Broken Vows

Midnight Wedding

Willow’s POV

For the first time in all of this madness, I can only feel happy I am about to marry the man that I love, and everything feels right. I feel like, for the first time, everything will be okay. The castle is alive with activity as everyone prepares for the ceremony, and I can hardly wait until tonight.

Rana is smiling with her mother as they help me get ready, and I do feel sad that my own mother wont be here to perform the ceremony. A tear slips out, and I brush it away. I don’t want to cry today. I have spent so much time crying, and I will be happy today. I know that is what my mother would want for me. My life from here on will be magical, and I will be with Hadeon, and we will live happily ever after, just like a story. It just has to be that way. I’m far too happy for it not to be true.

“Willow, are you alright, dear?” Elizabeth asks.

“Yes, I am. I just with Mother was her too. But tonight is going to be magical, and I am happy.” I reply, and the only thing I can think of is Hadeon and my love for him. It fills me like nothing I have ever known, and the more I am with him, the more I want to be near him like I need to be with him.

Rana comes over to hug me, and she looks a little sad. I just thought it had to do with the fact that our relationship would be changing. I would be married and have less time for her, but looking back now, I don’t think that was the sadness.

Elizabeth hmm over in her usual happy tones and holds up my dress. She and Rana have been working on it to ensure every detail is perfect. The white gown seemed to shimmer in the light, and I know the dress will look like it’s made of moonlight in the moonlight and the magic lights of the garden. I gasp, looking at every detail of it; little white fabric butterflies, ribbons, ruffles, and silk. A dress fit for a princess.

The day flew by with all the activity, and I kept looking out the windows for black crows. I haven’t seen Hadeon since he left this afternoon, and I wonder what he could be planning. It’s been dark for hours, and I know I won’t see him in the black sky, but it doesn’t stop me from looking.

When Rana joins me on the balcony where I sit and watch the stars blink to life, I can tell she has a lot on her mind, but we all have, and I brush the thought of asking her about it away.

“it’s time to get you ready,” Rana says, smiling at me.

“Is Hadeon here?” I ask.

“I haven’t seen him, but I’m sure he’ll be here.” Rana still smiling and takes my hand, but I can tell something is bothering her.

“Rana, what is wrong?” I question my friend.

“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just hoping that you aren’t rushing this something seemed off to me about all of this, and when I talked to Camus.”

“When you talked to Cadmus?” I cut her off, angry now. “You talked to Cadmus about me? What did you talk to him about that day? I never did get to ask you. Did you help him, Rana?”

“What? No, I didn’t help. He just told me that he was your mate and that he thought Hadein might have done something to affect it, but he didn’t know how that’s all. He was just sad, and I told him he just needed to accept the rejection. Really I didn’t help him escape. How could I? I was with you.” Rana looks at me with shock and sadness, but I’m too upset to care.

“I think I can get ready on my own, Rana.” I say cooly, “Please just go. I think you have done enough.”

“But Willow.” Rana starts, but again I don’t let her finish.

“Just go,” I order her now, and she does as I say, looking at me with more hurt than I have ever seen on her face before. I’m still too angry to care, though. I feel like she betrayed me talking to him about this mate bond. I feel like she was interfering with things that she had no business in. I also feel like she isn’t telling me everything they talked about.

I push my anger aside and try to focus on what is essential, I’m getting married to the man I love. Why am I still so angry over Cadmus? The sea of emotions is returning, and I feel like I’m going to be pulled under again.

No, I will not let all these feelings rule me. I take a deep breath and pull myself together, thinking of Hadeon and what it is I want. From this day on, we will be together, and like will be right, it will be everything I have ever thought it would be a life of love and happiness. Why would it be anything less than that? I finish getting ready and head out the door. Today is the first day of the rest of my life, and I will be happy. I just know I will.

I can see the garden through the castle’s windows, filled with coven members and the castle staff. Can see Issac. He will be performing the ceremony, and standing with him is Hadeon. My heart flutters, and I can’t stop smiling just seeing him there.

