Night's Master (26 page)

“Shall we begin?” Father Lanzoni asked. His gaze moved over those sitting in the pews and then rested briefly on my face and then Rafe’s. “My children,” he said, his voice low and yet filled with authority. “You have come here this night seeking a blessing on your marriage, and I commend you for it. The secret of a long and happy marriage rests with the two of you. Always remember to put your loved one first and your own wants second. Treat your spouse as you would be treated. Remember how you feel this night, and I promise you that the love you have for one another will grow stronger with each passing day.

“I will pronounce the words that bind you together legally, but the true joining must take place in your own hearts, your own souls.

“Katherine McKenna, do you promise to love and cherish Raphael Cordova, here present, for as long as you shall live?”

For as long as you live.
A few short years, I thought, when he might live for thousands. With a sigh, I murmured, “I do.”

“Raphael Cordova, do you promise to love and cherish Katherine McKenna, here present, for as long as you shall live?”

Rafe gazed deep into my eyes, and I saw forever waiting for me there. “I do.”

“Then, by the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Slowly, deliberately, Rafe drew me into his arms. My heart raced with anticipation as he lowered his head and claimed my lips with his. Sensual pleasure washed through me as he deepened the kiss, his tongue dueling with mine in a heady foretaste of what was to come when we were alone.

I was breathless when we parted, and a little embarrassed when we turned to face his parents and grandparents, all of whom were beaming at us. Susie was grinning. Cagin gave Rafe a thumbs-up.

Father Lanzoni cleared his throat. “May I present Mr. and Mrs. Raphael Cordova,” he said, a smile in his voice. “I suggest congratulations be swift so that the newlyweds can find a room.”

My cheeks grew hot as laughter erupted through the chapel, and then we were surrounded by Rafe’s family.

The blond woman drew me into her arms and kissed me on both cheeks. “Welcome, daughter. I’m sorry we didn’t get to meet earlier.”

“Yes, me, too.”

“My turn,” said a deep male voice, and the next thing I knew, Rafe’s father was giving me a bear hug that threatened to crack my ribs. “If he doesn’t treat you right, darlin’, you come and see me.”

Roshan and Brenna hugged me in turn, and then Rafe’s mother took me aside. “Don’t be intimidated by us,” she said with a kindly smile. “And don’t let Rafe force you into anything you aren’t ready for, if you know what I mean.”

“He already knows I don’t want to be a Vampire.”

Cara nodded. “It should be your decision, of course.”

“Are you ever sorry that you asked Mr. Cordova to bring you across?”

“No. Oh, there were times, in the beginning, when I missed being able to enjoy a summer day or a good meal, but they were small sacrifices to make when compared to what I gained.” She took both of my hands in hers and gave them a squeeze. “I wish you every happiness. If you ever have any questions you don’t want to ask Rafe, please call me. I hope we can be good friends.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Cordova, I’d like that.”

“Please, call me Cara.”

“Thank you, Cara.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Rafe said, coming up behind us. Slipping his arm around my waist, he kissed me soundly. “From now on, she’s all mine.”

“Raphael, aren’t you going to introduce me?”

The question came from the black-haired woman who had been sitting beside Rafe’s father.

“Of course,” Rafe said, smiling. “Mara, this is Kathy. Kathy, this is Mara. You’ve heard me speak of her.”

I could only stare at the creature before me. This, then, was the queen of the Vampires, the woman who had bestowed the Dark Gift on Rafe’s father.

“I’m pleased to meet you at last,” Mara said.

I nodded, still too stunned to speak. She hardly looked a day over twenty-five, yet she had lived for thousands of years. It was mind-boggling to think of all she must have seen in her lifetime. What had it been like for her to watch the whole world change, to see everyone she had ever known pass away while she remained forever the same? I had a million questions I would have liked to ask her, but of course, this wasn’t the time or the place.

A faint smile curved her lips, and then I heard her voice in my mind, soft and low, like a welcome breeze on a summer day.
When you tire of being a mortal, call me and I will bring you across. It will be quick and painless.

Startled, I blurted, “Why would you want to do that?”

Rafe frowned at me. “Do what?”

Mara turned her gaze on Rafe. “I was merely telling her that if she decided to join us, I would bring her across.” Looking at me again, she answered my question. “As for why I would do it, you might say I have a certain fondness for my godson and his father. As my fledgling, you will not be bound by the Dark Sleep.” Her gaze burned into mine. “Think about it.”

She bid Rafe’s family good night, kissed Father Lanzoni on the cheek, squeezed my hand, and vanished from our sight. The priest wished us well, and then he, too, simply disappeared.

Cagin swore softly, then muttered, “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.”

Susie laughed, and after giving me a hug and promising to call soon, she and Cagin left to pick up Susie’s kids.

With their parting, I was the only human left in the group. Of course, technically, Cagin wasn’t human, either. I wondered if Rafe’s family looked at me and, subconsciously, thought of me as prey. Were they all as happy to be creatures of the night as they appeared to be? Except for the blood thing, their lives didn’t seem much different than anyone else’s.

“Are you ready to go?” Rafe asked.

I nodded, and after another round of hugs and kisses, we left the chapel. There were more good-byes as his family followed us outside, and then Rafe and I were alone in his car.

“You’re very quiet,” he said after a time.

“I’m sorry, I’m just a bit overwhelmed by it all, I guess.”

“You were uncomfortable with my family.”

“No,” I said quickly, though in truth, I had felt like a newborn lamb among ravenous wolves.

