Page 45 of Dark Desire (Dark Souls Spin-off Short Story)

Chapter Twenty

T his was mental. Possibly the most insane thing I’d ever done, and I’d done a lot.

But marrying a vampire demon who I’d only met a week ago and who had only stopped wanting to kill me two days ago?

It had to be pretty high up my list. Yet there wasn’t an ounce of anxiety or doubt in my mind when he asked me to marry him.

I’d been ready to give my soul to him earlier, so marrying him wasn’t scary in the slightest. The fact that he wanted me to have his last name, he wanted me to feel a sense of belonging to a family that I never had, just made me fall even harder for the man.

Being under The Fates oath had kept me from ever experiencing what family meant. What it felt like to love and be loved in return.

A woman radiating pure happiness and excitement, wearing the most exquisite long-sleeved lace wedding dress, stared back at me in the mirror. I still couldn’t believe the Queen of all Supernaturals had managed to make this for me in less than two hours.

“Ready for the veil?” Hana, Zoran’s sister, asked from over my shoulder.

I grinned at her and nodded. I’d only met her, Ilaria and Queen Ruby a few hours ago but they already felt like family.

How Zoran’s family and friends had been pulled from their beds, dropped everything to coordinate and pull this together, while all I was told I had to worry about was relaxing, was honestly the kindest, most beautiful thing to experience.

Hana lifted a stunning veil over my head, completely covering my face, which was attached to a wreath of colourful flowers that sat at the back of my hair.

“Thank you for agreeing to some of our Serbian traditions, Darcie. It means a lot to Zoran. And to myself and Luka.” She smiled as she tied a ribbon from the veil to the back of my dress.

“Of course! I love that I get to share in what’s important to your family and Zoran. Serbian wedding traditions sound like so much fun,” I answered. “I want to learn everything about your culture. What’s the ribbon for?”

“It’s called the madlina ritual. The groom’s mother or female relative ties a ribbon from your veil to your dress as a symbolic transfer of responsibility from the bride’s family to the groom’s.”

“I see.” I nodded from behind the veil but didn’t mention that I didn’t have a family to give over responsibility.

I’d always been responsible for myself. A warmth spread across my chest as I thought of Zoran and how nice it felt to have someone else looking out for me now.

After tonight, I’d never be alone again.

Tears suddenly sparked behind my eyes, and I lifted my hand under the veil to catch a rogue tear before it ruined my makeup.

“No! No crying until after Zoran sees you!” Hana grabbed my hand and squeezed it in hers.

“Thank you,” I breathed, turning on my vanity stool to face her. “For all of this. For being here. I always wanted a sister.”

She beamed, her beautiful green eyes so striking against her deep red hair. “So have I. And now I have two! And so have you.”

I nodded, smiling as Ilaria entered my bedroom.

She was just as striking as Hana but in a completely different way.

Her porcelain skin and white hair glowed against her fluorescent pink eyes.

Where Hana was soft and bubbly, Ilaria was unapologetically outspoken and confident, which I loved.

The three of us were all so different, yet I knew we’d become the best of friends. No…the best of sisters.

“So everyone is outside and Zoran has just arrived, so…” Ilaria stopped talking when I stood up and turned to face her. She lifted her hands to her lips to cover her gasp. “Wow. You look fucking insane. Z is going to lose his mind.”

I giggled, giving them both a quick twirl. Ilaria stepped forward and handed me a glass of what looked like red wine. “Here,” she offered it to me as Hana delicately lifted my veil away from my face so I could drink. “To steady your nerves.”

“Oh, I’m not nervous,” I said, bringing the cup to my lips. I took a large sip and my eyes bulged at the coppery taste of warm blood. “Urgh! Oh my gods, it’s blood!”

They both burst out laughing. “Sorry, I probably should have warned you,” Ilaria chuckled. “I forgot you’re only a few hours old and still getting used to being a vampire.”

“It tastes weird.” I scrunched my nose in disgust.

“Yeah, it’s warmed up in the microwave. It’s from a blood bag.

Fresh is always best but we didn’t really have time to hunt down the green list with all the other preparations.

” She took the cup from me. “But don’t worry, you won’t have to touch a blood bag again once you give Zoran your soul.

