AN: Hello, wonderful people! 

Sorry for the long wait, The Wedding- Part II is here! Buckle up because after this chapter some crazy crazy things will happen to our couple! mwuhahha

Btw, this month marks a year since I've started "Her Cursed Monster", thanks for the awesome journey everyone! You are such a good and supportive bunch! *shares chocolate cake with everyone*

P.S. @KaloImagine made me a cover, above you can see it! How awesome is that *wipes tear*. Thanks again!

Fearsome Hamster

The creature bent its head in her direction, dangerously close to the nape of her neck.

"You know what you have to do." The last warning of the mysterious voice was barely heard as the creature pressed its lips to her own just as everything fell apart.

For a fleeting moment, she could only feel the cold mouth of the monster before her, feasting with viciousness at her unresponsive lips. For that feeling moment which seemed to stretch into an abysmal eternity, her heart froze. That is how you will die, the insidious voice echoed. A prisoner to her own mind, trapped in a ravaged chapel with blood-stained walls and cracked windows. And only a murderous beast to accompany her last moments.

The beast suddenly clutched her hair roughly in his grasp, mirroring the dark entity's venomous whispers. Was this truly Zachary? Was this a premonition of what was to come or just a byproduct of the festering dormant fears in her?

She could no longer tell. The wicked hallucination had become reality. Everything felt so real. From the uncaring pull of his lips on hers to the rapidly burning pain in her scalp.

In the far reaches of her terrified consciousness, she registered a faint tingling starting in her neck. The side where Zachary's bite mark resided was ticklish, urging her to remember something in the midst of this madness.

The sensation emanating from the column of her throat intensified.

She could almost feel ghost fingers caressing the flesh. Yet, the monster before her was not the cause of this. How was it possible...

Then, a miracle happened. 

Or maybe her hold on sanity just collapsed. She would welcome both possibilities if it meant this nightmare's end. One second she was in the hellish chapel, the next she was staring wide-eyed at Zachary' peaceful face so near her own.  

He was kissing her softly this time.

And his fingers were stroking her bare throat in slow circles. Touching his mark. That tender gesture must have broken the demonic mirage.

He was so very gentle now, unlike whatever she imagined before.

Already the memory of the broken chapel with shattered windows and Zachary's soulless look-alike were beginning to fade from her mind like wisps of smoke in the wind, leaving her disoriented. Where was she now?

She felt fingers find her pulse point and stroke her neck gently on that spot.

A crease appeared between his dark eyebrows and she felt plump lips tug at her lower lip as a barely inaudible whine escaped his mouth. Any traces of confusion left her as the hallucination faded from her mind. How could she forget? She was in the middle of her own wedding ceremony. They had just finished their vows and she was currently staring cross-eyed at her newly wed-husband as he kissed her. 

How embarrassing. She had actually been looking forward to this particular moment and it was completely ruined in the wake of whatever had happened. Goosebumps rose on her skin and she trembled as she tried in vain to remember.

The kiss immediately ceased, Zachary opening his amethyst eyes and staring at her with clear concern in his gaze. 

He was rubbing her lace-covered arms with his big hands, while his eyes assessed her from head to toe, trying to uncover the reason behind her discomfort. When a wave of applauding rang in the chapel behind them, Margo saw him tensing his shoulders. Knowing his mercurial behaviour, he would probably lash out and growl at their guests to silence them up just so he could continue his examination of her.

There would be no saving face after that. 

Margo offered Zachary a reassuring smile, making him replace his frown with a lopsided grin. Already she felt better, there was no need to concern him as well. She touched his big hand, interlacing their fingers together. More applauding erupted in response.

...........................................

As misfortune would have it, far too many letter invitations had made it on time. 

Margo was specifically regretting the ones she had sent on the last days just before the wedding, in a complete reluctant haste, written in her messiest penmanship on purpose, to those relatives of hers she would rather not see. Yes, she had been petty, but so were they. Too bad her mother's etiquette lessons had been etched on her mind too deeply or she would not have sent them any invitation at all.

