? Be my partner in this crazy vampire existence? Be my queen? Will you marry me?”

Happy tears ran down her face as she nodded like a loon.

He pulled the temporary daylight ring off her finger and slipped his mother’s ring in place. Then he kissed the ring, her knuckles and finally her lips. “I love you, Willa.”

“I love you, too.”

Etienne swooped her up and swung her in a circle. “I want to get married immediately. Like tomorrow, the next day at the very most.”

“Whoa. Slow down there, vampman. I can’t get a dress and organize a wedding in two days.”

“Sure you can. As my queen, you will wear the queen’s wedding gown. I have that in a box somewhere at the back of my closet. And we have Angelika. That woman can plan a party at the drop of a hat.”

She looked at him skeptically. “I don’t know about that. I’ll tell you what. I’ll talk to Angel. If she says she can pull it off, I’ll agree to your insanity. But I’ll need someone to walk me down the aisle. I’m going to lie my ass off and tell my family that we eloped. I can’t invite them to the wedding. There’s no way I’m telling them about vampires, and if they come to the wedding, someone is bound to flash fangs. No way. I’m not going there.”

Willa got to her feet and started pacing. “Pictures. We will need to go to Vegas and take fake wedding photos to sell the whole elopement thing.”

“That’s easy enough. I have a compound in Las Vegas. We can visit our people there and introduce you. One of the guys in the compound is a professional photographer. He can stage the photos for us.”

“Excellent. Professional photos will really sell it to my mother. That woman has a nose like a hound dog and can smell a lie from a mile away.”

“I suggest we take it a step further. I’ll buy you any designer wedding gown you want. We can host a second reception in Las Vegas for the vampires there and take photos cutting the cake and dancing.”

“That’s brilliant. Okay, but that still doesn’t solve the problem of who is going to give me away.”

“Darius would be honored to escort you.”

She cocked her head and considered that for a moment. “Maybe. What about Richie? He could give me away.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Our wedding is more than a usual affair. I’m the king, and you will be my queen. This is a significant event in the vampire world. Our ceremony will be vampires, immediate family, and our witches only.”

Willa scowled. “I don’t like excluding my friends, but I get it. Okay. Darius, it is. But don’t you dare tell him he was my second choice.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He kissed her again until they were breathless before releasing her. He wrinkled his nose and scrunched up his face. “I smell hideous. I’ll be down shortly. I need to wash off this stink.”

Willa laughed at the funny face he was making. “I’ll be in the library with the boys. Take your time.”

Willa stared at her engagement, slash daylight ring, slash queen’s ring. Every time she turned her hand this way or that the sunstone blazed like there was a living flame inside. The halo of diamonds around the sunstone flashed a rainbow of colors. And the rubies. God, she loved rubies.

She was still admiring the ring when she walked into the library.

Eleven warriors came to their feet the instant she came through the door. This was the first time she had left Etie’s suite since they brought him home. From the tight expressions on their faces, they were all anxious for an update.

A second later, Baptiste skidded into the room.

Before she could open her mouth to speak, Angel squealed and ran at her from across the room. “Holy crap! Is that the queen’s ring?”

Willa glanced up laughing. “Yes. Etienne just asked me to marry him. I said yes, of course. I’m not stupid.”

Angel grabbed her hand to admire the ring. “Of course, you’re not.”

“Speaking of engagements. This is going to be the shortest in history. I need your help. Etie wants to get married in two days. Can you help me make that happen?”

Angel waved a hand. “Pff. Easy peasy. I thought you were going to give me a real challenge.”

“Great. Let’s talk in a minute.” Willa turned to address the men who were not so patiently waiting. “Etie is perfectly fine. He woke up a little while ago and proceeded to start pushing me around. Why else would I be getting married in two days? The man is a menace.”

Chuckles rumbled around the small crowd.

“He’s in the shower and will be down shortly to speak to all of you. Baptiste, could you fix him something to eat?”

“It would be my pleasure,” Baptiste said with a bow.

“Darius, would you honor me by escorting me down the aisle at the wedding?”

