He’d soon be her husband and such things would be allowed. Would be expected.
So would other things.
Her mother’s words floated through her mind, mixing with the rising current of fear the would-be robbers had amplified.
Sapphire chided herself.
If she had to do such things, at least it was with Matthias. He wouldn’t hurt her too much, and her grandfather had proven again how far he would go to manipulate her into giving him what he wanted. Better to close her eyes and count backward from a hundred while Sir Matthias visited the indignities of marriage on her than endure whatever her grandfather had planned.
Sir Matthias teased his fingertips over her cheek. “Are you sure you want to go through with this?”
“You promised you’d never make me do anything I didn’t want to do…” Her voice hitched, and she cursed herself for her weakness.
“I would never do anything you didn’t want. Never take what you didn’t want to give.” He paused. “Has someone hurt you?”
“No, but I’ve heard stories.”
He bowed his head. “So have I, and I’m sorry such things happen. It is not the will of Dracor, Thalia or Serena that it does.”
Sapphire heard the sincerity and conviction in his words. Yes, she had chosen well. Even so, she wondered again all that had happened to her mother, all that had happened in the Carsons household, but now was not the time for such thoughts.
She was marrying Sir Matthias, a Knight of Valor, and the best man she’d ever met.
Sir Matthias lifted Sapphire’s fingers to his lips again, and a frisson of excitement skittered through her as he guided her across the temple to Priestess Rena.
The priestess smiled when she saw them. “Sir Matthias, Miss Darrington, a pleasure to see you. Is there anything I can do for you this evening?”
“We’d like you to marry us,” Sapphire said.
The priestess’s eyes widened, and her brows winged up. “Marry you? Are you certain?”
“Very certain,” Sir Matthias said.
“Congratulations! When are planning to have the ceremony? Are you sure you wouldn’t rather the High Priestess marry you or even a High Knight?”
“We want to be married now. Tonight,” Sapphire said.
Priestess Rena blinked and touched a hand to her chest. “So soon? Is something wrong?”
“We’re ready to make our vows before the Trinity, and we’d like Thalia’s compassion to light our path,” Sir Matthias said. “The urgency doesn’t dim our commitment.”
“Of course not.” Understanding flickered across Priestess Rena’s face. “I will send for two full priests and three acolytes to witness your marriage vows. I want there to be no doubt about the veracity of the proceedings.”
Sapphire let out the breath she’d been holding. “Thank you.”
“Of course.”
The priestess hugged Sapphire, then hurried out of the main sanctuary.
A whisper of cold slithered down Sapphire’s spine, and she glanced towards the entrance. A shadow lurked there, one far darker and more menacing than the thieves. Those had been meant to slow her, but this was different. Stronger. More powerful.
But it couldn’t come any closer to the silver flame.
Sapphire rubbed her arms, and Sir Matthias held her closer as he followed her gaze. “First the thugs, now this. You were right about being watched.”
“My grandfather knows I’m here with you. He’s probably figured out why.”
“Then he knows. He doesn’t get to make our choices for us.”
There was such conviction in his words, such resolve, Sapphire understood why the Dragon God had chosen him as a Knight of Valor. She leaned against Sir Matthias and let the heat of him chase away the chill. Chase away the sudden fear and indecision.
Lord Henry Carsons would strike back at her, take revenge for disobeying him. Her mother had warned it was far less distasteful to do what her grandfather wanted than to suffer the repercussions of disobeying him.
Even if it had meant her mother marrying Lord Bartley.
Sapphire wouldn’t give her imagination leeway to contemplate a worse fate, but she’d still defied her grandfather.
Lord Henry Carsons had hurt enough people. She wasn’t giving him her father’s fortune so he could hurt a whole lot more.
Sir Matthias touched his lips to Sapphire’s temple and nodded toward Priestess Rena and the small entourage following her.
“Shall we do the ceremony out here in front of Thalia’s flame, or would you prefer something more private?”
Sapphire stared at the beautiful silver fire that illuminated the temple. A symbol of Thalia’s love and compassion. It would countenance no darkness.
“Here,” Sapphire said. “I want Thalia to light our path.”
Priestess Rena smiled and led them to the front of the sanctuary. The priestess stood before the flame and positioned Sapphire and Sir Matthias in front of her.
Sapphire’s heart pounded in her chest as the priestess began the ceremony, but she managed to repeat the vows. Sir Matthias did the same, and after only a few minutes, she was bound to him before the Trinity.
The priestess handed them the official document to sign, then each of the acolytes and priests signed.
Turning, Sapphire stared at Sir Matthias. She was no longer Miss Sapphire Darrington. She was Mrs. Sapphire Northland.
Sapphire was both relieved and terrified.
Chapter 9
Matthias leaned down and touched his lips to Sapphire’s. She sucked in a breath as she softened against him. Her mouth beckoned him, but this was neither the time nor place for such things. They had all night as husband and wife and all the nights after.
Scooping her into his arms, Matthias spun her around. She felt warm and right tucked against him. Like she belonged.
And she did. She was his wife.
There were cheers all around as he carried Sapphire down to the waiting coach. He settled her inside, ordered the driver to take them back to Dracor’s cathedral, then sat beside her. He slid an arm around her and held her close.
The heat of her sunk through his uniform, warming him, and he smiled as he twirled an escaped stand of her ebony hair around his finger. The soft scent of her filled him, and Sir Matthias brushed his lips over her temple.
No need for propriety.
She was his wife.
The idea spun through his brain again.
His wife.
It wasn’t the wedding he’d envisioned, a bright celebration filled with friends and family, but it was binding nonetheless. And there’d be plenty of time to share the news. Time to celebrate.
Time when Sapphire didn’t feel threatened by her grandfather.
Sir Matthias buried a surge of anger. She didn’t need that on their wedding night or ever. That such evil existed in Tamryn, in the capital city of Aerius… He sucked in a breath. He would deal with it, but not that night.
It may not have been the most ideal of weddings, but she deserved the best wedding night he could give her.
He brushed an escaped lock of her ebony hair behind her ear, and the scent of sunshine and roses tickled his nose. By the gods, she was beautiful.
Sapphire shivered and pulled his arms tighter around herself.
She may not love him, but at least she trusted him. That was a step in the right direction. They may not have blessed by the Twins, but they could still make it work.