"Aiden Ashford," Aiden tested the name. "Has a nice ring to it."
They were in Kieran's—their—penthouse, going over the documents Marcus had forged. New identity, complete with backstory, financial records, everything needed to exist in modern society.
"You don't have to take my name," Kieran said. "We're not married. You could choose anything."
"I want your name. We're bonded for eternity. That's deeper than marriage."
"Speaking of which..." Kieran pulled out a small box. "I know we're already bonded, already mated, already committed. But I wanted to do this properly."
He opened the box, revealing two matching rings—white gold bands with intricate Celtic knotwork.
"Aiden Luxury, who was Adrian Chen, who was Marcus Whitmore, who was Thomas Ashford, who has been countless names across countless lifetimes—will you marry me? Not because of past lives or soul bonds or destiny, but because in this life, right now, I choose you and I want you to choose me back?"
Aiden was crying again, blood tears streaming down his face. "You beautiful, ridiculous, ancient vampire. Of course I'll marry you. In every life, in every way that matters, yes."
Kieran slipped the ring onto Aiden's finger, and Aiden did the same for him.
"These are spelled," Kieran explained. "Connected to our bond. If either of us is ever in danger, the other will know immediately."
"Practical and romantic. Very you."
They kissed, and it felt different now—not just two people in love, but two souls finally, completely united across lifetimes.
"When should we have the ceremony?" Aiden asked.
"Whenever you want. We could do something simple with just Marcus, or something elaborate with the entire vampire community as witnesses."
"I want witnesses. I want everyone to know that after a thousand years of waiting, we finally got our forever."
"Then we'll have a wedding the supernatural world will never forget."