Silent Bite-A Scanguards Wedding (1001 Dark Nights) by Tina Folsom Page B
Authors: Tina Folsom
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for eternity,” Oliver now said and felt tears rise into his eyes when he saw the wet sheen covering Ursula’s irises.
“The rings,” the minister prompted and looked at Blake.
His best man crouched down to Isabelle and nodded at her, giving her a sign that it was her turn, and the toddler staggered toward the minister, holding the pillow with the rings in front of her. She glanced sideways as if to seek approval from her mother, when she tripped and fell forward. But the little hybrid’s reflexes were as sharp as those of a vampire, and she braced her fall with her hands before her knees could hit the floorboards, though she dropped the pillow in the process.
A collective gasp raced through the guests, but Isabelle lifted her head with a wide smile, looking almost apologetic. Two tiny fangs flashed from her open mouth.
Oliver had never seen anything more adorable. He and Ursula had never spoken about children, but he knew that eventually they would have some. Once they were both ready.
It appeared the minister had seen Isabelle’s fangs, because his forehead pulled together and he leaned toward the toddler.
“Isabelle!” Blake chastised under his breath, and she seemed to understand him and quickly pressed her lips together again. She reached for the pillow that had fallen from her hands, and with Blake’s help, she was back on her feet within seconds. “That a girl,” Blake praised, winking at Oliver.
Oliver suppressed a chuckle.
The minister took the rings and blessed them before handing one to Ursula and one to him.
When Ursula repeated the minister’s words, Oliver’s heart expanded, filling with love and pride, with joy and happiness.
“With this ring, I thee wed.” Ursula slid the ring onto his finger.
Oliver didn’t wait for the minister to prompt him, impatient for Ursula to be his wife. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Nor did he wait for the minister to tell him that he could kiss the bride. He simply pulled Ursula into his arms and kissed her.
“I now pronounce you man and wife.” He heard the minister’s words somewhere in the distance.
“I love you,” he whispered against his bride’s lips only for her to hear, though he knew that the vampires in the tent would be able to pick up his words. And maybe even the humans, for it was a feeling he couldn’t hide from anybody. Nor did he intend to.
14
They had danced. They had cut the cake. They had toasted to their guests, listened to speeches, and accepted well-wishes, while secretly wishing they could escape and be alone.
Somebody finally had mercy on them and announced that it was time the bride and groom withdrew, while the rest of the guests could continue to celebrate. That somebody was Quinn.
Holding Ursula’s hand, Oliver now walked to the door of the gym which was located in the basement in one corner of the large garage, still thinking about Quinn’s words that their wedding present would be down there and the subsequent sparkle in Rose’s eyes. As if they had set up a prank.
He knew all about wedding pranks: toilet-paper-wrapped furniture, shaving-cream-decorated cars, confetti-littered beds, the things that your best friends did to the apartment while the couple was still dancing at the wedding reception. Oliver couldn’t care less what prank they’d set up, because nothing could erase the relief he felt knowing Ursula was safe now. He’d almost lost her tonight, and he needed to wipe out those memories by making new ones with her.
Oliver turned the doorknob and pushed the door inward. Then he froze, not in shock, but in wonder.
Next to him, Ursula sucked in a breath. “Oh my god!”
The gym equipment was gone.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
He could only echo her words. This was the best wedding gift Quinn and Rose could have ever given them: a place to consummate their blood-bond away from any curious eyes and ears. A place just for them.
In the center of the small room stood a large bed
“The rings,” the minister prompted and looked at Blake.
His best man crouched down to Isabelle and nodded at her, giving her a sign that it was her turn, and the toddler staggered toward the minister, holding the pillow with the rings in front of her. She glanced sideways as if to seek approval from her mother, when she tripped and fell forward. But the little hybrid’s reflexes were as sharp as those of a vampire, and she braced her fall with her hands before her knees could hit the floorboards, though she dropped the pillow in the process.
A collective gasp raced through the guests, but Isabelle lifted her head with a wide smile, looking almost apologetic. Two tiny fangs flashed from her open mouth.
Oliver had never seen anything more adorable. He and Ursula had never spoken about children, but he knew that eventually they would have some. Once they were both ready.
It appeared the minister had seen Isabelle’s fangs, because his forehead pulled together and he leaned toward the toddler.
“Isabelle!” Blake chastised under his breath, and she seemed to understand him and quickly pressed her lips together again. She reached for the pillow that had fallen from her hands, and with Blake’s help, she was back on her feet within seconds. “That a girl,” Blake praised, winking at Oliver.
Oliver suppressed a chuckle.
The minister took the rings and blessed them before handing one to Ursula and one to him.
When Ursula repeated the minister’s words, Oliver’s heart expanded, filling with love and pride, with joy and happiness.
“With this ring, I thee wed.” Ursula slid the ring onto his finger.
Oliver didn’t wait for the minister to prompt him, impatient for Ursula to be his wife. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Nor did he wait for the minister to tell him that he could kiss the bride. He simply pulled Ursula into his arms and kissed her.
“I now pronounce you man and wife.” He heard the minister’s words somewhere in the distance.
“I love you,” he whispered against his bride’s lips only for her to hear, though he knew that the vampires in the tent would be able to pick up his words. And maybe even the humans, for it was a feeling he couldn’t hide from anybody. Nor did he intend to.
14
They had danced. They had cut the cake. They had toasted to their guests, listened to speeches, and accepted well-wishes, while secretly wishing they could escape and be alone.
Somebody finally had mercy on them and announced that it was time the bride and groom withdrew, while the rest of the guests could continue to celebrate. That somebody was Quinn.
Holding Ursula’s hand, Oliver now walked to the door of the gym which was located in the basement in one corner of the large garage, still thinking about Quinn’s words that their wedding present would be down there and the subsequent sparkle in Rose’s eyes. As if they had set up a prank.
He knew all about wedding pranks: toilet-paper-wrapped furniture, shaving-cream-decorated cars, confetti-littered beds, the things that your best friends did to the apartment while the couple was still dancing at the wedding reception. Oliver couldn’t care less what prank they’d set up, because nothing could erase the relief he felt knowing Ursula was safe now. He’d almost lost her tonight, and he needed to wipe out those memories by making new ones with her.
Oliver turned the doorknob and pushed the door inward. Then he froze, not in shock, but in wonder.
Next to him, Ursula sucked in a breath. “Oh my god!”
The gym equipment was gone.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
He could only echo her words. This was the best wedding gift Quinn and Rose could have ever given them: a place to consummate their blood-bond away from any curious eyes and ears. A place just for them.
In the center of the small room stood a large bed
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