Page 75 of Wickedly Yours

Luna eyed the goblet suspiciously. “I don’t have to like, drink your blood or something, do I?”

“Don’t be silly. We’re not vampires.”

“Wait.” Her eyes widened. “I thought they were just a myth.”

I grinned, my lips dipping down to brush against her ear. “Are they?”

But now wasn’t the time to talk about the other creatures that lived in our worlds, hidden behind their own veils and wards.

My hands closed over hers, guiding the cup into both of our grasps before I bent and took a long pull of the dark wine. It wasn’t like the sparkling demon wine she’d tried at the party—but something deeper.

Holding it out to her, my hands remained wrapped around hers as she tipped the cup to her own face, drinking it deeply just as I’d done. I watched her throat as she swallowed, the line of her neck begging for my tongue.

Careful,I thought to her mind.Too much will make you sick.

Her tongue darted out to catch a stray drop.What’s in it?Her eyes widened as she scrunched up her nose.It’s almost… spicy.

I didn’t bore her with the list of ingredients.It’s believed to deepen the pathways between the souls.Maybe it was all just a pretense, some romantic fabrication, but it was a tradition I would not squander.Or so they say.

She hummed in response, and then the goblet was taken away, our hands clasped once again. Now that my people's traditions were fulfilled—mostly—I had another tradition to complete.

The demon officiant nodded at me to continue. I’d filled him in on my somewhat unconventional plans beforehand, wanting to keep all of it a surprise from her.

“I, Zain, take you, Luna, to be my wife. My queen. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life, for as long as the fates shall allow us. Till eternity do us part.”

It was a declaration. An intention. Me claiming her as my everything.

I pulled the wedding band out of my pocket, slipping it on over her moonstone ring. Another human tradition, but one I was happy to comply with.

Luna’s face softened as she held up her hand, admiring the diamond-encrusted eternity band. “Zain, I…” Her breath caught. “This is too much.”

I raised an eyebrow as if to say,look where we are.“Nothing is too much for you, Moonbeam.”

She blinked at me.Your turn.I gave her a small mental prompt.

My bride inhaled roughly before letting out a shaky breath. “I, Luna, take you, Zain, to be my husband. My… King.” Fuck, I liked that word on her lips. Maybe I could get her to say it again later. “I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life, for as long as the fates shall allow us. Till eternity do us part.”

Willow nudged her, placing a dark band in my bride’s palm. This time, it was me who was surprised. I hadn’t mentioned rings to her. When had she had time to get this made?

“It’s tungsten,” she explained. “The strongest metal on earth. And it has obsidian inlaid in it, which the witches say is good for protection.”

“Did you get me a ring that would help keep me safe?” I rasped in her ear.

Her cheeks were pink as she slid it onto my ring finger before her hand slid back into mine.

“You made me a promise,” she said. “We have a deal. So you can’t go getting yourself hurt and go back on that.”

An appreciative hum vibrated in my throat. I liked that she worried about me. Though I couldn’t find a single thing I didn’t like about the woman standing in front of me.

The one who had just become my wife.

“An eternity wouldn’t be long enough with you,” I said, voice low so only she could hear. And I meant it. I meant every word. Thank the fates that they’d brought her to me.

She squeezed my palm in response, her eyes rimmed in silver.

The officiant cleared his throat,distracting me from our moment. We’d been in our own little bubble, truly not a care about the rest of the beings in the room.

“I now pronounce you, Prince Zain and Princess Luna, as husband and wife. You may seal your vows with a kiss.”

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