The Bride To A Powerful Alpha

les that escalated into rivers of clashing, multicolored blood. It ended-at least officia

e, back when I was a child enduring the grim monotony of punishments and a near-fatal assassination attempt. Emilia and I had plotted

ies-cherry for me, blood for you-and vanis

as hardly the plan's most glaring flaw. At twelve, neither of us could

my concerns. "I'l

hat be

re she grinned. "I'll marry you. Then th

sal as any, so I'd nodd

re, surrounded by an extravagant display of wedding favors meant to distract from the

phone call-anything to avoid an awkward introduction in front of the officiant. My re

uncil aide had said. "An

with

came the d

ym, endlessly working o

ook like the perfect bride. My nails have been filed into delicate pink ovals, my skin scrubbed to glowing perfection, and my point

m, studying the angular tr

ipping a finger into dark green pigment, he'

s that

cryptically. "Your

relic. I wriggled into a sleek, tailored bridal jumpsuit-though my stylist ha

el said flatly, eyeing me

ok a v

ope they vaccinated you for

Vampire security detail. The Werewolves had refused. After weeks of tense nego

ealed hostility. Three species. Fiv

to kill you?" Michael asked c

d to

he month,

ree

ey'll bury your bo

ders," I

til I stopped abruptly. "Mic

d, and I saw my brother as he'd once been-the boy who'd

e Vampires and Werewolves attempted

of bloodshed so horrific that its name had become a bitter w

appar

into a den of

s the

y. It's a death sentence. Don't do this. Say

r w

... nee

y father's voice cut thro

quickly. "Just b

eading me forward. "A

s face. "Doe

dn't

guard stopped us. "One moment, Counci

le," he said in the ourLanguage. "Th

a smile. "What about t

ou've always

I was reminded: ther

his commitment. I don't get panicked, scared, or change my

ment before the doors open, re

h" fill the air. The wedding planner-who's been sending me a stream of links I haven't opened-told me the viola player is from the Human Philharmonic, one of the top groups in the world.

ion. Vampires have long since moved past monogamy, and Werewol

lbow a gentle nudge, and we

mixed with disgust. I recognize a few from Father's close circle-councilors I haven't seen since I was a child, powerful families, and their children, many of whom loved M

side. The Werewolves. T

d faster than Vampires, and none of them seem happy that their Alpha is marrying someone like

I don't even mind the whispers, or the snide comments, or the fact

ollateral with the Humans f

likes the a

her tw

o hours, if t

actually going to b

nemies on the right, so I just focus

in his ear-probably his best man. I can't make out his face well, but from t

p black that fits perfectly over his broad shoulders. He's

t. A good enough start

pers, barely moving his lips. "He'

er groom already looks irritated and impatient. He doesn't even glance my way, acting like I'm un

feel free to cross her. What's she g

a mistake. He hears it. And fi

drops. My s

murs di

alize I was wrong. They're a pale green, almost white. And Fath

st didn't care to look. Either way, his displeasure is obvious. But honestly, I've spent my life letting

his nostrils flare. His expression shifts, like he's trying to make sense of me. Then he inhales deeply. Anoth

ake another step, bringing us so close th

s. About to

of his gaze. He leans in, studying me like I'm something strange, his chest rising and fa

and stares

rising into uncomfortable tension. I notice the best man has unsheathed his claws. Behind me, Velan

uture husband

, "I don't care how much you hate thi

is a shock, even through my sleeve. His pupils narrow, and something

, holding me steady, then pushing me closer to him. His body presses against mine, trappi

nic breaking out. Our language and English, people shouting, threats flying, my father snarling, th

ing, but the groom

r, a thought that makes no sens

my throat, pressing against one of my markings. A low growl rumbles from deep in his chest, wea

oice low. "How the hell

o my finger, and we swear to love