“No?” He glanced at me, one brow lifted.

“Well, maybe a little,” I conceded. “Can you blame me?”

“No, love.”

“What will our life be like, Rafe? Will we celebrate Christmas and Easter and birthdays?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll have to call my parents and let them know about the wedding,” I said, thinking aloud. “Maybe we can go and visit them in a month or so.”

“If you wish.”

“Don’t you want to?”

“Of course.”

I wondered if he would feel as awkward with my parents as I had felt with his. My parents would expect us to stay with them, to have breakfast and lunch and dinner with them. How would I explain it when Rafe didn’t eat? One wall in the family dining room was mirrored. What would they think when Rafe sat at the table and cast no reflection in the glass?

“I think the easiest thing to do would be to tell them the truth, don’t you?” Rafe remarked.

I shook my head in exasperation. There was no point in telling him to stay out of my head. One day I was going to have to learn how to build that wall!

“I guess you’re right,” I said. “I can’t imagine what they’ll think, though.” With a sigh, I rested my head on Rafe’s shoulder. I’d worry about it later, I thought. Now, all I wanted was to be alone with my husband.

Rafe pulled into his driveway, then came around to open my door. Lifting me into his arms, he carried me into the house. When we crossed the threshold, dozens of candles sprang to life.

“Oh, Rafe,” I murmured, “it’s beautiful.”

There were bouquets of roses and daisies everywhere. Dark red rose petals covered the floor of the entryway, releasing their fragrance as Rafe stepped on them.

He carried me into the bedroom. There were more flowers there. The covers on the bed were turned down, the sheets were covered with hundreds of white rose petals. Candles lit the room with a warm golden glow. Soft romantic music played in the background. A bottle of red wine and two crystal glasses waited in a white wicker basket on the nightstand.

Rafe put me down ever so slowly, so that my body glided intimately over his. “I think I’ve been waiting for you all my life,” he said, his voice husky. “I can’t believe you’re really here, that you’re mine.” His knuckles stroked my cheek. “I think I loved you the minute I saw you in the bookstore. I know I couldn’t think of anything else once I saw you.”

“It was the same for me,” I said. “I tried to fight it. I kept telling myself you were a Vampire, that we could never be together, but here we are.”

“I will love you and cherish you for as long as you live.” His hands slid up and down my arms, his touch sending ripples of anticipation racing through me. He kissed me gently, sweetly. “I will never love another.”

“Rafe…” I couldn’t bear the thought of his being alone after I was gone, couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him. If I lived to be a hundred, it wouldn’t be long enough.

“One love to last a lifetime,” he murmured, and sweeping me into his arms, he carried me to bed.

We undressed each other slowly, savoring each shared moment, each tender touch, each gentle caress, our passion building, building, until the pleasure was almost more than I could bear, our bodies so hot, our need so intense, I was surprised the sheets didn’t go up in flames. I ran my hands over his heated flesh, loving the way his muscles quivered at my touch, the harsh rasp of his voice when he cried my name, his body trembling convulsively as he buried himself deep inside me and carried me to paradise.

One love to last a lifetime, he had said, and as he kissed me, I knew the day would come when I would find the courage to cross the abyss that separated us. I would accept the Dark Gift and truly join my life with his.

Reading my thoughts as always, Rafe gazed at me, his dark eyes glowing with love and affection, and when he smiled, I saw forever waiting for me in his eyes.

And so Rafe and I were married. We decided to stay in Oak Hollow. With the war over between the Vampires and the Werewolves, and Edna and Pearl no longer a threat, Oak Hollow became the quiet haven I had come looking for. Pearl brought Travis across shortly after she had been made. As Rafe had predicted, Travis was as arrogant as a Vampire as he had been as a hunter. Strangely, he had no recollection of his former life. It was almost as if he had been born the night his grandmother gave him the Dark Gift.

Rafe and I often spent time with his parents and his grandparents, and I grew to love them all, especially his grandfather, Roshan, with his courtly manners and wry sense of humor. Rafe’s mother and I became good friends.

As for my parents, I called to tell them of my marriage the day after the wedding. My mother was naturally disappointed that they hadn’t been invited. I explained that Rafe had swept me off my feet and we had been married on the spur of the moment. Romantic that she was, my mother had assured me that she understood. For the next month, we received gifts from my mom and dad every other day. We had been married a little over six months when I finally told them that Rafe was a Vampire. I had expected the worst but, as they had so often in the past, my parents surprised me. My mother said it didn’t matter. My father said he had known it all the time.

“Being able to identify the Undead is a family trait,” he had remarked nonchalantly. “Your mother and I wondered if you had inherited it, since it usually passes from father to son.”

Parents. Just when you thought you had them pegged, they threw you for a loop.

Susie and Cagin were married a year to the night after Rick’s demise. Her children took to Joe immediately. The Cagins made an unusual family, with a Were-tiger for a father, a Vampire mother, and three mortal children, but they all seemed extraordinarily happy together. Sometimes I envied Susie her children, but, for the most part, I was blissfully content with my life.

I continued to run the bookstore. I only worked four days a week, from ten in the morning until four in the afternoon, until I received an e-mail from Edna and Pearl complaining about my hours and asking me to stay open later since they couldn’t shop until after dark. When Susie voiced the same request, I hired a young man to open the store from 7:00
P.M
. to 10:00
P.M
. one night a week.

Because my nights, all of them, belonged to Rafe.

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