Broken Vows

Midnight Wedding

Willow's POV

For the first time since all of this madness began, I 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. I can hardly wait until tonight.

Rana is smiling with her mother as they help me get ready. Suddenly, I do feel sad that my own mother isn’t 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. I will be happy today. I know that is what my mother would want for me. My life from here on will be magical: 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’m so happy. I just wish Mother was here too. Tonight is going to be magical. I am happy," I reply.

The only thing I can think of is Hadeon and my love for him. It fills me like nothing I have ever known. The more I am with him, the more I want to be near him. I feel like I need to be with him.

Rana comes over to hug me. I notice she looks a little sad. I brush it off, thinking that she is sad that our relationship might be changing. I will be married and have less time for her. Looking back now, however, I don't think that was what she was upset about.

Elizabeth hums 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 seems to shimmer in the light, and I know the dress will look like it's made of moonlight in the magic lights of the garden. I gasp, looking at every detail of it: little white fabric butterflies, ribbons, ruffles, and silk. It is a dress fit for a princess.

The day flies by with all the activity. I keep looking out the windows for a black crow. I haven't seen Hadeon since he left this afternoon, and I wonder what he could be planning. It's been dark for hours. 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 am sitting and watching the stars blink to life, I can tell she has a lot on her mind. We all have had a lot going on these past few days, 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 responds still smiling, and takes my hand. Something is really bothering her and I need to know what it is.

"Rana, what is wrong?" I question my friend.

"Oh, it's nothing. I'm just hoping that you aren't rushing this. Something seems off to me about all of this. When I talked to Cadmus-"

"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 him. He just told me that he was your mate and that he thought Hadeon might have done something to affect the mate bond, but he didn't know how. That's all. He was just sad. 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 I don't let her finish.

"Just go," I order, and she does as I say.

As she walks away from me, she looks 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 life 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. It is filled with coven members and the castle staff. I can even see Isaac. He will be performing the ceremony. 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. Taking his hand and joining him.

"We come here today to join these two with vows of love and devotion," Isaac 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 is for life; we make vows that are not meant to be broken.

Isaac is reciting the ceremony, but I really can't hear him. I'm lost in the eyes of the man I love.

"Willow," Isaac 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. 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 pairing off and dancing as Hadeon leads me to join the dancing.

"I love you, Princess, and now you are mine 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 yet again.

"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 through the garden and towards the woods. I hesitate.

"What is it, Princess? Don't you trust me?" Hadeon pouts at me.

"Of course I do, but why the woods? I don’t really want to leave the castle with an angry dragon on the loose." I remark.

Hadeon just 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. I see fairy light and roses all around. It looks so sweet. 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 scoops me up, heading for the cottage door.

It's the sweetest thing I have ever heard. I love that we will be alone and have somewhere to run away to just be alone together. Being the Supreme will be demanding. I have already felt overwhelmed with it 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 so 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 don’t even need to say a spell to make it happen.”

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

"Let's talk later, 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; I just feel the need I have for him.

He will be mine and I am his.