Dark Light

bemused.

'I get the impression that Fontana isn't used to having someone contradict his orders,' Kay observed, pausing to catch her breath.

'I get that impression, too,' Sierra said.

When they reached the fourth floor, Kay led the way into the room marked Ladies.

'Take off your coat,' she said. 'Let's see what we've got to work with.'

Obediently Sierra slipped off the mud-splattered coat.

Kay's eyes widened with dazed horror. 'Sierra McIntyre, tell me you did not wearblack to your own wedding.'

Baffled, Sierra looked down at the demure, long-sleeved black dress. 'What's wrong with it?'

'This is a wedding, not a funeral,' Kay wailed.

'The groom is in black,' Sierra said, feeling on the defensive.

'So what? It's okay for the groom to wear black. Oh, never mind. Too late now. But just wait until you see what this looks like in tomorrow's edition of the Curtain. You are going to be so sorry.'

'Why?'

'I can see the headline now. 'New Guild Boss and Mystery Woman Wed in Secret Alien Vampire Ceremony;»

Sierra narrowed her eyes. 'If the word vampire appears in that headline, I promise you, there will be vengeance.'

'I dunno,' Kay said seriously, 'sounds like a grabber to me.'

Simon was just stepping out of the elevator when they emerged from the ladies' room.

'Great,' he said. 'You waited for me.' He offered Sierra his arm and gave her a surprisingly graceful little bow. 'Allow me to escort the bride.'

'Thank you,' she said.

The staff in the registrar's office was in a state of near-giddy excitement. Guild bosses were always high profile, and Fontana qualified as a celebrity. The fact that the crew of the Curtain had shown up to cover the wedding heightened the thrill factor for everyone. Phil took pictures as fast as he could rez his camera.

Elvis also created a small sensation.

'Look at the little dust bunny,' a clerk cooed. 'Isn't he just the cutest thing?'

'That little cape is absolutely adorable,' another staff member said.

Never one to miss a moment in the spotlight, Elvis posed on the counter.

'No offense,' Kay muttered to Sierra, 'but he looks better than you do.'

'Well, sure,' Sierra said. 'He's Elvis.'

There was more paperwork than she had expected, and now that the adrenaline had worn off, she was starting to feel the bruising from her fall. Her left arm and shoulder were going to be very colorful in the morning.

When she had to tear up one of the forms because she'd put down her old address in Resonance instead of her new one in Crystal, she realized she was grinding her teeth.

She could not help but notice that Fontana did not appear to be having any difficulties with his forms. No do-overs for a Guild boss.

Eventually they got to the final stretch. The judge introduced herself as Maryann Partridge and, like the registrar's staff, seemed absolutely delighted to perform the civil ceremony for the new Guild chief.

Using the buzz of conversation as cover, Sierra leaned over to whisper in Kay's ear, 'Why is everyone acting as if this is some kind of major romantic event?' she asked. 'These people do Marriages of Convenience day in and day out. They know better than anyone that they're nothing more than short-term affairs dignified by some legal trappings.'

Kay looked genuinely shocked. 'That's not true. They're real weddings.'

Sierra started to argue but stopped when she realized that a hush had fallen over the room and that everyone was looking at her.

Kay scooped up Elvis and held him as though he were a bridal bouquet while Judge Partridge launched into the ceremony.

'If I may have the rings,' Partridge said brightly.

Sierra started violently. She had not given any thought to rings. Traditionally, silver rings were used in Marriages of Convenience. Gold was reserved for Covenant Marriages.

'I don't have a ring,' she said.

Fontana seemed briefly amused by her anxiety.

'I have one,' he said.

He removed his black and amber seal ring. She watched, a little shocked, as he slipped it onto her finger. It was much too big and far too heavy. Automatically, she closed her hand very tightly so that it wouldn't fall off.

Just a Marriage of Convenience. Don't panic.

The list of vows was shorter, more succinct, and a good deal less binding than those spoken at the more lengthy Covenant Marriage service. They were also a lot more businesslike. Nevertheless, Sierra got a small chill when she listened to herself repeat them to Fontana.

'I promise to remain faithful so long as we both are bound by this agreement…

'I promise to honor and respect our commitment to each other so long as we both are bound by this agreement…

'I understand that all worldly goods that belong to me prior to this agreement are my sole possessions and will remain my sole possessions when this agreement is ended…

'I understand that if a child is born of this union, that this agreement will immediately become a full and binding Covenant Marriage agreement subject to all the laws and regulations pertaining thereunto…'

At last it was over. Sierra took a deep breath. She felt a trifle unsteady and not because of her broken heel. What in the world had she just done for the sake of the story of the decade?

'You may kiss the bride,' Judge Partridge announced, beaming at Fontana.

Sierra felt all the air leave her lungs. Should have seen that coming.

It was too late to figure out a polite way to finesse the situation. The relentlessly cheerful crowd expected the traditional conclusion to the wedding ceremony. Fontana was already pulling her into his arms.

At his touch, she went still. The exciting whispers of energy that she had been trying to suppress suddenly flared into an intoxicating rush. A shiver of anticipation swept through her. This intense reaction was crazy. It was the result of the aftereffects of all the excitement. There was no other explanation.

Amusement and a shocking, mesmerizing heat gleamed in his eyes.

'Brace yourself, my dear, and think of Earth,' he whispered for her ears alone.

The old joke elicited an unexpected burble of laughter from somewhere inside her.

And then he was kissing her, a slow, drugging, claim-staking kiss that slammed all of her senses into overdrive. She forgot that they had an audience. His mouth was the best thing she had ever tasted in her entire life, and she wanted more, a lot more. He responded by tightening his grip on her, crushing her against the broad, solid wall of his chest.

Sparkling thrills chased down her spine. Deliciously hot currents swirled. Liquid warmth pooled deep inside her. Somewhere out on the paranormal plane, energy flashed. Her psychic intuition did the happy dance.

Applause and cheering broke out, shattering the crystalline aura of intimacy into a million fragments. Reality came crashing back.

Dazed, Sierra opened her eyes. She was still pressed tightly against Fontana, but he was no longer kissing her.

'You can let him go now, Sierra,' Phil called loudly. 'I've got plenty of good shots.'

Laughter splashed through the registrar's office.

She was stunned to discover that her arms had somehow wound themselves around Fontana's neck. She was holding on to him as though she were lost in the catacombs and he was her amber compass, as if she dared not let him go for fear of being lost forever.