No need to reread this, I changed nothing. I only trimmed the ending because that's the part I want to rewrite.

First part of the chapter is in here, the last half is available in an adult version in my other book for those interested.

There were held breaths and wide eyes the moment they materialized in the castle. Most of his people had never actually directly seen Erinna's face without being shielded from it's full effect by a veil. It was a wonder they were still standing then not after coming face to face with one but two elves of supernatural beauty. Eric did not count.

"Can you all stop staring and find me Miya?" The Count snapped, his bad mood rearing up.

"She's on her way," Leila replied.

The Count would have taken the time to laugh and enjoy the moment if his people were only focusing on Elvis and not his bride but as it was, all the elves were being regarded like fresh meat on the market and that did not sit well with him. The hunger and desire in the eyes of his people was not easy to miss, even his idiot of a father-in-law noted it and shuffled closer to him.

"Alexander can you keep them away before I start dropping heads?" the Count said tiredly.

"Why don't you tell him, since he's your best man?" Alexander said sarcastically, looking at Tristan.

Vlad narrowed his eyes, "Do I look like I have time for your squabbles with a child half your age?"

Alexander rolled his eyes and started barking commands at the guards whilst mumbling of the unfairness of his situation. The vampires growled at him when he tried to keep them away but lucky bastard he was, Alexander only had to use his juju to calm them down. He manipulated their feelings and repressed the animal urges in them. They didn't stop looking at the elves but the red eyes and hanging fangs disappeared from view.

"And who said you're my best man?" The Count raised his eyebrow at Tristan.

"Oh come on, we talked about this Count D."

"You actually have to be a man to be the best man," Alexander said in Tristan's ear.

"I'm a better man than you, tell him how I was slaying the dogs Count D."

"Oh please, Ty beat you in a sword-fight, there's no way you would kill an wolf," Alexander scoffed.

"That reminds me, don't you have a kraal to be cleaning and marathons to be running?" the Count asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh you just had to go there, didn't you?" Tristan mumbled.

"You reminded me," the Count shrugged.

"But I'm the best man," the kid whined.

"My best man is Alex, now stop bothering me. Both of you."

He was saved from the whining, begging and boot-licking that was surely to follow by Miya's arrival. She looked tired, her red hair had lost some of it's glow and her eyes looked strained. Her shoulders were sagging with a weight that seemed physical. It was like she was butter spread over too much bread.

"Sure took your time didn't you?" He drawled.

"Bring her," Miya commanded with a sigh.

"Are you okay?" He asked her before he had fully considered his words.

Luckily his people were still eye-worshiping the elves and missed his moment of weakness. He could not be heard asking after anyone's welfare when they already thought Erinna was turning him into goo.

Miya gave him a discreet nod, hearing his unvoiced concerns and gestured for him to follow.

"Get them dressed, I'll talk to them after I return," he said to Alexander who was with Eric and Mara.

He teleported himself and the two most important women in his life to Miya's house. The blood moon was stirring, they did not have long before it really cleared.

"We don't have much time," Miya said looking at the sky when they materialized outside her cottage.

"You better make it count then. She's drained, her injuries-"

"Vlad are you trying to tell me how to do my job?"

What had her so irritable?

He bit his lip to stop himself from giving her the response he really wanted to give her. Angering Miya when he had a favor to call of her would never do anyone any good. The witch like her ancestors could be very vindictive.

He got in and gently placed Erinna on a bed in Miya's guest room.

"Good. Now get out."

"Excuse me?"

"I said get out."

He still didn't move. What had the woman inhaled? Nothing was going to make him leave Erinna.

"Vlad."

"Fine. Ten minutes; that's all I'm giving you."

"I only need nine," she said with her usual lack of modesty.

He turned around and was almost at the door when he suddenly turned around.

"Just to be sure, you're still you right; and not my dead ex-wife come to life?"

"Very funny. Now close that door before I break your nose and ensure there's no wedding."

"You're you alright," he mumbled and left.

Miya fetched her smelling salts as soon as Vlad had left. She hurried to Erinna and woke her up.

"Rise and shine sleeping beauty."

"Mimi?"

"If you all don't stop questioning me like I'm a multi-personality entity, I'm going to kill somebody."

Erinna smiled, "Sorry but that's not why I'm asking. Where is Vlad? The volcano, what happened? How did we get here?"

"A thousand questions and I'm sure your mate will answer every single one of them but right now I need to prepare you for the wedding before he breaks down my door. Are you ready for that?"

She knew what Miya was asking her. She had spent a lot of time denying her bond with Vlad and thinking she could evade their destiny but there they were. Their happy times were outweighed by their painful ones but she would rather have those than lose him or settle for anything less.

"Yes."

"Come."

Erinna put her hand in Miya's and followed her to the bathroom. Different rose petals had been sprinkled on top of it and on the flow, giving the room a dreamy, out-of this world atmosphere. The water had been charmed to change colors every second.

"Miya, how did you do this? It's beautiful," she exclaimed in joy and amazement.

