The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead Read Free Book Online Page B

attempting to match them with his suit. If so, he’d failed.
    And there, I spotted my first friendly face, aside from Adrian. Rose Hathaway. It
     was no surprise she’d be a bridesmaid, seeing as she’d been responsible for the happy
     couple getting together. She’d inherited her father’s dark hair and eyes and was the
     only dhampir among the bridesmaids. I didn’t need to see the surprised looks of some
     of the guests to know that was pretty unorthodox. If Rose noticed or cared, she didn’t
     show it. She walked proudly on, head held high and face glowing with happiness. With
     that humanlike dhampir appearance, she was shorter than her Moroi companions and had
     a more athletic build than the slender, small-chested Moroi.
    Rose had what was a very normal, very healthy body among humans. Yet when I compared
     myself to Moroi, I felt enormous. I knew it was ridiculous—especially since I wore
     a smaller size than Rose—but it was a hard feeling to shake. Adrian had recently had
     an unwelcome intervention with me, going so far as to claim I was on the verge of
     an eating disorder. I’d been outraged and told him to mind his own business . . .
     but ever since then, I’d taken a hard look at my behaviors. I now tried to eat more
     and had gained exactly one pound, something that had felt torturous and wrong until
     my friend Trey had recently commented that I was “looking pretty good these days.”
     It had reinforced the idea that a few more pounds wouldn’t kill me and
might
actually be good for me. Not that I’d admit any of that to Adrian.
    We all stood when Sonya entered. She was glorious in ivory silk, with tiny white roses
     adorning her fiery hair. The queen had been magnificent, but there was a glow about
     Sonya that dwarfed even Lissa’s beauty. Maybe it was just something inherent to brides.
     There was an air of love around Sonya that made her shine. I was surprised to feel
     a pang in my chest.
    Ian was probably disappointed when no bloodletting followed, but the ceremony was
     sweet and filled with emotion. I couldn’t believe how stone-faced my Alchemist companions
     looked—I was on the verge of tears as the couple recited their vows. Even if Sonya
     and Mikhail hadn’t been through hell to be together, this was the kind of ceremony
     that couldn’t help but pull at the heartstrings. As I listened to them swear they’d
     love each other forever, I found my gaze drifting to Adrian. He didn’t see me looking
     at him, but I could tell the ceremony was having the same effect on him. He was enraptured.
    It was a rare and sweet look for him, reminding me of the tortured artist that lived
     beneath the sarcasm. I liked that about Adrian—not the tortured part, but the way
     he could feel so deeply and then transform those emotions into art. I had feelings,
     just like anyone else, but that ability to express them into something creative was
     an area I would never, ever have expertise in. It wasn’t in my nature. I sometimes
     gave him a hard time about his art, especially his more abstract pieces. Secretly,
     I regarded his skills with awe and loved the many facets of his personality.
    Meanwhile, I had to fight to keep my face blank, to look as though I was a normal
     Alchemist with no concern for unholy vampire events. Neither of my companions questioned
     me, so apparently I pulled it off. Maybe I had a future in poker.
    Sonya and Mikhail kissed, and the crowd erupted into cheers. They only got louder
     when he brazenly kissed her a second time—and then a third. The next stage of the
     festivities, the reception, was being held in the hotel where Adrian and most of the
     other Moroi were staying. Sonya and Mikhail left first, followed by the queen and
     other high-ranking royals. Stanton, Ian, and I waited patiently for our row to be
     dismissed so that we could line up for the limos that were ferrying guests the half
     mile to the hotel. It normally wouldn’t have been that bad