Crimson Kiss (Onyx Assassins 5)

He laughed and slapped me on the shoulder. “Yeah, I’ll get on that. Pretty sure the world isn’t ready for King Hawke.”

“Seriously. Start tonight. Right when we get back.” We all walked outside into the dying moonlight. Color crested the horizon, warning that our time was short.

“I’ll stay here for the day,” Ajax offered.

Alek nodded. “Get in from the sun and lock it up. Talon, will you wend with Jocelyn?”

“Absolutely.” Talon offered his arm to Jocelyn, and she took it.

“And I’m guessing you’re determined to wend with my sister, no matter how…” Alek searched for an inoffensive word. “Depleted you both look.”

“You can try your hardest to pry her out of my cold, dead hands,” I answered.

Avi laughed against my neck.

“Figured. Let’s go home.”

One by one, they disappeared, wending back to the residence.

“I love you,” I said, kissing Avi’s mouth gently.

“And I love you,” she promised, her smile hitting me straight in the heart. “Now take me home, Hawthorne.”

Home. I kissed her again, sliding into her mouth even as I did as she requested, wending us into the night.

Epilogue

Six Months Later

Avianna

The crimson gown I wore now was nothing like the one I’d worn six months ago. This one was pure, hip-hugging silk, backless with a deep V showing off my cleavage. No frilly lace, no corset to get in the way, nothing proper about it as I strolled down the aisle, Alek on my arm.

This was the dress I’d chosen for myself. The one I wanted to wear because it made me feel like a goddess worthy of an assassin’s worship.

I grinned as we made it to the raised dais where Hawke waited for me. He was dressed in a midnight black suit that was so unlike him, I had to bite back a laugh. The dagger holsters still peeking from beneath his suit jacket? That was all him. My mate. My soon-to-be husband.

Excitement fluttered through me as Alek handed me off to stand before Hawke, and I let him see it in my eyes.

He eyed where I bit my bottom lip, then reached up to smooth his thumb over it. “I’m going to bite this plenty later,” he whispered for only my ears. “Having second thoughts?”

I shook my head. “Never,” I said. “You?” I held my breath on the question. We’d discussed our situation in length the last six months, and while Hawke was in no way interested in the throne, he’d come to terms with his role at my side. For me, he would rule this kingdom if it ever came to it.

And I truly hoped it never did, because Alek was a wonderful king and my favorite brother. I never wanted any harm to come to him, but Hawke and I had to at least discuss it before he bound himself to me even further.

Hawke grinned down at me, nothing but love shining from his eyes. “Never,” he mimicked me, and we both turned to face the officiant.

We said our vows, and Hawke yanked me against him as he sealed our union with a kiss. He devoured my mouth in a way that suited our relationship—primal, carnal, and just this side of dark. My entire body came alive with the kiss and with what it represented.

“You’re now mine in every way possible,” I said as we drew away from each other.

“I’ll always be yours,” he growled, his grip tightening on my hips as he hauled me against him again. “And you’ll always be mine.”

“Always,” I said, and the grand estate room in the Domum erupted into applause.

Hawke leaned his forehead against mine. “Do we really have to go on with this ceremony?” he whispered the question, and I laughed.

“You’re not afraid of a few aristocrats and political chats, are you, Hawthorne?”

“Mingling with these debutants and being paraded around them feels a lot like being leashed with a collar,” he said.

I laughed at that, reaching up on my tiptoes, my lips grazing the shell of his ear. “I’ll make you a deal,” I whispered. “Do this with me for an hour, and I’ll let you collar me in any way you want when we’re done.”

A shudder raked his body, and he turned his head, capturing my lips with his again. “Deal,” he said, and turned us toward the crowd of cheering vampires. There were more than a few witches in the crowd as well, setting a precedent for royal vampire unions. Alek was certainly the most progressive king our people had ever seen, and I was so damn proud of him.

Hawke led us down the aisle and through a set of double doors to the connecting ballroom that was already set up for our reception. Cream linens decorated tables, vases of colorful flowers sitting on top. A banquet with the finest foods and champagne lined the farthest wall, and a string quartet was already playing music near the marble dance floor.