Trust me, it’s so worth it just for that reason alone. ”

Hana moved away from the window with a smirk. “Zoran is giving me evil eyes from the graveyard. He’s never been patient and he seems to really want to marry you or something?” she said with a shrug and I laughed. “So, you ready?”

“Hell yeah.”

The moment we stepped out onto the church porch, I was taken aback by just how many supernaturals Zoran knew and had come at such short notice.

I’d barely met any of them, yet they were all staring at me with warm, loving expressions.

My eyes landed on Zoran in the centre, who was wearing a perfectly fitted black tux, half of his long red hair tied back out of his face.

He looked delicious. When he took in my dress and traditional Serbian veil, unable to clearly see my face yet from under it, he brought his hand to his jaw, rubbing it as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

I attempted to step towards him but Hana placed her hand on my arm to stop me.

Oh yeah, I’d forgotten about the odd apple shooting thingy.

Apparently, it was custom in Serbia that the groom came to the bride’s house before the wedding to ‘take’ her from her family home.

He needed to shoot an apple as his way of convincing the bride’s family that he would be able to provide for and protect her.

It was rather comical, seeing as he was one of the most ruthless supernaturals ever to exist.

Zoran’s brother, Luka, handed Zoran a vintage pistol and I smiled as Zoran lifted his arm and pointed to the tallest tree in the graveyard.

I noticed a red apple hanging by a rope on the tallest branch.

Zoran lifted the pistol, keeping his gaze locked on me and pulled the lever.

The sound of a gunshot filled the air and pieces of apple blew apart, falling from the tree.

All the people behind him cheered and whooped while my mouth dropped open and thighs clenched together at how hot that was. He didn’t even look!

Luka took the pistol from him and handed him a glass plate.

I stayed where I was, allowing Zoran to come to me as Ilaria and Hana stood on either side of me.

He stopped before the bottom step of the porch, putting us at the same height.

He took my hand, lifted it and kissed the back before peering up at my face from behind the veil.

“My forever. You take my breath away. Will you leave all this behind and start a new beginning with me?” he asked and I nodded my head.

He smiled, so sexy and mysterious as he placed the plate in our joined hands.

I’d always wanted to do this! We smashed the plate on the ground, closing one chapter and beginning another.

He lifted me by the waist, ensuring I didn’t step on any of the glass and we walked towards his family and friends. Leif stepped forward and beamed at us.

“Are we sure that’s D-dog under there? Best know who you’re marrying, bro.” He ducked his head, trying to look under the veil and Zoran shoved him away by his chest. I chuckled and Zoran turned to me, blocking Leif from coming any closer.

“Now Leif is Father of a Coven, he’s ordained, so he suggested he marry us.

He’s even spent the last hour reading about Serbian wedding ceremonies but there is a chance I might murder him before the end of it.

So we can use Darius, who is a family friend of the Royals,” Zoran whispered, pointing behind him at a stocky man with auburn hair who waved.

“I’d like Leif to do it,” I answered, grinning widely when Zoran closed his eyes and dropped his head while Leif fist pumped the air.

“I was afraid you’d say that,” Zoran grumbled but I could tell from the slight smile on his lips, deep down, it meant something to him too.

“Let’s do this damn thing! You’ll be my first wedding. I’m so fucking excited I might shit myself,” Leif shouted with his arms in the air. Nearly everyone laughed except Zoran, who sent him daggers with his eyes.

“Do NOT shit yourself at my wedding.”

Leif shook his head as he opened a swirling emerald portal. “Can’t promise that, demon.”

“Wait. Where are we going? I thought we were getting married here?” I asked quickly as Leif disappeared through the magical portal first.

“It’s tradition to greet the svatovi (family and friends) outside the groom’s house and…

” He stepped closer to me and took my hands in his.

“There is only one place that has ever felt like home to me. It would mean the world to marry you in the place that holds all our history, as well as where my parents were laid to rest. I’d like them to be there. ”

“You mean…” I gasped, realising he wanted to marry me in Serbia at his family’s scorched cottage where I saved his life.

“If it makes you uncomfortable, we don’t have to. We can do it here.”

“No,” I said, feeling emotional. It was so perfect. “I want to do it there.”