Page 55 of Queen of the Crimson Throne (Queen of Blood and Stardust #2)

55

LENNOX

I’m getting married tomorrow.

I sat on the chaise lounge on the balcony of my bedroom, staring out at the garden and the starry sky.

Dinner had ended a while ago, Caterina walked me to my room and bid me goodnight. I had wanted to continue my conversation with Luka, but he was engaged in a conversation with Lorenzo and Arlo and I had no desire to interrupt them and get myself roped into a conversation. Now, I was trying to work up the courage to go to his room and finish our conversation. Part of me hoped he’d show up on his balcony, save me a trip, force me into a conversation like he was so good at doing.

Instead, I was sitting alone, the night before my wedding, questioning everything.

I couldn’t say I had thought too much about my wedding day, but the events planned for tomorrow were not what I had ever thought my wedding might look like.

Hundreds of people would gather tomorrow for the ceremony to see the High Queen marry the vampire prince. The party afterward would carry on through the night.

I would be forced to talk and mingle with people I had never met before. Spending my wedding celebrations talking and catering to others’ feelings and wishes.

I stood and leaned over the balcony, peering into the garden.

All I wanted was a small intimate ceremony where I could celebrate with my friends and family—the people closest to me, as I committed to spending the rest of my life with the person I loved.

Tomorrow would not be that.

And on top of all that, the absence of those I had lost would be felt more than anything.

A soft knock on the door echoed through the room. “Come in,” I called out, looking over my shoulder as Luka hesitantly stepped through the door. He looked around for a second before spotting me on the balcony and making his way to me.

“Hey.” He stood beside me, placing his hands on the railing next to mine.

“Hi,” I murmured softly.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Our wedding.”

“Really?” He looked at me out of the corner of his eyes. “What about it?”

“It’s—it’s not what I had expected my wedding to look like.”

“Me either.” He was silent for several moments before speaking again. “That’s what I came here to talk to you about.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “I know this isn’t what you wanted in a marriage. I know how important it was for you to get to choose love for yourself. It eats at me every day that I am part of the reason why that choice was ripped away from you.”

He turned to face me. “That’s why I wanted to give you a choice. You don’t have a choice in marrying me tomorrow, but you have the choice in marrying me now.”

“Luka—what—what are you talking about?” My mind raced—trying to figure out what he meant. What did he mean marry him now ?

“I’m giving you a choice, Lennox. You can marry me tomorrow—in front of all those people, we can do the whole big wedding thing, that will be our wedding. Or—or you can marry me tonight. We can have the ceremony we both want. We get our friends and have a private ceremony. We don’t have much control when it comes to this wedding— our marriage —but we can have control of this one thing. You can choose to marry me tonight if that’s what you want.”

“You would do that for me?” I somehow choked the words out through the lump in my throat.

“I would rip the stars from the sky for you if that’s what you wanted. Because I love you, Lennox.” He brushed his thumb across my temple. “I love you so fucking much and it pains me every day to have taken this choice from you. Let me do this for you. Let me give you back this choice.”

Goosebumps scattered over my body. “You love me?”

He shook his head and smiled, letting out a small puff of air. “Yeah, I love you. And I think you already knew that.” His hand moved to cup my chin, his other hand resting lightly on my hip, his thumb brushing lightly underneath my ribs.

I had assumed he loved me, but hearing those words from him—it cemented together a broken part of my soul.

“Yes.” His brows furrowed. “Yes, I’ll marry you tonight Luka.”

The smile that broke across his face was so bright—that too mended another part of my soul.

He didn’t hesitate as he pressed his lips to mine. His hand wove in my hair as he pulled me closer and I fisted my hands in his shirt.

He loves me. Luka loves me.

I suspected what he felt for me, but hearing him say it out loud—hearing that confirmation—my magic swelled inside me, my emotions going haywire over his confession.

Hesitantly, I pulled my lips from his. “If we’re going to get married tonight I need to get ready,” I panted .

“You look perfect the way you are.” He placed another kiss on my jaw.

“If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do this right.” He continued kissing his way down my throat as I spoke.

“I’m going to send for Kara and Luce to help me get ready. Can you, Declan, and Nico get everything else set up?” He halted, his groan vibrating against my skin.

He pulled back and placed another kiss on my lips. “I’ve got it, Sweetheart. Meet me in the garden in an hour?”

Slowly, he removed himself from me, placing lingering kisses before finally his hands slipped from my body and he walked backward towards the door, smiling the entire way.

“See you in a bit.”

I couldn’t help smiling to myself as the door closed behind him.

I stood in front of the mirror as Kara and Luce fussed around me. It was astonishing what we put together in such a short time.

Neither of them showed any surprise when I told them what happened between Luka and I on the balcony. Kara had squealed and embraced me before rattling off all the things she needed to gather, but she made sure to tell me, I told you so , in a sing-song voice before rushing off to gather supplies.

I had no idea where Kara had found my dress on such short notice, I was thoroughly impressed. The garment was made of a deep blue, the color of the early night sky. The bodice was fitted and the skirt simple. Silver and gold stars adored the shimmering fabric. The back was cut in a deep v. Attached to the sleeves was a train of sorts—made from sheer fabric adorned with stars that matched the bodice.

My hair was down and in loose waves. A simple silver crown made up of stars and moons rested on my head with clear gems adorning it.

“You look stunning.” Kara hugged me from behind, resting her chin on my shoulder.

“I can’t believe you’re doing this. One wedding is bad enough, choosing to have two…” Luce shook her head but smiled.

“Are you saying you don’t dream about your wedding?” Kara asked.

Luce let out a harsh laugh. “I hope and pray to the Goddess I don’t have to get married.”

“And here I thought Len was the pessimist,” Kara chided. “You really don’t want to get married?”

“A regular marriage sure, an arranged marriage, no thank you.” She threw me a sideways glance. “Sorry.”

“I’ve accepted my fate,” I steeled my shoulders and assessed myself in the mirror. I had. Luka was my fate. As was our marriage.

I was starting to think this all might be a blessing. Luka, this arranged marriage. Maybe it was a blessing after all.

“I’m ready.”