Crimson {COMPLETED}

CHAPTER XXXIX

ADALIA'S POV

NOVEMBER 18
7:24 p.m

I POP open the bottle of champagne and pour some into the three glasses.

Emily almost forgets that we're doing a toast first and goes to drink from her glass.

"To Alice." We clink our glasses together.

Alice giggles and downs some of the champagne.

The wedding is tomorrow and while bachelorette parties aren't common in the realm, especially amongst the royal family, Emily told Alice she should have a small one.

And so the three of us sit in the parlor with champagne and sweets.

Christo is having his bachelor party on the other wing of the castle. I wouldn't have let Lucifer go if not for the fact that father is joining them. I don't want Jackson and Christos harassing him.

"So Emily, how's school?" I grab a cookie.

"Fine I guess." She shoves a cupcake in her mouth. "I'm just waiting until I can get to law school."

"The law school here is great. You'll love it. All the professors there are very dedicated." I lean into my chair.

The balloon Alice has been playing with suddenly pops and we all jump.

There's a knock on the door that startles us even more because we're already jumpy.

"Yes?" I turn around in my seat so I can see the door.

A servant pokes her head in. "Mrs. Natalia Reed is here."

"Let her in." I nod.

Natalia strolls in with a bright smile and a small bag in her hands, which she gives to Alice.

"For me?" Alice shoots her a questioning look as Natalia sits down next to Emily.

"Of course. Xander and I got you a wedding gift but I wanted to give you a little something extra too."

"Is Xander here too?" Emily drinks from her glass.

Natalia nods. "He's with Christos and Jackson. I'm guessing Lucifer is there too? I've yet the chance to meet him." She smiles at me.

I chuckle. "He's a tad shy."

Alice opens the box that was inside the bag and I glance at what's inside. A string of pearls.

Alice smiles wide and runs her fingers over it. "This is so nice. I've always wanted real pearls."

"I'm glad you like it. I was given pearls by my dad the night before my wedding as a sign of good luck."

"Your Dad came to your vampire wedding?" Emily chuckles.

"Well, no." Natalia leans into her seat. "Xander and I had a separate wedding in the mortal realm because I wanted my parents to be at my wedding. Technically, we were already married when that happened."

"So you two got married twice?" Emily grabs more food.

She nods pridefully. "We're legally married here and in the mortal realm."

Alice closes the box back up. "I think I'll wear this tomorrow." She holds the box tightly.

"It will go lovely with your dress." I smile at Alice and she exchanges a smile back.
__________

8:41 p.m

As I fluff my pillow and sit down in bed, I hear Lucifer stumble in.

"Hi Adalia." He slurs.

"Luci, are you drunk?"

"No..."

He sees the look I'm giving him.

"Maybe. Yes."

"Oh dear." I roll my eyes and help him onto the couch.

"Thank you Adalia. You're the best." He snuggles up with the blanket I give him.

I bend over and kiss his head. "Goodnight. I love you."

"Love you too." He murmurs softly.

His words take me off guard and I stumble. Maybe he only said that because he's drunk, but I don't care. He said it.

There's a soft knock on the door which makes Lucifer stir.

I answer the door to Alice.

"Hi." She smiles.

"Something wrong?"

"I'm nervous. About tomorrow I mean."

I step outside of the room, shutting the door behind me. "Bride to be jitters, huh?"

"Yeah." She mutters.

"Did you want me to walk you to your room?" She and Christos have been sharing his room the last week or so, but tonight they go back to sleeping in different rooms.

Except instead of being across the the hall they'll be in completely separate wings of the castle to make sure they don't see each other until the wedding.

She nods.

So I walk with her far down the hallway in silence.