Bonded by Blood

chapter TWENTY-NINE

One year later.

DETERMINED TO PRY more than just the obligatory smile from her friend, at least for a moment, Mackenzie wrapped her arms around Lily and kissed her on the cheek.

“Careful,” Lily said, pushing her away. “You’re going to eff up your makeup and I don’t want to redo it again. No more hugs and kisses until it’s time for you to kiss Dom. Then you can smear it all to hell. What was that for, anyway?”

“In case the night gets away from me and I forget to thank you later.”

Lily straightened the peach-colored satin bow on Mackenzie’s velvet wedding jacket and adjusted the lapel. Although her eyes looked a little hollow and drawn, she scrutinized Mackenzie from head to toe, picking off little bits of lint and stray threads. “This dress is abso-f*cking-lutely amazing. Shit—shoot—sorry. You look fabulous and smell even better. Are you back one hundred percent yet?”

“Try two hundred percent. Lil, how can I ever thank you enough for everything? You’re like the sister I never had.”

“Well, with my blood helping in your conversion, we are sisters. Blood sisters. We’re practically related now.” Lily laughed, but it still didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Mackenzie took her friend’s hand in hers, noticed Lily’s signature red French manicure had a few uncharacteristic chips. “He just needs some time, Lil. He’s lived a century masquerading as someone he wasn’t, trying to make amends for some poor decisions he made as a young man. Dom said Darkbloods used to lace Sweet with opiates. It’s no wonder Alfonso got so addicted and didn’t realize what was going on back then. It’s bound to take a while for him to find out who he really is. It can take a long time to forgive yourself for something like that.”

“I know, but it still doesn’t make it any easier.”

“Would you be interested in going up there to visit him at his new place? Alfonso commissioned me to do some paintings of their childhood estate in Madrid and I should have them finished pretty soon. It’d give you a chance to see him again. Maybe the two of you could talk.”

“He hasn’t returned any of my calls or emails. You should probably just take Dom.”

“Well, I’m not sure he’s ready for a social call with his brother, either, although I’m hopeful that day will come. Stubbornness seems to be a Serrano family trait. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, you need to love your family while you have them.”

Lily walked around Mackenzie again, straightening the tiered lace layers of her wedding gown. “Speaking of families, your mother cracks me up. She was convinced Jackson was trying to look up her skirt earlier.”

They looked at each other and laughed. “He probably was.”

Corey burst through the doors, his skater shoes a stark contrast to his slightly wrinkled tuxedo. “Kenzie, Shirl wanted me to tell you that it’s almost midnight. Everyone’s waiting. It’s time to— Wow, you look fantastic.”

“She cleans up well, eh?” Lily said. “Okay, let’s get a move on.”

WITH HIS CHIN held high, knowing all eyes were on him, Dom waited at one end of the red velvet carpet that stretched down the center of the expansive lawn. The other end covered the stairs of the lodge’s veranda, disappearing into the ornate doorway, and a small gathering of people lined up along the side near the center. They watched him now, but he knew that at any moment their heads would crane around to see her. The steady but slightly elevated sound of her heartbeat caressed his mind, reassuring him she was very near. For probably the millionth time, he reached up to smooth down his ponytail. He wasn’t accustomed to wearing the stiff-collared cloak of his ancestors.

“Would you stand still?” Chuck laid a hand on his shoulder. “It’s almost time.”

As if on cue, the sound of a single chime broke the silence, and Dom felt his heart pound even harder against his ribs. When he rubbed his forefingers along his thumbs, he had to force himself to stop. For the past year his father’s ring had sat on his own wedding ring finger and the other, his mother’s, after some adjustments, had sat on Mackenzie’s. Tonight, in the tradition of his people, would be the ceremony that celebrated their now-eternal bond. Squaring his shoulders as the chiming continued its midnight countdown, Dom peeled his gaze from the doors and glanced over at Chuck, standing to his right.

“You’ve made a wise choice, son. Your father would be very proud of you.”

As the twelfth gong sounded, the double doors at the far end of the red carpet opened and there, in the doorway, she stood. With her dark curls fanned out over her shoulders, she wore a flowing ivory dress and matching hip-length coat with velvet collar and cuffs and sheer sleeves. She had told him it was covered in gold French embroidery, but he hadn’t seen it until now.

