Blood Moon (13 page)

Aria drew back and glanced around the room. She didn’t want to wait either. If the Council knew of their plans, then Haemon would be informed. “I’d rather do this before they get the chance.”

“But the flowers!” Ella wailed, throwing her hands in the air.

Aria repressed a laugh, stepping away from Lukas to wrap one arm around her friend. “Don’t worry, Ella. I know you will come up with something amazing, no matter what.”

Ella glared at Lukas as if it was his fault, and then tossed her ponytail over her shoulder. “Fine! But I’m going to borrow some of the Pack Guards. I only have a few hours to get everything ready!”

She stormed out of the room, calling out to the two nearest Pack Guards, who happened to be lounging in the den watching TV. Aria didn’t envy the poor men. Before the ceremony began, they’d be worn out.

Thaddeus sighed. “I’d better go help. If I don’t, I’ll be in the dog house.”

Turning to Lukas, she watched him carefully. His hands clenched and unclenched, tension lining the taut planes of his face.

“Are you all right?”

His smile was tight, but genuine. “I don’t usually get this angry, baby. But Jonas gets on my nerves like you wouldn’t believe. He knew,
knew,
when he called, he would piss me off. They know we’re not going to listen to them.”

She walked back over to him and placed her hands on his chest, nuzzling his chin. “Don’t worry. We knew we’d have to deal with them sooner or later.”

He shook his head, his hands cradling her face. One thumb wiped at something on her cheek. Probably dirt. “You are reassuring me now?”

Aria grinned. “Well, only one of us can go nuts at a time.”

“I’m never letting you go,” he murmured, then his lips closed over hers and he pulled her closer to his body. She melted into him, her arms sliding under the edge of his shirt, fingertips memorizing the sweeping lines of his muscular back. Everywhere his hands touched, warmth sprang, swirling through her body to pool in her core.

“Hey, you two, stop that!”

Aria waved a hand in the general direction of the comment, sucking Lukas’ tongue into her mouth. Cold water slapped her face. They jerked apart, turning to Ella, who stood smug, with a dripping cup.

“Was that really necessary?” Lukas barely covered his irritation.

Ella nodded to her Alpha. “Yes. You two were going to scorch the linoleum. Anyway, you”—she put the cup in the sink and linked her arm with Aria’s—“need to get upstairs and get dressed.”

Aria looked over her shoulder, helplessly, as Ella dragged her from the kitchen and up the stairs. Her friend deposited her at the door to Lukas’ room with strict orders to shower and get ready.

“But we’ve got hours! And I didn’t finish potting those flowers yet!”

Ella stood firm in the doorway. “I don’t care. I’ll make Sebastian plant the blasted flowers. But you aren’t going to leave this room until I come and get you. Now go shower then watch TV or something. You’ve got a few hours.”

She turned Aria toward the bathroom and gave a gentle push. Aria stood there, waiting until Ella closed the bedroom door behind her. 

Ella’s muffled voice called through the door, “I’m not leaving until I hear water, Aria!” 

True to her word, Aria didn’t hear Ella’s footsteps leave until the water came on. With a mental shrug, she stripped and stepped under the hot spray. Using scented soap, she tried to wash away the feeling of disaster that threatened to ruin her evening.

Chapter Twelve

Aria tucked the edge of the towel around her breasts then squeezed her tangle of wet hair in a smaller towel. The time had come to survey the clothing she had bought. Tears tickled her nose, and she rubbed it viciously. She’d managed to survive this long without being girly; she could make it through this. The serviceable clothing she had was less than appropriate for a mating ritual. Every girl, at least once, dreamed of their ideal wedding. This wasn’t quite what she’d planned. Remembering the elegant dresses and hairstyles she had worn at her father’s parties, she wished for just one of the designer gowns.

After drying and brushing her hair again, she stared into the mirror, satisfied with her appearance. Just when she had resigned herself to the black shirt and skirt, Ella burst into the room after a perfunctory knock.

“Please tell me you aren’t wearing that!”

Aria just stared. “Well, it’s what I’ve got.”

“Really, what kind of party planner do you think I am?” Ella shook her head and flung open the closet door. After a few moments of rustling in the walk-in area, she returned with a suit bag. She shut the bedroom door and hung the bag on the hook on the back.