I get to the garden, and Rich is waiting for me at the garden entrance. “May I walk you down to him, my Lady?” He asks, choking back a happy tear.

“Thank you, Rich.” I Smile and kiss his cheek. He smiles at me, and we head to my future.

Hadeon is standing there dressed in a white silk shirt and black pants. He’s so breathtaking, standing there looking at me. I can feel my heart speed up as I walk closer to him. When I reach him, he holds out his hand to me. I take his hand and join him.

“We come here today to Join these two with vows of love and devotion,” Issac says as he binds our hands with a green ribbon and a joining spell. Once we are joined, it will be a bond made forever. When witches wed, it will be for life; we make vows that are not meant to be broken.

Issac is resiting the ceremony, and I really can’t hear him. I’m lost in the eyes of the man I love.

“Willow,” Issac says my name and I know it’s my turn to pledge myself to Hadeon.

“I Willow Supreme of Bright Wood take you Hadeon now, and forever I give myself over to you. From this night on, I will not face the world on my own I will face it with you drawing on your strength and giving you mine. You will be mine, and I will be yours from this night on.” I recite feeling the flood of love and happiness.

“I Hadeon have no home and nothing to give you but my love. I take you Willow of Bright Wood now and forever. We will face the world together, never alone. My strength is yours, and yours is mine. Now and forever from this night on, I vow to be yours.” Hadeon leans in, sealing our vows with a kiss, and the cheers erupt. Hadeon pulls back, grinning like he just won the best prize, and we turn to face the cheers and raise our still joined hands. Music starts to play, and the party begins; witches know how to throw a party. People begin paring off and dancing as Hadeon leads me to join the dancing.

“I love you, Princess, and now you are mine now and forever.” He whispers in my ear, and I shiver in delight.

“You are mine as well, sir,” I smirk back at him, and he kisses me.

“How long do we have to stay here?” Hadeon asks, raising an eyebrow at me, “Can’t I just steal you away now?”

I giggle, but something tells me he is more than serious when he just smirks back at me, kissing me. “Come on, I want to show you my surprise.” Hadeon starts to lead me by our still joined hands, and I follow him giggling. We slip threw the garden and toured the woods, and I hesitate.

“What is it, Princess? Don’t you trust me?” Hadeon pouts at me.

“of course I do, but why the woods? I didn’t want to leave the castle with an angry dragon on the loose.” I remark.

Hadeon laughs. “I will keep you safe.”

The bright moon makes walking through the trees more manageable, and Hadeon seems to know where he is going. When we get to a bit of a clearing, there is a small cottage. Fairy light and rose all around. It looks so sweet, and I look at him in shock. Did he do this? Why?

“I made somewhere for just us. Somewhere no one will bother us, and we can just be us.” Hadeon says low and scoop me up, heading for the cottage door.

It’s the sweetest thing I have ever heard, and I love that we will be alone and have somewhere to run away to just be alone together. Being the supreme will be demanding, and I have already felt overwhelmed with t all. This little place feels like it could be heaven. I can feel the magic around it, knowing it must be enchanted.

“Hadeon, How did you learn all this magic?” I ask. I feel silly that I still know little about him, but we have forever to learn all about each other now.

“I had a good teacher.” He replies and sets me down in the cottage. “My mother was a very clever witch, and she knew that I would do great things one day. She taught me magic from the time I can remember.”

“But you use magic like the fae. You didn’t even need to say a spell to make it happen.

“Well, that’s because I am half-elf.” Hedeon smiles, and it all makes so much sense now. I just have more questions I’m about to ask when he surprises me by kissing me.

“Let’s talk letter, Princess. I want to learn all about you.” He mutters, his lips still pressed slightly to mine, and he’s back to kissing me. All thoughts and questions I thought I had are gone, and I just feel the need I have for him.

He will be mine now and forever, and I will be his.