His breath caught in his throat as a hush descended over the guests. Her form was almost ethereal, shimmering in the light of hundreds of candles. Although he would never have thought it possible, she was even more beautiful to him after going through the change seven nights ago. That she went through the agonizing blood ritual for him, to become like him, when he was perfectly happy with her as a human, still amazed him. This woman had sacrificed everything for him, and he vowed to cherish her every day for the rest of his life. At the top of the stairs, she paused and his soul reached out for hers.

When the humming of the soloist began, he lifted his arm in a loving command and Mackenzie descended the steps toward him. After piano notes joined the hauntingly beautiful singing, he started walking toward her and they met in the middle.

As he looked down upon her upturned face and felt the heady warmth rolling off her body, he was struck with the desire to bow at her feet. She’d called him her savior, but it was he who should be worshipping her. She was the one who’d saved him and brought him out of the darkness.

Eres la luz que ilumina la oscuridad de mi vida. Thank you, Lord. He lifted his eyes to the heavens.

Mackenzie untied the silk ribbon of her coat and slipped it off her shoulders. A sweet fragrance wafted up from her skin and hair, somewhat familiar and yet different. It was gloriously musky and he closed his eyes for a moment as it invaded his nostrils. Was it from the ritual oils anointing her body or the smell of her since her change? They had not lain together yet so he couldn’t be sure.

When she bent on one knee, her pale peach toenails peeked out from the hem of her dress. Dropping her coat at his feet, she looked up into his eyes and began to speak.

“All that I was, all that I am, all that I will be, I surrender myself to you.” Her voice, though soft, rang out through the still night air for all to hear.

He grasped both of her hands and pulled her back to her feet. With a shrug, he slipped off his cloak, revealing his bare chest, and wrapped it around her shoulders as a sign of his protection. From his pocket, he pulled out a princess-cut diamond solitaire, flanked with tiny emeralds. She gasped as he slipped it on her finger, where it nestled against her filigreed wedding ring.

Oh my God, Dom, it’s absolutely beautiful.

She twisted it around and watched as it sparkled in the candlelight, shooting tiny prisms onto her gown. Moisture tinged her dark lashes as she looked up at him and his heart soared. Exactly the reaction he had hoped for when he had it designed. He’d purposely not told her about this little detail of the ceremony.

Then, after turning to take the ornately carved sword from its scabbard, which Chuck held in outstretched hands, Dom bent on one knee at her feet. He repeated the same vow to her and offered her the weapon.

“I give to you my strength and power. Your enemies are my enemies and I will give my life to protect you and our family.”

He stood and with his hand over hers, pulled the blade across the palm of his hand. Then he did the same to hers, careful to barely knick her skin. Chuck took the weapon from him and sheathed it without wiping off the blood.

His hand still joined with hers, Dom was bending his head to kiss his wife, his mate, his forever, when he heard her sharp intake of breath.

She was looking at her coat, still crumpled at his feet.

What is it, love? he started to say until his thoughts to her stopped. Several drops of their mingled blood had dripped onto the coat, marring the delicate ivory fabric. His knees almost collapsed at the sight.

Dios mio.

How was this—? His heart swelled impossibly larger in his chest and his hands, clasped over hers, began to shake. When she lifted her chin to him, he felt her concern but couldn’t see it etched on her face. Everything was a blur through his warm tears.

What’s wrong? I’m not upset about the coat, just surprised.

He lifted his eyes to the night sky. Lord, how is this even possible?

Dom, what?

He blinked a few times and saw confusion reflected in her fiery green eyes. Of course, she had no idea. Running a finger down the side of her face, he freed a wisp of her hair that, as usual, had tangled in her earring. He wanted to laugh, to twirl her around.

A child, my love. Oh my God, a child. The blood on your marriage coat signifies you will bless me with a child.

That’s not possible. You know the doctors have told me my womb is unable to carry a baby.

Going through the conversion repairs many physical imperfections. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to raise your hopes. But my darling, you were meant to carry my child.

Without waiting for the official, Dom pulled her into his arms. When her lips parted for him and he tasted her intoxicating sweetness, the world around him seemed to dissolve until it was just the two of them in the cool night air. Oh God, that beautiful scent was hers. This angel in his arms was his. What could he possibly have done to deserve—

Shouts of encouragement from the onlookers brought him out of his mesmerizing reverie. As waves lapped gently against the rocky shore, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bridal suite to get started on their future.