Night's Mistress (Children of the Night) (20 page)

One afternoon, at Kyle’s insistence, they left the baby with Savanah and went to look at the house Savanah had told Mara about. It was, indeed, a lovely old place. The exterior paint, green with white trim, looked new. There was a wooden swing in a corner of the porch.

“The perfect place to rock the baby in the evening,” Kyle remarked while the Realtor unlocked the front door.

The interior of the house had also been recently painted, and while Mara wasn’t crazy about white walls, it was something she could live with, at least temporarily. The three bedrooms were all good sized; each had its own bathroom. The living room was large, with a stone fireplace in one corner. Though she hadn’t spent much time in any kitchen, Mara fell in love with this one, which was large and sunny, with glass-fronted cabinets, lots of counter space, and a view of the backyard. She could already imagine a gazebo in the corner, and a swing for Derek.

“I think we should buy it,” Kyle said, looking at Mara. “The Realtor said the seller is willing to knock ten grand off the price. That’s a good deal. What do you think?”

“It is a nice house,” she replied. Why was she so hesitant? “It’s up to you.”

“No, it’s up to you,” he said. “I can paint anywhere.”

“All right.” They couldn’t stay with Rane and Savanah indefinitely, and it was a nice house.

After giving Mara a quick kiss, Kyle told the Realtor they would take it, with the stipulation that they could have a thirty-day escrow. “So we can spend our honeymoon in our new home,” Kyle said.

 

 

After some not-so-subtle coaxing by Kyle, Mara set the date for the wedding. November 30.

On a Friday evening in mid-November, after giving Kyle detailed verbal and written instructions on caring for the baby, Mara accompanied Savanah, Kathy, and Cara on a trip into town to look at wedding gowns.

It was a new experience for Mara, shopping with other women. She’d never had any female friends. She had spent most of her mortal life as a slave; as a vampire, she had preferred the company of men.

She tried on a dozen dresses, each one beautiful, and yet none of them seemed right until she found a cream-colored, floor-length gown of brushed silk that fit as though it had been made for her. She had decided against wearing a veil. It wasn’t as if she was some modest virgin, after all.

Savanah whistled softly when Mara stepped out of the dressing room. “Wow, you’ve got to buy that one!”

“We’ll be lucky if he doesn’t ravish you right there on the floor of the chapel,” Kathy said.

“Are you sure you just had a baby almost six weeks ago?” Cara asked with a shake of her head. “It took me six months to get my figure back.”

“Yes, but you had twins,” Kathy reminded her with a grin.

“True enough. Enjoy your baby while you can, Mara,” Cara said wistfully. “They grow up way too fast.”

Mara nodded. She couldn’t believe how much Derek had changed in just six short weeks. He was such a handsome, even-tempered little thing.

Turning, Mara looked at her reflection in the mirror. It was still something of a shock to look into a mirror and see herself staring back. She canted her head to the side. With all due modesty, she had to admit that she did look good. The gown clung to her figure, emphasizing her breasts, which, thanks to motherhood, were larger than ever, making her waist seem even smaller than it really was.

“You’re going to be a beautiful bride,” Cara said.

Mara smiled faintly. All brides were beautiful. Plain or pretty, wearing a wedding dress transformed them all.

“Yes, indeed,” Kathy agreed. “Are you sure you don’t want a veil?” She held up a froth of cream-colored lace.

“Oh, it’s great!” Savanah snatched it from her sister-in-law’s hand and placed it on Mara’s head. “It’s perfect!”

Mara looked at herself in the mirror again. The veil fell in graceful folds past her shoulders.

“What do you think?” Savanah asked.

“I’ll take it,” Mara decided. After all, she would only be a bride once. She might as well do it right. She just wished she was as excited about her upcoming nuptials as Cara and her daughters-in-law.

 

 

It was the end of November. For Mara, the days had passed all too quickly, and suddenly, the wedding was upon them. Mara stood in the small dressing room located in the rear of the church while Savanah and Kathy fussed over her hair and her gown. Cara sat in the corner, holding Derek.

“You look absolutely lovely,” Savanah said, smoothing a wrinkle from Mara’s veil.