Darius placed his hand over his heart. “You could offer me no greater honor. I look forward to it.”

“Excellent. There’s going to be a ton of things to do if we’re going to pull off this wedding and I’ll need all of you to pitch in. Angelika is in charge and will dole out assignments. Are you all on board?”

“Absolutely,” shouted Xander.

“Whatever you need,” offered Nick.

All eleven heads nodded in agreement.

“Okay. Angel, let’s grab a coffee and come up with a plan.”

Willa smiled as she left the library in search of coffee with Angel when she heard Trey say, “That’s one incredible lady. Etienne is one lucky son of a gun. I’ll be happy if my muierimei is even half as amazing.”

There was a low rumble of agreement amongst the men.

 

 

“Our engagement made the society section in the paper,” Etienne announced as they had breakfast together before going their separate ways to dress for the wedding.

Willa paused in the act of pouring creamer into her coffee. “What? How did they find out? You only asked me two days ago.”

He shrugged innocently, his shoulders rising and falling behind the paper he was reading. “Angelika put out a press release.”

Willa frowned at him. “I don’t understand why it’s such a big deal. People get married every day.”

“Yes, but we’re not just people. I’m one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in New Orleans. That makes us news. You might want to stay indoors for a few weeks. There will be reporters skulking about trying to get a picture of the woman who managed to get me to commit.” He hid behind his paper as he said the last part.

“I’m going to kill Angel,” Willa grumbled.

An hour later, Willa turned off the shower in Etienne’s suite at the bayou estate. The wedding was being held there because it offered more room and a yard to host the overflow of guests.

She reached for a towel and promptly knocked her engagement ring, which she had carefully placed on the vanity, into the toilet. “Damn it, I took that off to avoid calcium build up on the stone, and what do I do? I toss it in the shitter.”

Scrunching up her face, she snatched the ring out of the toilet bowl as fast as she could. She rolled her eyes, and mumbled, “as if that would make a difference. Toilet water is toilet water.”

She rinsed it in the sink and promptly took a spare toothbrush and soap to the family heirloom. This was a secret she would take to the grave. No way was she telling Etie she dropped his mother’s ring in the toilet.

She had just wrapped a towel around her head when someone knocked.

“Willa, let us in,” Karen called from the hallway.

Willa drew on her robe and unlocked the door.

“The cavalry has arrived,” Angel announced as she helped Karen carry in a huge box with a makeup case teetering dangerously on top.

Stacy, Tara, Janet, and Jacqueline filed in behind them.

“Prepare to be primped and polished to within an inch of your life,” Carolyn said as she opened the makeup case.

“She should try the dress on first so we can decide how to make her up and do her hair,” Stacy suggested.

Angel pulled the cover off the dress box and pulled out the most magnificent gown Willa had ever seen. “Good point. I should have thought of that.”

The sky-blue color of the plunging neckline and sash complimented the rich, deep gold of the rest of the gown perfectly. The design was much like a modern-day, full-length sheath dress with sleeves only way better.

“That’s… stunning,” Willa said in surprise and moved in for a closer look.

“It glistens,” Tara said, as she stepped closer as well.

Angel carefully smoothed the skirt out. “That’s because it’s made with gold threads woven into the silk fabric.”

Willa gasped and picked up one of the sleeves. “You’re right. I can see the threads. This isn’t what I imagined when Etie told me I was wearing his mother’s gown.”

Angel snorted. “What do you expect a queen to get married in? A dress off the rack at Macy’s? I don’t think so.”

“I guess not,” Janet said in awe as she lightly touched the fabric.

“There’s a veil, too. But that comes later during the ceremony,” Angel said as she gathered the dress to slide it over Willa’s head. “You’re going to have to lose the robe and towel.”

“Oh, hold on. I have the bra and panties in my purse.” Janet pulled out a tiny shopping bag from Victoria’s Secret and proudly presented it to Willa. “These should cover something new.”

“The dress seems to cover everything else. It’s old, borrowed, and has blue on it,” Tara added.

Willa shimmied into the panties and strapless bra, then held up her arms for Angel to slip the dress over her head. The gown was whisper-light and felt like a dream. The fit was perfect, which was welcome but unexpected.

