Deadly Desires (24 page)

Marcella looked up, and Samael shrugged. “Why not tonight? I don’t see any reason to wait.” His smile was positively beaming.

“But who’s going to perform the ceremony?” Marcella looked up at him curiously.

“Me.” Zepar came forward. “My father once married the two of you, and I couldn’t stand it. Let both of you be joined by someone who truly loves and wishes you the best. It would be an honor.”

The thought of Zepar marrying them couldn’t have been more perfect. In the last few months he’d completely changed from the man she’d known from her previous life. Even then, he hadn’t been so bad. But now, as one of her collectors and new knights…there couldn’t have been a better fit. “I would love that,” Marcella said, genuinely. “So, tonight.” She turned into Samael’s arms and was lost in his kiss until laughter broke her from the spell.

“I take it you both missed Nayla’s appearance.” Jason raised his eyebrows at them, jokingly. “The fey are waiting in the room downstairs.”

“Oh shit!” Marcella rushed to the mirror and patted down her long curls. They were wild where her breasts had crushed them against Samael’s chest. “We should go.” Her hand reached out and Samael took it. Suddenly they were surrounded by fey, and they were nothing like what she had imagined.

The men surrounding them made Samael look small, and he was a couple of inches over six feet. These men had to seriously be close to seven. Most of their hair was just as long as hers, although a lot of them had small braids throughout. Large eyes looked momentarily startled by her and Samael’s appearance.

“I’m so sorry we’re late. Please, make yourselves at home.” She motioned to the couches and she and Samael took their seat. Ambrose appeared and sat on her other side. A good two minutes went by before all the fey got situated. There were a lot more than she had expected. After scanning the room she had to guess there were close to seventy. A lot for just a viewing of her fortress.

The leader sat in front of her and he was very thin, but defined. His shoulders were wide and the material of his shirt was practically see-through. His hand reached for hers. “My name is Todd. It’s a pleasure meeting you.”

Marcella paused. Todd? Wow, she hadn’t seen that one coming. “The pleasure is mine.” She extended her hand and his engulfed hers, making her feel like a child. He was huge. “I want to thank you for coming. I know it’s hard to take in all you’ve been told. I wish I could have come to you myself, but as you can see”—she placed her hand on her stomach—”traveling is a bit much right now.”

“I noticed your condition, and it’s completely understandable. Babies are such a blessing and very hard on all mothers of our kind.” He looked around at his men. “Truthfully, I wasn’t sure what to expect when we came here. I have to tell you, I didn’t think you even existed. I’ve never heard of a soul collector before. Your men claimed to be them, but besides the feeling they gave off, I couldn’t get much out of it.”

“My history is very old. Uh…” She paused thinking where to begin. “Can you tell me how much you know? Maybe I can answer any questions you have after that.”

Big brown eyes looked behind her. She turned to see Jason standing there. “Ah, collector. We meet again.” He smiled and turned back to her. “Well, I know you collect souls and that you deliver them to their final resting place. I just have to confess, I’m not sure I believe you can actually take it from my body.”

“Oh, well that’s easy enough for me to show you. Would you like to feel it?” Marcella stood at his nod. “Our lips will touch like a kiss. I won’t take it from you now, but I will let you feel where it rests. You see, it’s severed from actually making it to its final resting place, but the moment you give it over to Jason, or another collector, then it can be safely taken care of until the time is right.”

Marcella placed her hands on his cheeks and lowered her lips to touch his. The connection was immediate. She gave it a little pull to let him feel the sensation inside of him. When she lifted, she took in his shocked face. “It’s there.” He rubbed his abdomen. “Amazing.” The men around stared at him as he continued. “But what if it goes against what we believe? I mean, if we still practice our beliefs, will it still be safe?”

“Absolutely. You have to know that most of our followers live here at the fortress, but it’s not mandatory. You can still stay where you live, but there is one thing I ask.”

“And what is that?” Todd looked at her skeptically.

