“I vow to be your strength when you are at your weakest.” The shadows inked into his skin shifted and moved, something fading into view in the gaps of his tattoo. “And your confidence when you feel doubt.”
“I vow to protect you. My goddess... My queen... My mate,” he said, and new runes formed amidst the others. “Until the end of everything. Until the sun burns up and the moon crumbles to dust. I will always love you. I will always be at your side. I will always be yours.”
Tears dotted my eyes as I lifted them to him, and he released my hand to reveal the newly inked skin, the imprint of his vows to me, his mate.
“Repeat after me, Moira,” Selene said softly.
I blinked, my mind going blank. What was next? Was I supposed to recite those same vows?
“From this day, until my last,” Selene started.
“Can I form a mark like he did?” I asked, and Selene’s eyes widened slightly.
Damien hesitated. “It utilizes the user’s magic. I don’t want to risk—”
“Please,” I breathed.
His face softened, and for a moment I thought I saw a soft smile form on Selene’s lips.
“Damien, place your hand,” Selene said.
He smiled, lifting his hand to place it against my chest, his palm settling between my breasts.
“From this day, until my last,” Selene started again.
His eyes glistened as he watched me, and I drew a deep breath as I tried to find my voice. “From this day... until my last.”
“I vow to remain at your side,” Selene continued.
My skin warmed under his palm, my magic rising to meet his. “I vow to remain at your side.”
“To help carry your burdens, and soothe your sorrows,” Selene said, the blue flames flickering as the magic wound around us.
“To help—” My voice broke, my vision blurring as tears welled, and Damien offered me a smile, his other hand rising to brush the tears away. “To help carry your burdens... and soothe your sorrows.”
“I vow to be your strength when you are at your weakest.”
I drew a shaky breath, trying to calm my racing heart as the magic rippled around us, warmth spreading through my chest. “I vow to be your strength when you are at your weakest.”
“And your confidence when you feel doubt.”
“And—” I swallowed, and my smile widened, “Your confidence when you feel doubt.”
“I vow to protect you,” Selene continued. “Until my final breath, I am yours.”
“I vow...” His words echoed across my mind, and I smiled when I realized he’d changed the vows. They weren’t part of the ritual. They were his own.
“I vow to protect you. My king.” His smile wavered, his eyes lighting up with awe as I continued. “My mate.”
His smile returned, widening, and his amber and ashen eyes turned glassy as I continued, my own tears rolling down my cheeks.
“Until my final breath... I am yours.”
He drew an uneven breath, and his hand slid from me. My eyes fell to see the newly inked skin—
Where a crescent moon, amidst shadow and runes now shown.
The blue flames came to life as we emerged from the shadows into the Propylaea, the silence of our home filling my ears. Damien lingered at my side, his hand in mine, and for a moment we just stood there. I couldn’t form words, couldn’t think straight as I tried to process what just happened, that we were...
