Blue-Blooded Vamp (51 page)

“What kind of trouble?” Rhea asked, switching to business mode.

“Some immigrants from Haiti hexed some of the weres.”

“Hmm,” I said. “Voodoo?”

He nodded. “I was also going to speak to Madame Zenobia to see if she had any solutions.”

“That’s a good idea,” Rhea said. “If she can’t help you, I’d be happy to send a couple of people down to look into it.”

Michael smiled. “Thanks. I’ll be in touch.”

“Anything else, Michael?”

He paused, as if reluctant to bring up the next item. “Actually, yes. As you know, my niece Mac is expecting her first cub in a couple of months.”

My stomach sank. It’s not that I didn’t know about Mac’s pregnancy, but this topic was a touchy one for several of us in the room. Georgia worked for Nyx, so Nyx knew the whole sordid tale of how Michael forced his niece to leave her girlfriend to marry a male of his choosing. And Rhea and I had both been friends with everyone involved. I nodded for him to continue.

“The doctors believe the cub will be a female.” His tone was so disappointed that I had to bite my lips to hide my smile. Served him right. “Mac asked me if you would allow her to bring the cub here for a blessing once she was born.”

I frowned. “A blessing from whom? Zen?” Before she’d left for New York, Mac and Zen had been good friends.

“From you.”

I blinked. I still wasn’t used to the more ceremonial parts of my new role among the races. Plus, the whole thing would be so awkward. Still, Mac had made her choices and Georgia actually seemed happier since she’d been in Los Angeles. Balking about a simple blessing on a child who didn’t have anything to do with the pain of her parents’ joining would be pretty hypocritical of me of all people. “Tell Mac I’d love to see her and meet the baby.”

Michael’s eyes shifted. “Will Mac’s mate also be welcomed?”

Ugh. I wanted to hang out with Logan Remus about as much as I wanted to get stabbed in the eye. But to slight him now would be a huge humiliation for the male. “He may come, too.”

Michael let out a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Sabina.”

I nodded and held his gaze. Michael knew I still didn’t
approve of his actions where Mac was concerned, but it wasn’t really my business. Even as the leader of the cabinet, I tried to keep my opinions to myself unless an issue arose that affected more than one race. I wasn’t a dictator, but more of a mediator. I’d learned my lesson the hard way about trying to control people.

I cleared my throat. “Anyone else have anything to report?”

The aisle seemed so long. Longer than it should, considering the happiness of the occasion. I’d never given much thought to weddings. In fact, I’d never so much as been invited to one. But now here I was, in one.

Giguhl’s green-scaled arm was linked through mine as we made the journey together. I looked over at him and found his gaze riveted to the altar, where Zen, Rhea, Brooks, and Adam already stood. I looked at the mancy and smiled. He winked back, looking both relaxed and downright sexy in his formal black chiton.

On either side of the aisles formed by the parted crowd of spectators, I spied dozens of familiar faces. Georgia and Slade on Giguhl’s side of the congregation. I was so glad to see Georgia smiling. After we’d returned, she had still been in a funk about Mac and had never warmed up to owning Lagniappe. But when I’d recommended Georgia to Nyx as an advisor, Brooks had stepped up with an offer to purchase the bar from the vampire. The situation worked out brilliantly for all concerned, since Brooks was a far better bar owner than performer and his drag queen employees worshipped him.

Speaking of Brooks, he’d also done an amazing job of pulling together the demon wedding of the millennium.
After some initial bitchiness, Brooks and Valva got along famously once they’d discovered their shared love for all things gaudy. After that, the Vanity bride and the Changeling had worked together like two fabulous generals staging a rhinestone-studded battle against singledom.

The courtyard of the house Adam and I owned in the Garden District had been transformed into a sort of faery autumn garden. Tiny white lights crisscrossed overhead, creating the illusion of stars or faery dust. Valva had tried to explain the theme they were going for, but I hadn’t really paid attention. Anyway, there were flowers everywhere and they’d thrown jewel-toned ribbon all over everything without a pulse. The effect was totally not my taste, but then, it also wasn’t my wedding.

Giguhl and I finally reached the front of the altar, where Rhea and Zen stood side by side to officiate the ceremony. Brooks and Adam waited for us at the altar, since they were the other best men. While Adam wore a chiton, Brooks had opted for a tuxedo with a bow tie and cummerbund in Vegasy gold lamé. I took my place between them and turned back toward the audience.