Marcella sat back down. “If I keep you safe, then all I ask is that you do the same for me. If the time ever comes and I need you, you must fight to protect me and all those I harbor. That includes the souls my collectors harbor, too. They cannot die unless I do. Keeping me safe is vital.”

Todd nodded and stood. “A moment with my men, if that’s okay?”

“Go ahead.” She smiled at him and made her tea appear. She was starving, and the emptiness made the nausea come back. The ring caught her attention and she smiled.

Samael’s hand reached out and took hers. He leaned in and his lips became level with her ear. “I can’t wait to marry you, tonight. I’ve never wanted anything so bad in my life. To call you wife again, and actually be able to have it be more than a title, it’s a dream. I love you so much, Marcella.”

The words set butterflies scattering in her stomach. Micah kicked and she smiled. “I love you, too.” She lifted his hand and placed it where she knew her soul dwelled. “You have all of me. You always have.” The warmth of his forehead pressed against hers.

A throat clearing had her looking up at Todd. She stood and her men rose next to her. “We wish to join you.” The people he led gathered behind him. “But we want to stay where we live.”

“I respect your wishes.” Marcella smiled. “Your men can pick whoever they wish to hold their soul. Any of my collectors would be honored to take on the responsibility of protecting you all. Just know that whoever you pick, you must feel a connection with. The soul will not come without the deep sense that what you’re doing is right. I like to call it love. But it’s also trust. You have to really want this. If you do, then my men can lead you to the ritual room.” He nodded, and Jason and Ambrose walked over to the group.

They crowd thinned out as they left. Samael reached over and placed his hand on her stomach. “How’s my son?” At his voice Micah kicked again. A shock came to his face at the first time feeling the baby’s power. “Wow, I take it he’s good.”

“He’s starving, and so am I. We need food.” Samael helped her to her feet and led her to the door.

“Why don’t we eat in your room tonight? After earlier, I’d like to stay out of the great hall for a day or two and let things blow over.”

It made sense. She understood her followers knew what happened was justified, but still. The fact that they had to witness it didn’t sit right. “That’s a really good idea.” Samael wrapped his arm around her. They were suddenly in her room. A small table appeared, and on it, two plates and two wine glasses.

“Yours is grape juice.” He held her close and led her to sit down. “Now, what do both my babies feel like eating tonight?” Samael took his seat and waited for her response. The thing was, she had no idea.

“Well.” The cravings she’d had lately all revolved around steak. “Is it good to eat so much meat? Samael, I must confess, I can’t stand not being able to see a doctor like a normal person. I’m so scared that maybe something might be wrong with the baby that we can’t see. I know nothing about nutrition concerning a collector or even a human for that matter.”

Worry covered his face. “That’s been on my mind a lot lately. Why don’t we call and set you up an appointment somewhere. It might be a bit tricky, but I think we could pull it off.”

“Really?” She couldn’t hide the happiness she felt. “That would make me feel so much better.”

“It’s settled, then. Now, food.” A steak appeared on her plate, and she looked down at it, almost feeling guilty. Oh what the hell. She made steamed broccoli and carrots appear next to it, too. Best to even it out. And she’d only eat a little bit.

Samael made the same appear for him and they ate quietly. The wedding wouldn’t leave her mind though. She was already starting to get nervous, and it was still hours away. Yes, she wanted to marry Samael more than anything. But the actual act was completely different. Visions of his and Marcianna’s marriage pushed into her head.

The red dress flowed behind her as Marcianna walked down the aisle alone. Samael and Zepar stood at the altar. Their father walked to the middle. The look on his face was nothing but pride in what he’d created. Samael was another story completely.

Marcella could so clearly see the fear and anxiety still on his face. He didn’t want this. Her. Not in the beginning. He was marrying her because he had to. It was all duty, and nothing else.

“Hey.” Samael’s soft voice took her away from the images. “You okay? You look like you’re about to cry.” He stood and kneeled next to her. “Talk to me, Marcy. What’s wrong?”

