My mouth pops open as I walk through the magic wall. In front of me is a large white marquee covered in thousands of tiny fairy lights twinkling in the moonlight. Some of the material is pulled back over the entrance, and inside I can see Nostra standing at an altar covered by an arch of red roses. Rhain remains by my side and Devin steps up to the other. They both hold out their arms for me to take. We do not say a word to each other, but it is enough to have them by my side as I slide my arms through theirs. Together we walk into the marquee and as we do the material closes behind us. Floating in the air are smaller versions of the lanterns that light the hamlet. Inside them, blood red flames are lit, casting a soft red glow about the space. Red dress, red roses, red light, all of it adding to the sensual atmosphere. And it is sensual, incredibly so. As we approach the altar there is the sound of a guitar strumming too, a soft melody that vibrates over my skin, though I see no musician or musical instrument. We take slow steps towards the altar and as we move a warm breeze washes over me, causing the skirt of my dress to flutter over my legs. I catch the sweet scent of the roses. Devin smiles inside my head and I know that they are here upon his request.

From the corner of my eye I see Ezra moving towards the altar, where Nostra is waiting for us both. My steps falter at the sight of him. Rhain leans his head down.

“He will love you fiercely, Cia.” It is enough to keep me moving forward.

Ezra stops in front of Nostra, but his eyes are fixed firmly on mine. He too is wearing the same outfit as Rhain and Devin, but his shirt is completely undone. My eyes flick to his broad shoulders, down his firm chest that is free from hair, and to the hardened muscles of his stomach. A small smile lifts the corner of his lips, and I find myself smiling in return. We reach the altar and Nostra looks down upon us all. His purple eyes are alight with happiness.

“Rhain, Devin, my friends. Thank you for accompanying Accacia. Would you take your place next to your brother?” Nostra asks.

Devin and Rhain gently pull away from me and stand either side of Ezra.

“Ezra, Accacia, you are both here today to join formally as is custom for the people of Clan Lux. Today you will exchange vows and you will exchange blood to seal those vows formally.” Nostra looks at Ezra, who nods. He moves towards me and holds his hand out. I take it.

“In the presence of your brothers,” Nostra says to Ezra, “and in the presence of these men you have chosen to let into your heart,” he says turning to me, a knowing look in his eyes. “Do you both willingly, and without coercion, wish to come together in such a manner?”

Ezra’s reaction is immediate. “Without any doubt.” I can feel the heat of his gaze, hear the surety of his words. My skin prickles under his certainty.

Nostra grins at that. He turns to face me. “Accacia?”

I turn to look at Ezra, at his soulful grey eyes, at the strength of his jaw, the sensual shape of his lips, the graze of stubble across his skin. I remember the fierceness of his love for Thalia, his determination to save his brothers, and his desire to make me his wife. Behind him Rhain and Devin are grinning widely, there is nothing but warmth, joy and love coming from them. These vampires, my men.

“I do,” I say simply.

Ezra beams and it’s as though the sun has broken through a cloudy sky. I can’t help but smile too. Out of the corner of my eye I see Nostra’s hand wave in the air and out of nowhere two empty glasses appear. Rhain steps forward and produces a gilt-edged knife.

“Thank you, brother,” Ezra says, taking it from him. He slices the tip of the knife across his palm, then holds his clenched fist over one of the hovering wine glasses. I watch as the blood slides from his hand, filling it half-way. Then he hands the knife to me and I take it from him, following suit. I ignore the sting of pain and pour my own blood into the empty glass. Devin steps forward and takes the knife from me, bowing slightly as he moves away.

Even your blood smells of roses, Red, he says silently. I catch Devin’s eye, and a flash of darkness flits across his gaze once again. I frown, he just smiles. A warm smile that eases my worry immediately.

The two glasses swap places, so the one filled with Ezra’s blood floats towards me, and the glass filled with mine hovers in front of Ezra. We both reach out and take a glass each.

Nostra steps off the altar. “Raise the glass to your mouth and take a sip of blood,” he says, squeezing my shoulder beneath his fingers. I feel a tingling across my skin at his touch. I feel the magic coming from him. I feel it in the air about us, between Ezra and I. My gaze moves from Nostra to Ezra. He raises the glass to his mouth, just as I do. The taste of Ezra’s blood is as I remember it. Like smooth, dark, chocolate. Over the rim, I see Ezra’s eyes widen as my blood passes his lips. Both times previously when he had taken my blood, Ezra was completely out of it in pain. This time he is fully aware, and I am blown away by the look of want, of need in his eyes. I’m pretty certain I am looking at him in the same way. He lowers the glass, the points of his teeth dropping, pressing into his bottom lip. As Ezra’s blood flows over my lips I can think of only one thing, his teeth buried deep into my neck. Behind Ezra, Devin chuckles.