Inside she was gushing, the happy vibes spilling inside her. Her mother had died when she was young and no one with the exception of Vlad had ever done something this nice and thoughtful for her. It elated her that the bathroom had been personalized with thought and consideration to everything she liked. It made her feel loved, cherished__

"Keep that low, you're making me believe there's nothing wrong in this world," Miya complained but with a smile.

"You can feel it?"

Miya raised an eyebrow, "You're joking right? It's gushing out of you."

Erinna laughed softly, her eyes brightening with action, "I'm sorry. After everything that's happened, the world does seem perfect to me right now."

She wanted to focus on the positive because if she thought of the negative, she would break down. Vlad was alive, she was alive and they were getting married. Everything was perfect.

Miya left her and Erinna got in the bath, the warm silky and therapeutic on her lethargic muscles. The water emitted all her favorite scents when it changed color. Given that her favorite scent was Vlad's scent; it made her even more lovesick for him. She craved and yearned for the simultaneous comfort and excitement that came with his presence.

"I said three minutes," Miya said bursting into the room.

Caught unawares, Erinna slid in the bath and nearly drowned.

"Miya," she complained when she finally emerged.

"What? He's pacing outside my door."

Erinna got out of the water into the towel Miya held out for her. Standing naked whilst Miya toweled her dry made her blush to the roots of her hair.

"Mimi I can do it on my own."

"Oh shut up; compared to what you two must have done, this is nothing."

"But we haven't done anything."

"Hmm," was Miya's only response.

They walked back into the guest bedroom and Erinna's heartbeat skipped. On the bed lay a wedding gown so beautiful and so delicate that it took her breath away. She slowly walked towards it, feeling like everything was a dream.

"I know it's different from what we'd discussed and that he'll probably kill me for this because of his unholy obsession of you in white but I couldn't go with the first idea after I got this one," Miya bubbled but Erinna barely paid her attention.

Her hand moved over the soft, royal fabric of the gown when she got to the bed.

"It's beautiful," she said with misty eyes.

"It has to be after all the effort I put in it," Miya said with humor in her violet eyes.

A loud urgent knock came on the door. Miya rolled her eyes, "Go put it on whilst I assure him that I have not turned into a cannibal even though I carry two souls inside me."

She went to the door and yanked it open.

"If you think I'm going to let her come out looking like that, with bruises and wounds all over her then you can think again."

"Miya__"

"It's her wedding for crying out loud; a day she's dreamt of for seventeen years. Don't spoil it for her," she ranted then tried to slam the door in his face. Vlad put out his boot, stopping the door from closing.

"I was going to say I brought her this," he said holding out a tiara. "It was mother's."

Miya blushed then received the jewellery box, the sparkling gems reflecting in her eyes.

"I'll give it to her," Miya responded, their eyes communicating. Vlad nodded and then for good measure, she slammed the door in his face.

When she returned, Erinna was wearing the dress. It was a black and white lace and tulle dress. The gauze lace material on top was see-through and showed the white layer underneath, giving the gown a grey, filmy effect. The top of the dress was tight, flaring at her waist to the ground. The inbuilt corset popped her soft youthful breasts, giving her ample cleavage.

(Either of these will do)

"You did this on purpose," Erinna said to Miya, looking at her cleavage.

"Oh come on, he'll love it. You look beautiful."

Erinna didn't bother arguing, if there was anyone who loved testing Vlad's limits more than Alexander, it was Miya.

"Not my best look," she smiled, looking at her wounds and gold-encrusted hands sadly.

When Diana had tried to restrain her by putting more chains on her, the metal had melted and not all of it had fallen to the ground. Some of it had remained on her hands and solidified there. Her body was covered in bruises and wounds. She could heal the wounds and the bruises but she was not sure even Elven medicine could remove the metal that was merged with her skin.

Miya looked thoughtful for a minute then went to pick up a dark bottle with an even darker liquid inside it.

"That smells suspiciously like vampire blood," Erinna wrinkled her nose.

"Alexander," Miya answered the unvoiced question, "It'll do the job."

"I think I'll be fine," Erinna said, looking away from the bottle. Her stomach churned from the metallic smell of spilt blood and the faint smell of death it carried.

"Don't give me any of that. You're marrying a vampire tonight, you'll need the strength."

"Miya," Erinna groaned in mortification, her whole face an endearing rosy pink as Miya's full implication hit her. It spiked the fever in her blood and left her with inappropriate thoughts about her mate.

"It has been a long time since Richard's death but don't think that I've forgotten the call of the mate bond. Judging by your mate, its going to be a long night so why don't you wipe that blush off your face and guzzle this down for me Countess?"

"Okay, okay; I'll drink something. But not vampire blood," Erinna said just to stop Miya from further embarrassing her.

"Your loss child. Vampire blood has it's own benefits, you know," Miya said, taking a swig from the bottle herself.

Erinna knew about those benefits but she did not think she needed any help from the aphrodisiac effects of vampire blood when she was already burning the way she was. Besides, Vlad would completely go through the roof if he learned she had taken blood from another man. She preferred a wedding night when she was not chasing him down to stop him from killing his own best friend.

Miya took another glass bottle. This one contained a disgustingly thick green slimy liquid. Erinna cringed back.

