Page 62 of Blood Ties (City of Blood #1)

Elina

The night after our binding, I sit up as the sun releases me, to find the bed empty. Tilting my head, I listen to the apartment around me, searching for my husband. Tugging gently on the thread that is our bond, I know he’s close by.

“Out here, Tesoro,” he calls from the living room. He must have felt my pull.

Climbing out of bed, I pull on a long, oversized t-shirt with, ‘Team No Sun, No Garlic, No Problem’, across the front that almost reaches my knees, and walk out into the room, finding Sarah and Ethan already there. They are all speaking in hushed whispers.

“You know, if I wanted to eavesdrop I could so, just know, I’m being polite. What's the secret?” I ask as I sit at the end of the couch, Bash immediately pulling a foot into his lap.

“We have a surprise for you tonight, so you have to get dressed,” Sarah says from her perch at the counter.

Suspiciously eyeing them, I ask, “What kind of surprise?”

“Get dressed,” Bash answers, before leaning in. “I can help you, if you want.” His voice is husky in my ear.

Jumping up, I run from the room, giggling, Bash chasing me. I can practically hear the eye roll from our friends as they laugh at our departure.

An hour later, thoroughly satisfied, I emerge in a little black dress, my curls floating around me, my heavy boots on my feet.

“I’m ready,” I tell the assembled group. Sarah and Ethan are wearing coordinating outfits—her in a short, green jumper that looks radiant with her red hair, and Ethan in a lighter green button down and grey slacks. They really are a beautiful couple.

Sebastien is wearing tight, black jeans that frame his muscular thighs perfectly, and a deep grey, bespoke dress shirt, with a skinny black tie tied loosely around his neck, and his shirt sleeves rolled to his elbows, showcasing his strong, veiny forearms and swirling tattoos.

He wears equally heavy, black boots. Taking him in, I feel desire course through my veins.

He inhales deeply, shooting me a knowing look, and I duck my head, embarrassed.

If he can smell me, no doubt the others can too.

Approaching me, he wraps his arms around my waist, leaning to my ear and whispering, “You smell delicious, baby.” Kissing the side of my neck quickly, chills run down my body before he lets go.

Clapping, Sarah beckons us to follow. “Let’s go, Lovebirds, you’re making me sick,” she says before sticking her tongue out at us.

Approaching the Velvet Tomb, I see the line of vampires waiting to get in.

Waving to a few friends, Bash sweeps us both directly to the door.

Taylor, the bouncer, ushers us inside. The bar is packed, wall-to-wall, with all my friends, both human and vampire.

There is a large banner over the bar that says, “Congratulations”, and everyone starts clapping as we enter.

“Bash, what’s going on?” I ask.

“Well, since a vampire bonding ceremony isn’t exactly safe for humans, we wanted you to have a little human party. You have other friends, mainly from this bar, who want to celebrate with you.”

I want to sit down and cry, my emotions overflowing into the room. Sarah rushes over, grabbing my hand and hauling me to the bar where Rian is pouring drinks.

She pulls me in for a hug, holding me tightly. Her shoulders shake a little with emotion.

“Elina, I’m so damn happy for you. You deserve to finally have something for you, that’s yours. But dammit, you and Sarah both leaving at the same time is killing me!”

“I’m sorry, but I love you!” I tell her as I laugh.

Making our way through the room, I talk to everyone I know, accepting hugs and congratulations.

It’s all I could have wanted and I am so grateful to have a mate, and a family, that see me, truly see me, and knew that this was something I needed.

I’m sad for Amelie. I wish she were here so I could tell her I’m sorry. Everything is so different now.

“Excuse me,” Jack’s voice cuts through the noise in the room, and I find him standing on the stage, microphone in hand.

“Thank you for coming tonight. As you know, my best friend married the love of his life yesterday.

In over 200 years, I have never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at Elina.

The first time he told me about her, I thought he had lost his mind.

Dear Elina, do you know that he told me about you after having only made eye contact with you?

That he was falling for a woman who LOOKED at him! The man fell head over heels instantly.

“I’ve seen what love can do to a person, to a man.

It can soften a monster and it can turn a brooding, cold-hearted prince into the sort of man who would burn the world to keep one single woman safe.

Sebastien, you have transformed from a storm, dark and unpredictable, into a shelter, for your Queen, and your family.

Elina, you fought like hell to stay true to yourself, and you never ceased being a light in this city, even when they locked you away.

You emerged stronger, darker, and fiercer.

The two of you give me hope for the future.

“I want all of you to know, on this night, I pledge myself to you, Elina Girard Malvani, that I will offer you my service and my protection for as long as I live. I vow to do whatever it takes to keep you safe. To my future Queen!” He raises his glass before he drops to his knees in supplication.

Every vampire in the room turns in our direction and goes to their knees.

Looking down, I see Bash kneeling before me, my hands in his.

“Elina, Tesoro, never in nearly 500 years have I laid eyes on a creature as beautiful, as perfect, as you. You are the sun that moves across the sky, I orbit you as the center of my universe. You are the moon that guides my way. La Luna rules above us and she lives within you. I am eternally grateful that you gave me the chance to earn your love, and I endeavor to spend the rest of eternity proving, everyday, that I deserve you. Tonight, I kneel before you, because it is the place that I feel worthy of you. You saw a monster, the monster from your nightmares, and you stayed, you made me a better man, made me want to be a good man. Because of you, I have something that’s mine, not taken, not conquered.

Chosen, I chose you the very first night, and I am grateful you chose me back.

In eterno, Tesoro. In darkness and in light, in war and in peace, I am yours. ”

Pulling Bash to his feet, I throw my arms around his waist, holding tightly. “You deserve me just the way you are. I love you, in eterno.”

Clapping and whistling fills the space as I am wrapped in Bash’s arms. Smiling, I look around at everyone gathered around to celebrate us. This is my future. I won’t let anyone take it away from me.