However, she could not afford to let irritation get the best of her – it was her wedding day after all. Besides, the person next to her was getting angry on her behalf as well. That, and far too many glasses of raspberry punch loosened Nana's tongue like no other.

"Her toad eyes...bulged even more when she saw Lord Frost's mansionnn," Nana stopped, reconsidering. "What am I saying, this no mansion, this a bloody castle," Nana punctuated her words with a furious shake of her champagne flute, the liquid in it fluctuating wildly.  

The wedding reception was indeed holding place in Zachary's enormous mansion and she and her grandmother were momentarily playing hostess, while Zachary had left her to tend to some urgent matters. He had grudgingly left her side with a short, but scorching kiss on her mouth.

"Yes, Aunt Hortensia was certainly taken aback," Margo agreed absent-mindedly.

Her grandmother harrumphed. "Back in the day, that old hag used to brag of her riches and humiliate those without." A few guests discretely looked in their direction when Nana's pitched grew very loud.

"Nana, don't call her that, at least not in public,"she grinned at the slight indignation creeping in Nana's intoxicated stare. "My child, it is the truth nevertheless. At least all of the teeth in my mouth are still mine," she grimaced for emphasis, showing rather healthy teeth. "Hortensia can't say the same."

Her grandmother tipped the flute in her hand, drinking the remaining champagne. After a few moments of relative silence, her sweet grandmother's temper flared yet again.

"The nerve of her to come here and act shocked regarding your marriage." Nana said while ladling more punch in her glass. "I myself am shocked that she is still alive, but you do not see me saying it to her face, do you?"

"No, Nana," Margo appeased her. "You are lady after all."

"That I am, child, that I am. Cheers to that and your wedding." Their glasses clinked, Margo's first drink still almost full, while she lost the count of her grandmother's. "A lady in the street, but a freak in the-"

Nana's questionable speech was interrupted by the arrival of a new presence. Margo watched the emotions flash on her grandmother's face: from drunk indignation to a soft look.

Margo turned around.

"My sincerest congratulations for your wedding, Margo, Ms HartWell." a warm voice said.

It was Celine. Benjamin's older sister. The young woman was dressed in a simple, but elegant deep green gown that made her caramel complexion shine. She was exquisite and the dignified way she carried herself almost hid the sadness in her dark gaze. But, Margo had known Celine for a long time, the dear girl was obviously concerned with her wayward's brother behaviour lately.

"Thank you, Celine. And thanks for coming, I know you are busy," she clasped the other woman's hand, but was surprised when a sudden embrace enveloped her. 

"Please, I am the one to thank you. I finally got to see Benjamin in so many weeks. I finally got to see Benjamin yesterday after too many weeks. He came at dawn, did not offer a lot of explanations, but I heard you knocked some sense into him and convinced him to come back. At least temporarily, for today I have not seen him," Celine sighed deeply.

"You know you have nothing to thank me for. You are my friend as well, not just him. You do not deserve what he is doing. I do not understand why he is acting in such a peculiar way. Perhaps you need to remind him who's in charge of the family," Margo half-joked.

Celine flashed her a smile, her dimples popping out before her expression turned into steely determination. "That is what I plan to do." It sounded like an unequivocal vow.

Loud steps echoed on the marble floor and a sudden movement made Celine lose her balance, stumbling. Thomas appeared between the young women, clutching the skirts of Ben's sister with too much enthusiasm. "Miss Celine, are Lora and Tara here as well?" he asked.

Nana chuckled behind them. From the corner of her eyes, she saw her grandmother take another heathy gulp of punch. Margo made a mental note to keep the alcoholic beverages away from her Nana for the remainder of the night.

"Hello there, handsome," Celine ruffled Thomas' locks. "Hate to disappoint you, but the girls are back at home." Her brother sighed, shuffling his feet awkwardly. Margo and Celine shared a look, a smile playing at their mouths. Someone was besotted.

"They did tell me to give you something on their behalf however." Hearing this, the boy visibly perked up and the tips of his ears turned positively red when Celine bent to peck both of his blushing cheeks. One kiss from each of the twins.

