… beauty like that my love possessed was rare indeed. I was luckier than any man in my village, I heard the heart of a rare creature and after 22 moons I heard a part of her soul inside me too.

It as been 11 moons since I asked my love to bond with me, 7 since we were bonded. Only Esther and Kol understood the true nature of out union. Our souls are intertwined fully as per the ritual bonding we preformed in place of the wedding that the rest of my family believed we were having.

Even now, as Esther continues on incessantly about… someone I don't care about, I can still picture the day. Our ceremony had been private given the nature of our bonding.

I was stood waiting as she walked down the isle set up in the meadow we had first met. No member of my birth family was allowed int he hidden village, I refused to give Mikel and Esther access to the one haven I have ever had, so his was our compromise.

When my bonded to be final stood next to me and I turned to view her in her ceremonial dress.

It was cream. It had a flowing layered skirt with a gathered waist, and elbow-length wide sleeves. It is accented with beadwork and lace. The most extravagant dress I had ever seen. Though I shouldn't see it, there was her sword hidden in an accessible pocket.

As per family tradition she would present it to me so I may cut the dress off her. A symbol of her trust in me to not hurt her even when I had the power too.

My love was beautiful in this dress, with there hair braided with snowdrops and other forest flowers. although the illusion hid them from my side of the family, I could see the beautiful ears sitting on top of her head, back and poking out through the white hair on her head.

My sister and Calissa had become friends by working on the dress together and I had managed to improve the broke relationships with Elijah and Kol too. Everything was looking up and after tonight I would never have to spend a night away from the woman I loved. Not even in death.

Thand held a lit candle, in-front of us and Siv and Esther presented us with a our ribons. Mine a green ribbon trimmed with gold. We began to say our vows, the feeling of magic picking up as our souls combine, a spell that would be finished after our physical union. "With this hand, I will lift your sorrows." With that I took her hand and Esther wrapped the ribbon around the joined limbs. It began to glow slightly.

A second ribbon of red and silver was wrapped around the first by Siv, as Calissa continued "With this hand, I will care for your every woe". She smiled at me.

I continued, sharing a loving look with her, "Your plate shall never be bare, as I will be your sustenance".

Her line continues "Your cup will never be empty, for I will be your wine."

Hafgrim presented me with a candle, which I light from the one Thand held. "With this candle, I will light your way into darkness, never shall you wander lost again"

Rebecca presented Calissa with her candle. "With this candle, shall be the heat of the flame, that keeps you warm for eternity"

I held up the ring, placing it onto her finger "With this ring, I ask you to be mine."

"With this ring, I become yours" With her response the magic flared and settled down, our lips sealed together.

We had a celebration with he whole village present, food and wine a plenty and we danced together. As the festivities died down the pair of us slipped away to the house I had built us in the hidden village.

We slipped away unnoticed by all but a pair of brown eyes that had spent the party glaring at my love in jealousy. Tatia had tried to gain my attention for the 4 months of my engagement, to no avail. Elijah was blind to the truth but I knew, she never love him. No matter how much he loved her.

Later that night we ran through the forrest together desperate to get home. I hadn't noticed but it had been along time since I had considered anywhere home. But here, in the hidden village, with the love of my life. I had the best home I could ask for.

We consummated the bond, physically joining together for the first time, completing the ritual that would seal out should together even in death. It defiantly was not the last joined together that night.

I was shaken out my thoughts by Rebecca, reminding everyone they had to get to the caves. Tonight was the night of the full moon. I looked outside, Esther had kept me latter than she should and so I had to rush back to the hidden village.

We had yet to tell anyone other than Siv but, Calissa was Pregnant. She had started nesting and refused to step foot outside the hidden village while the moon was full. This was a big part of having to get home and not just going the caves with the others like Kol suggested. I had to get home, make sure she wouldn't worry. Though really it was because I didn't want to leave her alone, my now fear just as great as hers.

Really it didn't matter that I was late, the training I had received making it easier to navigate the dangerous path home even tonight. I made it home safe faster than usual having raced to get home to be sure I wasn't in any danger

I had no clue others had tried to follow me. No clue one died. No idea it would be all our undoing…