But happiness attracted attention.
The Council of Shadows—the group that had attacked Aiden when he was human—was growing bolder. They saw Kieran and Aiden's bond as an abomination, a threat to vampire purity.
"We need to address this," Marcus said during a meeting. "They attempted to kill Aiden once. Now that he's turned and bonded to you, they'll see it as even more offensive."
"Let them come," Kieran said coldly. "I've been waiting sixteen hundred years for happiness. I won't let some fanatics take it away."
"They're not just fanatics anymore. They've been recruiting. At least fifty vampires now, maybe more. And they have support from some of the old families who believe in vampire supremacy."
Aiden leaned forward. "What's their endgame? Just killing me? Killing us?"
"They want to prevent human-vampire bonds entirely. You two are the most visible example, but there are others. If they make an example of you, it sends a message to everyone else."
"So we make an example of them first," Aiden said, surprising both Marcus and Kieran with his vehemence. "I remember past lives where we ran, where we hid, where we tried to avoid conflict. And I died anyway. Maybe it's time we stopped being prey."
Kieran looked at his mate with pride and concern. "You're talking about war."
"I'm talking about survival. About protecting what we've built. About making sure no one ever tries to separate us again."
"Spoken like a true vampire," Marcus murmured.
Over the next week, they gathered intelligence. The Council of Shadows operated from an old monastery in upstate New York—ironic, given that Kieran had been turned in a monastery a millennium ago.
"They're planning something for your wedding," Marcus reported. "An attack during the ceremony. Maximum visibility, maximum impact."
"Then we'll be ready," Kieran said.
"Or we take the fight to them first," Aiden suggested.
Both older vampires looked at him in surprise.
"You want to attack them?" Kieran asked.
"Why not? They're expecting us to be defensive, to protect ourselves. What if we go on the offensive? Hit them before they can hit us?"
"That's... actually not a bad idea," Marcus admitted. "Surprise is a powerful weapon."
"It's also dangerous," Kieran cautioned. "We'd be walking into their stronghold."
"But we'd choose the time and place of the confrontation instead of letting them choose it. And we wouldn't be alone—we have allies, don't we?"
Kieran smiled slowly. "We do. I've lived for sixteen hundred years. I've made friends, accumulated favors, built networks. If I called in those debts..."
"We could have an army," Marcus finished.
"Then let's build one," Aiden said. "Let's show the Council of Shadows that bonded mates aren't weak—we're twice as strong."