"Hey don't complain. I offered you the good stuff."

"What's in it?" She asked, her mind already going through the smells she could pick and connecting them to the plants and insects. Potion chemistry had been one of her favorite subjects when she'd been in Ellingsdale with Melissa.

"You probably don't want to know. But it'll heal you and close the wounds."

"I can heal myself," Erinna said, looking for a way out.

"I'm sure you can daring but as I said, you're going to need your strength for tonight. I heard you really strained yourself out there. Give yourself time to heal."

"Miya you'll pay for this," Erinna mumbled and guzzled down the death concoction.

She felt the healing as it began, starting from her mouth and spreading to all the other parts of he body. Miya must have charmed it because it worked instantly, closing her open wounds and replacing the worn out skin with new one. Strength came back to her weary bones and tired muscles.

"There, how does that feel now?"

Erinna nodded her head in reply, she indeed felt better. But the metal on her hand remained and there was still a pinching feeling on her hand. She looked down and saw the angry dark bruise on her forearm. Bar the melted gold, it was the only blemish on her skin. It was no longer purple around the edges but completely black and almost bigger a child's fist.

"What's that?" Miya asked, holding her hand to inspect the mark.

"I don't know. Some sort of blood clot I guess. It first appeared when I was with the werewolves."

"If it was just a blood clot, it would have disappeared. Does it hurt?"

"No," Erinna shook her head.

"Come with it after tonight so that I can look at it."

"What about my hands?" She asked, holding out her hands.

Miya pursed her lips, wrinkles on her brow.

"Heat is the only thing that can melt the gold. Can you do what you do with the flames on your skin?"

"That only happens when I'm angry."

Erinna was learning how to control most of her powers but she did not know how the change in her appearance came about.

"Well get angry then!"

Erinna sighed, "Just get me a candle."

Miya's eyes bulged out.

"Do you want him to kill me?"

"He's gone. He went to the castle a few minutes ago. Besides, the potion will heal me afterwards."

Miya hesitantly brought a bowl and did a strengthening spell on it so that it's walls would hold. After that, she conjured flames and then amplified them, making them hotter and brighter. Erinna bit her lip and put her hands over the fire. The scent of burning flesh filled the room and oppressed their nostrils.

Bit by bit, the metal began melting, taking her skin together with it. Sweat beaded on her forehead and she just wanted to scream but she held it in. If Vlad heard her and came, Miya would be dead meat. She bit her lip harder and rocked faster on her toes, chanting under breath. She closed her eyes so she wouldn't see her skin melting off her bones anymore.

When all the metal had melted and dripped into the bowel, she took her hands off the heat and gulped down the potion Miya held to her lips. A cool feeling replaced the burning on her skin as the potion spread through her. Her burnt, blackened skin was replaced by fresh unblemished skin.

"I am never doing that again," she declared.

"And if he finds out please make sure he knows this was all your idea. I still want to live."

Erinna laughed, "Miya he'd never kill you, you know that."

"Hmm," Miya said, letting her know she didn't share her faith.

Erinna inspected her newly healed hands, thinking of how they would be touching Vlad that night. Was he thinking of her the same way she was thinking of him? A minute was hardly passing that she was not thinking of him. It had been so long since she'd__

"Erinna!"

She jumped up.

Miya smiled, "Give me my time darling, you'll be with him soon. I was asking if you wanted to eat anything before you go?"

Erinna shook her head in response. She had a gorgeous mate in the form of a four thousand year old vampire waiting for her and Miya thought she wanted to eat?

A knock came on the door and her heart raced, the longing inside her becoming insane. Could it be that he had felt her craving his presence? Miya however was not as impressed with the knock.

"Maybe I can just see what he wants?" She suggested, making sure her face was neutral so as not to give away her treacherous intentions.

"Don't even think about it," Miya warned.

Erinna resisted the urge to pout and stomp her feet like a child as Miya went to answer the knock. She opened it to reveal a handsome Alexander, dressed to the nines in his traditional gear. Erinna's heart deflated and her shoulders slumped. She was glad to see her best friend, really she was but he was just not the vampire she wished to see in that moment.

"He sent me to deliver this," he said, holding out a small velvet jewellery box. Erinna's heart jumped from where she was spying, were those the rings?

"Did no one tell him you're not supposed to produce those before you get to the altar?" The witch rolled her eyes.

She opened the little box and her eyes became saucers.

"These are..they are..."

"Not yours Mimi dear," Alexander laughed, a beautiful hearty sound that warmed the whole room.

She swatted his chest then tried to slam the door in his face but he held it.

"What's that smell?"

"None of your business and you better not go around blabbing your mouth," Miya said and slammed the door.

"Seems your mate has not lost the whole concept of human manners," Miya said, producing the jewellery box.

Nestled inside were two beautiful teardrop earrings and an equally impressive pendant. They had the purest, rarest diamonds. They were clearer than spring water and sparkled whenever the moonlight fell on them.

"These are beautiful," she gaped in awe.

"Straight from the Mistress of the Morning herself. She left them for you."

"Aurora?"