“Thank you.”

“I think that does it.” Kathy gave Mara a hug. “Kyle’s a lucky man.”

Kathy and Cara moved toward the door, pausing when they realized Savanah wasn’t behind them.

“Are you coming?” Kathy asked.

“Yes, I’ll be right there.”

Kathy and Cara exchanged glances, then left the room, closing the door behind them.

Savanah laid her hand on Mara’s arm. “Is everything all right?”

“Of course,” Mara said brightly, “why wouldn’t it be?”

“Well, for one thing, brides are usually happy. I’ve seen corpses who didn’t look so glum.”

Mara started to say she was happy, but the words refused to come.

“It’s not too late to change your mind,” Savanah said quietly.

“I wish that was true,” Mara said. “But there’s no going back now.” Lifting her chin, she left the dressing room, her footsteps heavy as she made her way to the chapel.

It was a lovely old church. The altar and the pews, carved from oak, carried the patina of their years. A shaft of bright silver moonlight filtered through the beautiful red, blue and gold stained glass window above the altar, a deep blue carpet covered the wooden floor. The chapel was nothing like the lavish temples of ancient Egypt and yet there was a sense of peace within these walls that she had felt nowhere else on Earth.

It was quiet in the chapel. Mara glanced at those already seated. Roshan and Brenna sat side by side, holding hands. They were a handsome couple. Roshan wore black, as always; Brenna wore a dress instead of her customary blouse and full skirt. Vince and Cara sat with Brenna and Roshan. Abbey Marie sat on Cara’s lap, contentedly sucking her thumb. Rafe and Kathy sat in the second pew. Derek slept in Kathy’s arms. Mara studied Rafe’s wife, wondering if she ever regretted her decision to accept the Dark Gift so early in life. Did she ever long for children of her own?

Cordova family friends Susie and her were-tiger husband, Joe Cagin, sat behind Rafe and Kathy. Mara had been surprised to see them. She had never been particularly fond of Joe, though they had rubbed elbows from time to time during the War. Susie was a unique individual. Mara sometimes thought the other woman’s life sounded like a paranormal soap opera. Susie had been an ordinary mortal until a werewolf bit her. She’d had a difficult time adjusting to being a werewolf, had been afraid her three sons wouldn’t be safe around her. Susie had been swept up in Edna and Pearl’s horrendous experiments during the War. She had been on the brink of death when Cagin and Kathy persuaded Rafe to bring her across. He had done so, reluctantly. To Mara’s knowledge, no other were-creature had ever become a vampire.

Mara glanced at her watch, wondering what was keeping Father Lanzoni. The watch had been a wedding gift from Kyle. It was lovely, but only served to remind her that she was mortal, subject to the passage of time. Time. It was her enemy now.

“I’m sure Father Lanzoni will be here soon,” Savanah said.

Mara nodded. Savanah looked lovely in a shimmery gown of rose-colored silk. As best man, Rane stood beside Kyle.

Mara was beginning to think they would have to postpone the wedding when the double doors of the chapel flew open. But instead of Father Lanzoni, Logan stood there. Clad in black trousers, a black shirt, black leather boots, and a long black duster, he looked as handsome as the devil himself and equally dangerous.

The chapel suddenly hummed with tension as Roshan and the three Cordova men turned to stare at Logan.

Mara could almost smell the sudden increase in the testosterone level. She glanced at Roshan, who had gained his feet.

“It’s all right,” she said quietly. “He’s a friend of mine, here at my invitation.”

With a nod, Roshan resumed his seat, his expression wary.

“You invited him?” Kyle stared at Logan in disbelief as Logan took a seat across the aisle from the others.

For a moment, man and vampire glared at each other like wolves meeting for the first time. Then, with a lift of one brow, Logan inclined his head, and the tension in the room diminished.

“I called him a few days ago,” Mara said. “I had to let him know.”

“You should have told me,” Kyle said, his voice tight.

“I know. I’m sorry, but he’s my oldest friend, my only friend except for Rane’s family.” She lifted a hand to the ruby at her throat. “Please don’t be angry.”

A muscle ticked in Kyle’s jaw. “I’m not mad, but you should have warned me.”

