The rain deepened, a silver whisper against the tall windows of Blackthorn Mansion. Candles wavered in their holders, shadows swaying like spirits keeping time with the thunder outside.
Kael stood before her — no longer the composed lord of the ceremony, but something older, stripped of restraint. His gaze held her in place, soft and storming all at once.
Nerine felt the air shift between them. The silence was alive — charged with the hum of something ancient. The kind of quiet that came before vows written in blood.
"Do you know what this night means, Nerine?" Kael asked, his voice low.
She shook her head faintly, unable to find words.
"It means our bond is sealed. Not only in name… but in essence."
His fingers brushed the side of her throat, where her pulse fluttered fast beneath her skin. "In my world, a union is not complete until the souls recognize each other."
She met his eyes — steady despite the tremor in her breath. "And how do they recognize?"
