The Patriarch. To werewolves he was their leader. The Alpha of all Alphas. To me, he was just Valor, my dearest and closest friend.
He stepped forward, eyes wide. “Kyden is extremely lucky, Nexi. You look absolutely stunning.”
I blushed. Sure, we were close, but he had never given me such a compliment before. It was strange coming from him. Supes weren’t overly affectionate, but that only solidified how close we’d become. “Thank you.”
He continued toward me and pulled me into a very warm hug. “I wouldn’t have missed this night. What a wonderful celebration.”
“I’m so glad you came.” I tilted my head so it rested against his chest.
Valor had special meaning to me and having him here for the ceremony came pretty close to having a family member here.
That thought had been on my mind constantly throughout the preparations for tonight. God, did I miss my parents. This night would have made them all so happy and it did hurt that they weren’t here to share in it.
“I…” he hesitated, reached into his pocket and drew out a necklace. He held it up, a wolf head pendant on a chain dangled from his finger. “I got this for you.”
I gasped, not caring that it was a very girly sound at that moment. It was extremely beautiful. He chuckled and spun me around, clasped the necklace around my neck. He turned me back around again, then smiled sweetly. “There, perfect.”
I reached up and touched the necklace. “It’s so pretty. Thank you, Valor.”
He nodded and held his arm out to me. “I know I’m in no way a replacement for who should be doing this for you, but it would be my greatest honor to lead you to the ceremony.” He offered, his gaze sweet and tone shaky, as if overcome with emotion.
Without hesitated, I wrapped my arm in his, my heart full. “I wouldn’t want anyone else.”
In no time, we headed down the hall and out of the castle toward the Witches Meadow. “So…is it crowded down there?” I asked hesitantly.
Valor winked. “Not too many.”
When we arrived at the meadow, I gave him a look that said he was a lying jerk. He chuckled. Not only was everyone from the Otherworld here, but everyone from the Underworld too.
I didn’t focus on that for too long since the meadow took precedent. It looked exquisite. Obviously, magic played a part here because it never looked this beautiful. It always took my breath away, so that was really saying a lot. The trees were all the same, but tonight, beautiful white dahlias adorned them everywhere. It made the meadow look so alive.
In addition, it wasn’t just that. Thousands of candles were everywhere. It was by far the most elegant and romantic setting I had ever seen. Haven did an amazing job—she took over the plans the moment she heard Kyden and I would be bonded. Trusting her was never a mistake. This was perfect and more than I was capable of dreaming up.
As we came into view, the entire crowd gasped, and low murmurs spread throughout.
My cheeks flamed as all eyes focused on me. “Why are those of the Underworld here?” I whispered to Valor as we started down the hill.
He angled his head down and whispered in same hushed tone. “They have come to witness the ceremony of their leader. It’s only proper.”
One by one, as we passed by members of the Underworld, they all bowed. “Oh, will you just stop that,” I snapped.
Valor chuckled.
However, my annoyance immediately ceased when Kyden stepped in front of my willow. Haven got that right on the money. There was no other place in the world that I would want to do this than under my favorite tree.
My breath caught as I took him in completely. He was beyond gorgeous. He wore a kilt tonight that was similar to Talon’s. Its detailing was superb and fit his body tight. He also had glitter along his body. Apparently, it was a ritual in the Otherworld since Haven had put it on me too. Boy, oh boy, did I appreciate it on him more. It made his sleek body look that much more appetizing.
Valor stopped when we met up with Kyden. He leaned down and kissed my lips.
“Enough of that.” Kyden laughed, as did the crowd. He was never threatened. He knew the love Valor and I had for each other was entirely platonic. If anything, I knew it warmed him that we were close.
Valor leaned back, tears glittered in his eyes. Clearly, he hadn’t expected such an emotional outcome, but his face showed just how much joy it brought him that he was here to witness this ceremony. In fact, it showed on every face present.
Kyden took my hand and led us beneath the willow. When we stopped, his gaze ran the entire length of me, then met my gaze again. “Gods, Álainn, you’re lovely.”
