Their tenth anniversary as bonded mates arrived quietly.
Ten years since Adrian's transformation. A decade of love, battle, growth, and passion. Ten years that had reshaped supernatural society.
Kieran had planned something special—a return to the monastery where Adrian had been transformed.
"Full circle," Kieran said as they arrived. "Where it all began."
The monastery was peaceful, exactly as Adrian remembered. They walked through halls where Adrian had suffered through his transformation, where Cain had later returned, where so much of their history had unfolded.
"Do you regret it?" Kieran asked. "Choosing this life?"
"Never. Not once." Adrian turned to face him. "You gave me eternity. I gave you completion. Fair trade."
They made love in the monastery's main hall, slow and tender and perfect. A decade together and they still couldn't get enough of each other, still craved each other's touch with the same intensity as the beginning.
"I love you," Kieran whispered as they moved together. "For ten years, for a thousand before, for all the centuries ahead."
"I love you too," Adrian replied. "My mate, my savior, my everything."
They came together gently, their bond singing between them with ten years of accumulated love and devotion.
After, they lay tangled together in the same space where Adrian had become immortal.
"Thank you," Adrian said quietly.
"For what?"
"For waiting. For finding me. For giving me this incredible existence."
"Thank you for coming back. For choosing me again. For being everything I dreamed you'd be."
They stayed at the monastery for three days, reliving memories, making new ones, celebrating a decade together.