The Gates

10

CARPE DIEM

“What—?” I froze, my eyes darting around. He can’t possibly mean it. “Did you really just …”

“Don’t look so surprised.” He chuckled, pulled my hand to his to kiss my knuckles. “You were ready to marry me not too long ago, if I recall.”

“Well, yeah, but—”

“So let’s sneak away and get married. Right now. I’ve been thinking about it since I’ve been apart from you, thinking about what you said that day in England—that we’re running out of time. And you were right. Especially now. The others will be here soon, and if anything happens …”

“Gavin, I never thought you’d be the irrational one in this relationship, but I’m happy to report that you’ve just thoroughly shocked me.”

He rolled to his side to lean on his arm, keeping my hand resting on his chest, buried underneath his shirt. “I know. My timing is impeccable.” He smirked, letting his hungry gaze drift over my body. “But I’m sorry, love. I cannot take seeing you all tucked up in this sexy corset anymore. The ties are so tight, they’re just begging me to undo them.” His fingers trailed over the top of my chest and down over the corset’s binding, tugging at the edges of the lace as he went. “Forcefully,” he winked.

I stopped breathing.

“And besides,” he shrugged, “I sort of love you and stuff.”

I gulped and my eyes grew wide, letting a pleased smile creep across my lips—until reality dumped a bucket of ice-cold water over my head.

“You’re out of your mind.” I shook my head, sitting up. “How in the hell do you expect to marry me—here of all places—while you’re with Scarlet? Oh, and that other little thing we have to worry about … what’s it called? Oh yeah—a soon-to-be war.” I emphasized my sarcastic tone by letting my head hang forward to lock my gaze with his. “Besides, what about all of this must-be-human-first business? Don’t tell me you put me through all of that for nothing.”

“Well, it looks like I’ll have to wait longer to be human given the latest developments. And maybe you’re right. I’ve been treating you like damaged goods, and I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to be considerate, but you’re a grown woman, and you know what you are and aren’t ready for.”

My mouth hung open, still in disbelief at what I was hearing. These words certainly weren’t coming from my Gavin. “Are you sure Vivienne or Cecile didn’t put some strange spell on you, Mr. Devereaux?” I narrowed my eyes, rubbed my thumb across his scar again.

“Maybe so, love. Maybe so. But I think you’ve learned your lesson about arguing with vampires by now, yes?” He tilted his head and raised his eyebrows, a warning in his tone. “I have my mind made up, so let’s go.” He shot up, pulling me with him.

I shook the hay from my hair and adjusted my dress. “How will we possibly get away with this? You’ve already been gone for a while now. She’ll come looking for you, this is way too dangerous. We’re too close to ending this.”

I tried to pull my hand free from his when he rushed us forward toward the door.

“I’ll tell her there was a situation with the blood supply. It’ll work because it’s the truth, I can have some of the guys back up my claim. You’re right, we’re already short on time, so let’s go.” He picked up his lantern and I fastened the top button on my black cloak, pulling up the hood.

“Gav, I’d love to do this, but I have a really bad feeling.”

“Do you want to spend the rest of your life with me, no matter what happens with this war?” He stepped in front of me, his eyes meeting mine, hands on my shoulders. “No matter how long or short our lives together are?”

“Of course I do, but—” That’s all I managed before he kissed my forehead and rushed me out of the windmill.

* * *

“Oh, now he’s really lost it,” Audrey whispered, pulling and tugging my long brown locks, using pins to tie my hair halfway up while I hurried to scrub my teeth and rinse my mouth with water. We huddled in the outhouse, near the commode in front of a mirror, attempting to freshen up before Gabe gave me away. The thought of Josh marrying us made me smile, envisioning the idea of his little-boy grin and sweet puppy-dog eyes staring back at me while he recited our vows. We had no one else to play minister, so Josh it was. This whole thing was crazy. Here I was, rushing around like some lovesick bride, and all the while my friends were going hungry and we were planning an ambush against a vampire queen.

“Lost it? That he has, Aud. I can’t believe this. He’s risking everything. If Scarlet catches us …”

“Don’t worry about that hussy. I’ll go all Buffy the Vampire Slayer on her ass, you’ll see. I can handle those knives pretty well, you know.” She fluffed my hair in the dim lantern light, squinting in the mirror to assess her handiwork.

“Aud, you can’t hurt her now even if you wanted to, remember?”

“Damn,” she bit her lip and sulked. “Well, then I’ll cast some Hoodoo-Voodoo business on her and play her at her own game somehow.” She fluffed my hair once more. “Now whatever you do, don’t laugh when Josh reads the vows for you to repeat. The kid knows squat about this stuff. I just jotted a few quick vows down from memory for him to read aloud. You know, till-death-do-us-part stuff. And let Gabe be as emotional as he wants. Gavin’s like his brother, so let him tear up without attacking his manhood, okay?”

