I scowled at the suggestion that was laying on the bed. Nisha's hands went to her hips with her own disgust.

"Come on Emme, it's fine."

"This is not a fashion show."

"Yes, it is."

"Seriously?"

Her lips pressed tight as she nodded.

"Money, lots and lots of it. That's what we're trying to show here. You walk into that place in your ripped jeans and dirty boots and they're going to order a financial investigation into this province. Ilsen has gone to a lot of effort to provide a false view of this place, don't make all his hard work be worthless."

"Fine." I sighed.

"Great. Put that on."

She gestured to the white dress that was hanging on a hook in the dressing room.

"Don't you think it's weird for me to wear your mother's dress?"

"Honestly? No. If she were alive, she'd be honored to see you in it."

I looked at Nisha and wondered how she'd know that considering that her mother died within minutes of her being born. She shrugged with a grim smile.

"Silas said it."

"But what about you and Alaric?"

"I don't care. What I want is my family ruling this province and if that means that you wear a dead woman's wedding dress down the aisle then so be it. As for Alaric, I don't think he'd care either. He probably wouldn't even know if no one said anything."

Still didn't make it any easier. I said nothing and walked into the dressing room. Removing the dressing gown, I stood in the pretty white underwear that had been bought for this event and pulled the dress off the hanger.

The sleeveless dress was a simple outfit that hugged my body, reaching the floor. It was soft, a beautiful material that felt luxurious. Nisha walked in with the box, dumping it on the dresser. That other box was sitting on it.

"I didn't think I could wear it unless I was queen."

"Technically, neither of you can wear the crowns until the leaders agree to the validity of the claim but they can stick their rules up their asses. Sit down."

Pulling the back of the skirt under my legs, I sat down and watched Nisha in the mirror in front of me. She'd already been at me today. As soon as I was awake, I was ordered into this chair to have curlers put into my hair. I didn't see the point in this but I was told in no uncertain terms that it had to be done properly. Nisha liked to pick which rules she obeyed and the ones that she didn't like were ignored. Aside from that, the reality of today was that this was a wedding, something that we'd do once. And, Alaric would rule this province. When the vampires in this area were united again, they'd look to their leader and perhaps want to know more about him.

When Nisha was done pulling the curls into an elegant bun, she nestled the crown on my head and pinned the veil into place. The crown was only small, a delicate piece that was pretty. It was all they had too. There was no extravagance, no multiple crowns or tiaras for different occasions.

"I'm going to get ready. Ten minutes, okay?"

I nodded, watching as she smiled and turned out of the dressing room. My gaze turned back to the view in the mirror. This was something that I'd never dreamed of. Breeders did not marry. We were taught about weddings but it was in the historical sense. The concept of marrying a person was set aside for the greater good of the human race.

This woman in front of me, she looked different. The woman that she was, it was a distant memory. She was scared of the world, she feared so many things and she didn't dare to dream. Now she wasn't scared, she'd faced those fears and many more and she dreamed. A future with Alaric, a world at peace and perhaps venturing beyond Rivarno Diablis.

My skin was paler, my eyes were darker. I looked at the makeup that Nisha had put on me, another thing that I'd never done before. It was an unnecessary expense in the eyes of those that ran the orphanage. We could buy it for ourselves once we got out of the orphanage but I'd not gotten that far.

"Emmeline?" Silas called out.

I stood and walked out of the dressing room. He smiled when he saw me.

"My dear, you look beautiful."

"Thanks."

Silas was dressed in a suit, a red sash crossed his body, clipped at the side with a crest.

"What's that?"

"The family crest. It's a push because I'm technically not an Eldon but Alaric needed an advisor. Usually, it is a placement given to a family member that is of the bloodline but is not in line for the throne unless something incredibly catastrophic happened. It rules out Nisha and with other options to be rather unworthy, I have taken on the role. It is another issue for tonight, the leaders may not see me as worthy of the role and could call for someone else to take up the position."

"But we don't want that, do we?"

Silas shook his head. He held out his arm, I took hold of it as we walked down the corridor. Silas had the auspicious duty of walking me down the aisle. I think he was a little thrilled.

"No, we don't. Alaric has the final decision but it could look bad if he goes against the demands of the leaders."

"You have his best interest at heart, surely they wouldn't go against that."

He looked at me as if to say that they would, just to be annoying. We walked down the stairs, I held the front of the dress to avoid tripping on it. The shoes weren't ridiculously high like the ones that Nisha wore but they were high enough to be difficult for me.

