Page 59 of Queen of the Crimson Throne (Queen of Blood and Stardust #2)

59

LENNOX

When Luka looked at me it made everyone else fade away. There were hundreds of people in this temple, but all I saw was him. When I finally made it to the dais he took my hands in his, leading me up the stairs towards the priestess standing at the center, clothed in her golden robes.

Marriages didn’t require someone to guide a couple through a ceremony, but in public ceremonies like this, it was common for someone to narrate the ceremony, typically a priestess. I looked at Luka as the priestess addressed the crowd. I couldn’t help but notice how different this was from our ceremony last night. All these people dragged here to witness us say a few words to one another—and to make matters worse, we were already married.

Not that anyone would ever know. Luce had placed a glamor over the mark on our hands and would release it at the right moment to make it convincing that we were receiving them during the ceremony.

I turned my attention back towards the priestess as she finally stopped talking. She reached for the goblet behind her and held it between us in her hands .

“By sharing this wine you are both agreeing to bind your lives to one another,” she declared.

She handed the goblet to Luka first. He sipped from the glass, smirking at me over the rim. “I bind myself to you, Lennox Adair.” He passed the goblet to me.

I sipped from the glass and repeated the words, “I bind myself to you, Luka Rossi.”

I handed the glass back to the priestess, and she continued talking, something about the sanctity of marriage.

“And now for the exchanging of blood, as is customary in the Blood Court.” The priestess handed a dagger to Luka, her face paling slightly.

The dagger was ornate and I wondered if it had ever been used before, the pommel and blade were gold with raised swirls and whirls adorning it. Even if it was decorative, it was sharp, the steel cut across mine and Luka’s palms easily as we repeated the same steps we had last night. When we intertwined our bloodied hands the priestess spoke again.

“All of Lethenia!” she exclaimed as she raised her arms dramatically in the air. “I introduce to you the newly bonded couple in marriage, High Queen Lennox Adair and Prince Luka Rossi!”

Luka took a step towards me, the cheering from the crowd faded into the distance as he kissed me, brushing his lips lightly over my lips before devouring me entirely. His hand at the back of my neck pulled me closer, deepening the kiss as I melded my body to his.

I felt Luce’s magic wash over me as Luka’s tongue slipped into my mouth. I pulled him closer as my tongue stroked against his.

The priestess made a low sound in the back of her throat. I peeked out of the corner of my eye to find her still standing with her hands in the air as she gave us a disapproving look.

“This is the house of the Goddess, remember,” she murmured .

I laughed against Luka’s mouth before I removed my lips from his. He took my hand and we turned to face the crowd.

“No turning back now, Sweetheart.”

“I’m fine as long as I’m going forward with you.”

Several additional tables had been added to the dining room for the meal tonight, all decorated in finery. We’d all eat a grand feast together before moving to the ballroom for the wedding ball. Luka’s arm was around my waist and I had a glass of sparkling wine in my hand as we surveyed the room.

“Who’s that?” I gestured to the brunette female making her way toward us. I had never seen her before, but something about her felt familiar. Her coiled chestnut hair fell past her shoulders. Her eyes were dark, but her square jaw and the shape of her nose felt familiar.

She smiled when her eyes landed on Luka, sending a pang of jealousy straight to my gut.

Luka smiled big, causing the knot in my stomach to tighten. “That’s Zienna.”

“Luka!” Zienna exclaimed, throwing her arms around my husband.

“Zee.” The two stepped back from one another. “I’d like you to meet my wife, Lennox Adair.”

I smiled tightly at the female, still uneasy at her familiarity with Luka. “Lennox, this is Zienna, Nico’s sister.”

My chest lightened instantly— Nico’s sister.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

A wide smile broke out on the female’s face. “You too.” She embraced me in a hug before I could protest.

“I see where Nico gets his enthusiasm from,” I said into her hair. “It must run in the family.”

Zienna laughed as she released me. “What else has he told you about our family?” She asked, her eyes darting back and forth between me and Luka.

“Not much.” Zienna stared at Luka expectantly. “He hasn’t told me a word about why he left.” Zienna’s shoulders shrank.

“I tried to get him to talk at first, but he refused. And you know Nico. He will only talk when he’s ready.” Luka raked a hand through his hair. “But I didn’t think it would take him this long to say anything.”

Zienna opened her mouth, but Luka stopped her. “I don’t want to hear it from you.” Understanding flashing across Zienna’s features.

“Thank you for looking out for him.”

“Of course, you know he always has a place with me.” He pulled me into his side. “Even if I am married now.”

I nodded in agreement. “As much as I hate to admit it, Nico’s become one of my best friends. He will forever have a home with us if he needs it.”

“Thank you. Things haven’t been the same since he left. He left a large hole in the pack. I was glad for the opportunity to see him.”

“Have you spoken to him?” Luka asked.

She shook her head. “I’m not even sure if he knows I’m here.” She sighed deeply. “Anyways, congratulations, Luka. I’m glad to see you happy.” She placed a gentle hand on my arm and squeezed lightly. “I don’t know you Lennox, but I hope I can get to know you. If you’re important to my brother and Luka I know you must be a good one.”

Luka pulled me closer, placing a kiss on top of my head. “She is.”

“You must also be a saint for putting up with the three idiots. Although Declan’s not as much of an idiot as he is a mood killer.”

I laughed. “I like her,” I told Luka, which made her smile widen.

“Right, back at you Queenie,” she said with a wink .

“Are you sticking around after the wedding?” It was rare I met females I got on with so easily.

Her lips pulled tight. “That all depends on how my conversation with Nico goes.” Her gaze traveled behind us. I looked over my shoulder to find Luce and Nico engaged in a conversation.

“If you’ll excuse me.”

“It was nice meeting you,”

Zienna made a move toward her brother. “You too.”

“If you’re still around tomorrow we should have lunch,” I called after her.

Zienna paused, looking over her shoulder at me. “I’d like that. It’s a date.”

“Look at you, making friends.”

I poked Luka in the side. “I say that in a good way, Lennox. Zienna is a good one. You will get along well. But I do admit, the idea of you two being friends is slightly terrifying.”