The priest arrived then, putting an end to any further discussion. Father Giovanni Lanzoni was a man of medium height with warm hazel eyes and wavy black hair heavily laced with silver at his temples.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” the priest said. “An old friend of mine needed last rites, may the Lord bless him.” He smiled at Kyle and Mara, his expression turning to one of confusion as he took Mara’s hand in his. “Mara . . . ?”

“Your senses don’t deceive you, Father. I’m no longer Nosferatu.” Even though she was no longer a vampire herself, she could feel the priest’s preternatural power. It filled the room, an ancient power that, like fire, could be either beneficial or deadly. It occurred to her that Logan and Father Lanzoni were now the two oldest vampires in existence.

The priest was studying her carefully. “How did this happen? I don’t understand.”

“Neither do I.”

“I heard rumors, of course, but I discounted them . . .”

“Please, Father,” Mara said quietly. “Can we just get on with the ceremony?”

“Yes, of course.” With a last worried glance in her direction, the priest took his place at the altar. “We are gathered here this evening to unite Kyle Bowden and Mara in the bonds of holy wedlock, an institution ordained by God for the blessing of His children. In the beginning, God joined Adam and Eve together and admonished them to cleave to one another, to be fruitful and multiply.”

The priest turned his gaze on Mara. “And so I say to you, if you wish to have a happy marriage, then you must share your heart with no one else . . .”

Mara licked her lips. Had the priest somehow divined that she still had strong feelings for another man?

“For true happiness,” Father Lanzoni continued, “you have only to put your loved one first and yourself second, to treat your spouse as you would be treated, to remember how much you love one another on this day, and on every day that follows, for as long as God grants you breath.

“I will say the words that legally bind you together, but the true marriage between the two of you must take place in your hearts.”

Father Lanzoni glanced at those sitting in the audience. All were supernatural creatures, save for Savanah and the two infants. “If there is anyone here who knows why this man and this woman should not be joined together, let him speak now, or hereafter hold his peace.”

Standing at the altar, with her back to the chapel, Mara could feel Logan’s gaze boring into her back. Lifting a hand to the ruby pendant that seemed to be burning her skin, she held her breath as she waited for the words she longed to hear but hoped he wouldn’t say.

“I object.” Logan’s voice pierced the silence.

“On what grounds?” Father Lanzoni asked.

“On the grounds that I love her, and I think she loves me.”

Kyle whirled around, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. “Get the hell out of here, vampire!”

Vampire.
The word hung in the air. Mara heard a stirring in the crowd, not because of the word itself, but because of the sneer in Kyle’s voice when he said it.

“Mr. Bowden, that will be enough.” Father Lanzoni’s voice was quiet, calm, but there was steel underneath. “Mara, what have you to say?”

“Mara.” Gaining his feet, Logan stepped into the aisle. “Look at me.”

Slowly, her heart racing, she turned to face him. From the corner of her eye, she saw that Rafe and Rane had also gained their feet, ready to defend her if need be.

“Mara!” Kyle grabbed her hand. “Don’t listen to him. He’s a monster.”

“Yes, he is,” she admitted with a sad smile. “And I made him that way.”

“I love you.” Logan walked toward her, stopping when he was but an arm’s length away. “If you don’t love me, tell me so now.”

“Please, Logan, don’t make this any harder than it is. I’m doing what’s best for the baby, what’s best for all of us. If you think about it, you’ll know I’m right.”

“Fine, marry the bastard! I’ve waited for you this long. I can wait until the kid’s grown,” he said, his voice harsh, and with a low growl, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, hard and quick, and then, in a swirl of ebony smoke, he was gone.

A heavy silence filled the room.

For one reckless moment, Mara was sorely tempted to follow her heart and go after Logan, but she couldn’t do it.

She couldn’t leave her son, couldn’t take him away and deprive him of knowing his father.

Blinking back her tears, Mara turned to face the priest.

Kyle took her hand in his. “Please go on, Father.”

The priest looked at Mara. At her nod, he continued with the ceremony. “Mara, do you promise to love and cherish Kyle Bowden, here present, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” They were, she thought, the hardest two words she had ever spoken.