Page 4 of My Hexed Honeymoon

That damn thread pulls extra taut, insisting I protect what’s mine even though I don’t want her to be.

A low growl emanates from my throat, a sound echoed by several members of my pack as the hair on the back of my neck bristles.

Seizing my new bride by the hand, I march us back down the aisle, opposite the way Talia came. We stride all the way to the end, where Conall stands tall, muscles coiled and ready to pounce.

We both tuck our women behind us at the same time, and I’m too focused on the vampires that’ve crested the hill and are sweeping across the meadow to resent the fact that I’ve referred to a witch as my woman.

Dozens of figures step from the trees, all dressed in dark elegance. As if they’re attending a gothic ball, not a wedding they haven’t been invited to. They approach, their movements too smooth and effortless.

We’ve got them outnumbered, but not by much, and only if we can truly count on the witches.

I’ll never count on a fucking witch.

“That’s far enough,” I say, authority ringing through my voice, and that’s a fun new trick that must come with the title. Despite being forced to marry a woman I despise, it’s good to be top dog.

Here’s hoping I’m not about to lose it in a battle against the vampires.

A singular figure paces ahead of the rest of the crowd, a rankling smile curving the androgynous vampire’s lips as they survey the ceremony. “We come not as enemies but to negotiate.”

Silence stretches out in the space between us, and Conall catches my eye, as if I need the reminder this is all on me now.

Every muscle in my body locks, my teeth clicking together as I clench them in place and step forward.

On instinct, I sweep out an arm behind me, ensuring Talia’s still shielded away.

Yep, just instinct and a magical bond that’ll never go away. No reason to read any more into it.

“And it looks as if congratulations are in order,” they add with a nod toward the petal-strewn aisle that leads to the altar.

I crank my glare to extra heated. “You weren’t invited.”

“Yes, that’s why we didn’t RSVP. Incredibly rude, I know.” White teeth flash between those blood-red lips, the corner of a fang causing mine to elongate in my own mouth. “But we’ve been searching for a witch who can navigate the astral plane for a while.”

My eyebrows lower, and they only scrunch further as I notice the vampire’s gaze pinned on my bride.

Slinging an arm around her shoulders, I tuck her next to me and peer down at her face, a silent question in my eyes.What the hell are they talking about?

Talia’s jaw sets, her eyes narrowing with the obvious hatred she has for me. Her return look either saysI don’t knoworbite me, werewolf,and little does she know that if this goes badly, I’ll rip her limb from limb, mate bond or not.

“We can stay through the celebration,” says the pangender vampire acting as leader or at least messenger, “or we’re happy to pose our offer now and let you get on with it.”

I want to wipe the smug grin from their face, acting like they’re accommodating us while trespassing onourterritory.

“It’ll only take a few minutes, and as long as we can strike a bargain…” Their silken voice turns steely, both fangs fully showing now. “Well, it’ll save us all from a lot of unnecessary bloodshed.”

Great. A few hours into being alpha and mere minutes after vowing myself to a woman I loathe, I find out that when it comes to our problems, marriage is just the tip of the iceberg.

CHAPTER THREE

Silly me,I sort of thought getting married to a werewolf would be the worst thing to happen to me today.

How nice to be so sorely mistaken.

Most brides get to milk their special day for all it’s worth, from decorations to the dress of their dreams to shoving a slice of cake thick with frosting in their groom’s face.

As Diego leads me toward the copse of trees where the leaders of the pack, the two covens, and three members from the vampire envoy have gathered, I’d like to shove more than cake in faces.

My new husband doesn’t speak as we trudge through the tall swamp grass, my long train catching on various stems, clumps, and twigs. These shoes are gorgeous, but ridiculous to walk in, the heels sinking every couple of steps and leaving me extra slow.

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