Between sips of champagne and bites of fruits, the two young women caught up with each other, sharing some local gossip and giggling over the blatant stares the old librarian sent Nana's way. Zachary still had not come back, Margo noted glumly. Far too quickly, her friend had to bid her goodbye also. The life of a healer and a sister of two rowdy teenage girls was always busy.

"Unfortunately, I am afraid I have to take my leave early, Margo."

"I understand. Thank you for coming. If you find out anything of Benjamin, please let me know as well, my friend." Celine nodded solemnly before the two shared a quick hug and the caramel skinned woman vanished down the flight of stairs among the crowds of guests. Margo was still watching Celine's head of dark curls advance towards the stables, when Nana cleared her throat.

"I certainly did not expect such a thing from t-that Benjamin boy," she hiccuped, shaking her head. "It is always the handsome ones...," Nana murmured into the distance, probably recollecting long ago dalliances Margo would rather not hear the details of.  "Speaking of this, while your husband is away, let me share some of my wisdom with you, my sweet pea."

Margo had a sinking feeling about this.

Her grandmother clumsily pushed her glass of champagne away – thank heavens for that – and instead reached for the rich bowl of exotic fruits in the middle of the white cloth table. Horrified, the young woman took a step back when Nana chose a ripe banana for her presentation.

"Now, m'dear, there are various to peel off a banana–" her grandmother hiccuped.

Was this going where she suspected it would? Margo held her breath and let Nana continue, watching her furiously wave the fruit in the air for emphasis. "First of all, do not be afraid of its appearance. It's just a banana after all. Big or small, it's important to make you feel good, but I am positive that your intense husband knows that as well, so no worries there–"

Margo was horrified. "Nana," she tried.

"–I saw the way he looks at you. That man knows what to do with his b-banana," Nana hiccuped again, followed by a copious round of laughter.

Dear God, not this conversation. Spotting Thomas a few feet away, eating chocolate and having his cheeks pulled by some older relatives, Margo sighed in relief and pulled the offending fruit away from Nana's hands.

"Nana, I truly appreciate your," she paused "very sage advice, but I know what is bound to happen. You forget I have read my fair share of not-so-decent romances."

Her grandmother tsked: "That pales in the face of experience."

"I assure you there is no need for this," Margo hurried to say.

"Not even a bit?"

"No."

"Not even your dear grandmother's special moves? They are a guaranteed success." Nana wiggled her eyebrows and wobbly raised herself from the chair while arranging her skirts. Margo immediately put an arm around the older's woman's back, supporting her. 

The girl's imagination flashed with horrifying scenarios. "Especially not those," she whispered vehemently.

"Suit yourself then, m'dear. I will go practice my waltz and maybe some of those moves with someone who wants." Nana called for Thomas who was now indulging in too many chocolate treats. "Come on, my smaller sweat pea, let's find you a dancing partner as well."

Thomas obediently took Nana's hands from Margo. The siblings exchanged a look of understanding seeing the slightly inebriated state of their grandmother."Easy on the raspberry punch, alright Nana?"

Their grandmother made a dismissing motion with her hand. "The n-night is–" she hiccupped," –still young, Margo." True to her words, Nana headed towards the orchestra playing a merry tune, coincidently the same direction where Mr Fredor resided. He was currently doing his best impression of a wallflower, but immediately perked up seeing Nana.

"Do take care, please!" Margo called out.

Their Nana did not look back. However, she saw Thomas turn around and wink, mimicking "I have this under control" her way. Margo smiled. At least someone is wise enough tonight.

"Your grandmother seems to be enjoying herself," a sinfully husky voice whispered behind her. Something inside her heart seemed to snap back into its rightful place now that he was here. Where had he been?

"Indeed, she is more of carpe diem sort of individual." She looked in Zachary's indigo eyes and felt his strong arm wrap around her waist possessively. The press of his lips on hers took her by surprise, the cunning vampire seizing the opportunity to taste her mouth. He suckled on her tongue a few seconds and made a show of licking his lips when they finally separated. It was a terribly inappropriate behaviour in front of their guests, so why did she like it?

"You taste like the sweetest champagne," he smirked.

The miserable blush was again on her cheeks. "You could have a glass instead."

