Page 32 of A Vow of Blood and Tears

“Let’s get the celebration going,” Visca interrupted, her own smile far more broad and satisfied than the ones that had come before. I’d even go so far as to say smug. “They’re going to want to take word of this down through the Rift, let everyone know they can stop worrying, their bachelor Lord has finally amended his ways.”

“They weren’t worried.” I guided Cirrien through the darkened garden, watching as several rose petals drifted from above and landed in her hair. I admired the velvet of them against the silk of her hair; I couldn’t bring myself to remove them. She wore them like a crown, almost vampiric with that pale skin in the moonlight.

Visca’s second in command, a large vampire named Koryek, kept a close step behind us. I had noticed his blue eyes on Cirrien, and now it took a tight hand on my leash to stop myself from doing something monumentally idiotic.

He was permitted to look. She was now his Lady, after all.

“My apologies, but I’d beg to differ, my Lord,” he said, his deep voice a rumble in the darkness. He smiled at Cirrien as sheglanced at him, and I flexed my claws at my side. It would not endear me to her if I killed a man for smiling. “Your late wedding has been the main topic of discussion for about the last three months. They’ve been dying to know who their Lady will be.”

“Our reign is cemented now,” Wyn added. “Honestly, Bane, let’s not be ridiculous. The Rift-kin would revolt at this point if they tried to put a human back in Ravenscry.”

I pondered this as we left the Bloodgarden, the candlelight within the keep painting Cirrien in shades of gold. The taste of her blood still haunted me; I had to keep my eyes anywhere but that smooth expanse of throat and the swell of her breasts beneath it.

I forced my mind to the conversation at hand, not thinking about staining that white silk with red, not thinking about peeling it off her.

It was true that the Rift-kin were quite comfortable with us now. If anything, the valley had prospered under Visca’s protection and Wyn’s constant efforts to use her bloodwitchery for the good of the people.

“Well now, potential mutiny and celebrations aside, we’ve got some other points that need to be taken care of.” Visca nodded to Cirrien. “Like the protection detail for Lady Cirrien, since I should return to Heartsfjord soon and get those new legions trained up properly. But Koryek here would be a good fit for the captain of her guard.”

The vampire knight wore a cocky smirk on his chiseled face.

The last thing I wanted was handsome Koryek guarding Cirrien’s door day and night. Ancestors, I should have bought her a different book, one that was a little less detailed on the endless virtues of the non-fiend vampire.

However, saying no would make me look like a pathetic wet sack in the eyes of my lovely wife. I didn’t think the sharp intelligence behind those eyes would miss my jealousy.

“Cirrien may have whomever she pleases as her guards,” I said, without clenching my fangs—truly a miracle.

Had it really been only two days ago that I’d believed my bride would be drowning in poppy dreams, and I’d been fully prepared to lock her in the tower with Koryek at her beck and call?

The ancestors laughed at me. I wanted her in my tower, in my chambers, in my bed… I wanted to be the sword between Cirrien and the wolves.

“Choose whomever you would like,” I told my wife. She had been listening intently, her arm still laced through mine, but had made no effort to speak. “Visca is indeed responsible for ensuring the new legions are well-trained, but any other vampire under my command is at your disposal. And… if you would prefer humans, many live here and would be honored to be your guardians, although I would prefer you select at least one vampire. We can smell the wargs much more clearly, you see.”

She gave me one of those glances, peeking up under those inexplicably dark lashes. Her hand moved quickly, spelling something indecipherable.

“The guard is tomorrow’s problem,” Wyn said blithely. “Don’t you fear, I’ve got an entire list of things to be taken care of that will likely consume the better part of this week, so you might as well go in there and have some wine and cake now before you’re utterly ravaged by responsibility.”

Cirrien gave her a dry look and signed incomprehensibly.

“Anyways, dear, the cake is for you and the other humans. Now that you’re lawfully wedded and the Accords have been met, you can meet them, of course. I don’t anticipate any bids for freedom now. You’ll simply be returned to us, and it would be rather embarrassing for you to be gathered up like a wayward child.”

Cirrien rolled her eyes and she signed sharply, exhaling in exasperation.

“I can guess very well what you’re upset about, but really, Cirrien dear, you must see it from our point of view. In fact, my wife would be pleased to tell you all about it.”

Visca eyeballed Wyn narrowly, but my advisor gave no sign that she noticed.

“And here we are, the grand ballroom. We haven’t had an excuse to use this room in ages, so do forgive my exuberance in the decorating…”

Wyn shoved open the double pair of ebony doors, revealing the ballroom with crystals glimmering overhead, the gleaming black floor, the endless wreaths of vines and roses.

And the crowd of mixed vampires and humans—the legion captains, the human minor nobility of the Rift, all come specifically to see the new Lady for themselves and witness the signed documents.

As Cirrien gazed at the sudden and unexpected crowd with wide eyes, Wyn stepped into the room with her arms held wide.

“The Accords have been honored! For ten long years we have waited, and now our hopes are fulfilled and our ambitions anchored. People of the Rift, welcome your Lady, Cirrien lai Darran, wife of Lord Bane Lifegiver.”

Chapter 9

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