The neckline was a combination of a boat style and V-neck. The look was incredibly flattering and feminine.

“Hold on, I have the jewelry, too.” Angel pulled a long, thin hand-carved wooden case from the bottom of the box.

Gasps erupted when she opened it. An intricate diamond necklace and clip-on chandelier earrings lay on a bed of blue velvet.

“Good grief. The main pendant has to be ten carats,” Karen exclaimed.

“And the entire chain is covered in diamonds, too,” Jacqueline pointed out.

Janet picked up one of the earrings. “These are incredible.”

“Etienne’s mother wore nothing but the very best. His father made sure she had everything her heart desired.” Angel held up the necklace. “Put them on so we can figure out your hair and makeup.”

Willa hesitated for a moment, then turned so Angel could do the honors.

When the earrings and necklace were in place, she turned to look at herself in the full-length mirror. “Holy cow. Is that me?”

Angel grinned at Willa’s reflection in the mirror. “It sure is. You’re gorgeous. Etienne is going to faint when he sees you.”

“I think you should take the dress off until your hair and makeup are done. We don’t want to accidentally stain the fabric,” Tara suggested.

Angel helped Willa out of the dress while the other ladies got busy discussing makeup.

Carolyn pulled out a blow dryer, curling iron, and hairpins. “With that dress and jewelry, her hair should be in an updo. What do you all think?”

They all agreed, and Carolyn got to work.

Twenty minutes later, Carolyn slipped one last hairpin into Willa’s chignon and pronounced her perfection.

Tara and Stacy went to work on Willa’s makeup. Ten minutes later, she looked like a movie star ready for the red carpet.

“Wow, you guys. I look—”

“Beautiful,” Jacqueline stated.

Angel helped her put on the dress again. It was more of a challenge the second time with her hair and makeup done, but they managed.

“Now that’s a queen,” Angel pronounced.

A quiet knock sounded on the bedroom door and all the women turned. “Is the bride ready?” Darius asked from behind the closed door.

“She sure is. Are the men in place?” Angel called back as she went to let him in.

“Yes. And Etienne is driving me insane. Can we get this show on the road?” Darius caught sight of Willa and stopped dead in his tracks. “Holy Moses! You’re breathtaking.”

Willa smiled, her cheeks warming at his compliment. “Thank you.”

Carolyn chuckled and took Darius’s face in her hands. “Baby, it’s time to go.”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry.” He offered Willa the crook of his arm. “Shall we?”

The women hustled to the reserved section at the front of the ballroom. Darius and Willa followed them more slowly to allow them time to take their seats.

The instant they entered the grand ballroom, everyone stood and turned. There was a collective inhale as the guests took her in for the first time.

The ballroom was festooned with flowers, greenery, and fairy lights. Willa felt like she was walking into a secret garden.

Forty vampires, twenty to a side, lined the aisle. Some she knew and some she didn’t. All were dressed in matching old world Romanian formal wear with a jeweled sword and an ornate scabbard at their hip.

As she reached the head of the aisle every one of those forty pulled out their sword and raised it high to create an archway for her to walk through. She didn’t feel an ounce of nervousness. The love of her life was waiting for her with a smile so bright, it rivaled the sun.

Etie was resplendent in his father’s wedding attire. With white slacks, a hand-stitched ornately decorated tunic, an equally lavish sash hugging his waist, and the king’s cloak around his shoulders he was stunning. A long, golden sword hung at his side. The hilt encrusted with precious gems that glistened when he moved. His hair was down and flowing around his shoulders, just the way she liked it. And there was a golden crown set with shimmering sunstones encircling his head.

He stood alone at the front of the ballroom, his heart pounding with joy. Truth be told, he never believed he would find his true soulmate. Yet there she was, walking toward him. The most beautiful sight he’d ever seen, and she was his.

He glanced at his warriors, his people, the majority had yet to find their other half. Many who had given up finding a soulmate now had hope and longing in their eyes. Willa had given them that.

