Page 84 of Bride By Coronation

My panic returns.Consummation? Here?

Kirill closes the gap between us, leans down, and murmurs, "It will be as private as I could get it."

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

The man announces, "I am Ulrich, acting magistrate of the Omnipotence, and I am most humbled to conduct this ceremony."

The crowd cheers again.

Ulrich quiets it again and begins, "Your Majesty, do you take this woman, Fiona O'Malley, to be your eternal wife?"

The audience returns to their soft humming.

Kirill meets my eyes. He confidently states, "I do."

My insides quiver, mixing with a growing ache that expands deep in my core.

Ulrich adds, "Do you vow to adore, protect, and rule by her side for eternity?"

Eternity.

My knees wobble.

Kirill rolls his thumbs over my hands again, answering, "During our lifetime and eternity, I pledge to adore, protect, and rule by her side to further The Underworld's agenda. I promise to defend my bride's sacred role as my top priority, forsaking anyone who tries to dethrone her."

Dethrone me?

He roars toward the crowd, "From this day forward, a threat to my bride is a direct declaration of war upon The Underworld, handled only by death." He pins his blues back on mine.

Direct war?

Death?

A strange feeling comes over me. I don't flinch under his stare, realizing there's something amazingly sexy about his declaration to protect me to the end of time.

He'll kill for me.

Maybe I shouldn't feel good about that, but I do. It lights my core so hot I have to press my thighs together.

Ulrich nods.

Kirill releases a hand and holds it out toward Sean. My brother puts a ring in it, and Kirill turns back to me. He slides a wedding band next to the diamond and returns to assessing me.

Tingles run down my spine, vibrating along with the hums.

Ulrich booms, "Do you, Fiona O'Malley, take our king, Kirill Petrov, to be your eternal husband?"

"I—" I freeze.

Petrov?

I gape at Kirill.

There's no way he's a Petrov.

The look in his eyes tells me I'm wrong.

I glance at my brother.

---