Queen of the Lycan - Karina Espinosa (bill gates book recommendations .TXT) 📗

If you’re looking for my disapproval as an excuse to back out, you don’t have it. Sorry. Now beat it, I’m busy.”

I gasped and opened my eyes, scanning the room and realizing with a start that I was back in the throne room, standing before Bash. “What the fuck …?” I muttered, frowning as I stared at my hands interlocked with his.

The priest cleared his throat, catching our attention. “May God be with you and bless you. May you see your children's children. May you be poor in misfortune, and rich in blessings. May you know nothing but happiness. From this day forward.” He motioned to someone behind us. “The rings.”

Jackson and Amy appeared with our wedding bands and handed them over to us before going back to their seats. Bash took my left hand where my engagement ring was placed and slipped the wedding band on the ring finger beside it. He took my hand afterward and placed a kiss on top of it.

With trembling fingers, I took his left hand and did the same. Placing his wedding band on his left ring finger.

The priest made the sign of the cross in the air in front of us and then parted the mountain ash that encircled us, freeing us from the circle.

The crowd stood and started to clap. Bash pulled me toward him, shaking me out of my confusion and tilting my head back.

“I know you’re confused, but it’s okay, you did it,” he whispered. “Thank you.” He leaned down and kissed me softly on the lips.

The hoots and hollers from the crowd intensified until I completely forgot about the ceremony, lost completely in Bash.

19

“Queen Mackenzie MacCoinnich and Prince Consort Sebastian Steel!” a guard announced as we entered the ballroom hand-in-hand. Everyone cheered us on, throwing confetti in the air. The ballroom was beautifully decorated with black and red sheer curtains hanging across the ceiling and around the pillars, with fragrant bouquets of red roses everywhere.

Grinning from ear to ear, we walked toward the two thrones situated at the end of the room and took our seats, waving at our friends as we passed by.

Cassidy, Finn, and Michaels were there, and Jackson and Amy were sitting together. At the same table, Ollie sat with Roman and a young teen girl who couldn’t be anyone other than Emma. She waved excitedly at me and I did the same. I couldn’t wait to talk to her. She was practically a woman now.

The party commenced the moment we sat down. The music was loud, the drinks were flowing, and a huge crowd was bouncing on the dance floor having the time of their life.

Alexander and Helena were sitting at the main table with Ranulf and Lucian. I excused myself from Bash and made my way over there while he headed in the direction of the Brooklyn Pack.

“Ye look beautiful, chickie.” Helena patted my hand when I reached her. “Ye did so well.” She choked on her tears.

“Aw, Granny, don’t cry.” I grabbed a napkin and handed it to her.

“I’m just so proud of ye, hen.”

I placed a kiss on her cheek. “Thank you for everything.”

“Ye did well, Yer Majesty. Congratulations.” Ranulf gave me an awkward smile.

He never smiled.

I grinned. “Are you smiling, Ranulf?”

He frowned and grumbled, “Ach!” before throwing back his whisky and turning away from me.

I couldn’t help it – rude or not, I laughed uncontrollably.

“Don’t tease him, Pet,” Lucian added with a smirk. “But you look gorgeous. The black suits you.” He motioned to his own black outfit and winked.

“Thanks.” I grinned and pulled out the chair beside Alexander, turning toward him to give us a semblance of privacy. “Alexander … that vision during the ceremony. What was it?” I whispered so only he could hear me.

He leaned forward. “It’s yer future, darling.”

My brows furrowed. “I didn’t understand it. It doesn’t make sense.”

Alexander squeezed my shoulder. “It’ll come with time. When I first saw my mating vision, I didn’t understand it, either. It wasn’t until many years later that it made sense … until I saw ye.”

I snapped my attention to his eyes, waiting for him to explain, but he didn’t expand. I guessed these visions were intended to be kept private.

“Okay …” I mumbled, no less confused than before, and he kissed me on the forehead in dismissal. I excused myself from their table and headed over to see my friends. I didn’t get very far before I was nearly tackled to the ground.

“Ace!” a girl shrieked.

I glanced down at the hands gripping my waist in surprise. “Emma?” I peered over my shoulder to get a look at her strawberry blonde hair that had grown so long since the last time I saw her. I spun around in her grasp to see she already came up to my shoulders. Her once boyish figure had matured into that of a young lady, and to say I was flabbergasted by the transformation would be putting it mildly. This young lady was drop-dead gorgeous.

“I missed you so much, Ace! Can I even still call you Ace? Should I bow? Is it ‘Your Majesty’ now? Oh my God, I’m totally being rude!” She pulled away and executed an unpracticed bow.

I laughed. “Relax, Emma. You can still call me Ace. Look at you!” I held her out so I could look at her. “You’re so grown up! How did you grow up so fast?”

She shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t know.” Emma twirled her dress and rolled her eyes. “I’d be wearing heels, but Roman wouldn’t let me.”

“You don’t need to grow up that fast,” Roman chided as he walked up behind her.

“Ugh! You’re ruining my life!”

He laughed. “You say that every day.”

“You could have let her wear them, Rome.” I chuckled at their relationship dynamic. “She’s fourteen. She’s going to eventually wear them.”

He sighed as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. “Yeah, yeah, well, when she picks up her grades, then we can talk.” He gave her