DOMINGOS LAROQUE, a vampire friend of Vail’s, played cello in the background as Lyric walked down the aisle in the garden behind the Santiago mansion.

Clad in a long white sheath of silk, Lyric, newly blonde, walked barefoot through the grass toward her destiny.

Destiny resembled a man who wore black and silver as if royal raiment, and who sported Green Snake—a symbol of change—curling about his left trouser leg. His bare feet curled into the soft grass strewn with rose petals. He was her rock ’n’ roll faery vampire lover, and she wouldn’t have him any other way.

Forgoing the dramatic walk to the cello’s wedding march, Lyric tossed the bouquet of red roses aside and ran up to Vail. He caught her and kissed her deeply before the new family they would now share.

Rhys and Viviane Hawkes held hands beneath the cherry tree, both with irrepressible smiles. And Trystan, Vail’s best man, tapped Vail on the shoulder when the officiant waited for them to say their vows. He handed Vail a ring encircled with black diamonds.

“Mortal diamonds,” Vail said, as he slid the sparkler onto Lyric’s finger. “This makes you mine.”

Lyric leaned in and kissed him. “And that makes you mine.”

They promised to love each other. Forever.

Vampires.