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I fight the urge to pinch myself as I stand in the church foyer between Luz and Marcellus As his next in co sure I’ bride The deep purple, off the shoulder, gothic gown shiht The silk has a boat neck and bellows out into a own A black, Spanish-style veil with scalloped edges fraar, and red was in poor taste, so purple, the color of royalty, was the best choice for the coronation dress

We’ve gone over the ceremony so ht of doing it here in front of a crowd full of upper-crust vampires has me nervous

“Relax, you’re stunning, and you knohat to do,” Luz says

I squeeze her hand “Thank you”

“Don’t let them smell fear, kiddo,” Marcellus adds

Straightening my spine, I take a deep breath I have one coronation under s open and Percival and Gil grin down at me “We’re ready”

The two hold the doors open Here we go Ruby and Ada lift the back of the train, and we begin toat the end of the aisle in a black tuxedo with a gray vest tailored to perfection I smile politely at the vampires all turned to face us Every bench in the cathedral is packed They all want to get a gli herself to a lord I can’t blame them We’re an oddity

Keep it pretty, relaxed, and graceful My steps are sure and snore the looks of disdain or contempt I refuse to let anyone ruin this day after I worked so damn hard to pull it off flawlessly The corner of Cristobal’s lip twitches up My fake smile melts away and becomes a real one His eyes twinkle

“You are nificent, dove”

“So are you”

When we reach the end of the aisle, Cristobal offers his hand and helps me up the final three stairs Two crushed velvet pillows rest on the floor in front of us The va is dressed iner suit He is short but , dark, curly hair, a hooked nose, and dark eyes fringed with long lashes The translucent blue flae as scarily old I narrowthem into focus

“What do you see?” His accent throws me for a loop

“I’m sorry?”

“When you look at me What do you see?”

I look to Cristobal who nods