Page 56 of All for the Beast

A warmth she came to associate with Vharlk filled her. Even imagining him near her grounded her in a way that dazzled and dizzied her. He was her beginning and her end.

Quickly tossing off her clothes, Katy stepped into the shower. She mindlessly scrubbed her body, lathering it with vanilla and honey soaps before giving her hair a quick wash.

Fresh and clean, she gave herself a once-over in the mirror. For the first time, the woman staring back at her was starting to make sense. She wasn’t just some wandering soul in search of the next adventure. She had a purpose.

Katy’s fingers traced her mark, lingering in the small divots in her skin.

“Well, you're about as ready as I expected,” Gerri said, bursting into the room.

Katy turned and gasped when she saw the wedding dress draped over Gerri’s slender arms. Gerri held it up to her, proud of her exceptional taste. The bodice of the dress had an intricate lace pattern. It cinched into the waist, then fell into soft, airy layers. The fabric was white with an iridescent pink shine that reminded her of the sea they floated upon.

Katy picked up the dress from Gerri’s arms and held it up to herself. The beading along the hem picked up the light like the facets of a rare stone. Held in place by her nerves, Katy looked back at Gerri, unsure of exactly what to do next.

“You're going to look beautiful,” she encouraged, motioning for Katy to put the dress on.

Katy smiled at her, pulling up the courage she had used to follow the matchmaker into the wormhole and using it as armor as she leapt into the arms of everything she feared.

She slipped the dress over her body, savoring the weight as it molded to her figure. The plunging neckline hugged her breasts, highlighting her ample cleavage before guiding the eye down a sliver of the smooth, exposed abdomen.

"You're glowing," Gerri said delightedly.

“Thank you so much for everything,” Katy said, allowing the moment to settle into her soul. “I’ve never felt so beautiful.”

"If you feel like this now, just wait until you see your hair," she said, guiding Katy to a seat.

Gerri curled and pinned her hair in all manner of fashions before spraying everything in place. Katy had never been much of a hair girl, choosing instead to leave her hair down or do a loose ponytail. Who had time for hair when you were busy having an adventure? Still, looking at the way her blonde tresses fell in effortless waves that framed her face, like something out of a Shakespearian sonnet, made her feel like she was stepping into a new skin.

Gerri finished off the look with a bit of makeup before pulling Katy to her feet and guiding her over to the full-length mirror for the final look.

"Just about that time," Gerri said gently.

"I'm ready," Katy said with a nod, sure that Vharlk wouldn't be able to keep his hands off her.

Katy's heart pounded as she followed Gerri through the halls of the ship. She remembered the skeleton it once was when she first arrived and felt her pride swell at the results of her and Vharlk's hard work.

Gerri came to a stop, and Katy paused behind her in front of the massive doors that led to the ship’s grand hall. Katy’s brow wrinkled. She thought they were having the ceremony on the deck. The silence radiating from behind those doors did nothing to help the pit blooming in her stomach. Seconds felt like hours as they waited for something only Gerri knew about.

Then, from a side door, Katy’s mother and father stepped out. She couldn’t help the squeal that erupted from her as she hurried to them, and they all hugged.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” Katy said, tears in her eyes.

Her mother wiped at Katy’s cheeks. “Don’t cry, dear. You’ll ruin your makeup. And we wouldn’t want theprinceto think you’re sad.”

Katy stepped back, eyes widened. “You know about V?”

“Of course we do,” her father replied. “And Gerri wouldn’t let us miss our only daughter’s wedding.”

Katy glanced over her shoulder to see Gerri was no longer there. “I really wanted to tell you and for you to be here, but since this is a different planet and all, I wasn’t sure …”

“No worries,” Mother said. “Gerri explained it all, and we’re thrilled to be here.”

A soft melody began to play, drifting through the cracks of the doors like fog, filling the space with its lure.

"Let’s get you married,” Dad said, taking her one hand and her mother the other. The solid slabs of wood parted, and her parents guided her forward.

Katy couldn't believe what she saw. The room was packed with humans and shifters alike, all eyes taking her in. Katy smiled as she noted how the grand hall had been transformed, with fabrics of soft creams and shades of blue hanging from the walls. Golden lights illuminated the room, making the soft hues of the drapery glow. Dozens of flowers lined the aisle, guiding her into Vharlk’s arms.

Her mate stood at the end of the aisle, his gray eyes blazing as he feasted over her advancing form. The black ensemble he chose did nothing to distract from the power of his solid frame. She was drawn to him. This irresistible man had given her something she thought she would never have … a home.

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