Page 48 of Dark Princess Ascending

Marina squeezed his hand. "Go on," she urged, eyes sparkling. "I know you want to join them."

Peter didn't need to be told twice. Jumping off the stage, he crossed over to the dance floor and joined his fellow Guardians, falling easily into the familiar steps, though it had been years since he'd performed the dance.

Marina's delighted laughter rang out over the music, spurring him on to add an extra flourish to his steps. The other guests had gathered around the dance floor, clapping in time with the music. Even his mother looked impressed, clapping along and grinning.

When the dance ended, Peter returned to Marina's side, slightly out of breath but full of joy. "Did you enjoy the show?"

"Very much." She stretched up to kiss his cheek. "You were the best one there. I just regret that you weren't wearing a kilt." She winked.

"Next time," he promised in a low voice.

As Jasmine stepped onto the small stage with Jackson and Vlad and the opening notes of 'Can't Help Falling in Love' filled the air, Peter led Marina to the center of the dance floor for their first dance as a wedded couple.

The setting sun painted the sky in brilliant oranges and pinks while thousands of tiny lights twinkled in the surrounding trees, transforming the village green into an enchanted garden.

Peter drew Marina into his arms, one hand settling on her waist while the other clasped hers. "You look absolutely stunning," he murmured as they began to move together. "It was smart of you to hide this dress from me until now. If I'd seen you in it before, it wouldn't have made it to the wedding in one piece."

She laughed. "You look very handsome yourself, but I would very much like to keep this dress in pristine condition. Who knows, maybe one day our daughter will get married wearing it."

Peter swallowed, overwhelmed with emotion. "I'll do my best to preserve it as I peel it off your exquisite body later tonight."

Marina rested her head on his shoulder, and the rest of the world seemed to fade away until there was nothing but this—the music, the lights, and his mate in his arms.

29

MORELLE

Morelle held a hand over her heart as she listened to Peter and Marina exchange their heartfelt vows. The depth of their love was evident in every word, every gesture, every shared look. Despite the obstacles they faced—Marina's mortality chief among them—they chose to embrace their love fully and without reservation.

Their courage made Morelle's own fears seem almost insignificant in comparison.

"Dance with me?" Brandon held out his hand as other couples joined Marina and Peter on the dance floor.

She took it, letting him guide her onto the wooden platform. "I don't know the steps," she said as he drew her into his arms.

"Just follow my lead." His hand settled warm and steady on her waist. "Like this."

Morelle let Brandon guide her through the movements while watching others and trying to emulate them. As they found their rhythm together, she leaned into his solid warmth and breathed in his familiar scent.

The fairy lights twinkled overhead like stars, the music wrapped around them like silk, and the moment could have been perfect if not for the guilt gnawing at her conscience.

She should have told him the real secret behind her telekinetic power right after they'd confessed their love to each other, but she'd been too overwhelmed with emotion to even remember that she was still hiding her vampiric nature from him.

There shouldn't be secrets between mates, especially not something this important, and Brandon deserved the truth. They all did—Annani, Kian, Amanda, this entire community that had welcomed her and Ell-rom with open arms and open hearts.

Not only that, she also needed help to master her power.

Absorbing energy from others happened without her intending to do it. It was instinctual, which made it worse because she didn't have a mechanism to prevent it from happening.

What if she drained too much from someone right when they needed their power for an important task and didn't have time to recuperate fromthe drain? What if she used too much of her own reserves and perished?

The thought wouldn't have bothered her in her previous life, but now that she had so much to live for, Morelle didn't want to die.

She had to tell Amanda the truth. Perhaps she would not only help her control the ability but also find practical applications for it. After all, as important as her talent had been to avert a disaster, it wasn't something that happened often, thank the Mother of All Life.

"You seem preoccupied." Brandon's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. "What's wrong?"

She looked up into his concerned blue eyes. "We need to talk."