Their First Anniversary as Married Vampires
Content Warning: Mature reader's only
The penthouse was filled with candlelight—hundreds of candles, because vampires didn't fear fire the way humans did. Rose petals scattered across floors, leading from the entrance to their bedroom.
"You did all this?" Aiden breathed, taking in the romantic display.
"For you. For us. For surviving our first year as married vampires." Kieran appeared behind him, arms wrapping around his waist. "It hasn't been easy."
"No," Aiden agreed, leaning back against his husband's solid chest. "Learning to parent Elian, fighting The Purity Initiative, balancing our public and private lives. But we did it together."
"Together." Kieran pressed a kiss to Aiden's neck, right where his pulse would have beat if he were still human. "I have something for you."
He handed Aiden a leather-bound journal—ancient, carefully preserved.
"What is this?"
"My journal. From 1024. The year I met you the first time." Kieran's voice was thick with emotion. "I want you to read it. To understand what that first meeting meant to me. What you've always meant to me."
Aiden opened it carefully, reading Kieran's centuries-old handwriting.
"I met someone today. A young monk named Adrian. When our eyes met, I felt something I cannot explain—as if my soul recognized his. As if we were meant to find each other. I know this is foolish. I am a soldier, he is devoted to God. But I cannot stop thinking about him..."
The entries continued, chronicling their brief romance, Adrian's illness, and then—
"He died today. In my arms. And I feel as though half of myself has been torn away. The priest who turned me into this creature says I am cursed—that my soul is bound to Adrian's, that I will feel this pain every night until he returns. I pray he is wrong. But if he is right, I will wait. Forever if I must."
Aiden was crying blood tears by the time he finished. "Kieran..."
"You asked me once if the thousand years was worth it. Reading that, do you understand now? From the very first moment, you were worth everything."
Aiden set the journal down carefully and turned in Kieran's arms. "Dance with me."
"There's no music."
"We don't need music. We have eternity. We have each other. That's music enough."
They swayed together in the candlelight, moving to a rhythm only they could hear. The bond between them pulsed golden and warm, soul to soul, heart to heart.
"I love you," Aiden whispered against Kieran's lips. "In this life and all the others. Forever."
"Forever," Kieran agreed, and kissed him.
The kiss started gentle but quickly deepened. A year of marriage, of partnership, of building a life together—all of it poured into that kiss. Aiden's hands tangled in Kieran's hair, pulling him closer, needing him closer.
"Bedroom," Kieran managed between kisses.
"Too far."
They didn't make it to the bedroom.
They made love right there, surrounded by candlelight and rose petals, their bond flaring so bright it was visible even to non-magical eyes. Every touch was worship. Every kiss was a promise. Every whispered word of love was a vow renewed.
Afterward, tangled together on the floor, Aiden traced patterns on Kieran's chest.
"Best anniversary ever."
"We have forever to top it."
"Challenge accepted."
They eventually made it to the bedroom, where they made love again—slower this time, savoring every moment, every sensation, every proof that they were here, together, eternal.
"Thank you," Aiden said as dawn approached, curled safely in Kieran's arms.
"For what?"
"For waiting. For finding me. For loving me across lifetimes. For being exactly who I needed, when I needed you most."
Kieran kissed his forehead. "Thank you for being worth the wait. For choosing me, lifetime after lifetime. For making immortality feel like a gift instead of a curse."
They fell into the light sleep vampires sometimes needed, wrapped around each other, their bond humming with contentment.
One year down. Eternity to go.