“Audrey!” I shifted my head to the side, away from her fussing fingers. “What makes you think I’ll make fun of him for crying? What must you think of me? Damn.”

She stuck her tongue out at me. “I just know how you can be. Do your best to reel in your smartass thoughts for a few minutes.” She pinched my cheeks and let out a laugh when I winced.

“Ouch!” I smacked her and she responded by hugging me, taking my face in her hands and pulled back to stare into my eyes.

“Whatever happens with this attack, whether we all make it out of this wretched place alive or not … I love you, Cam. You deserve every ounce of happiness while you can still grab hold of it. I say carpe diem, girl. And don’t forget to tire him out good tonight.” She winked, squeezing my shoulders. “You want him going back to Scarlet as beat up as possible, just to shove it in her face, get my drift?”

“Oh, Audrey. I knew I kept you around for something,” I buckled over, tearing up as I chuckled, working hard to compose myself before we retreated to the haven for the main event. “But no, we will not be rattling the woman who holds our fate by a thread, thank you very much.” I straightened my dress and took a deep breath, taking Audrey’s hand.

“We’ll see about that. You might feel differently after you have him all to yourself.” She swatted me on the behind and shoved me toward the door.

* * *

“What’s this?” I asked when we entered the underground haven at Preservation Hill, where we’d gathered to gain the Amaranthians’ trust not long ago.

“Um … we had to improvise.” Gabe handed me a tuft of straw that was wrapped with a soft red ribbon; pieces jutted out rebelliously, creating a pitiful-looking bouquet. His eyes veered toward Josh, and I caught a hint of humor on his lips.

I snickered, raising my eyes to his. “I take it real flowers would’ve been too difficult.”

“Sorry, Cam. Our professional flower cutters are a bit tied up at the moment and were unable to make a fine fresh-flower-picking request on such short notice.” He cocked a brow. “Would you rather I run to the castle and pluck up some of Samira’s finest red roses by hand myself, serve them on a silver platter?”

His playful smile made me leap forward to squeeze him with one arm. “Thank you,” I whispered against his ear before I pulled back to peer up and send him a smirk.

The dark cave was lit with a soft glow, thanks to tall, ivory-colored candles that decorated the shelves and the wood table that lined the farthest wall. Josh now stood there, gently twisting a scroll in his hands. He stared back at me, a shy, sheepish grin on his face and a joyful glimmer in his eyes. His dimples were adorable as always, and made me want to rush up to him and pinch his cheeks and thank him for his kindness. He looked hungry, too, and paler than normal, but his cheerful spirit overshadowed his physical need.

“This is also the best I could do on such short notice,” he chuckled softly, gesturing to his all-black cloak, which covered his dirty white shirt and beige pants. He’d clearly rushed here straight from working, and had run wet fingers through his hair to tame the soft dollop of brown hair on top of his head. Audrey and Gabe led me to the farthest wall, deep in a corner, to stand in front of Josh, and I glanced around to look for him. My pulse thrummed while my heart pounded in my chest, affecting my breathing, which now came out in quiet spurts through my lips.

“You look beautiful, Cam. Breathe. He’s coming.” Audrey nudged me, taking my hand in hers before she looked to Josh.

“He’s almost here,” Josh informed us, his eyes focusing on something in the distance, acting as our messenger for Gavin. “Said he’s just tying things up with Cecile. She’s keeping watch for us, and will buy us some time if she needs to.”

I tugged at the edges of my ivory corseted bodice before fanning out the long, attached skirt, and Audrey pulled at my peasant sleeves, sending me a faint smile as she reached over to adjust the antique crescent-shaped necklace around my neck and fluff the long brown tendrils she’d carefully arranged an hour before.

Seconds later, a delicate rustle came from the cave’s stairwell, and I automatically held my breath in anticipation. Why was I so nervous? This was Gavin I was marrying. The same Gavin who’d known the innermost parts of me: including my flaws and my deepest imperfections. He’d become my best friend and my partner, the only man who’d ever extended any amount of respect to me, the only one who ever filled the empty hole in my chest, and who’d come to know me so well that he practically finished my sentences.

But his humble, shy nature paired with his chiseled features and dark, brooding eyes merely escalated the intimidation I still felt when I was around him. The seductive, dangerous undertone that lurked around his presence sent my senses into overdrive, and always managed to cloud my thinking when he walked into a room. He was my favorite contradiction. Or perhaps he just had the perfect blend of qualities I found attractive in a man: confident but not full of himself, bold yet understated. Whatever it was, it mesmerized me.

He appeared from the stairway, his head slightly tilted down, slowing when our eyes locked. My knees grew weak—he was the first one to affect me in that way, too. My entire body responded to him, physically aching for him. His coy smile only intensified the desire I had to tie myself to him with vows.

Oh, no. Vows. I couldn’t read off the generic stuff Josh planned on spoon-feeding me. Far too impersonal. But this was on a whim, what choice do I have?