Nostra lowers his head and begins to recount the words of the Joining. As he speaks, the lanterns around us move with purpose, no longer floating but forming a vortex of light, so bright it is as though day shines once again.

And with those words it is done. I am Ezra’s wife.

The lanterns float upwards as Ezra steps forward, handing his glass to Nostra. I do the same. “It is custom for husband and wife to kiss after the Joining,” he says gently, taking another step towards me. He is so tall I have to arch my head to look up at him.

“Perhaps our customs aren’t so different after all,” I whisper.

Ezra raises his hands, cupping the back of my head. A nervous feeling flutters inside my chest. When we kissed before the circumstances had been different, we were fleeing the fae in the Forbidden forest. It had been quick, heated, but it hadn’t been long enough for me to show him just how much he meant to me. Now, in this room filled with dancing flames and blooming roses, I kiss Ezra with everything I have. I pour all my feelings into the kiss, my frustration that it took him almost dying to realise how much he meant to me and my unyielding desire that had always been there, bubbling beneath the surface. I wrap my arms around Ezra and pull him closer, hoping I am enough to fill the hole Thalia left behind. Hoping I am enough for this man; this strong, defiant, loyal man I have come to love. Love. Just as I love Rhain and Devin. The truth of it lifts my heart.

We kiss for a long time. Ezra only pulls away when he senses our kiss developing into something more, something that should only be explored in private. He pulls away, breathing heavily. “Lights be blind, Accacia. What are you doing to me?”

I smile. “I could say the same to you.”

Ezra presses a quick kiss on my lips, then spins us both around. Devin and Rhain move forward slapping Ezra on the back before pulling him in for a hug. I stand back watching them, their happiness for their brother, for each other. Nostra turns to me.

“You have made my friends very happy, Accacia. For that I am grateful. Are you happy, content?” he asks, searching my face. I look at the men clapping each other on their backs, laughing and joking, and that same swell of love expands in my chest.

“I am…” I start, then falter.

“There is something you wish to say to them?”

“Yes, there is something I wish to say.”

Nostra whistles loudly. It certainly has the desired effect. Rhain, Ezra and Devin turn to face us both.

“Accacia has something she wishes to say.” Nostra stands back, sensing the importance of the moment.

“Thank you, Nostra,” I say, smiling at him. Then I turn to face my men, my vampires. The men I have come to love.

“For the longest time I have been alone. I had my mother, yes. I even had friends.” I think of Clover, and tears well in my eyes, but this isn’t the time to think about her, so I push my worry aside and pull in a breath to calm the churning feeling inside my chest at her silence. “But I was always alone. No one understood what it was like to live in darkness and then you three walked into my life, and the light I had longed for begun to shine in a different way. Each of you have touched me.” I turn to Rhain first, and place my fingertips against his lips. “You ignited passion within me, Rhain. Lit something I didn’t even know existed. I love you.” I kiss him gently on the mouth then step back and move towards Devin, standing in front of him.

You, who lives within me still, I say, trailing my fingertips from his temple along his face. He leans into my hand and closes his eyes. I smile gently.

Red, he says.

“You have been a constant comfort here,” I say, touching my own temple. “You have crept beneath my skin and have settled within my soul. I cannot be without you. I love you, Devin.” Leaning forward I press a feather light kiss across his mouth. Our time will come soon, I say. Devin holds my gaze, the flickering of the lanterns lighting his chocolate brown eyes. He nods, stepping back.

Finally, I stand in front of Ezra, my husband. The man I am joined to for eternity. He is quiet, still, strong, just like the old oak tree that I used to play under as a child in the moonlit nights of my childhood. “You have been insufferable, confusing, frustrating, stubborn. But you, Ezra, you have shown me what it is to love fiercely, to love without limits. All of my doubts disappeared the moment you asked me to be your wife. Ezra, I will love you for as long as my heart beats inside my chest.” I stand on my tiptoes and press a kiss against his mouth. He wraps his arms around me and this time nothing and no one is able to stop the kiss from developing into something pure and beautiful.