Giguhl fidgeted at the head of the aisle, waiting for Rhea to give the signal. Soon, the fae musicians to the side of altar started playing a fae wedding march. The entire crowd turned in time to see Valva appear at the back of the clearing.

She looked spectacular in her magenta wedding gown, especially with the plume of peacock feathers unfurled behind her like a train. Since Asmodeus and Lilith couldn’t be here for the ceremony—there’d be another one in Irkalla later—Maisie walked her former minion down the aisle.

Watching the pair approach—Valva on six-inch gold Louboutins and Maisie floating—my eyes began to sting.
If someone had told me ten months earlier that one night my ghost sister and I would be watching our minions get married, I’d have punched them in the face and told them to seek professional help. But now there was a certain poetry to this event. Everything felt like it had come full circle.

Maisie and Valva finally reached us. Rhea and Zen stepped forward. “Who gives this female to join in the sacred bond of soul mating with the demon Giguhl?” asked Rhea.

“I, Maisie Graecus, High Priestess of the Chaste Moon and Chosen of the Underworld Dark Races, do.”

“And who gives this male to join in the sacred bond of soul mating to the demon Valva?” asked Zen.

I’d been so busy smiling at my sister that Brooks had to nudge me with his elbow. I stood straighter and stepped forward. “I, Sabina Kane, High Priestess of the Blood Moon and Chosen of the Mortal Realm Dark Races, do.”

Zen and Rhea nodded at us to take our places next to our demons. Giguhl and Valva stood shoulder to shoulder and hand in claw. The ceremony was short but sweet. And at the end, after Giguhl slid the ring onto his demon bride’s finger and they were pronounced demon and wife, Valva launched herself at her husband and proceeded to kiss the snot out of him.

When they were finally finished, a moment of shocked silence followed before the courtyard erupted into cheers.

Adam caught my hand and winked. I shot him a rueful smile. We hadn’t gotten around to making our own union official. I still wore the ring he gave me that night in Tuscany and now he wore a matching one I’d had made. I guess we just felt like we didn’t need other people to confirm the vows we’d already made to each other. Our souls were already joined. The fires of Irkalla had fused them in a way no wedding ever could.

Still, he liked to tease me about making me an honest woman and often referred to himself at the “kept man of a goddess.”

The faery band burst into song to accompany the happy couple’s procession from the altar. Giguhl jumped forward, threw up his claws, and yelled, “Let’s party!”

The reception was held on the lawn beside the house. We were lucky enough to snag a double lot with lots of high walls and privacy. It had cost us a mint, but we loved living in New Orleans and the ease with which we could travel to any of the dark race capitals as needed.

Thousands of tiny white lights hung in the trees and candles floated in the pool. Colorful tents dotted the lawn and offered a variety of dishes favored by all the dark races. To cap it all off, a large stage had been erected for the band.

Speaking of the band, they’d just taken the stage and were warming up when Adam sauntered up to me bearing two flutes of champagne. He clinked his glass to mine and turned toward the stage. “I feel like our little demon is all grown up now.”

I took a sip and enjoyed the cold bubbling sensation as it slid down my throat. “Don’t worry. In no time he’ll be back to running up our credit cards and trashing the house when we’re out of town.”

“Speaking of trashing houses, I’m glad Erron and Ziggy worked things out.”

Erron and his new all-mage band were supplying the entertainment for the reception. Once the Recreant returned to the States, he’d made amends with Ziggy and they went about transforming Necrospank 5000 into a new, more mage-centric incarnation.

“But the new name has got to go,” Adam continued.

“Oh, I don’t know,” I said. “I think The Foreskins has a certain charm to it.”

At that moment, Erron Zorn strutted onstage. The small wedding party applauded politely. After a months’ long hiatus from music, tonight would mark Erron’s first public performance with his new band. He waved to his fans and pulled his guitar strap over his head. Behind him, Ziggy tapped a rhythmic beat on the drums.

“This first song goes out to the happy couple. Can we get Giguhl and Valva on the floor for their first dance as demon and wife?”

Giguhl looked so proud and happy as he led his bride onto the floor. Valva strutted ahead of him, flicking her peacock tail. Watching them, Adam put his arm around my shoulder. I leaned into him and let out a contented sigh.