The ballroom was overflowing, but they had planned for that. Cameras caught the ceremony from every angle and beamed the wedding to large screens set up throughout the house and on the lawn where a large white tent had been erected. Even the vampires around the world who were unable to attend were receiving the broadcast.

This was a momentous day. The king was getting married and their queen was about to be crowned.

Etienne stepped down from the platform that had been built for the wedding and took Willa’s hand from Darius. Then he bent and whispered in her ear, “You take my breath away.”

With a nod, Darius took his seat next to Carolyn.

He helped her up the platform, and they turned to find a beautiful dark-haired woman in a classic Grecian gown smiling at them.

Etienne bowed to the woman, then said very formally, “Goddess Artemis, I am pleased to present to you my muierimei, Willamina Josephina Donnella Witt. We ask for your blessing on our union.”

The goddess held out her hands. Etienne took Willa’s hand and placed it on one outstretched palm, then put his on the other. Artemis clasped their hands and closed her eyes. A slow radiant smile lit her ethereal face. “This is a powerful match, even more powerful than your father and mother. I bless your union and offer you a wedding gift.” She looked Willa in the eyes and held her gaze. “You will not be held captive by the rules of the sun, waiting two hundred years before you can walk in daylight without one of my rings. From this day forward, you are free of that curse.”

Gasps echoed around the ballroom.

Willa bowed respectfully to Artemis. “Thank you.”

“You are welcome, my child.” Artemis turned to Etienne and smiled with love in her eyes. “For your gift, I have ensured that the son that Willa carries and all future children will be free of the family curse. No longer will the Delacour lineage be plagued by rage.”

Etienne stared at Artemis then looked wide-eyed at Willa. “Son? We are having a son?”

Willa shook her head. “Don’t look at me. I had no idea.”

“Yes. You are having a son,” Artemis assured. She released their hands and took a step back. “You may exchange your vows.”

Etienne and Willa turned to face one another. He took her right palm and laid it over his heart. His heart so full of love for the woman before him he was about to burst.

“I, Etienne Delacour, king of the vampire race, take you, Willamina Josephina Donnella Witt to be my bonded mate and queen.

“I take you as my partner in this life and every life to come.

“I promise to love you without reservation, honor you, respect you, and always place you above all others.

“I promise to stand as your shield and protect you from harm.

“I vow to grow with you in mind, body, and spirit, from this day until the end of time.”

Willa, in turn, took Etienne’s right palm and laid it over her heart.

“I, Willamina Josephina Donnella Witt, a vampire and witch, take you, Etienne Delacour, king of the vampire race to be my bonded mate and king.

“I take you as my partner in this life and every life to come.

“I promise to love you without reservation, honor you, respect you, and always place you above all others.

“I promise to accept you as my shield as you protect me from harm.

“I vow to grow with you in mind, body, and spirit, from this day until the end of time.”

Artemis stepped forward again and proclaimed, “You are now bound, blood, body, and soul with a tie that shall never be broken by outside forces.

“I, the goddess Artemis, bless this union and place you under my personal protection. Woe to any and all who threaten those whom I have claimed as my own.”

Then she turned her gaze on Willa again. “I have one more thing for you.” Artemis snapped her fingers and a crown of gold inlaid with sunstones matching Etienne’s appeared in her hand. A gauzy veil with golden threads was artfully attached to it. The goddess lifted it above Willa’s head and announced in a voice loud enough for all to hear, “I crown you, Willamina Josephina Donnella Delacour, queen of the vampires.”

Artemis placed the crown on her head, nodded to Etienne and Willa, and said, “Congratulations. May you have a long and joy-filled union.” Then she vanished.

The audience rose to their feet. As one they cheered, “Long live the king and queen.”

Echo’s of the sentiment were heard throughout the house and grounds.

Etienne took Willa into his arms and kissed her soundly. “I love you, wife.”

Willa grinned up at him. “I love you, husband.”

He led her up the aisle and into the grand hallway to receive their guests as they filed out of the ballroom and onto the lawn for the wedding feast.

Finally, the last of the guests offered their congratulations. Willa sighed with relief and rubbed at her cheeks. “My face hurts from smiling.”

