SPELLBOUND

As Gideon opened his eyes, the very first image he saw was Vera's. She was close enough now, and a soft smile was gracing her beautiful face. She was smiling at him, her eyes so alive, and so full of hope. And his mind, heart, and soul were just fully captivated by her again. Right then, her light seemed to have reached through every nook of him, leaving no room for any dark thoughts. 

Her smile was so beautiful it shook his heart into a frenzy. This woman is just too amazing… and the power she had over him. She could reduce him senseless with just one smile. 

The song ended and Vera and Gideon stood right outside the circle. Their eyes never leaving the other. 

Vera could not stop smiling despite the butterflies stirring up a storm in her stomach and the crazy beatings of her heart. She thought to herself that Gideon could not be any handsomer than he already was. But at that moment, she was speechless at the sight of him and the outfit that he had on. She usually sees him wearing a dark cloak that would be covering his entire body that she could not even tell what kind of clothes he wore on the inside. He always looked like a rogue angel of the dark. But tonight, he had a cape on instead of a cloak. Therefore, his clothes were clearly visible to Vera, and oh…did she like what she see! He had donned a fitting long sleeved black shirt with a high collar which similarly had a wide opening at the chest area and deep cut down to the waist. His exposed pectoral muscles were drool-worthy, and Vera flushed just by gazing at them. There were two one-inch straps fastened from his shirt at the collar bones diagonally across to the mid-abdominal area, resulting in a cross pattern over his perfectly toned washboard abs. Over his shoulders, he wore shoulder armour that were tastefully crafted – not only were they refined and magnificent, but they were functional as well. Around his slim waist, a black belt was wrapped around and clasped by a silvery buckle also made of mithril. The cape that was fastened to his neck and draped elegantly down his back and ended at mid-thigh level only added to the lofty appeal of his overall look. To Vera, he still looked like the dark angel that he was, only he was more regal now. 

This man… she could still hardly believe that he was going to be hers. Fully belonging to her alone. Her mate. Her perfect other.

She was going to have him all for herself, for the rest of her life. And if there was another life they would live, she would look for him again and love him in that life as well, forever and ever. 

Queen Beatrice stretched out her hands, each facing the two of them. 

Vera and Gideon stepped inside the circle and as the queen began to chant out words that sounded like spells, Gideon placed his right hand on the queen's hand as Vera placed her right on the queen's other hand. 

"Vera, do you accept Gideon as your mate?" the queen asked.

"Yes." Vera replied, her gaze gleaming as she looked at Gideon. 

"Gideon, do you accept Vera as your mate?"

"Yes." He uttered and their hearts felt as though they were about to burst with the intensity of their emotions. 

The queen then pulled their hands together as the couple took a step closer. She placed Vera's hand over Gideon's and as she spoke more magical words, she poured the content of the bottle Vera had seen in the house. The magical shimmery liquid dripped onto her middle finger, then flowed down to Gideon's middle finger as well. 

Vera's heart then began beating even faster, harder, setting off what seemed to be violent currents rolling about within her. She then saw the magical liquid moving on its own, wrapping itself around her ring finger and Gideon's too. This feeling… there was just no words to describe it. 

And the magic did not stop there. The next moment, something that felt like tension rose as she felt something inexplicable crawling under her skin. She saw the liquid continued moving from her ring finger, spreading to her hand up to her arm like a vine branching out across her limb. She saw the same thing happening to Gideon's arm as well, with the exact same pattern of rose vines with no thorns being magically tattooed over his skin too. 

The vine like pattern continued spreading out and she looked up at her mate. 

He lifted his free hand and touched the side of her neck. 

"Don't be scared," he murmured lovingly, tickling her ear, as he stroked her so gently, his fingertips lightly moving over her skin. 

She relaxed at his reassuring touch. "I'm not. Just a little bit nervous. This… is like our wedding ring, right?" she commented, and a smile curved on his face. 

"It's our mark. A mark that proves we are tied together, a mark no one can erase."

"It's… so beautiful…"

"It is…"

And as the moving liquid settled over their hearts, they both subconsciously closed their eyes. Something… a charge as strong as a lightning was produced within them, flashing before their eyes despite their eyes being tightly closed. 

They both reached out to something, something they both wanted to touch. They reached out as far as they could despite not knowing what they were aiming for. And when their fingers finally touched each other – not their physical body, a shining moment occurred. 

In the outside, Beatrice watched them subconsciously moved, entwining each other's fingers with the other as their foreheads gently pressed against each other. 

The lights from the eleven crystals began to circle them. The queen knew it was happening. That Gideon and Vera were going through that inexplicable thing now. She wondered what they were seeing right now. Were they seeing each other's past just like what happened to her and her husband? Beatrice couldn't help but watch them expectantly. She honestly hope they both see the past. She wanted Gideon to know Vera is Leah. She wanted him to see all the things Leah did just so she could stay with him that she never gave up on him. And that even death couldn't make her leave him. Beatrice wanted Gideon to see that Leah never left his side, that she had been with him all those times, following him around. She wanted him to see it all and then eventually know that Leah was finally back in his arms as Vera. 

Outside the circle, everyone present could only watch as different colours danced around them. They could no longer see the three people inside that crystal circle. All they could do was to stand there watching in awe as a magical show of lights was displayed right before their very eyes. Even the crystals above glowed and shone brighter as if giving their blessing to the mating couple down below. 

"It's so beautiful," Evie muttered when Gavriel pulled her close to him. He hugged her from behind and let her settle her head back onto his chest. Gavriel did not say anything, but Evie lifted her hand and stroked the side of his neck as they both continued watching the spectacular show. Both of them wondered what exactly was going on within that circle. 

Thank you for waiting spellbounders. I barely made it! 😵