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  Victor looked rather uncomfortable but he repeated the words, only stumbling a little over the “cherish” part of the ceremony. Then it was Taylor’s turn to repeat the vows, which she did, looking Victor in the eyes the whole time although she was as pale as a sheet of paper.

  Corbin turned back to Victor once more. “Do you, Victor, take Taylor as your spouse? Do you swear to honor and treasure her and to never raise a hand to her in anger? Do you promise to never beat or abuse her sexually, physically, or emotionally?”

  He nodded briefly. “I do.”

  Corbin turned to Taylor and repeated the vows, minus the sexual or physical abuse part. I guess he figured he didn’t have to worry about Taylor beating or raping the huge were, though vamps are as strong as weres and often stronger. But looking at my best friend and her huge new husband, I was pretty sure he would have the upper hand in any physical confrontation they got into. Not that there had better be any confrontations after the oath Corbin had made him swear.

  So far it had been a surprisingly human wedding ceremony. I was just thinking that it could almost have been lifted from any church in town, when Corbin raised the chalice he was holding.

  “And now we must bind the two of you with blood,” he said, abruptly ruining the lovely illusion of a nice, normal wedding. He held the chalice out to Victor first. “I hold before you the Chalice of Union. Open your vein and shed your blood to form the bond.”

  Without hesitation, Victor raised his wrist to his mouth and bit down hard. The sound of his teeth breaking through the skin of his wrist made me wince. Apparently were teeth were as sharp as vamp fangs.

  Victor held his bleeding wrist over the golden lip of the cup, pumping his hand to make the blood flow. I saw Taylor watching the thick stream of blood gushing into the cup with a hungry look in her eyes and reminded myself to say something to Corbin about it. She couldn’t live on bagged blood forever—she needed it live, right from the vein if she was going to stay healthy.

  When Corbin passed the chalice to her, she bit her wrist and held it out. Nothing but a sluggish dribble came from the self-inflicted wounds. She pumped her hand just as Victor had, opening and closing her fist until three or four drops fell into the chalice. Finally, Corbin nodded and withdrew the cup.

  “I add now, the blood of the mother goddess, she who birthed us all to darkness in the beginning,” he said, producing a small crystal vial of liquid so dark it was almost black and adding it to the blood already in the chalice. “It is she who binds you together and she whom you must answer to if you break the sacred vows you have taken here tonight. Do both of you understand?”

  Taylor nodded and Victor muttered a gruff, “Yes.”

  Corbin nodded again. “Good, then drink of each other and become one.”

  He handed the chalice to Victor first who took a small sip and handed it back. Corbin then gave it to Taylor.

  At first it looked like she was going to do the same thing Victor had, taking only a small, polite drink. But once the blood passed her lips, it seemed like she lost control. She tilted the cup and drank thirstily, draining it dry. Then she lowered it slowly, a look of shame on her face.

  “Sorry,” she murmured, passing the chalice back to Corbin.

  “It’s all right,” Corbin murmured, looking at me rather than her. “There is no shame in drinking deeply of your beloved.”

  For some reason I felt myself blushing. I dropped my eyes and looked away. Though the vampire ceremony was a little strange, I had to admit it was still beautiful. Or would have been if the people getting married really wanted to marry each other.

  There was a silence and then Corbin lifted the now empty chalice high.

  “By your blood and the will of the goddess, I pronounce you bound together. Let the knot woven by she who made us all never be sundered.”

  I wondered if there was going to be a “kiss the bride” part but Victor was already up and moving almost as soon as Corbin stopped talking.

  “I have to go,” he told Corbin with a frown. “Things to do.”

  Corbin frowned. “And your bride?”

  Victor shot a quick look at Taylor who was still kneeling at the altar. “I told you, I can’t take her tonight. I’m getting my place ready—I’ll come back when it’s done.”

  “See that you find accommodations for your lovely new wife sooner rather than later.” Corbin’s voice was a warning growl. “Taylor is your responsibility now. I expect you to live up to your end of our bargain.”

  “I’ll come for her as soon as I damn well can,” Victor snarled back. “Now can I go or not?”

  “Not,” Corbin said coolly. “I need you to stay just a little longer for the benefit of a guest who is a bit late to the ceremony.”

  “Are you talking about Roderick?” Taylor rose and came to stand by me.

  “Of course.” Corbin closed his eyes for a moment. “And I believe I hear him coming…now.” He looked at Victor. “Be ready and remember your vows, were.”

  “I’m not likely to forget them,” Victor growled. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Simply claim and protect your female,” Corbin said. “Now.”

  As he spoke the last word, Roderick strolled into the room, an ugly look on his face.

  “Hello, Corbin,” he said, frowning. “I am here for your inspection. What is this I hear about a wedding going on?”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “I am afraid you are too late to witness the ceremony,” Corbin said smoothly, taking a step forward and putting himself between me and Roderick. “The vows have just concluded. But at least you’re in time to wish the bride and groom well.”

  “And I see the bride is Taylor, the delectable little female I wanted for myself.” Roderick shot Corbin an angry look. “If you think you can keep her from me with this cheap trick, you’re much mistaken.”

  Corbin frowned. “It is no trick, Roderick. Taylor and Victor are bound together by blood. By the laws of the goddess which we all live under, they may not be parted.”

  “We will see about that.” Roderick stepped up to Taylor, a cold light in his eyes. “You’re looking lovely tonight, sweetheart,” he murmured, looking her up and down in a way that left no doubt of his intentions.

  Taylor said nothing but I could see her trembling and she refused to meet Roderick’s eyes.

  “That gown suits you,” he continued. “It makes you look extremely fuckable.”

  He reached up to touch her cheek but his arm was knocked out of the way. Victor was suddenly standing between him and Taylor.

  “What part of “she’s married” don’t you understand, fanger?” he demanded, glowering at the vampire. “The girl is mine. You try to touch her again and I’ll rip your fucking arm out of its socket.”

  Roderick’s eyes narrowed with displeasure.

  “How dare you speak to me in such a manner? Do you know who I am or what I could do to you, dog?”

  “Yeah, I see your ink.” Victor gestured at the six blood red stars tattooed under Roderick’s eyes. “I’m sure you could fuck me up pretty bad. But guess what, fanger—I wouldn’t be the only one fucked up when it was over.” His eyes glowed molten gold and his voice dropped to a deep, inhuman growl. “You wanna try me?”

  “Surely there is no need for violence,” Corbin said, stepping forward. He gave a long, low whistle and suddenly a vampire girl with hair as long and dark as Taylor’s was standing by his side. She looked up at Roderick adoringly.

  “Is this the one you spoke of, Master?” she asked Corbin. “The mighty Inquisitor come all the way from the Empress herself?”

  “Indeed it is, my dear. And he is sadly in need of female company at the moment.”

  “Only since you put the one I wanted to fuck out of reach,” Roderick snarled, still staring up at Victor. A low growl was building in the were’s throat and it still looked like violence was imminent.

  However, I had underestimated Corbin’s cunning.

  “Come, m