Unzipping it, she pulled out a white silk dress. The light caught the intricate swirls of silver and white beading that circled the empire waist and hem. A sheer wrap floated around Ella’s hands, the color a perfect match for the antique ivory dress. Aria gasped at the pair of strappy white sandals weighed down at the bottom of the garment bag.

Aria fingered the cool silk. “How on earth did you manage this?”

Her friend preened. “I snuck up and checked your skirt size earlier, and I have a friend that works at a local bridal shop in town. It was the only one in your size that I liked. It just screamed your name.”

Ella’s smile dimmed. “I didn’t think about jewelry though.”

“That one I have covered.” Aria picked up her mother’s necklace from the dresser. “I only take it off when I’m showering, anyway.”

Ella studied it. “Well, it isn’t gold, but I think it’ll do. It’s…unique.”

“It is that.” Aria traced the picture of a seated Cernunos, Celtic Lord of the Hunt, with gentle fingertips. It was a strange piece, not just because of the subject, but also because animals surrounded the god, including a large wolf. It fit snugly into her palm, much larger than she would have chosen herself. She flicked the clasp open and fastened it around her neck. Whether she had wanted it or not, her mother had left it with instructions that it never be shown to her father or the Council, and worn at all times.

Ella hooked the gown over the door again. “I think we should leave your hair down. I have a lovely set of pearl hair combs that would look gorgeous. And that covers the something borrowed.”

Her friend scurried from the room before Aria could respond. Aria used the woman’s absence to slip into her underclothes. She admired the dress for a moment, blinking against tears. For so long, marrying Lukas had only been a dream.

“I think these will just look—”

Aria turned to find Ella staring at her with horror. She glanced around the room then realized her hair had fallen over one shoulder, revealing her scarred back.

“It’s okay, Ella.”

“No, it isn’t. I don’t even have to ask where you got those.” Ella wiped at her tears, quickly replaced with anger. “I can’t wait to see Haemon get what he deserves.”

Aria laughed. “Me either. Now can I get dressed?”

Ella eyed the dress. “But the back….”

Maybe she should have been annoyed, but Ella’s sudden embarrassment was endearing. Aria patted her friend’s shoulder, handing over the dress. “My hair will cover what the back exposes. Don’t worry so much. Besides”—she gave her a conspiratorial wink—“I’m hoping no one will be looking at my back.”

Ella threw her arms around Aria, squeezing. “Of course they won’t—not when I’m through with you!”

Aria smiled, letting Ella’s renewed enthusiasm sweep away any lingering discomfort. She almost envied the other woman’s ability to shift moods so quickly. Lifting her arms, she allowed the smooth, luxurious material to slide over her skin. Another few hours, and Lukas would be hers.

Till death do us part.

***

If they didn’t hurry, they were going to be late.

More glamorous in the simple wedding dress than she’d ever been in the designer confections of her past, Aria couldn’t help staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair flowed over her shoulders, held out of her face with the pearl combs. Ella had also returned with eye shadow and liner that gave her the dramatic “smoky eyes” she wouldn’t have achieved on her own. The strange pendant her mother had given her was barely visible under the neckline of the dress.

“You look amazing.”

Aria allowed Ella to put a last swipe of lip gloss over her lips, and then stood. “You’ve done wonders with me, Ella. Thank you. I feel gorgeous.”

“Come on now. I want to make sure I get a good look at his face when he sees you.”

They headed downstairs, butterflies dancing in Aria’s stomach. She’d come full circle in less time than she’d thought. For the first time in her life, she wasn’t thinking and analyzing every move. And it felt right.

She nodded and smiled to the few people in the kitchen, trying in vain to place the few names she knew with faces. The women were setting out a huge table of food for after the ritual and grinned at her as she exited through the screen door onto the porch.

“You look fantastic.”

She beamed at Lawrence and leaned on the porch railing, watching the sunset paint the woods with golden brushstrokes. “Thank you.”

Ella appeared next to her, grinning broadly. She threw her arms around Aria’s shoulders and squeezed. “I am so excited! Everything’s perfect, if I do say so myself. I didn’t know what kind of flowers you liked, but I tried to have a variety. Unfortunately, pots I planted haven’t had time to fill in. Otherwise, it would look even more impressive.”

