CHAPTER 313: MATING CEREMONY

Zane~

That night—after the whirlwind of our wedding day—we barely had time to catch our breath before the next tradition called. Word came that the final rite, the mating ceremony, would begin at 7 p.m. This was the moment that would seal us, not just in the eyes of our people, but in the ancient law itself.

I was escorted to a side chamber, trading my wedding attire for ceremonial garb meant for the rite. The fabric felt heavier, woven with patterns that spoke of vows older than any spoken language. Natalie was led away in the opposite direction, her own preparations kept hidden until the moment we would meet again.

By the time the sun was gone and the first stars bled into the sky, the kingdom had gathered.

The mating grounds were alive with firelight—gold and ember dancing across faces, armor, and silks. The air was filled with the scent of wood smoke, crushed herbs, and grilled meat.

A massive bonfire roared at the center, flames leaping high enough to brush the belly of the full moon. The drums began slow, a low, steady pulse that thrummed in my chest and seemed to bend the night around it. Every gaze in the circle carried the same mix of reverence and unrestrained joy.

Natalie stood beside me in the center, her hand tucked into mine. The white of her dress glowed under the moonlight, but it wasn’t the gown or the crown of silver leaves on her head that took my breath away. It was the fire in her eyes—steady, fierce, unflinching. That fire was mine.

Elders from every corner of the world surrounded us—wolves draped in ceremonial hides, vampire lords in dark silks, fae with hair like moonbeams, even human sages in beads and feathers. They carried bowls of blessed water, ancient scrolls, and talismans older than some of the mountains that cradled our land.

The High Elder, a woman whose skin was as lined as the bark of an ancient oak, stepped forward. Her eyes—sharp and bright as a hawk’s—met mine.

"Tonight," she said, her voice carrying without strain over the crackle of the fire, "under the light of the full moon, the bond between Zane Anderson Moor and Natalie Cross is sanctified—not only as husband and wife, but as mates. This union is blessed by our mother the moon goddess, the spirits of the earth, the wind, the water, and the fire, and by the gods who shaped our realms."

Tiger was there, standing near the edge of the circle, arms crossed, green eyes solemn. Eagle watched from above, perched high in the branches, silver eyes reflecting every flicker of fire. Bubble was smiling like this was his personal festival, and Fox... Fox was already plotting something, I could tell from the way his golden eyes narrowed at me with mischief.

The Elder dipped her fingers into a carved bowl of blessed water. She touched it to my forehead, then Natalie’s, her murmured words in the Old Tongue wrapping around us like an invisible cloak.

"Your souls are now bound in every realm," she said. "Your spirits, one. Your bodies, one. Your lives, one."

A ripple went through the crowd—a subtle shift in the air, like the land itself acknowledging her words. I could feel Red pressing forward inside me, restless and proud.

"She’s completely ours. Finally."

Jasmine’s howl echoed faintly in my mind in response, wild and victorious.

The other spiritual leaders stepped forward in turn—each blessing us in their own tradition. A fae priestess laid a wreath of night-blooming flowers over Natalie’s shoulders. A vampire elder drew an ancient symbol on my palm in silver ash. A witch pressed a stone into our joined hands, whispering a spell of protection.

When the last blessing was given, the drums shifted—faster now, more alive. The High Elder lifted her staff toward the moon.

"It is time for the mated pair to seal their bond."

The cheer that erupted from the crowd was deafening.

And then the tradition began.

Family and friends stepped into the circle, laughing, singing, clapping in rhythm with the pounding drums. Sebastian was, of course, at the front of the pack, grinning like he’d been waiting all his life for this.

"Oh, this is going to be fun," he announced far too loudly. "The mighty Faceless Prince about to become the Faceless—uh—never mind, children are present."

I shot him a warning look. "Sebastian..."

"What? I’m just saying the kingdom should know its prince is about to—"

"Sebastian!" Cassandra’s voice cut through like a whip. She smacked him in the chest, but the corner of her mouth was twitching with a barely restrained smile.

Natalie’s hand squeezed mine, her cheeks flushed—not with embarrassment, but with barely contained laughter.

"Don’t you dare encourage him," I muttered.

"Oh, I think I will," she murmured back, eyes sparkling.

The drums grew louder, faster. The circle parted, and the path to the mating cabin revealed itself—winding into the forest, lit by lanterns hanging from the branches like captured stars.

It was tradition for family and friends to escort the couple to the cabin, dancing and singing the whole way, to ward off any ill spirits and celebrate the bond.