I’m not sure why I expected two demons to dance to a traditionally romantic song. However, after my initial shock at their choice, I realized the acoustic version of “Super Freak” fit Giguhl and Valva better than any cheesy ballad.

“Sabina!” a female voice called.

I turned to see Georgia and the female vampire I noticed earlier at the wedding approaching. I moved forward and gave Georgia a hug.

We pulled away and Georgia turned to the female. Unlike Georgia, who was tall and had the figure of a cover model, this chick was shorter and had a short, spiky haircut. Judging from the bright red color, she was probably about a century old. “Adam, Sabina, this is Shane Bettencourt.”

“Chosen, it is an honor.” Shane started to kneel and touch her hand to her forehead, but I stopped her.

“Please don’t. You can just call me Sabina.” I stuck my
hand out. She hesitated and glanced at Georgia, who nodded. Finally, Shane took my hand and gave it a couple of hearty shakes.

“So how do you two know each other?” Adam asked after he greeted the vampire, too.

“Shane owns a bar in Los Angeles that I go to a lot.”

I glanced at Georgia. Her eyes skittered away. I wasn’t sure if it was because she was insecure about her new relationship or because of the obvious similarities between Shane and Georgia’s ex, Mac. Sure, Mac was a werewolf, but she had the same masculine energy and had been a bar owner to boot.

“Oh yeah?” I said to Shane. “What’s it called? I used to live in L.A. Maybe I’ve been there.”

“I kind of doubt that,” she said, glancing toward Adam. “It’s called The Pearl Diver.”

I bit my lip. “Really?”

Shane nodded. “You should come next time you’re in the city.”

“I think that’s a fantastic idea,” Adam said, earning a nudge from me.

Georgia cleared her throat. “So, Sabina, when are you finally going to make an honest man out of Adam?”

I shrugged. “We like living in sin.”

“Amen,” Shane said. She flashed Georgia a wink.

“Anyway,” Adam said, “I don’t think anything we’d come up with could compete with that.” He nodded toward the dance floor.

The Foreskins had picked up the beat and now the dance floor was crowded. In addition to Giguhl and Valva, who’d switched to some pretty impressive disco moves, Queen Maeve, Nyx, Slade, Brooks, Zen, and a dozen other powerful vampires, mages, weres, and fae danced their asses off.
Even Maisie’s spirit swirled and dipped among the corporeal partiers.

Considering that less than a year ago, those same beings had been on the brink of annihilating each other, it was an odd but not unwelcome sight.

“What do you say, Red?” Adam asked, holding out a hand toward the dance floor.

Two hours later, I escaped. My hair hung in sweaty ropes around my face, the hem of my dress was in shreds, and I hadn’t felt so good in months. Adam stayed behind to take Zen for a spin around the floor, so I grabbed a seat at a nearby table.

Before long, Giguhl sauntered up carrying two flutes of champagne and wearing a goofy, satisfied grin. He handed me a glass and clinked his to it before taking a seat beside me.

We sat quietly for a few moments, letting the sounds of the party swirl around us. Less than a year ago, the future had been a huge, black question mark hovering on the horizon. But now it rolled out in front of us like the first rays of the sun at dawn, full of promise and hope.

I looked at Giguhl and thought about the first night we’d met. Adam had sent the demon to test my skills. Giguhl had introduced himself by way of an applewood arrow through my chest. And now I’d just served as best man at his wedding.

On the journey to becoming best friends, we’d survived countless battles, hairpin turns, misunderstandings, and tests of faith. But each of those challenges had forged our relationship with bonds stronger than blood. And I was damned proud to be his friend.

“How’s it feel to be Mr. Valva now?” Apparently, demons didn’t get married often, but when they did, it was customary for the male to take the female’s name.

Giguhl leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands
across his midsection. “Don’t have any complaints so far.” Something in the distance caught the demon’s eye. “Hey, Red? Check it out.”

I turned and immediately spotted the objects of his interest. Nyx and Slade were sitting at an out-of-the-way table with their heads close together. Something about their body language told me they weren’t talking about business. I took a sip of my drink and decided it was a good thing. Nyx had thrown herself into her new role in the vampire government to distract herself from Tristan’s loss, but from the looks of things, Slade was more than happy to help her move on.