Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

A s the poison continued its insidious work, spreading through my veins, I could feel its deadly touch, like dark tentacles consuming my vitality. My vibrant energy ebbed like an outgoing tide, leaving me with a heaviness that crushed my spirit and my soul. My body was engaged in an arduous battle, fighting against an unseen enemy, and with every passing moment, brought me closer to eternal darkness.

The power that had surged through me like a tsunami was now a mere trickle, leaving me weaker than when I was human. I struggled to lift my hand and comfort Rene as the weight of it crushed my spirit as much as my body. He held me steady, and my steps were slow and unsteady, as he began to lead me back to the limousine outside.

My magic, the core of my being, that I had nurtured over years of practice, now flickered like a candle in a gusty wind. I tried to focus on the healing spells I had learned as a child. Even the most basic of incantations slipped from my mind like water through my fingers. One small dart and my magic was a mere shadow of the power that had surged within me.

As Rene helped me sit in the back seat of the limo, and I caught a glimpse of my face in the darkened window, the fragility of my condition became painfully evident. Deep wrinkles were etched on my face, and my once-bright eyes were now dulled by the creeping poison. Beneath the weight of this dark affliction, an ember of determination still burned within me. The sexiest and most powerful creature alive wanted me for eternity. It was a humbling and exciting thought.

I may be weakened, with my magic waning, but I was no stranger to adversity. I had faced daunting odds before, and I refused to succumb to this malevolent poison without a fight. With each labored breath, I gathered my remaining strength, vowing to reclaim the vitality that had been stolen from me. The door to the limo closed and only Rene and I were inside.

"Please Raven. Do not leave me." His voice dripped with pain.

"I will bond with you. But I need to rest. Are we heading to the mansion?" Rene tapped the glass that separated the driver from the back seat.

"No, we are going to a private location. Our bonding site is close to a private cabin I have retained for this very occasion."

My eyes closed as he pulled me against his chest. "Where is this cabin?" My voice was thready, and Rene's arms squeezed my shoulders.

"You will see. Allow me access to your mind. I will place your body in a form of stasis, so the poison does not progress."

"Okay." I felt his mind move in mine, but this was not an invasion. He caressed me from the inside as if he were touching angel wings before the darkness reached for me.

I slowly stirred from my slumber, and the soft sheets surrounded me like a warm cocoon, coaxing me to savor the blissful moments between dreams and reality. A gentle rustle of leaves outside the window alerted me that I was not at the mansion. A faint crackling of a fire from a nearby hearth reminded me of the events that had transpired earlier. My movements were slow as I pushed myself slowly to a sitting position.

Blinking my eyes open, I found myself in a quaint rustic cabin that exuded a modern elegance I hadn't encountered before. The interplay of moonlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating the polished wooden floors. My gaze was drawn toward the carefully curated blend of contemporary and rustic furnishings. The cabin seemed to have a conversation with time itself, capturing the essence of both the old and the new, blending them together in a serene charm.

I appreciated the sensation of crisp linens against my skin as I stretched, searching for the man who had held me when I succumbed to my slumber. The cabin's walls, adorned with tasteful art and muted colors, invited me to enjoy the tranquility they offered, but Rene was not in the room. As I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and let my feet sink into the plush dark rug beneath, I noticed the inviting main room through an open doorway. Modern furniture mingled seamlessly with the cabin's rustic framework, hinting at the harmonious duality of old and new.

Making my way to the window, on bare feet, I marveled at the panoramic view of the surrounding forest. Towering trees swayed to a sacred rhythm, whispering secrets known only to nature's inhabitants. An owl hooted as Rene entered the room with a box in his hand.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as he placed the white parcel on the bed.

"A little better, but the poison is progressing." As beautiful as the cabin was, it could not stop what was happening to me.

"I gave you some of my blood. It has sustained you. But we need to bond for you to have access to my power. I can withstand Dark Dahlia and Belladonna has no effect on me. You need these immunities in order to heal."

"What does the bind do that drinking your blood can't?"

He pulled me back to the bed, and I sat down beside him. "A bond creates a permanent connection that cannot be broken until death. You will gain some of my abilities."