Sebastian immediately took it upon himself to lead the parade. "Alright, everyone! This way! And don’t forget—louder is better! We’re scaring away evil spirits! And possibly Zane’s last shred of dignity!"

Fox materialized at my other side, his golden eyes wicked. "I could light the path for you," he offered, conjuring a small flicker of flame between his fingers, "but then again... you two don’t need light, do you?"

Bubble snorted so hard he nearly dropped the seashell rattle he was shaking in time with the drums. "Fox, stop, you’re going to make him combust before they even get to the cabin."

Eagle swooped low over us, his voice calm but carrying. "Eyes in the trees say you’re in the clear. No trouble tonight." He glanced at me. "Unless you count your friends."

"They’re worse than trouble," I muttered.

Natalie’s laugh was soft and warm beside me, her arm brushing mine as we walked. "You love it," she whispered.

And I did.

Gods help me, I did.

The crowd behind us was clapping and stomping, the rhythm echoing up into the canopy. Lantern light danced over Natalie’s hair, catching in the silver of her crown, making her look... otherworldly. Every so often she’d glance at me, her lips curved in that way that made me forget the cold years before her.

Sebastian kept up a running commentary the whole walk. "Careful on the roots, Natalie, don’t trip—we can’t have the future Queen arriving with grass stains. Zane, try to smile, you look like you’re marching to your execution."

Fox chimed in, "Oh, it’s not an execution—unless he does something wrong once they’re inside."

Bubble leaned forward from behind us, grinning. "We’ll be listening for... success."

"Bubble!" Natalie gasped, half-laughing, half-scandalized.

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. "You’re all children."

"And yet you keep us around," Sebastian said cheerfully. "Because deep down, you know your life would be boring without us."

The path narrowed, the forest thickening around us. The sound of the drums softened as the trees swallowed the echoes, but the steady beat remained—low, insistent, primal.

We reached a small clearing at last. The cabin stood there, its wooden frame washed in silver moonlight. It was simple, beautiful—built generations ago for this exact purpose, tucked deep enough into the woods for privacy but still close enough to feel the heartbeat of the kingdom.

Lanterns hung from the porch beams, swaying gently in the night breeze. The door was carved with the sigil of the moon goddess, painted fresh for the ceremony.

The drumming stopped.

Sebastian clapped me on the shoulder, leaning in close. "Alright, Your Highness, this is where we leave you. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do." He paused. "Which... leaves you a lot of options, actually."

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Goodnight, you two. Enjoy yourselves." Her voice softened just enough to make me suspect she meant it sincerely.

Bubble gave Natalie a hug so enthusiastic I thought she might vanish into the folds of his robe. Fox winked, muttering something under his breath that made her cheeks flare pink. Eagle gave a short nod from the shadows, ever watchful, ever calm.

And then it was just us.

The lanterns flickered in the breeze. The forest seemed to hold its breath.

When we stepped into the cabin and the door closed shut behind us, Natalie turned to me, her eyes sparkling with mischief and something wild. "Finally," she breathed, stepping closer. "Finally, it’s just us."

Before I could reply, her lips were on mine, hungry and insistent. It was like a spark igniting a wildfire. Two weeks of celibacy, two weeks of longing, erupted between us in an instant. Her hands fisted in my shirt, pulling me closer, and I groaned into her mouth, my hands tangling in her hair.

"Natalie," I murmured against her lips, but she didn’t let me finish. She pushed me back until I hit the wall, her body flush against mine. Her fingers worked quickly, unbuttoning my shirt with a speed that surprised me.

"You’ve been driving me crazy all day," she whispered, her breath hot against my skin as she kissed along my jawline. "The way you looked at me during the ceremony... Zane, I couldn’t think straight."

I let out a low growl, Red stirring beneath the surface. "You think that was bad? You should’ve seen you. Every time you smiled, every time that dress caught the light—fuck, Natalie, you’re a goddess."

Her laugh was soft, but there was a wildness in her eyes that I hadn’t seen before. She stepped back just enough to pull off her dress, letting it pool at her feet. The moonlight streaming through the windows caught her skin, making her glow. My breath hitched.

"You’re beautiful," I said, my voice rough.

She smirked, stepping closer again. "So are you." Her fingers traced the lines of my chest, sending shivers down my spine. "But right now, I don’t want to talk."

Her hands moved lower, undoing my belt with practiced ease. I let her take control, reveling in the way she looked at me—like I was hers and she was mine, completely and utterly. When her hand brushed against me, I hissed, my grip tightening on her waist.

"Natalie," I warned, but she just grinned, sinking to her knees in front of me.

"Shh," she whispered, her breath warm against my skin. "Let me take care of you."