Ilsen was standing by a set of double doors, the other side of the corridor was an archway that led to the entry. I'd looked at these doors and wanted to venture beyond them but with Hendrick watching everything that we did, I didn't bother.

With a smile and a nod, Ilsen opened the doors and delved into the ballroom.

"Well my dear, this is it." Silas turned to face me, holding my hands. "It's been a rough few days for you, I know it hasn't been easy but understand that we are incredibly grateful for what you have done and will do for us."

I nodded, forcing a smile. To say that I was nervous was very accurate. Why? I don't know but it was the complete truth. I wanted to find a bathroom and throw up.

"Ready?"

"Is it normal to be freaking out?"

Silas smiled and nodded.

"I paid a visit to Thea the morning of their wedding. She was pacing the floor in between the mad dashes to the bathroom. You're doing fine."

Nisha appeared, looking vastly different to the last time I'd seen her. Gone was the bathrobe, now she was in a long black dress that hugged her svelte figure. She had a red sash like Silas, clipped at the hip with the same crest. Her hair was pulled up into a similar style to mine, the tiara nestled into it. She looked gorgeous but then, Nisha always looked gorgeous.

"Looking cute as." She cooed, pulling the veil over my head. "The priest is here, complaining that it should be done in a church but accepting it anyway. It's amazing how money can shut a person's mouth."

Adjusting my dress, Nisha huffed happily.

"We're doing the super short version, he knows not to waffle on about nonsense."

"Like love?" Silas asked mockingly.

"Yeah, exactly. Hurry up."

Nisha turned into the room, Silas frowned at the doors.

"You know, I tried my best with everything that I did for them and it seems that I have failed regardless."

"How so?"

"I let my own life suffer. I didn't want any distractions. My goal was to get them back to where their family belonged and get revenge for Thea and Maelen. I haven't shown them what love is."

"You love them."

"Not family love, Emmeline. Their attitude towards finding a life partner has always been that it was not to be thought of in the immediate future. Alaric knew that this day would come, he knew what was expected of him but I don't think that he thought that he would ever marry out of love."

You're right about that one.

"And Nisha," Silas said with a hint of sadness. "I think that she believes it is unnecessary. Her goal beyond tomorrow might be to find a partner to create children but not to love them. I have failed."

"But you can show them a better way, starting tomorrow. When everything is done, talk about this with them. Alaric is getting there, we are going to talk about our issues tomorrow but he still needs something from the man that has become his father. Nisha needs it too."

He nodded, giving a contemplative smile.

"That sounds like a good idea."

Silas took hold of my hand again, wrapping it into his and resting it on his forearm. We turned into the ballroom and I was a little stunned.

"Nisha." Silas groaned softly. "She's been busy."

"Yeah," I whispered.

Rose petals lined a wide path to the middle of the dance floor where they were waiting. An area had been created, dark wood poles were tied together with white material, more material wrapped around the pole with roses dotted sporadically.

"It may or may not hold up. Stand in the middle, at least the wood won't hit you if it falls."

I giggled, looking at Silas who had a wolfish grin on his face. Hearing me laugh, Alaric turned. Even from this distance, I could see the wonder on his face.

"It won't be an easy journey, my dear," Silas said as he patted my hand. "But it will be worth it. He's stubborn, that's why the other two failed. What Nisha and I didn't realize is that he'd already made his mind up and only accepted looking into the other two because we kept at him."

He's always wanted me. Yes, there was a list but it wasn't his doing. It was the kind of information that I needed yesterday but I accepted that things happened for a reason.

When we reached the end of the aisle, Silas took my hand and gave it to Alaric. As he stepped aside, I looked up at Alaric who was silently staring at me, a soft smile on his face.

"Dearly beloved," The priest began.

Nisha cleared her throat, the priest huffed.

"Fine," He snapped tersely. "Do you, Alaric take Emmeline to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

He smiled at me, all the fears and uncertainty fell away.

"And do you, Emmeline take Alaric to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do," I responded, smiling back at Alaric.

"You have declared your acceptance and consent before us. May our Lord in his mightiness, strengthen your union and fill you both with love and happiness. What our Lord has joined, let no man or woman divide. I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Alaric lifted the veil, grinning like a loon. I tried not to giggle when he kissed me.

"You forgot the rings, jackass," Nisha grumbled.

"Well I was rushed," The priest objected. "This was the short version, as you requested. Give them to me and I'll bless them."

When the kiss ended, Alaric pulled the veil back over me and then him.

"There, the sounds of the annoying are blocked out."

I chuckled, wrapping my arms around his neck, kissing him again.