SPELLBOUND

The scene that was once chaotic and loud caused by the fight and the roars of the many fierce and large monsters just a while ago became as quiet as the night. Everyone still could not help but be amazed at how the monsters just listened to Gideon like that. The thought of how it was as though he was the king of the monsters did cross the thoughts of some of them there.

Queen Beatrice was the first to rush over and approached the couple who were still standing at the entrance to that little house in the middle of the forest. 

"Gideon!" Beatrice called out and she immediately reached out and touched her son's hand as if to confirm something. 

At the feel of Gideon's body temperature, she looked straight into her son's eyes. "Tell me, Gidy. The mating bond between you two has been triggered, right?" 

"Yes… mother." Gideon gave a slow nod as a response to his mother's question.

Gideon's reply barely stopped Beatrice from jumping with joy right before them. 

"I figured that this is the case that's why I rushed over. You already explained to Vera about this? I mean about mating-bond?" she asked as she looked at Vera and smiled at her with the warmest smile, looking at her as though she was gazing at her long lost daughter. There was no doubt that Queen Beatrice would welcome Vera as her son's wife and mate. The acceptance and the affection could be clearly seen in her face and her bearings.

A brief nod was Gideon's only answer. Beatrice clicked her tongue at her son's reticent response and had no choice but to look over at Vera again. "I hope he had explained to you clearly about what the mating bond is and how it would affect you both… Is everything clear to you my dear? Or do you have more questions you needed answers to?" 

Vera blinked. The truth was she still had a lot of questions about the mating bond. Gideon had only told her enough to understand the basics and she was curious to know more about it and how does it work. But she understood the urgency on the matter at hand and with everyone present, Vera could just swallow back her questions and only shook her head to indicate that there was nothing she needed to ask. 

"Oh, don't you worry about it, Vera dear. Come… you need to come with me for a little while." Beatrice reached out her hand and took Vera from Gideon's side as she turned to Gavriel and the other two lords. "Go with them and prepare yourself for the ritual. Wait… you already explained this part to Vera as well right, dear son?" Beatrice's eyes narrowed a little, knowing how this son of hers did not like to talk more than he needed to. Thus, she was a little worried he had not explained it well to his future mate.

Gideon nodded curtly again at his mother, sparing no words. 

"And… the both of you have already made a decision regarding this, right?" Beatrice asked again, brows raised at the couple. 

A smile bloomed on Vera's face as she looked at Gideon before the both of them nodded their assent before the queen. "Yes, we will go ahead with the completion of the mating bond." Gideon said and Beatrice finally grinned wide and her eyes sparkled like twin stars in the night sky. Even a blind person would be able to see how ecstatic the queen was on hearing this news of her eldest son getting mated. 

"Good call, my dear son. I was worried you're going to try to futilely resist but it seems that I was wrong." Beatrice chuckled, looking at Vera proudly like this was all thanks to her. "However, if you had resisted this, I would have no problem kicking you in the tushie to get you to your senses." Though the queen had muttered this a little quietly, those around her still heard it and Evie could not help but chuckle a little.

"Alright, now let's get on with it. Leave Vera to Evie and me." The queen said excitedly and after giving signals to the men behind them, she called for Evie and the three ladies to enter the house. 

Once the door was closed and Vera was now out of Gideon's sight, he felt his strength coming back to him again. Except that the heat did not subside. Instead, he felt that it was rising every minute that passes without them completing the mating bond. 

"Congratulations," Gavriel's voice echoed out as he stood next to his brother. "I was so looking forward to a great fight between you and I as soon as we met. Never would have I suspected that something completely different was waiting for me." There was laughter and disbelief in his voice as he shook his head. 

"Well, sorry about that my dearest little brother. You don't have a choice but to postpone the dramatic fight you have been planning, I'm afraid." Gideon flashed a smirk at his younger brother. His smirk did not seem to have any effect on Gavriel this time though. 

Gavriel smiled knowingly at Gideon instead. "Stop acting all villainous now, my dear big brother. Everyone can tell how crazy happy you are with the way you are looking right now, have you noticed yet? The darkness around you has turned pinkish in colour?" He patted Gideon's shoulder and whispered teasingly, "just enjoy yourself. This is like your wedding day. Now you go and work to set up a stage for the ritual. I can't use magic so I can't help you with anything. I guess, I'll just go investigate your interesting monster minions for now since you ordered them to not attack anyone, I believe I'm included." 

Another pat on Gideon's shoulder and Gavriel spoke one more line with a serious tone before walking away, "I'm glad you finally found your mate, big brother." 

Gideon just stood there, watching Gavriel's back until he disappeared behind the bushes where the monsters were hiding themselves.

"When did that devil sprout became so polite and… talkative?" Azrael asked and Gideon finally turned to face his two friends. 

"He's not the devil sprout you guys knew from back then anymore," was all he replied, causing the two of them to look at him with creased brows. 

But before anyone of the two could ask, the tension rose as Gideon halted the moment he passed by Kione's side. 

"She's mine.." Gideon said in a possessive tone and Kione smiled.