Page 29 of Night Wedding
Wisps of pink smoke circled upwards from the vial, clinging to my face and crawling up my nostrils. A sickly sweet yet acrid odor overwhelmed me. I swatted at the tendrils, attempting to push it away.
“What the hell is that?” I demanded. When I opened my mouth, the potion invaded my mouth. It tasted like cotton candy and cough syrup. I coughed, hoping to spit it out.
I stumbled backward. Whatever it was pervaded my nose, my mouth, hell, even the very pores of my skin.
“Are you cursing me?” I clawed at my throat.
“No.” She stared at me. “Don’t fight it, Diego. This will bring us close again.”
Fuck, this was bad, the worst kind of magic. “Whatever you’re doing, stop. Remove it!” I lunged for her, my arm outstretched.
A dizziness swept through me, and I fell forward. I stumbled, hitting the ground, using my outstretched arm to break the fall. With my hands on my knees, I tried to focus and not pass out. I stared up through pastel-colors clouding the sky.
A sense of calm followed. I blinked at my surroundings. What was I bothered about a moment ago?
It didn’t matter now. Everything was fine.
Why was I on the ground? I stood. “Diana, what’s going on?”
She searched my eyes. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine.” I peered at her and then turned in a semi-circle. “What are we doing? I don’t remember coming here.”
“We’re just out for a stroll.” She stepped closer and cupped my face. “I missed you.”
My brows pulled in tight. “Missed me?” What was she talking about? “I’m right here.”
“Right.” She planted her lips against mine. When she pulled away, she said, “We’ll never be apart again.” Motioning around us, she said, “This night is young.”
I inhaled the cool air. “Indeed.”
“Let’s explore it together.” She hooked her arm through mine. “Come with me, fiancé.”
Chapter 8
Nova
Over in my apartment, Gianna poured glasses of a cranberry champagne cocktail while humming a familiar tune. She sang, “All the clowns are tiny dancers.”
“Are you singing ‘Tiny Dancer’?”
“Yeah.” She handed me a glass.
I laughed at Gianna’s interpretation of the lyrics. I’d never heard clowns referenced in the song.
We sat on the sofa surrounded by bookshelves. My comfort zone.
“Now that we’re alone, I wantallthe details.” She tapped my knee.
“About?” I asked.
“The proposal, you goof.” Her eager expression indicated she was bursting to hear more.
“Oh right.” I sipped the drink, which had a surprising tartness. “This is interesting.”
“You know I like to try different things with my bubbly.” She motioned toward me. “Now spill.”
I laughed and put my glass down on a Hogwarts coaster on the coffee table. “For someone who isn’t interested in marriage, you sound quite eager to hear about this proposal.”
