Page 8 of The Imp Act

Like…the whole enchilada. The big white gown, the string quartet, the four-course dinner. Flowers everywhere. Three hundred guests. This isn’t just a wedding. It’s a production.

I haven’t had a say in any of it. Mrs. Rossetti hired a wedding planner to take care of every last detail, even the gown. I’d always assumed I’d design my own dress if I got married; after all, that’s what I do. But one, there wasn’t time, and two, Enzo’s mom wasn’t having it. She wanted me in haute couture by a well-known house. She and the planner selected the dress they liked and had it sent to me.

I suppose I could have objected, but why bother? This wedding isn’t the real thing, so I have no problem playing along with his mother’s wishes. Hey, maybe it’ll even get me on her good side. Enzo warned me that she would disapprove of me on sight, because I’m not an imp. I was concerned about that, but he didn’t care. He threw an arm around my shoulder, said I was the right choice for him, and that was that.

And now, here we are, on our wedding day. I walk down the aisle of Monstrocity’s premier hotel’s ballroom in half an hour.

Enzo’s sisters are my bridesmaids, and their daughters are flower girls, which is fine. I don’t have any family in the city, and although I do have friends I might have asked to stand with me, it’s also fine that they aren’t here. I’m not that close to any of them. Being so focused on school and my future career meant I didn’t take time to socialize. I’ve always been a bit of a loner, and now it’s working in my favor.

For example, I don’t have to explain to anyone why I’m marrying a guy I’ve only known for a month. A guy whose mother seems to hate me. A guy who’s rich, which kinda makes me look like a gold digger.

Of course, Mrs. Rossetti ran a background check as soon as Enzo told her about me. Luckily, there wasn’t much to find. Yeah, I have some debt, but I’m not a divorcée, I don’t have any secret children, and there are no skeletons in my closet or arrests on my record, so she had to be satisfied with me in that regard.

“How are you feeling?” Enzo’s sister, the youngest of the three—he’s the baby—asks me. I think she’s Sienna. If I have it right, Ravenna is the oldest and Elena is in the middle. Ravenna is married to a fellow imp and has three children—I think. Elena is married to a male I haven’t met, but apparently he’s not an imp. Despite that, it seems he passed Mrs. Rossetti’s inspectionwith flying colors. He and Elena have two kids. And Sienna and her imp husband also have a couple of kids. At least, IthinkI have all that right. Enzo gave me a crash course, since I haven’t spent much time with his siblings.

“Oh,” I say, surprised Sienna bothered to check on me. Maybe the sisters are nicer than I’ve given them credit for. I shouldn’t assume they’re dragons (metaphorically, of course; the actual dragons I’ve met are lovely) like their mother. “I’m fine. Why?”

She gives me a soft smile. “It’s your wedding day, and Mother has gone out of her way to make it the most extravagant society event this year. It’s natural to be nervous. Even I’m a little antsy, and I’m just a bridesmaid.”

I shrug, causing the strapless bodice of my gown to shift. Good thing I’m wearing a frothy corset under it to hold things in place. “Maybe I should be, but I’m not. I feel good about the whole thing.”

“Ah, the power of love,” she says in her soft voice. Sienna is the gentlest, least forceful sister. And she seems to believe my relationship with Enzo is the real deal. That bodes well for me.

Ravenna steps forward and taps Sienna’s shoulder. “Come on. We should get downstairs and get ready.” She turns to me. “We’ll give you a few moments to yourself. Meet us down there when you’re ready, okay?”

I nod. They really are being kind to me, especially considering I’m a virtual stranger who’s marrying their baby brother.

I take a deep breath after they leave, but before I can do much else, the door opens again. I turn, expecting that one of them has forgotten something, but instead, my groom slips in.

He’s in a tux, of course, and looks more dashing than is fair. By its perfect fit and the way it’s tailored to accommodate his wings, I’m betting it’s not a rental.

“Hey,” he says, smiling at me. It only makes him more devastating. He’s so pretty, it’s not fair.

“Hi. What’s up? You’re not supposed to be in here. It’s bad luck to see me in my dress,” I tease.

He shrugs. “You know how I feel about rules. I live to break ‘em. Anyway, I wanted to check on you. Make sure you’re okay and not having any doubts.”

“Worried I’ll run away?”

He leans against the doorframe, his legs crossed. So casual, so confident. “Not really. But I’m here to reassure you, just in case you’re considering it.”

“I’m not going anywhere except down that aisle to marry you. I won’t get cold feet, dear husband.” I grin at him.

“Glad to hear it, wife.” He shoots me a wink and exits, but the door opensagaina few moments later. Just how many keycards did this hotel hand out? This is my bridal suite now, but tonight it’ll be our wedding suite, and I don’t think either one of us want people wandering in.

This time it’s his mother. Wonderful.

“Mrs. Rossetti,” I greet.

She just nods. “Stand up,” she commands. “I want to make sure you’re presentable.”

I take a deep breath and plaster a gentle smile on my face. I will not let her find fault with me. I don’t know how she could; most of what I’m wearing came from her. The pearl earrings and matching necklace are straight from her jewelry box, and complement the pearls running down the back of my A-line gown. The dress has touches of lace and seed pearls for glimmer, but nothing so garish as sequins or crystals. My hair is twisted up in a classic chignon, my veil—that she chose—tucked into the top of it. It too is dusted with seed pearls, and when I pull the blusher over my face to walk to Enzo, it will shimmer softly in the light.

I look like a perfect, classic bride.

Aurelia Rossetti walks around me in a slow circle, eyeing me up and down. She doesn’t look particularly pleased, but after the world’s longest inspection, she finally lets out a sigh.

“I suppose you’ll do.”

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