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It was her wedding night It was the first thought to cross Kelly&039;s lanced over at Eddie

He winked at her "Tonight&039;s the night," he said, grinning

"You haven&039;t changed your mind, have you?"

"Not a chance, love Have you?"

"No way" Sheon his chest

He slid his hand around the back of her head and kissed her "How et ready?"

"How much time do I have?"

"We are supposed to be there in an hour"

"An hour!" She jumped out of bed "You expect hed softly "Take as long as you need, Kelly, my love They will not start without us"

The park was dark and quiet A winding streaht of a full yellow rass and flowering shrubs

Kelly looked up at Edhen they reached the place they had chosen "Maybe you were right Maybe Khira won&039;t let Grigori co," he said "You&039;re here, and that&039;s all that aze moved over her "Did I tell you how beautiful you are?"

"Yes, but tell ain"

"More beautiful than any wo or anyone I&039;ve ever seen"

And it was true She had decided against traditional white; instead, she wore a sleeveless gown of soft, shi black

"Like Va

"Mistress of my heart," he replied "Look, here colanced over her shoulder to see Marisa walking toward thee tied with a white bow in her hands Even from a distance, Kelly could see the sadness that shadowed the other woe that sent a shiver down Kelly&039;s spine

And then, in a scene re out of the deep shadows of the night in a shiown that clung to her body like a second skin Her hair shi here?" Kelly exclaiori appeared at Khira&039;s side Tall and elegant, clad all in black, he was the handsomest man Kelly had ever seen She did not ori The love that flowed between them made her heart ache Marisa started toward hiuess we should have known she wouldn&039;t let him come alone," Ra wo lost and alone "Lisa," he said "Da back her tears, Marisa hurried forward to hug Kelly "You look lovely"

"So do you I&039; would have kept her away, not when there&039;d been a chance that Grigori would be here

The minister arrived a few minutes later

The service was brief The at, Khira&039;s jealousy, Grigori&039;s barely restrained anger, Lisa&039;s fear And over all, Khira&039;s power roiled like a stor to strike

Kelly smiled at Edhen theas you both shall live"

"Forever" Edward squeezed her hand as he whispered the word

"Forever," Kelly repeated

She gazed into Edward&039;s eyes as the minister pronounced them man and wife, felt his love surround her as he lowered his head and claimed his first kiss as her husband A kiss that went on and on She leaned into hiotten as his love surrounded her

She was breathless when he released her

The ratulations, accepted his fee, and left the park

Marisa and Lisa calided forith queenly grace "I do hope you don&039;tuninvited," she said coolly "I was certain aze lass "I do wish you well,toward Edward, she kissed him, and when she drew back, there was blood on his lower lip Looking sed Kelly and then shook Edward&039;s hand "Be good to each other"

"Is there anything you want ori looked past her to where Marisa stood "Only that I love her ht "Grigori, let us go" She reached for his hand and then stopped Lifting her head, she sniffed the air

Blood The scent of it filled Kelly&039;s nostrils

To sharp sliced into his left hand Rocking back on his heels, he stared at the shard of glass protruding from his palm Damn Damn, da in his hand

He peered through the bushes, froze as Khira turned his way Head lifted, she sniffed the air

"I knew this was a du his handkerchief, he wrapped it tightly around his pale vial of holy water He touched the wooden stake tucked into his waistband toin his direction now He could feel their senses reaching out, testing the air for danger

And then Khira was there, fire blazing in the depths of her ice blue eyes "Looking for runted as she grabbed a handful of his hair and jerked hi over her shoulder "How thoughtful of you to provide refresho," Ramsey said

"Before we&039;ve dined? I think not"

"He&039;s a friend of o"

Khira shook her head Baring her fangs, she bent over Duncan&039;s neck He went liraze his throat; then, with a cry, he jerked his hand up, splashing the contents of the vial into her face

Khira shrieked with pain, but she didn&039;t release hihed no h force to drive the breath fro sounds as it burned her skin Duncan stared up at her, his sto He tried to rise, but he was helpless, held i to kill him

"No!" With a feral cry, Ramsey launched himself at Khira

She struck hi backward, his back sla it so hard that the trunk split in half

Momentarily freed from her hold on hiain He screaony as her hellish power spread through every nerve, every cell And then, blessedly, miraculously, he was free

He curled in on hih a red haze, he watched Ramsey and the two female vampires attack Khira It was a silent, deadly dance Preternatural power sang through the air, crackling like lightning It was like nothing he had ever seen before

Khira sent Kelly and Rarabbed the young fes in her throat

Raain, but her power, strengthened by the blood of the young vairl whi her of blood, of life, and when she was done, Khira lifted one clawed hand and ripped the young va the corpse aside and turned on Kelly A wave of her hand sent Kelly to her knees Kelly screaony Bloodred tears welled in her eyes

With a savage cry, Ramsey launched hi Khira by the arm, he tried to pull her away fro froently in Duncan&039;s ear "Get up! We&039;ve got to get out of here!"

Duncan stared up into Marisa&039;s eyes

"Hurry!" she said

He nodded and tried to stand, but his legs wouldn&039;t support hi hied hi the door, she shoved him inside, ran around to the driver&039;s side, opened the door, and slid behind the wheel She could hear Grigori&039;s voice in her et the hell out of there before it was too late

Duncan glanced out the rear"Step on it!"