She bit her lip and his eyes begged her to tell him. It was a request she couldn’t deny. “I was just remembering Marcianna’s past.” She swallowed hard. “My…memories. The look on your face as I walked toward you the last time we got married.”

“Shh. Don’t.” He rested his head along the roundness of her stomach. “I was a different person then.” Samael looked up. “I never want to remember him, and I wish you didn’t have to either. Just know that I love you more than anything, and I’m going to try my hardest to make those bad times disappear.”

The energy he sent brought a sense of calm throughout her. “I know you will. Samael, I don’t doubt your love for a second. Forget I ever mentioned this. Let’s eat.” His lips pressed against her stomach and he stood, taking his seat.

“Do you have anything in mind for the ceremony? I ask because if you don’t I’d love to take care of it for you.”

The food tasted good as she chewed. Her mind went over everything that needed to be done to prepare. “Truthfully, I never made it past dreaming about dresses. If you would like to tackle everything else, I’ll gladly hand that over to you.”

He smiled big. “Excellent. I have the perfect picture in my mind. You just worry about meeting me at the altar. You can come in your pajamas if you like. Just please, be there.”

A laugh came from her mouth as she pictured the pink and white polka-dotted pajama pants she wore. There was no way she was going to walk down the aisle and marry the man she loved wearing those. “I’ll definitely be there. You can bet on that.”

Jason and Donavon lounged on the bed as Marcella faced the three-way mirror. Nayla fluffed out the dress and Marcella twisted her mouth. It was probably the twentieth one she’d tried on. None of them were right. She turned to the two men who’d stayed with her and pleaded to them with her eyes. “Help me, please. I have no idea what I’m doing.”

A grin came from Jason’s mouth. “I think I could lay here and watch you for hours. You look lovely in wedding gowns.”

Marcella groaned. “You
have
been watching me for hours. You both get over here and give me some input.”

The men looked at each other. Jason stood and popped his knuckles. “Okay, my heart, let’s do this. Are you ready to be wowed?”

“Wait.” Marcella reached out to her best friend. Something was off with him. “Jason.” A sad grin covered his face and he embraced her tenderly. “God.” She lifted her head to look at him. “I always thought it was going to be you. Ever since I was a little girl. Every time I pictured myself getting married, I just assumed…”

Jason wiped tears from his eyes. “Dang it, Marcy. I swore I wasn’t going to do this.” He pressed his lips to her mouth and smiled down at her. “I thought it would be us, too. But you know what? I know in my heart of hearts that this is the way our story is meant to play out. Our connection is here.” He pressed his hand against her heart. “I’ll always be the other half of your heart. But you’re meant to be Samael’s wife. Your love for each other is what it’s all about. It doesn’t go deeper than what you two have.”

“I do love him very much. I can’t even explain how natural it feels to become his. It’s just unbelievable how we all got here.” Marcella sobbed and Jason spun her around to the mirror. He waved Donavon over.

“This is what they call fate, my darling.” Jason wiped her tears. “Now, you have a wedding that is going to happen in less than an hour, and we may be miracle workers, but we’re running out of time.” Donavon pulled her hair over her shoulders and Marcella nodded and stood taller. “What we want,” Jason said, staring the length up and down, “is an empire waist.”

The loose satin dress that covered her body tightened across her chest to about an inch or two below her breasts. “Okay.” Jason looked at the neckline and turned to Donavon. “What do you think?”

“Well,” the blond glanced at the mirror and then back to her. “We want to show her chest and shoulders, but no cleavage.”

“Hey, maybe the tiniest bit.” The gown changed measurements as the men went back and forth.

Jason pressed his fingers against his lips. “Shoulders exposed but arms covered in lace. Only half the sleeve.” Delicate lace swept across the top of Marcella’s chest, a good two inches above the satin barrier covering her cleavage. Jason smiled. “Okay, no cleavage. You were right Donavon. This looks a lot better. Very elegant.”

“Diamonds,” Donavon whispered. Light flickered across the tiny accents weaved in with the lace. The more the dress began to come together, the more Marcella could feel her heart accelerating.