“Celia, what are you doing?”

“We have to get out of here, Emme. I can’t deal with this.”

“What about the attempts on your life?”

Compared to what possibly awaited me inside the house, death threats and scary monsters didn’t sound so bad. “Emme, I can’t see Misha right now.”

“Why? You need to straighten him out and tell him you’re not married.”

I glimpsed down at my already stiff ni**les. “Look, whatever happened when he sucked me dry has affected my body. It’s not being reasonable. What happens if my mind goes next? I don’t want to be shipped off to Transylvania on a honeymoon.”

Emme smiled at me gently. “Celia, you’ll be fine. You’re in love with Aric.”

It must have been a beautiful, magical place inside Emme’s head. I almost told her to give Tinker Bell a shout-out for me. “Emme, vampire magic remains foreign to me. I don’t know what it can do or even if it can compel me to do something against my will. Look at me—my body is already reacting. I don’t want to risk hurting either Aric or Misha.”

Emme clasped my hands. “Celia, you have to face him. He needs to know that no amount of blood draining or vampire magic will allow you to betray Aric.” She squeezed my hands. “Don’t worry. I’ll be with you.”

Emme was right. I needed to kick this marriage thing in the virtual ass. “Okay, but whatever you do, don’t leave us alone.” I stalked toward the main house with Emme at my heels. I couldn’t run from Misha. I always faced my fears. Why should this be any different? I tried to picture Misha in my head just to mentally prepare myself. All it did was tighten my twins further. I worried they’d snap off from the stress by the time I saw him.

Aric’s aroma remained embedded on my clothing. I took a strong whiff from my sleeve before entering the brightly lit kitchen. His scent helped me relax. We walked through the house and into the solarium. I stopped beneath the grand archway and swore under my breath. An orchestra, complete with a maestro, performed classical music for the elegantly dressed mob of vampires. I recognized some of the out-of-towners from the gala.

I couldn’t believe how quickly the entire shindig had been thrown together. White roses and garlands hung from the ceiling. Long-stem candles in crystal candelabras illuminated the gold table linens and place settings with a subtle glow. Dazed and overly smiley waiters snaked their way between the guests carrying champagne flutes filled to the brim.

Edith Anne, Agnes Concepción, and Liz dressed in a similar gown as Maria and expensive tiaras topped off their glamorous French twists. They were red carpet ready, aside from the scowls on their faces. They pounded toward us, ready to kick some nuts.

“Celia, for the love of all that is sacred, what the hell are you wearing?” Liz demanded.

My nerves were already on edge. I was in no mood for her rants. “Jeans, a sweater, and UGGs,” I answered stiffly.

Edith stomped her feet like they were on fire. “It’s your damn wedding celebration! Why didn’t you put on one of the dresses we left you?”

My fangs protruded without my consent. “It’s not my reception because I’m not married!”

“Yes. You. Are!” Liz hissed. “I told you back at the guesthouse that you’d be married by the next full moon.” Like Maria, she pointed to the moon. It gleamed back at me through the glass ceiling as if mocking me.

Liz whirled and turned her anger on Maria. “Didn’t you tell her we were celebrating her marriage to the master?”

“Of course I did.” Maria swept her hand dismissively in the air. “But you know how she is.”

Agnes scowled at me and adjusted her librarian glasses. “It appears we should have sent in reinforcements.”

I clenched and unclenched my fists. The time had come. I was going to kill them. “You know, I’m really sick of your bitchy attitudes. I helped save Misha and this is how you repay me?”

Liz waved her arms dramatically around the room. “No—this is how we repay you.”

I glanced at the ceiling. Dear God in heaven, please stop me from staking the schoolgirls.

Emme’s eyes danced to each one of them. “Why are you all dressed the same?”

Agnes bent forward to get in her face. “Why wouldn’t we be? We’re her best friends.”

Edith hissed. “Who the hell else would be her bridesmaids?”

Emme’s lip pouted down to her toes.

I slapped my hands over my head. “Emme, don’t look at me that way! None of this is real. If it was, you, Taran, and Shayna would be my bridesmaids.”

Maria gave me a hard stare. “Are you saying we’re not good enough for you?”

I locked gazes with her. “Yes, and that you’re a bunch of delusional freaks.”

The orchestra played a beautiful new melody and an excited murmur spread through the crowd. I thought they’d dropped off a busload of virgins by the way everyone responded, but I was wrong. Boy, was I wrong.

Misha entered in a black tuxedo with tails and a white silk shirt and bow tie. His long blond hair cascaded around his broad shoulders like a waterfall flowing with sin. He strode across the solarium, commanding those before him to take in his beauty. Not only did all admire, they bowed regally from the might of his sexual hot stuff–ness. My heart initially stopped at the sight of him. Now it raced full speed ahead, pounding in time with my happy place to the beat of the music. He took in my appearance and flashed me a wicked smile. A smile that clearly said, It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing; you’ll soon be naked anyway.

Every last female part in me tingled, danced, and pointed his way. My only comfort was Emme by my side. Emme wouldn’t let me down. Emme was my sister, my friend, my conscious, my rock. Emme was . . . drooling—and—and covering her br**sts with her arms.

Damn.

I sniffed frantically at my skin and hair, hoping Aric’s scent would slap the horniness right out of me.

It didn’t work.

Misha bent gallantly. “Good evening, my darling—”

“I want a divorce!”

I had a major freak-out. I had to admit, it was downright embarrassing. Misha cleared the solarium. Everyone regarded me like the slow village girl Dracula had unwittingly been stuck with. Misha received several sympathetic glances and even a few offers to put me out of my misery. He ignored them and surprised me by continuing to smile. I couldn’t wait to get out of there. Emme, however, convinced me to stay and have dinner since food always had a magical way of comforting me. She also didn’t want us to appear rude. Emme was all about manners. It kind of sucked.