ONLY FANGS

Elliot felt a flush of embarrassment. When he saw Vincent's shirt sticking to his toned body, he suddenly became conscious of himself and knew he had been staring. The sudden rush of guilt made him feel like a coward, and he had to run away, because Vincent had smelled him. And after the incident of yesterday, Elliot wasn't ready to face another uncomfortable moment so soon. 

He walked quickly to the dining hall, trying to get rid of the uneasiness. When he came, sweating and clearly flustered, Lady Luna and Alfred looked at each other in confusion.

"Did you find Vincent?" Lady Luna asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.

"Yes," he replied, turning to his butler. "And we're going home." He stressed each word deliberately, making sure it was evidently clear. 

At least, he thought, his soon to be husband was undeniably attractive. He might have resented the queen's decision, but he was grateful she hadn't married him off to some random, elderly man.

He felt like he was losing his mind, one moment he was fuming over the arranged marriage, the next, he was reluctantly accepting it, all because the man was undeniably attractive. He slapped his forehead in exasperation, and Alfred stared at him in confusion.

"It's nothing," he waved him off, trying not to worry the man. 

Three days had passed, and by Sunday morning, the day of their wedding had finally arrived.

It was the grandest wedding the Kingdom of Bestia had seen, second only to the queen's own ceremony. The streets were alive with excitement, as crowds eagerly buzzed with anticipation to catch a glimpse of the grooms. 

Elliot, sharply dressed in white and gold, sat nervously in his carriage. This was it, it was actually happening. He was about to marry one of the Whitehalls. A man he barely knew, and whose family was, in a way, his own family's enemy. 

Yet, here he was, poised to walk down the aisle. There was no turning back now, not unless he wanted everything his family had worked for to slip away.

The church was a sight to behold, its walls draped in elegant gold and blue banners that shimmered in the soft light. White roses were carefully arranged along each pew, their delicate fragrance filling the air, and a rich, crimson carpet stretched down the aisle, guiding him forward as he prepared to walk the path that would forever change his life. 

He held a perfectly arranged bouquet of white peonies and roses. His gaze briefly drifted to his right, where his family sat, their eyes fixed on him with varying expressions. He then turned his eyes to the front of the aisle, where the queen sat waiting, her presence commanding. A nervous gulp caught in his throat. The weight of everyone's gaze pressed down on him. There was no room for error; one misstep and he would become the kingdom's latest joke.

Taking a deep breath, he started moving, each step deliberate and measured. As he neared the altar, his eyes locked onto Vincent, standing in black and blue suit with silver accents, beside the priest. 

This is really happening, he thought. 

The priest began the ceremony, and for a moment, everything was blurred. Elliot was so consumed by the weight of the eyes upon him that he hadn't even noticed when it was time to exchange vows and rings. When the moment came, both he and Vincent recited their vows, standard words of love and devotion, pledging to remain by each other's side through sickness and health. To everyone in the room, it seemed genuine, but to those who knew them, especially their families and the queen, it was all too clear that the vows were merely a performance.

As they exchanged rings, the priest offered his final words, and finally, he turned again to the couple and said, "You may kiss." The air was thick with anticipation, the weight of the moment settling on them both.

Vincent leaned in, initiating the kiss, his movements smooth and deliberate, and he gently cupped Elliot's face with one hand. The kiss was brief, a simple touch of lips, nothing more, nothing less. It was the final act, sealing their union, and just like that, they were officially married.

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, their excitement filling the air, unaware that the union they celebrated was nothing more than a façade. Smiles plastered on their faces, Elliot and Vincent stood side by side, arms linked, as they walked down the aisle together. The cheers of the onlookers blended with the rhythmic sound of their steps, masking the truth behind their seemingly perfect moment.

As they stepped into their private carriage, Elliot let out a frustrated sigh. This is his life now, he thought. He fought the urge to ruffle his hair in exasperation, knowing it would make him look disheveled. Though they were alone for the moment, the reality was that they would soon be greeting more guests in the reception hall. He couldn't afford to let his guard down.

"Come on, it's not that bad," Vincent said, his tone light, trying his best to ease the tension. He knew they were both stuck in this situation now, whether they liked it or not.

Elliot shot him a glare, but words failed him. He couldn't summon the energy for a snarky reply, he was just too exhausted, and the day had barely even begun.

As their carriage pulled up to the reception hall, Elliot's eyes took in the lavish decorations, blue and gold banners draped across the walls, a luxurious touch that matched the grandeur of the occasion. A variety of delectable dishes lined the tables, accompanied by an array of pastries and desserts

Elliot and Vincent straightened themselves, preparing for the influx of guests who would soon arrive. Both of them were acutely aware of their responsibilities as they prepared to enter the next stage of this meticulously planned affair.

The maids and butlers were diligently putting the finishing touches on the food and drinks, as the Leightons' carriages arrived, Elliot beamed with relief, grateful for the opportunity to see them and engage in conversation amid the stressful moment. However, the moment was brief, as the Whitehalls soon arrived. Elliot greeted them with courtesy as he watched Vincent hug and kiss his parents, but with other guests arriving, there was little time to linger with their family.

All the noble families of the kingdom were invited, their differences set aside for the occasion. As the festivities began, the queen made her entrance, and the entire room fell silent when one of the royal guards announced her arrival.

Elliot and Vincent hurried to greet Her Majesty, both bowing in unison. "Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Your Majesty," Elliot said respectfully.

Vincent echoed Elliot's greeting as he escorted the queen toward the festivities. "Not bad," the queen remarked, nodding in approval at the elegant decorations.

The reception was being held in one of the Whitehalls' vacant estates, spacious enough to accommodate nearly all the noble families of the Kingdom of Bestia. Lady Luna smiled to herself at the queen's praise, Elliot saw it and grinned in return.

Vincent continued escorting the queen to her designated seat in the dance hall. It was that moment of the evening when the newlyweds would take to the floor, followed by the rest of the guests.

As Vincent returned to Elliot side, he grabbed his arm and whispered sternly, "let's not fuck this up now Whitehall."

Vincent gulped nervously and nodded in response. He grabbed a glass of champagne offered by one of the butlers and drank it in a single, swift motion. After placing the empty glass back on the tray, he straightened up and said, "Let's do this."

All of the attendees were waiting in anticipation as they entered the dance floor. When the music began, Elliot and Vincent seamlessly fell into rhythm, their movements flowing in perfect harmony. With each beat, their pace quickened, their steps a flawless display of practiced perfection. As the tempo slowed, so did their bodies, drawing closer in a graceful, synchronized motion. When the music came to an end, they bowed first to the queen, then to the guests, who responded with an eruption of applause.

The queen clapped, a playful smirk tugging at her lips as she eyed the pair. "It seems our newlyweds are quite smitten with each other," she teased, raising an eyebrow.

Elliot quickly sensed the unspoken cue and, without hesitation, took Vincent by the arms, pulled him down to his height, and kissed him. This time, the kiss lasted longer than the brief one shared at the ceremony in the church. 

Wanting to impress both the guests and the queen, Elliot deepened the kiss for a moment before pulling away. 

Vincent, clearly caught off guard, stood there, stunned by the unexpected turn of events. However, Vincent quickly masked his confusion with a wide, confident smile, ensuring the crowd remained clueless to his sudden surprise.