“I can’t believe you’re here, with me.It seems miraculous.But right.You belong here, Raiden.”There was a touch of awe in her voice.
Raiden pulled her to him and kissed her, gently feathering his fingers through her hair.“Hannelore started coaxing me when I was sick with the poison.”
“Truly?”
He nodded, a shiver coasting down his spine as he admitted the truth it had taken him too long to realize.“I think it would have taken hold of me when I was near death, like it did Veda.But I’m glad Neka intervened and healed me, because I wasn’t ready yet.”
“The soul knows better than the mind,” she whispered his own words back to him.
“I knew I belonged with you from the moment I saw you, even with my mind shattered.You’re my soul-mate, Daya.Is it such a surprise that I was called to Hannelore, just as you were?That my soul belongs here too?”
She kissed him lightly once, then deeper.“We belong in every way.”
“We do.”
Smiling at his mate, Raiden took her hand and twined their fingers together.
His fierce guardian softened, the love in her eyes for him alone.Exactly what he’d always wanted.
“I know you’ve accepted it, but are you really okay with not having a true mate bond?”she asked.
“Our bond isn’t what I once yearned for,” he admitted.“It’s different, not less.I wouldn’t trade it for anything, Daya.This is where I belong, with you.Protecting the foundation of our world for Veda and Opal and all those after them.”
She let out a relieved breath that told him she’d been concerned.Reasonable, given his previous desires.
There was one still one traditional thing he wanted, though.
He admitted as much, eyes searching hers.
“Name it.”
“It’s silly, given everything, but… will you exchange vows with me?Just for us?”
“Of course.”Taking his other hand, she twined their fingers together.
“I assume vows witnessed by the mountain are binding?”he asked.
“Yes.”
His soul stirred to life, making him hold his breath.He was finally going to seal his mating with vows.A strength not his own wrapped around him, steadying him.
Pulling a tendril of his magic, Raiden wound a strand of sparkling shadow around their wrists and shared the image with her through their connection.Daya added a vine of living green to wind around them.To his surprise, Hannelore added its own magic, the wind rushing to dance around them.
Acceptance and blessing from the earth.From their mountain.Smiling, he met Daya’s luminous eyes.His mate.
“Dayanara of Hannelore, I vow to be your lover, your protector, and your partner, every moment of this very long life.The keeper of all your dreams, burdens, and secrets.”
“I vow to hold your heart within mine, to shelter your body with my own, and to kindle your soul with mine,” Daya continued.
The ancient words settled in his heart and wrapped his soul in binding heat.
“By the earth’s witness, may our souls be forever entwined,” Raiden finished.“And when we’ve served our time as guardians of this world, may we enter the beyond together.Side by side.Bound as one, forevermore.”
Closing the distance between them, Daya kissed him deeply, sealing their vows.
The wind rose to a cacophony spiraling around them.
Raiden laughed softly and pulled her tight to his chest as he broke the kiss.“I guess that means Hannelore approves.”