Aria let the rapid-fire words wash over her as Ella linked their arms and pulled her around the back of the house. They halted, and Aria’s jaw dropped.

“I knew you’d like it!”

Ella had set up an arbor woven through with autumn branches and white lights. More led from the top to the porch in six, evenly, spaced rays. The soft light made the area look magical. No seats were set up, as the ritual was a short one, but pots of flowers roughly outlined the area. Some of the Pack had already gathered, and the Pack Guards prowled on the lookout for anyone who did not belong.

Aria squeezed Ella tightly. “Thank you so much.”

Ella studied the yard with pride. “I’m very good at planning events. I do wish the flowers had filled in a little more, but they aren’t bad.”

“That I can fix.” Aria smiled, glancing over the pots and directing small tendrils of magic to coax the flowers into growing. The plants shook and filled out as if part of a time-lapse video.

“Perfect!”

The golden light of day had faded into a soft purple twilight, and nearly all of the Pack had gathered. Pack Guards marked the perimeter of the yard, minus a few who were patrolling a wider area.

Strong hands slid around her waist from behind. “Are you ready?”

Aria leaned back into Lukas’ warmth. “Very ready.”

“Let’s see what Ella’s done to you. From the back it looks pretty amazing.”

She spun slowly, her smile glowed a little brighter at the heat and desire blanketing his eyes. “Well?”

Lukas held up one finger as Ella watched him from the sidelines. His whole face lit from within. With a winked at Ella, he turned his whole attention to her. “You’re the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Correct answer. Now, sir, you may marry me.” She held out her hand.

He took it, pressing a kiss to her palm. “I’m sorry I didn’t have a suit to wear. But I doubt I could have competed, anyway.”

Her gaze raked over him, taking in the damp, loose hair that framed his harsh, sensual features, and the white shirt and crisp black pants hugging his frame.

Her voice shivered with heat. “Oh, I think you’ll do.”

He laughed, and they headed to the back steps, walking through the crowd up to the arbor. Thaddeus and Aaron stood on either side, holding a box and a long length of flannel. She vaguely recognized the pattern of the shirt whose return she had recently demanded.

Lukas smiled. “I hope you aren’t too mad, but seeing as you have the real thing, I took the liberty of shortening it. I thought it might be put to better use.”

Using her shirt should have made her unbelievably angry. Instead, tears welled in her eyes at the thought of using it as their Binding Cloth, something to be kept with them for the rest of their lives. They took their places in front of the crowd. The moon had just risen over the treetops, and framed the arbor as she had predicted. The Mating Ritual was a great deal like a hand fasting, without the “year and a day clause” folklore always added.

Aaron, as Beta, moved to face the crowd. “State your intentions before the Pack, please.”

Lukas looked out over his family, eyes lingering on the darkness under the trees longer than she thought necessary. Panic started to rise when she realized that the Pack weren’t the only wolves in attendance. But when his gaze returned to hers, any fears were pushed aside by the moment.

“I claim this woman, Aria Lagreve, as the match of my heart and keeper of my soul. I give to her my mind, body, soul and love, and I take from her the same.”

Aaron turned to Aria, who struggled to keep tears at bay. “Do you accept this claim?”

“I accept the claim of Lukas MacLeod and relinquish my soul, mind, and heart to his care. I take his into myself to keep with love for eternity.”

Aaron picked up small silver knife from Thaddeus and held out one hand. Lukas and Aria reached out to him. With a quick flick of the knife, he opened a thin cut on their open palms and then pressed their hands together, wrapping the flannel piece loosely around their joined hands. “So mote it be.”

Aria always thought the intermingling of blood a symbolic gesture. Now she understood how wrong she had been. She became aware of Lukas in a way she had never felt before. Their combined blood forged a new link between them, weaving their souls together so tightly they would never be parted. 

“Holy smokes, Lukas.”

Aria’s gaze turned away from Lukas’ briefly to see Thaddeus wince and draw away. “Could you guys rein it in?”

Aria and Lukas looked at each other in confusion. 

Aaron laughed, squinting. His face reflected a strange mix of alarm and disbelief. “I never believed the myths about True Mates glowing like the full moon. I guess some legends really are true.”