“That’s what I tell myself. Heidi,” he then turned to face her, “The only family I had known close to me was my mother who was killed by people we had nothing to do with. I have never known anyone after that. People have come- some stayed while the rest left but very few have mattered. Pardon me if you find it to be cruel for what I have done. I only intend to keep you safe,” he picked her hand that laid beside her, testing the size of their hand against each other before he started playing with her fingers, “Right now, you’re the only family I have or would ever want. I never thought I would need anyone until you came along and I cannot say how fortunate I have been to have met you. I will take you just as you are to be mine in all sense,” he then slipped a ring on to her ring finger which appeared magically in his hand, “Be my wife, Heid.”


  Heidi could feel her eyes go blurry as it filled up with tears, “I……”


  “It wasn’t a question but a statement, darling. Come ‘ere,” he put his hands around her waist and pulled her to him.

  “I was going to say I love you,” she sniffed softly to hear him laugh as his chest vibrated.

  “Of course, you were. I love you too,” they pulled back to only lean towards each other as they shared kisses under the wide tree near the lake of bones. She let out a sigh of contedness when his lips touched her neck but the moment was cut short when she saw the ghoul standing not far from her making her gasp.

  “Oh God!” she exclaimed her head hitting his chest out of sheer fright, “Have the ghouls always been around you?”


  “They have. You didn’t realize it the last time we arrived here,” he squeezed her body in his arms with a smile plastered on his handsome face.

  A month later, few of the council members along with Reuben made a visit to the Rune mansion in regards to rewrite some details of the truce. Warren and Venetia Lawson were called too as Warren was previously engaged to Heidi. The room was silent except for Reuben who was getting the truce papers typed in front of them while agreeing the term. Truthfully, it didn’t matter if there was a truce or not because either ways Nicholas and Heidi had intended to marry each other but then there was the lands who needed to be reminded about harmony and this truce would show not only harmony of Woville and Bonelake but also in regards to humans and vampire to coexist.

  Heidi hadn’t spoken much to Warren since her return back from the slave establishment. Their words were limited. Not because Nicholas was around but because their dynamics had changed. A soiree had been held less than a week ago at the Rune mansion and she had seen the way the Perone downline family as well as the other relatives interact with her. Nobody knew that she had been a slave before the truce had even been drawn but word had got out about her being in the establishment. While few were kind enough to hand in their condolence, some decided to ignore her while the remaining found it hard to digest and kept quiet on the matter. Venetia Lawson, Warren’s mother was one of the person who chose to ignore her which she didn’t mind. This only added to their favor as it would be told that the family didn’t want Warren marrying a girl who had been to the slave establishment.

  “Before the papers are signed and sealed due to the recent changes that has taken place, let me go through few of the initial reason as to why and what is going to be put in the truce,” one of the councilmen spoke to the lot in the room, gaining all the attention who were midst talking, “Due to some unfortunate events that took place few weeks ago, the truce which was previously made to uphold the integrity of both the empires- Woville and Bonelake to form a key of cohabitation still remains the same except that Mr. Warren Lawson has stepped down the position to marry Heidi Curtis, where the lord of Bonelake, Nicholas Rune will be taking his place to strengthen the statement of the truce. The-”


  “That must be enough, Killian. I am sure we have everything down there,” the head council interrupted him, asking Nicholas, Warren and Heidi to read and sign the papers. And that was how the old truce was rewritten with the same cause of benefit.

  With Nicholas who was busy talking to the councilmen who hovered around him as he put on his charming smile before sending them in their carriages, Heidi stood not far from the entrance.

  “Heidi,” she heard Warren’s voice and she turned her head to see Venetia pass by them without a word, “I apologize for my mother’s behaviour,” he furrowed his brows.

  “That’s alright. You don’t have to,” Heidi smiled, not taking Venetia’s cold behaviour towards her to her heart, “Are you leaving too?” she questioned.

  “Ah-yes. We have this thing to attend to and wouldn’t……” he trailed with the white lie he had spewed, “How about you? I heard that your aunt was going to move towards the border of the West.”


  “She has her family there,” she nodded her head, “It would do good to her. You know with everything and have a new start kind of a thing.”


  “I see,” he smiled at one of the councilmen who waved at him before getting into the carriage and silence filled between them. Both of them looked elsewhere and when their eyes met, they smiled at each other. Heidi didn’t know if it could get anymore awkward than this, “Alright, then. I will see you later.”


  “Yeah……” Heidi responded back with a polite smile but before Warren left, he took her by surprise when he leaned over to peck her cheek, “I wish you the best,” his smile was small and sad, with a bow, he headed to the carriage that had been pulled in front of the mansion.