Of Dragons & Vampires

Chapter Seven

EVANDER:

"To us."

Evander swallowed as Mordecai clinked his glass of blood against Evander's own, cheering to the party that had gathered to celebrate their engagement. Everywhere Evander looked he saw smiling faces and jealous glances, all except at the corner table that Evander had had to practically beg for. Brae, Charvi and Jack sat around it, their eyes never leaving Evander's table as he sat next to his betrothed. They had tried to talk to him earlier, their attempts being brushed aside by Pericles, Evander's brother, and their father, Zephyr.

"Your room has been prepared, my love," Mordecai turned to him, an alabaster hand running through the waves of his hair. "Of course, after our wedding you'll be moved into my room." Evander met his eyes, his own clouding over as Mordecai looked him up and down hungrily.

"I think its time for an announcement." He planted a cold kiss onto Evander's temple, who had to force himself from wiping his skin clean. He makes me sick, Evander inwardly heaved. The thought of his hands touching him was enough to want him to stake his own heart.

"Attention," Mordecai stood, clinking his spoon and against his glass to gather the attention of the guests Mordecai had assembled. Evander hadn't had much input into the gathering, he had practically had to beg his father to allow Brae, Charvi and Jack to be squished into the back.

"Three nights ago the Gods made me the happiest vampire on Earth, by giving me none other than Lord Evander Aetos as my consort. Evander," he turned to the other boy, his mouth a thin line of barely supressed gloating. "I think you'll make me very happy, and to make this official..." he clicked his fingers, watching as a servant hurried over, presenting a small black box on a golden plate.

Kill me now, Evander grimaced.

"Evander," Mordecai gripped the box, grabbing Evander's hand painfully and pulling him to his feet. "To make sure everyone knows that you're mine, and mine alone, I wanted to declare in front of your family and my own, that you'll agree to be my husband."

Evander gulped as Mordecai's fingers peeled back the lid on the small black box, presenting a blue diamond encased in silver metal, the jewel glistening in the candlelight. The diamond was impossibly huge and Evander couldn't help but reach out, running a finger over the finest piece of jewellery he had ever seen. Mordecai's eyes lit up, making Evander pull back as quickly as he reached out.

"Evander, marry me."

To others it sounded like a request but to Evander it was command, and he knew he'd be getting a lot of those from his fiancée soon. His eyes scanned the room, from his parents glowing smiles to Charvi and Jack's mortified ones, his eyes fell to Brae's. They were filled with tears. Evander just wanted to reach out and bury himself in the arms of his friend, he knew he'd be safe there. But he couldn't, not for the sake of his family, his friend or himself. No one said no to a Heridicles.

"Yes." He found himself say.

The room erupted into cheers and Mordecai smiled, sliding the ring onto Evander's finger, the cool metal feeling like a shackle.

"Good boy." Mordecai whispered into Evander's ear, his hands running through the other boy's lights brown hair and down his back. "Come to my room tonight, we should start planning the wedding."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"East." Amber grinned, rolling up the map of London and stuffing it into her jacket. Abel watched with tired eyes, prodding what remained of their fire with a stick. The bands of Wolves and hunters had disbanded, exhausted from the scrying Wyatt had exercised the night before. Abel smiled at the memory, it had been the first time he had seen wolves and hunters joining hands. And probably the last.