Reyn cocked her head, her eyes shooting daggers at the man standing in their way, "You're not serious are you?"
Ash was behind her pacing, the whole day falling apart at the seams. She had tried to go see the venue the day before, but they had been closed. Now they were here as the small chapel opened, only to be told the wedding wouldn't happen today.
"Ash, why don't you step outside for some fresh air with Eli," Reyn asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Ash ducked out quickly, already overwhelmed with the day. Reyn turned hard, cold eyes on the man, her nostrils flaring.
"You can't cancel a damn venue on the day of the wedding," she snapped, "Why the hell can't we use the chapel?"
His eyes were just as cold, "We hadn't been aware when we agreed to marry them of who they
exactly were."
"Exactly?"
"We tolerate
your kind in the city, because we know you keep our walls safe," his voice was as cold as his eyes, trying to stare down at the siren, "But we know none of you are purely human. This is a house of god, of religion and worship. We will not allow it to be tainted by a wedding amongst sinners."
"You got to be fucking kidding me," Nereyda snapped, standing as tall as she could and fixing him with an icy glare her partner had taught her so well, "You're destroying her one beautiful day because...because..."
Her fists clenched and before she could stop herself Reyn decked the man, sending him back a few steps. For a tall man of average size she shouldn't had been able to knock him back, but Reyn had surprised him, and more so she knew where to throw a punch.
"That was a warning," she stated, blowing out her breath as her anger left her with that punch, "Now we can be civilized here and try to come to an agreement or-"
"There is no negotiating," he snapped, rubbing his jaw, "Get out girl!"
Nereyda knew she couldn't walk out empty handed after only one jab at the man. While violence worked for Elijah, Reyn had one other approach that almost always worked with men.
"I think we are getting off on the wrong foot," she held up her hands, switching tactics as her posture got softer and her eyes got warmer, "I'm just a little stressed with wedding details. How about we go to your office and talk like civilized adults."
His eyes narrowed, trying to understand her new strategy.
Her voice became like honey as she spoke, batting her lashes, "I'm sure once you get to know me...we can find
some form of negotiation."
The man's posture softened, while his eyes remained hard and unyielding, giving her a once over. After giving birth, it had taken Reyn several weeks to get her body back into shape, wanting that drop dead gorgeous look she always sought after. Sure she had stretch marks now on her re-toned stomach, but they were a reminder of the bundle of joy she had brought to the world, and Eli never seemed to mind them. Once she had even caught him absent-mindely tracing them with a finger after sex, his eyes soft for her.
"Liking what you see?" Reyn asked, her voice like silk to entice him, "One little wedding and you can undress this."
"Hm," he nodded, taking a step towards her.
"I knew we could come to an underst-" she purred before getting cut off as the man's hand slapped across her face, stunning her.
"Whore," he snapped, his voice harsh as her ears rang, "That's what you are, a whore."