"But I would rather taste it on my wife's lips," he ghosted his own lips across her forehead and she could almost feel the devious smirk surely playing at the corners of his mouth. Margo tugged at his neck tie and jerked his head towards her. He would not charm her with his seductions...hopefully.

"Where did you disappear, Zachary?" 

Emotion flashed on his face before it disappeared too quickly for her to identify. "So possessive already, Margo. Have no concerns for I am wholly yours," he jested. Quirking her eyebrows, Margo said nothing. He sighed.

"My friend," Zachary glanced behind her, "was creating problems. I was the only one capable of calming him down unfortunately, otherwise I would have not left your side." Another annoyed look sent to someone in front of him.

"What a horrible way to introduce your friend," a booming voice said behind her. Turning around, Margo identified the tall silver-eyed man as Zachary's mysterious best man during the ceremony. The same barely restrained wild energy brewing in Zachary was burning in the other man's gaze. Another supernatural creature surely.

"Pleased to finally make your acquaintance, my Lady. I am Lazarus, I have known Zachary over here for a few centuries now." Margo eyes bulged. C-Centuries?

Probably noting her sudden pallor, Zachary growled in warning. "Too many details, Lazarus."

The long-haired man realised his mistake. He took a cautious step closer and bent to kiss her hand. "Apologies, my Lady." Zachary's spine straightened rigidly at his intention, but allowed it. 

Lazarus was just taking her fingers in a loose clasp, when the other man's eyes flashed an eerie silver and he growled lowly. Her hand was abruptly brought to his nose which he sniffed and inspected with a frightening attention. This peculiar behaviour was brought to a sudden stop before Margo was pushed behind a broad back. Zachary's body was slightly shaking as he stood protectively between her and Lazarus.

"What the fuck do you think you are doing?" Her vampire's deep voice was slightly muffled, meaning he had his fangs out. Thank Heavens for the slightly dark corner of the room they found themselves in.

"The scent! The same one that has elusively teased me the entire day, I feel it intermingled with your woman's," Lazarus' orbs were glowing with an intense, almost demented light.

"She is mine!" Despite his nigtmare-inducing hiss, Zachary gently steered her against the wall, creating a safe place where he could guard her against his unpredictable friend. Margo was frightened, she did not know what she had done wrong to warrant this kind of violent reaction. She laid her hand gently between Zachary's shoulder blades, trying to soothe him at least.

Zachary exhaled a long breath in response. "We went over this, Lazarus. There is nothing here. We have been chasing wild geese before and came up with nothing. In turn, you kept me away from my mate on this important day."

Imposing as he was, Lazarus's broad shoulders dropped ever so slightly hearing Zachary's words. "You do not understand, this certain scent, there's something about it..."

"There are no Dark Mages here, Lazarus."

"Perhaps not, but something else...," his gruff voice still insisted. 

"You are frightening my mate. I vowed to never hear her heart beat so frantically or scent the panic coming off of her. I advise you to leave."

Lazarus' jaw ticked. A look of shame briefly entered his grey eyes when his and Margo's gazes intersected, the young bride still hidden behind her husband protectively. The long-haired man nodded before he stormed off. The young woman watched him as he left the ball room towards the stables. Maybe it was just her memory deceiving her, but he seemed to follow the same path Celine had on his way out.

She snapped her worried gaze back to Zachary when he turned around and embraced her tightly, slightly lifting her on her tiptoes. "What had just happened?" she whispered.

"I am not quite sure myself, my love," he caressed one rebellious lock which had escaped her up-do. "Do not let it ruin your night."

"Will he be alright though?" she adjusted one button on Zachary's velvet vest. After his outburst, her husband's friend had looked almost...crestfallen dare she say.

He kissed her forehead. "Yes, let him calm for now. After a certain age, males like us tend to deviate without our mates," a reverent tone entered his voice when he said the last part. His hold on her tightened imperceptibly.

A moment of silence passed between them before Zachary asked her. "Are you mine for the following waltz, Mrs Frost?"

Margo laughed. "Yes, we cannot let Nana and Mr Fredor dance more than us tonight."