Chapter 42

King Bryans POV

I left Rebecca to get ready for the ceremony. I had other commitments. I had to prepare for the ceremony myself. I went to my room and started to get ready. The only things I needed to do were make sure I had no facial hair and get a good night's sleep. The room where I would be sleeping needed to be cleaned. It was the room across the hall from Rebecca. It is tradition for the groom not to sleep with the bride before the ceremony. I'm working to follow the traditions to the best of my abilities. It's very difficult. I don't want to sleep alone tonight. I have slept with Rebecca since I brought her home. I shaved to the best of my ability since I cannot see myself in a mirror. I then had Brent check to make sure I had gotten it all. He nodded his head in agreement with me. I was thankful to have such a good friend as him.

I had sent him across the hall several times to check on Rebecca. I wanted to make sure she was okay and that nothing was wrong with her. He kept laughing at me every time I sent him. He was being sweet about what I was doing. I guess he understood how I felt. The last time he came back with a report was about Rebecca.

" Boss, why don't you say screw tradition and just go be with her?"

" I think I will do that."

I went back to our room. When I walked in, she was sitting in front of the fireplace. She had a cup of something hot, and she was sipping it.

" Brent said you were lost without me."

" I am completely lost without my love."

She giggled, and then she handed me a cup of what she was drinking.

" What is this?"

"It's warm milk and chocolate."

I brought the cup to my lips and tasted it. It was delicious. I have never quite tasted something so good. It was good. We then cuddled by the fire. We fell asleep on the floor by the fire. When we woke up, the sun was going down. I could hear the castle was busy with everyone preparing for the ceremony. I looked down at my bride; she was sleeping peacefully. I did not want to wake her. I had to, though. She needed to bathe again and make sure she was ready. Also, her maids were there to help her get dressed. I sat up and gently shook her awake.

" Baby, it's time to wake up."

"I don't want to."

" I know, but we have the ceremony."

She shot up. She then went pale.

" I'm so sorry we ruined tradition."

" I'm just as guilty."

" There is no need to apologize."

There was no need for her to apologize. I was just as guilty as she was. I broke tradition just as she did. I then got up and left the room. The maids rushed in. I heard them pull the tub out of the corner. They were preparing her bath. Then the boiling water was carried into her room. I knew that they would get her ready for the ceremony. I went to my room and did the same thing. I bathed, and then I got ready for the ceremony. After I finished getting ready, I went downstairs to see how the hall was being decorated. It was going beautifully. They had chosen red and black roses. Which was tradition. Rebecca seemed to enjoy them. The elder vampire was sitting on my chair on the stage. That was not tradition, but he was old. He was among the oldest vampires.

He performs a lot of ceremonies. He had not fought in battle in a long time. I then went to the kitchen, and the cooks were busy. They were making all kinds of food. They even made cakes and such. That was good. Everything seemed in order. Now it is time to go check on the prisoners who were sacrificing their lives tonight. They were sentenced to death in the human world. Rebecca would need fresh blood tonight. After I bit her and fully changed her into a vampire, she was going to need to drink a lot of blood. I also had to make sure it was what she wanted. It means that she would not be able to walk in the sunlight. She seemed not to mind, though. She is, after all, Romani.

They mainly perform at night. So for her to be up all night was no big deal. She was used to it. I had no idea how you raised a child in that kind of environment. It would have been really hard. But Rebecca was not raised; she was used and abused for most of her life. I was surprised that she was a virgin when I found her. I knew that was for a reason. How on earth could you do that? I would have never done that to anyone. Whether they were by blood or not. I frown on things like that. I don't believe in abuse. If people are abused in my clan, the people doing it get punished. I won't tolerate it. I went to the dungeon and found the sacrifices. They were dressed in white shirts.

They knew what was going to happen to them. They had volunteered for it. It was a quicker death than being hanged or burned. Although beheading was much quicker, the ax men weren't always accurate. Especially if they had been drinking the night before. They could not see straight, and they tortured the poor people with swing after swing. The men in the cell looked scared, but whatever they did that got them the death sentence to begin with was scarier than being sucked dry by a vampire. They knew what they did was wrong, and they knew what the punishment would be. I then went to Rebecca's brother's cell. He was lying on the cot that was in there for a bed. He seemed comfortable. Which I was surprised.

" So it's true my sister is marrying you of her own free will."

" Yes, we are true mates."

He clapped his hands together.

"That's great. I'm happy for you."

" I have a meeting with the elders about you."

" Good."

I knew that Rebecca wanted him to give her away; however, I was not sure of his intentions. Especially since he had tried to take her by force.