I stared at him for some time. "Will you gain mine? Will you have magic?"

"I don't know. There is no precedence for bonding with a witch."

I frowned. "You understand this could be a one-way street, right?"

He touched my cheek. "I do not need more power, Raven. Only you."

My hand slipped to the box. "What is this?"

He smiled. "In many ways, a binding ceremony is like a marriage. It is customary for a husband to gift his intended with a dress."

"Human women pick their own dresses."

"I am aware. Many clan members choose to have a human wedding as well, and if you wish to have a more formal ceremony later we will."

"Will Jana be here?"

"No. This is a vampire ritual and is sacred to our clan. Only Cassara and Constantine will be present, but I will throw you the wedding of a century for your daughter's benefit."

"Okay. She will love that. So will Isra."

"Thank you, Raven. You have no idea how much your trust means to me."

"Can I see the dress?"

He passed me the simple white box. "I chose this for you myself. But honestly, I do not care what you wear as long as you are mine."

I understood he was telling me that, unlike our huge walk-in closet at the mansion, our personal concierge had not picked this dress. "I'm not sure that closet genie actually exists. I have never seen him."

"He is older and lives on the outskirts of the property and only works for me. You will someday."

I pulled off the top of the box and sucked in a breath. The satin dress was simple, with crystals lining the scooped neckline. My fingers slipped over the shiny material before I picked it up by the straps. "It's stunning." The full-length slim-fitting dress was more than that.

"And yet, it pales in comparison to you." He leaned toward me. "I look forward to taking it off you, though."

My eyes roamed over the sparkling creation. "Pervy and powerful. I'm a lucky girl."

Rene chuckled. "I believe I am the lucky one. Would you like me to help you with the zipper?"

I lowered the magnificent dress back into the box. "Isn't Cass going to help me get ready?"

"The ceremony is in a half hour, Raven. I kept you in stasis until now. The poison will sap your strength quickly, so we must get you ready and meet the others by the river."

"River? Where are we?"

"A private location. This is a personal... retreat. I built this house hoping I would find a woman to share my life with. That was a few hundred years ago."

"Nobody else has stayed here?"

"No. Not even Cassara. In truth, I have never spent more than a few hours here myself."

I stood up and pulled on the beautiful dress. Rene zipped me up, and I tied my hair into a messy bun with a few tendrils falling to my shoulder. When I glanced in the full-length mirror in the corner, I couldn't believe my eyes. Even with no makeup and a twenty-second hairdo, I looked stunning. My skin was paler than when I was human and flawless in every way.

Rene slipped his arms around my waist. "You are a vision. Are you ready?"

"Is it a long walk?"

"Place your arms around my neck."

I did as he asked and as a gust of wind blasted against my face, I was transported to an open clearing beside a tinkling stream. Cassara was standing beside Constantine and while both wore leather outfits, they also had long dressy jackets and silver chains with a medallion around their necks. "Wow."

Cass smiled. "I was about to say the same about you."

The similarity in Constantine and Cassara's outfits was noticeable. "Constantine looks like a death dealer."

Rene shrugged. "Actually, it is Cassara who looks like a warrior. I modeled the death dealers after them."

Cass grunted. "Remember when you wake up to snakes in your bed, that you practically called me a poser."

Constantine put his hand on the small of Cassara's back. It was a proprietary move, and I had to admire his lack of fear. "It is unseemly for a bride's attendee to threaten the groom on the eve of their binding."

Cass rolled her shoulder. "I will do a lot worse to my own groom."

Constantine smiled. "I am certain you will."

Cass stepped away from Constantine and moved to stand in front of me. "Are you ready?"

"Yes. What do I do?"

Cass took out a knife and held it in one hand. "I am going to take your wrist and recite the feminine half of the ceremony. Constantine will do the masculine half for Rene. When the time is right, you will place your palms together."

I nodded as Constantine took hold of Rene's wrist and held it up with his dagger in one hand.

There was no church or special building. Nature coursed around us as if it were a living stadium, waiting for our union, and I glanced at the full moon, trusting Cassara and Constantine.