I smiled at the compliment, and then glanced out to the crowd a little. Everyone was here. Haven, of course, was bawling. Even Talon looked a little teary-eyed. Briggs and Rynn gave me a little wave, as did Isla and Dante who stood beside them. Briar smiled bright. Thalia, the Mistress of the Mid-West, and Hayes nodded a hello. Brax, Master of Weres and Zade, Master of Vampires, looked proud. Misa and Azar appeared outrageously happy.
Zia drew my attention as she took our joined hands in hers. “Welcome. This is a night for us to rejoice in the bonding of our two friends.” She smiled down at me. “As in our ways of the Otherworld, please recite words of adoration to each other to state the reasons for your bond.”
She looked at Kyden, gave him a nod to begin.
He sighed deeply, looked to the ground, then met my eyes again—so much emotion displayed in them. “Since you came into my life it has been filled with nothing but chaos.”
Huh?
“Not a day passes that I do not fear for your safety, fight against others or battle for your honor.” Again, he sighed, even deeper. “Even your personality has been nothing but trying to me. Your unwillingness to let me help you, your hard headedness and your smart mouth are a constant pain to me.”
What in the hell? I snorted a loud sound of unhappiness. “It better get better than this.” Seriously, he is on the verge of losing a limb.
The crowd laughed in response.
Kyden smiled, gave me a wink. “On a nightly basis, I feel frustrated, irritated, and aggravated with you.”
I scowled at him. What type of non-romantic shit was this?
He laughed, rubbed away my frown lines with his fingers. “That night…” His smile drifted away as he swallowed deep. “That night, I would have died for you. I would have given my life for yours because, as much as you drive me to the high moons with your independence, it’s for all those reasons that you have captured my heart.”
My frustration dissolved and tears welled up in my eyes. My chin started doing that thing, the little quiver that let you know you were about to burst out into sobs.
“I would never change a thing about you.” He reached up and wiped my tears away. “Nothing—not one piece of who you are.” His hand cupped my cheek. “That night, I knew I was going to die, but I never feared it because if I only had a few short months to love you, then that was enough. I would have died fulfilled, with a need for nothing more.”
Tears ran down my face.
“It’s for those reasons that I chose this bond. If I have the chance to love you longer then I will do it, fully and completely. And will always be entirely grateful that I have been given that right.”
The crowd was silent enough to hear the wind rustle through the trees. After many quiet moments passed, Zia finally stepped forward, wiped her own tears.
Kyden’s eyes never left mine as she handed him a ring. I stayed locked in his gaze while he glided the ring over my finger. When it popped over my knuckle, I glanced down and my eyes went wide.
Valor’s diamond looked tiny compared to what was on my finger now. It was a sparkling fancy pink diamond. On either side of the cushion-shaped diamond sat shield-shaped diamonds, all mounted on a Victorian inspired platinum band.
It wasn’t normal to do a ring exchange at a bonding ceremony in the Otherworld, but I needed it. I liked the idea of having a symbol for our ceremony. Maybe there was a little human in me after all.
“Nexi,” Zia’s laugh was loud next to me. When I glanced up to her, it was obvious she’d said my name a couple times before I responded.
Kyden chuckled.
I took a long deep breath to stabilize myself. “I’m never going to get through this without being a blubbery mess.”
Low laughs ran through the crowd.
Kyden took my chin and our gazes locked. “It is you and I. Nothing else.”
I gathered every ounce of control on my emotions. I took another long breath, before I looked back at him. “When I first came here, my world had been shattered. My heart was broken until you loved me. You fixed my heart and became an undeniable part of my life.”
I gave him a small smile. “You might be possessive and a bit of a pushover.” The crowd laughed in response. So, I was getting him back a little. He smiled at the attempt. “But I understand the reasons behind it. You’re right. We are in constant battle with the world around us. The odds are always stacked against us. Loss has become something that I’ve grown to accept as part of my life. But nothing, no loss I’ve ever felt, compares to what went through me when I stared at you lying on the ground, lifeless.”