Etienne chuckled and rubbed at his jaw. “Mine, as well. Let’s get some air. We can stand at the top of the stairs and do a general greeting to the crowd outside from there.”

“Thank God.”

Etienne had just finished his welcoming speech to the crowd when the roar of a motorcycle engine was heard coming up the drive.

A large black Harley pulled right up onto the lawn and didn’t stop until it was at the foot of the stair. Several of his warriors rushed to detain the rider, but Etienne waved them away grinning from ear to ear.

The rider cut the engine and flipped the kickstand down. Then she pulled off her helmet and shook out her short, spiky pink hair. “Am I too late for the party?”

“Your timing is perfect. Willa, I would like you to meet my sister, Elayna. Elayna, this is my beautiful muierimei, Willa.”

Heads craned to get a look at the woman the king had just proclaimed was his sister. Murmurs were heard as the news was passed from table to table.

Elayna balanced her helmet on the seat of the bike and leapt up the stairs and into Etie’s waiting arms. “I missed you, big brother.”

“I missed you, too, munchkin.”

Then Elayna turned to Willa and hugged her as well. “Welcome to the family. I always wanted a sister.”

“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, Elayna.” Willa gave Etienne a questioning look over Elayna’s shoulder.

“Elayna, it’s time for your coming out party. Stand here between us while I take care of business.” He waited for her to move to where he indicated, then cleared his throat.

“Ladies and gentleman, I know this will come as a shock to you, but Ivan was not my only sibling. When Elayna was born, I already harbored suspicions about my brother and his murderous tendencies. He hated me because I was the firstborn son and heir to the throne.

“He sought on many occasions to cause accidents that would result in my demise. I could never prove definitively he was trying to kill me and was forced to endure in an attempt to catch him in the act of setting a trap. Ivan left home to travel to Asia before I could succeed.

“While he was away, my parents joyfully welcomed a daughter into the world. I feared for her life from the second she drew breath. I knew If Ivan learned of her existence, he would attempt to kill her as well.

“I convinced my parents to hide her away and never tell a soul about her. They knew the heart of their second son, so it wasn’t difficult to win their approval of my plan. My mother left our homeland to raise Elayna in secrecy. Though it was difficult for my parents to be apart, my father and I visited them often. When Elayna turned eighteen, she boarded a vessel to America where she has lived in secret ever since.

“I have kept in close contact with my sister all of her life, ensuring her safety, awaiting the day she could come out from hiding. Now that the danger no longer exists, she is able to be claimed openly as a Delacour and the princess of the vampires.

“Please give a warm welcome to Princess Elayna.”

The crowd jumped to their feet cheering.

Elayna leaned into Etienne and growled, “Was that really necessary?”

“Yes, it was, because I’m putting you in charge of Europe. Ivan left a vacuum in the power structure. I need you to fill the role. I want you to take your bikers and clean up that part of the world. Whatever it takes. I leave it to your discretion.”

Elayna rubbed her hands together. “This is going to be fun. Thanks, big brother. Challenge accepted.”

“Excellent, now go and meet our people. Mingle and behave.”

Elayna stuck her tongue out at him and skipped down the stairs to do as she was told.

Etienne put his arm around Willa and pulled her in close.

“Wow. I didn’t see that coming.”

He grinned at her and winked. “No one did.”

They were about to join their guest when Darius ran up the steps. “We have a situation.”

“Tell me,” Etienne said in his all business tone.

“I just got word of a singular witch on the run with a WITSEC agent. She witnessed a mob hit at the casino here in New Orleans. She’s in trouble. Big trouble.”

“Send Xander, Nick, and Derick to retrieve her. Once we have her story, we will eliminate the threat so she can return home.”

“Consider it done.” Darius ran down the stairs and into the crowd to collect his crew.

Willa gazed up at him, worry in her eyes. “There’s never a dull day in your world is there?”

He gave her a smile and kissed the tip of her nose. “There are plenty of dull days. You just haven’t seen them yet. Come on, Mrs. Delacour. We have a wedding feast to enjoy.”