Cass pointed her dagger to the moon. "It is time."

Constantine pointed his dagger at the moon as both held our wrists. As I stared into Rene's eyes, I glimpsed the loneliness of his life. Those windows to his soul were unending, and I looked forward to breaking the immortal cycle. Still, this ceremony would bond us for all time, and a shiver traced my spine as the breeze fluttered the tendrils of hair against my collarbone.

Rene's presence was intoxicating, with a blend of danger and desire that had attracted me from the moment I saw him. Now we would undergo a connection that transcended time.

Constantine brought the tip of his dagger to Rene's hand. "Rene, do you promise to honor Raven and put her needs before your own? Respect her in all aspects of clan life and treat her as an equal in all things."

"It shall be done," Rene said.

Cass put the tip of her dagger against my palm. "Raven, do you promise to be a partner worthy of Rene? To support him in the days to come and stand by his side no matter the circumstances.?"

"I do," I said.

"Do you accept Raven for all her strengths and weaknesses?" Constantine asked.

"Yes," Rene said.

"Raven, do you accept Rene for all his strengths and weaknesses?" Cass asked.

"Yes," I said.

Constantine cut Rene's palm, and the blood dripped down his wrist to Constantine's arm. "I bind thee."

Cass squeezed my wrist before she cut my palm. "I bind thee."

They both let go of our wrists as Rene and I clasp fingers. The ceremony was simple, and I expected there to be some kind of blood exchange. While my palm tingled, there wasn't an instant relief from the grogginess still plaguing my body.

Rene glanced at Constantine. "Thank you, my friend."

He nodded. "She will heal in time, but she is weak in the magical sense and will remain so until your bodies stabilize."

I leaned toward Cass. "What does that mean?"

Cass smiled. "All couples have an adjustment period. It takes time for your blood to fully mingle and your new abilities to emerge."

My eyes narrowed on her. "How many of these ceremonies have you performed?"

Cass grunted. "Con has performed dozens, but this is my first one. I don't get too close to most people."

"Thank you for being my friend, Cass." She glanced away but not before I saw a sadness in her eyes. She was not big on the mushy stuff, but she had been the best friend I ever had next to Isra.

Con winked at me. "Don't mind her Raven. She struggles to let her guard down." He was more right than he knew, but I had the feeling that Constantine wanted a lot more from Cassara than she was willing to give.

"You are very good at this," I said.

He shrugged. "I am usually commended for my fighting skills, so this is a pleasant change."

I shrugged. "I have never seen you fight, but I like you." I leaned in and kissed his cheek before Rene pulled me back to him.

"It is inappropriate for you to flirt with Constantine during our binding ceremony."

Cass turned to look at me before we both laughed.

Constantine shook his head. "I never believed I would see the day."

"What day?" I asked.

Con motioned to Rene. "Him acting like a lovesick puppy. He is too old for such foolishness."

Rene released my hand, and when I looked at my palm, the skin had already healed. "Remember this day, my friend. You will understand when your own bride stands before you."

Constantine smiled. "I look forward to that particular side of crow."

I laughed. "I love this family and I am glad you came to help us, Con. We really needed you."

Cass grunted. "That is true, but don't inflate his ego. It bulges more than his muscles." Her tone was begrudging, but it rung with truth.

Constantine touched her cheek. "You know there is nothing I won't do to ensure your safety."

She stepped back almost reluctantly. "Don't get so sentimental, Con."

Con winked at me. "You see what I am forced to deal with?"

Cassara's jaw dropped. "Since when do you have a sense of humor and where were you hiding it?"

Con turned to her. "There is more about me that you don't know than you do. You fear nothing except me."

Cassara's eyes flickered. "I don't fear you. I will fight anyone."

Con nodded. "You don't fear my blade, Cara."

Cass glanced away, and I admired Constantine even more. I knew Cara meant beloved.

Con motioned toward the forest. "We should head back to the mansion. Shadow Bone clan members are like feral cats when they are not monitored."

Cass grunted, but neither of us could stifle our laughter.