“How do you propose we pull it off then?” she asked. “I’m sure this hotel has a wedding chapel, but there’s no way we could do it here.”
“No,” I agreed. No Moroi minister was going to bless this union. “Right now, no Alchemists are getting near this place. We have a tiny window to get out. We can just go down to the courthouse and—what’s wrong?” She was starting to tear up again.
“Nothing, nothing,” she said. “It’s just … no. Never mind.”
“Tell me,” I urged.
“It’s just …” She sighed. “Every other plan I’ve had has gone out the window. College, my family … and now moving up my wedding by several years. And with that, even the wedding has changed. I always thought that when it happened, we’d have our friends there, a dress, the full deal. I know none of that matters, and I mean it: I’ll gladly marry you in a teal T-shirt. It’s just all so different. I just need a minute to adapt to all these changes.”
I stroked the side of her face. “No, you don’t. Not on this, at least. Give me a second.”
I stood up and took out my cell phone, looking up a few things while she watched me curiously. Within minutes, I had a plan. I just hoped it didn’t cause us more trouble than it solved.
“Okay, we’re getting out now, while the Alchemists are blocked from this hotel. They’ll eventually find a way back in—if only with makeup-covered tattoos. Do you have any more invisibility amulets?”
She shook her head. “I can cast a minor invisibility spell … but it won’t work well in a crowded place like this. Too many people to run into.”
“I’ll cover us then. Come on.” I held out my hand. “We’ve got to get out of here now.”
We went back downstairs, and I cast a wave of spirit around us that made us unmemorable and obscured our features to anyone who got too close. I knew it was working when we walked right past one of the guards who’d brought me in earlier, and he didn’t give me a second glance. It wouldn’t work for anyone seeing us from a distance, though. I couldn’t affect minds that far away, which was why acting now before the Alchemists could get spies out was essential. I led Sydney down through the underground tunnels that existed underneath the Witching Hour and extended to certain prominent points on the Strip. There were a number of exits, and I didn’t doubt the Alchemists would soon have them all monitored. I just hoped we were ahead of them and that the one I picked wasn’t watched yet.
When we emerged, it was into a major hotel on the Strip. Neither of us saw any signs of being followed, so I relaxed the spirit magic as we walked through the establishment. I spent no time there and simply went straight to the taxi stand outside. We caught a cab and soon were on our way to the nearest office that would give us a marriage license. The first good luck we’d had in a while was on our side, and we arrived to find a minimal line, probably thanks to it being a weekday afternoon. We each offered up our IDs when our turn came, and I shot Sydney a grin as the clerk processed our paperwork.
“Getting married as yourself, huh? Not Misty Steele?”
“That would be safer, absolutely,” she said with a wry smile. “But if we’re going to try to claim asylum with the Moroi, we need this to be as legal as possible. You’re marrying Sydney Sage, whether you want to or not.”
I kissed her forehead. “It’s the only thing I want.”
No Alchemists assaulted us during this errand, which I took as a good sign. Once we had our license, we took a cab back to the Strip, to yet another hotel, this one adjacent to a huge underground shopping complex. I double-checked an address on my phone and then guided Sydney to the place I’d looked up earlier: a business whose sole purpose was to prepare people for quick Vegas weddings. The part we walked into was filled with wedding dresses, and beyond it, I could see a salon area. A consultant stepped out as soon as we entered.
“You look like a happy couple,” she said. I wondered if that was true, since we were both pretty tense about being followed. “How can I help you?”
“We’re getting married,” I declared. “And you have two hours to give her anything she wants and needs to get ready.”
Even Sydney looked startled at that. “Adrian …” she began nervously.
“You do hair and makeup here?” I asked, pointing at the salon. “Get her in there, and also help her find a dress. A good dress—not just one of these.” I nodded toward a rack we were standing by, marked BARGAIN DRESSES.
“Adrian …” said Sydney again.
“I’ll need a tux too,” I said. I pulled out a piece of paper from my pocket and plucked the pen the sales consultant was holding from her hand. “Here are my measurements. Get one that goes with her. I trust your judgment. And then anything else she wants.”
“Are you leaving?” asked Sydney in sudden realization.
“I have some errands to run. But I’ll be back in two hours.” She and the consultant still looked dumbfounded. “Ah,” I said. “I suppose we need to talk about money. How silly of me.” I took the pen again and wrote an amount—a very large amount—next to my measurements. “Will this cover everything?” Sydney gasped when she saw it. The consultant merely raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, sir. Considerably. I don’t suppose you actually have any of that money up front?”
“Nope,” I said. “But I don’t need it. I have an honest face, and you trust me to come pay my bills.” I turned the compulsion on full blast, and after a moment’s wavering, the consultant nodded in acceptance. The ironic thing was, I could’ve compelled her enough to give us everything for free. I knew Sydney would never forgive me starting our marriage with that kind of deception, though, not to mention it’d likely get the poor woman fired. I kissed Sydney on the cheek. “Have fun. I’ll be back soon.”
Sydney hurried after me and caught my arm. “Adrian, what are you going to do? Even you can’t get that kind of money in two hours.”
I kissed her again. “I’m going to make one dream of yours come true, Sage. Have faith. And if the Alchemists show up …” It was a downer, and it seemed unlikely, but we had to prepare. “Do whatever you have to do to escape. We’ll meet up in a dream or through Marcus.”
“Be careful,” she said, still looking understandably concerned.
“Always,” I lied.
I headed out, back into the shopping complex, trying to hide how uneasy I felt. The smart, safe thing would’ve been to use this window to escape Vegas and get married in some other place. But aside from the fact that this city was built around fast weddings, I really meant it about wanting to make one of her dreams come true. I just hoped it wouldn’t cost us in the end. My phone chimed with a text message, and I glanced down, expecting some ominous warning from Marcus. Instead, I saw a message from Jilclass="underline"
This is the most romantic thing ever. I feel like I’m watching a made-for-TV movie.
Thanks, I wrote back. Any tips?
No, you’re doing just fine. Eddie’s furious you guys took off. Maybe this’ll make him feel better.
It was a relief to know he was back with her, and no harm had been done in borrowing him for the rescue. I wrote: Keep it secret for now. Then be ready for the fallout. Provided I can even get us out of here.
I might be able to help with that part, she responded. I didn’t see how she could, but she sent no other messages, and I soon grew lost in my other tasks.
It didn’t take me long to reach my destination: a jewelry shop that both bought and sold items. It wasn’t exactly as seedy as a straight-up pawnshop, but their operating principle was similar. This was Las Vegas, after all. An older, white-haired man greeted me as I entered, asking how he could help. With a deep breath, I did the unthinkable and took out one of Aunt Tatiana’s cufflinks.