“Hello, gorgeous,” he murmured when he approached me, his nervous fingers fidgeting with his black bowtie. My eyes swept over his tall, thin frame, in awe at his stately black and white tuxedo that hailed straight from the late nineteenth century, with sleek coattails and sophisticated lapels that accentuated his chest. All that was missing was a top hat and cane. Once again, he’d out-dressed me. Where in the world did he get his hands on that kind of attire here? In comparison, I looked like a poor peasant girl fresh off the farm.

“H-hi,” I stammered, blushing when he reached to link my arm in his.

“Actually, to say you look gorgeous would be an extreme understatement.”

“To say how you look at all would be an understatement,” I whispered back, hearing Audrey clear her throat behind me. Gavin turned us to face Josh, a satisfied grin springing up when he noticed the condition of Josh’s clothes.

“Thanks for the last-minute invitation, man.” Josh chuckled, patting Gavin on the shoulder. “Shall I do the honors, Mr. Suave?”

“Sure thing, Frodo Baggins. By the way, I hear the Shire has impeccable dinner parties this time of year.” The corners of Gavin’s lips twitched and his eyebrows shot up as he gestured to a food stain of some sort near the collar of Josh’s white shirt. Human food? My curiosity mirrored Gavin’s.

Josh’s chin shot down to follow Gavin’s amusement and he quickly tried to wipe away the crumbs. “Yeah, well … you know how we hobbits like to eat. I trick myself into thinking I’m not hungry if I chew on the human bread for a while. Nasty stuff.” I shook with quiet laughter at Josh’s flustered features, watching as he worked to shake off his humor to turn on the serious Mr. Officiant facade. “Ahem,” he cleared his throat, “Dearly Beloved, please join hands.”

“Lord, help us,” Gabe huffed next to us, rolling his eyes as he worked to repress his laughter.

“Ssshhh. Behave.” Audrey elbowed him in the ribcage, straightening her posture.

Gavin’s amused gaze returned to mine as he held my hands, noticing the scruffy bouquet of hay clamped underneath my palm. I shook my head “no” ever so slightly and discreetly nodded toward Josh, then winked.

“Aahhh.” Gavin snickered, forcing a straight face when he caught Josh staring. Josh twiddled his scroll between his fingers, squinting as he tried to read the words Audrey had written. He fumbled through a few lines here and there and improvised the rest of the way, eventually tossing the paper onto the table behind him.

After we’d both exchanged what traditional vows we could, Gavin spoke as he reached for his pocket. “I know we didn’t have time to prepare any special words of our own, but I do have a few things I’d like to say, if that’s okay.”

“Oh—of course.…” I nearly lost my balance when he popped open the box.

“This was also my mother’s,” he said, and revealed the antique crescent ring, the crescent design that matched the one on my necklace, but this one molded horizontally across the darkened silver band. “And this was my father’s,” he gestured to his coat jacket, brushing some dust from his sleeve. “I’ve told you before that my father loved my mother as much as I love you, and that they had a love I could only hope for. Well, I know that we have that now, and I’ve meant everything I’ve said to you, Camille. I promise to love, honor, and cherish you. But I also promise to worship each part of you, body and soul, that those who’ve came before me have hurt. I can never undo what they’ve done, can never return what they’ve taken from you, but I can show you that I’m different and I value you—all of you—for as long as we both shall live.”

I tensed when he slipped the ring on my finger, wondering what I could do to reciprocate. I had no ring, no words for this man, other than to tell him how devoted I was to him. With one sharp breath, I inhaled and welcomed him with an upturned face when he leaned in to kiss me.

“Oh, may I kiss my bride?” he asked Josh as he hesitated at my lips, keeping his eyes on mine.

“She’s all yours, man.”

Gavin’s mouth collided with mine and he traced the line of my jaw with his fingers, kissing me slowly, lingering at my cheek for a moment before exhaling and pulling away.

“But … I …”

“I now pronounce you man and wife!” Josh pumped his fists in the air, beaming.

“But I don’t have a ring for you. You didn’t let me make any promises of my own.…”

“The fact that you’re standing here,” Gavin glanced up at the ceiling and to his side, “in this place, tells me all I need to know.” He leveled his gaze to mine again and held out his arm. “Mrs. Devereaux?”

My lungs finally remembered to function and I gulped, slipped my hand into the crook of his arm. Our friends all moved forward to embrace us, taking turns with congratulations. Gabe’s eyes were watery when he kissed me on the forehead, but I didn’t say a word, just smiled warmly.

“I think Joel would’ve loved to see this,” he replied before he took Audrey’s arm and rushed toward the stairwell. Josh blew out the candles as he made his way to the haven’s exit, and Gavin and I trailed behind him, now husband and wife in the most outlandish circumstances possible, heading into a new season of our lives—one that my gut told me might very well be our final chapter.