WE WELCOME YOU TO THE MATRIMONY OF PRINCE DRAGO BLOODRICH AND PRINCESS MALAYA MIKOWSKI

"DRAGO—Bloody hell, I'm so nervous," I called out. When my parents rushed in, they found me in a state of panic, unable to locate my tux and the wedding gift I had painstakingly crafted for my bride-to-be. I had been working on it for months, ensuring it would be ready as a post-marriage gift for her—a necklace adorned with bloodstones and real diamonds, not the imitation ones like cubic zirconia. I had tailored it to Malayas' preferences, incorporating elements that represented us all—her six men, her princes. My parents comforted me, assuring me that it was normal to feel nervous on one's wedding day. My mother handed me a drink laced with deer blood and herbs. After consuming it, I felt a wave of calm wash over me. And when I finally found my tux, her gift was there too. With a deep sigh of relief, I prepared myself. Once ready, I combed my black hair back, ensuring no strands were out of place, and then I headed downstairs to mingle with the guests.

While mingling, I encountered old friends who congratulated me on finding the queen of my kingdom. Although most were pleasant, a few were rude, making disparaging remarks about sharing a woman and her inability to rule the kingdom as she was not a vampire. I was prepared to behead them for their insolence, but my cousins stepped in, assuring me they would handle the threat and advised me not to soil my tuxedo. Shortly after, the priest arrived We were instructed to take our places, so I stood at the altar, waiting for my bride alongside my groomsmen. As the wedding march started, the doors opened to reveal Malaya being escorted down the aisle by her cousin Charlie, who kissed her forehead before handing her over to me. Catching sight of Malaya, I was struck with awe; her wedding dress was black and lacy, her makeup bold, making her resemble a vampire queen. When the priest blessed our marriage, he prompted me to recite my vows.

"To you, my beautiful bloodrose Malaya, my light, I wake up every day thanking the gods for bringing you into my life of darkness and filling it with your light. You are much more to me than just my mate or future queen; you are my salvation, the air I breathe, the blood that gives me strength and reveals my weaknesses. Your love is my clarity; you are the muse I see every day, especially now since we mated. Today, I am blessed by the vampire gods to be standing here at this altar with my beautiful soulmate in a wedding dress, and I am the happiest vampire in the world. I hope that as centuries pass, I can fill your life with colors that my life never had. As we grow older, I will paint you every day, so that I can hang your image in all the places I visit during the night. I also wish to fill your life with our many children, and believe me, I want a ton of them, so that when I look at them, I feel like my life of darkness is no longer dark. As a vampire, I will never be sick or in poor health, and I promise that when you fall ill, I will be by your side no matter what"

Malaya gave me a joking glare amidst the throng of children, hinting at the possibility of getting sick, yet her eyes sparkled with mischievous light. I knew she was plotting revenge for my comments, but I didn't mind. Then, she spoke her vows.

"Drago, my vampire prince, from the day we met and you whisked me away from the academy grounds, I've been torn between fear and the thrill of being carried off my feet. I have grown to love you deeply, yet it saddens me that you can only venture out at night, while your paintings capture the daylight. Although you are immortal, the thought of bearing the many children you desire terrifies me. Despite my fears of frequent pregnancies, I am willing to endure it to make you happy. However, you'll be on babysitting duty while I rest. And as for any illnesses I may contract, don't worry—I'll find a way to share them with you, just kidding. Drago, you are my everything, and I am honored to be your mate. I vow to be the queen that your kingdom can rely on."

The priest prompted us to kiss, and we obliged. We reveled in a grand ballroom dance, and each of my brothermates took their turn to dance with her, planting a brief kiss before passing her back to me. We indulged in a few games, and, honoring vampire tradition, I bit Malaya's neck, infusing her with my venom to extend her life—a gesture made largely symbolic since her bond to the six of us naturally lengthened her lifespan. Post-celebration, we ascended to our chamber to consummate the union, where I presented her with a wedding gift, which she received with a kiss. We then savored some midnight treats before succumbing to a blissful slumber.