The crisp night air gusted in Everett's face, mixing with lingering scents of fresh baked pumpkin pie and woodsmoke. Wizards moseyed down the sidewalks of downtown Briarwood, dimly lit by festive strands of orange and purple lights. Laughter rang out all around them.

Kieran flanked his side, not bothering to cover his crimson eyes, as nobody paid heed to them. Meanwhile, fear strangled poor Everett as he readjusted his robe's collar. The dark green fabric had his family's crest embellished on the breast pocket, much like other wizards, who proudly flaunted their name. Everett was about to tarnish his.

It was silly to hold a name in such an important light, but a part of him wondered if he was disrespecting his ancestors tonight for the scheme he'd planned. Everett genuinely liked Kieran. Being in a relationship with him wouldn't solely be to protect him from the demon's wrath, and it wasn't like he was just whoring himself out to all the bloodsuckers in Marusticia. Yet, that tiny, hateful voice in the back of his head tried convincing him overwise.

Everett wasn't sure he could go through with it. Perhaps it would be wise to just abide by his family's wishes, keep under the radar and find a nice young woman to settle down with and start a family. Staying with Kieran meant any dreams of children were shattered. But what kind of life could he give them if he were dead and imprisoned in hell?

"You look very handsome tonight," Kieran remarked, a pleasant smile plastered on his lips.

Everett took a self-conscious peek down at himself, blushing. "Thanks. My sisters helped with the outfit. These robes are actually brand new as well."

The soft fabric caressed his skin like a warm cup of hot chocolate on a bitter winter's night. Both his sisters styled his honey blond hair with their own creative magic and added a little crown of crimson hibiscus flowers to the top of head. The flowers were real, imbued with their own magic to give him the strength he so desperately needed.

"So, what all do you wizards do here?" Kieran asked, gesturing around the festively decorated buildings. Jack-o-Lanterns were placed outside shops and little eateries, along with LED lights and other spooky creatures.

"Indulge themselves, celebrate and just have a good time," Everett replied. "Many watch the performers at the carnival, which just finished up for the evening. And at nighttime is when wizards from each family come to honor their family traditions. It's always the youngest of the bunch, when they're of proper age, of course.

"The winner receives countless blessings from the Gods. Something I could really use, ya know? Their family also gets this prized gauntlet at the end to show off. I don't really care much about that, but after being crowned the winner, you bring a loved one up to have them blessed alongside you," Everett explained. "Many will bring a family member or a girlfriend or boyfriend. Which is where you come in."

"What if you lose?" Kieran questioned.

Everett shrugged. "You'll still get to come up on stage with me. Everyone has their chosen loved one to sit in and watch them perform their magic."

"This will upset your folks greatly, won't it?"

"Yes," Everett's voice came out small and uncertain. "But it's not like I have much choice now."

Kieran's smile faltered. "Everett, don't force yourself to do this. You don't need to publicly out yourself to these fools. And we don't need to be in a relationship either, if your heart's not in it. You can marry someone else later in life. All our bond does is have me protect you. I don't need your love or anyone's acceptance in return."

"I do really like you." Everett shivered from the draft.

"I like you a lot as well." Kieran reached down, interlacing their fingers together.

"That's why I want to do this." Determination wavered in his voice.

Fall leaves pivoted all around them as they made their way into the town's park, where benches scattered across, brimming with eager and smiling familiar faces. Everett braced himself as he ambled onward, disregarding the hushed whispers that floated around him with Kieran in tow.

"Who is that bloodsucker?" An elderly man whispered to his wife.

"It must be someone cosplaying. Part of the carnie, perhaps?"

Amid the swaying trees, the blood moon peeked at them like a giant eyeball through the dying leaves and contorted limbs. Everett pulled his robe closer. The wind nipped at his reddening cheeks as he tried not to let so many curious stares bother him.

The podium, with its dazzling orange and black lights, intimidated him. Webs of silver dangled from the awning. As Everett took his place amongst the other wizards, he fought back his nerves and mustered a half-smile at the others. They were all of similar age, ranging from nineteen to twenty-four.

A wizard from each respected family had a seat specially for them and their chosen plus one. Despite how out of place he appeared, Kieran didn't seem the least bit fazed as he reached for Everett's hand, giving it a tight squeeze.

"You brought a vampire?" Curly pink hair whipped in his direction as Seraphina Mandrake turned to them with a devious smirk. "How scandalous, Everett. Do your folks know?"

Everett chewed on the inside of his cheek, struggling for a response. "Uh, no. I wasn't even sure I'd participate this year."

Seraphina glanced down, noticing their hands interlocked together, as her brows skyrocketed. "Oh, I see. You're announcing a courtship, right? I believe you're that Acheron vampire? Sorry if I sound too nosy!" She covered her mouth a moment, shaking her head. "So romantic. I wish we still did things like that here."

"You're related to that councilman, right?" Kieran asked. "Orick Mandrake."

Seraphina nodded. "Yep that's me."

It wasn't like before Orick and his wife presented themselves, announcing the kickoff of the annual spellcasting. Many conjured common spells, showcasing their magic's element along with some fascinating tricks passed down through family generations. Nobody had yet to hex Kieran or force him off the stage, so Everett saw that as a positive thing.

While Everett's knowledge of black magic had strengthened that past year, he didn't showcase any of those taboo spells. Instead, he focused upon wind manipulation and stirring up crimson and maple leaves to create a mini monsoon to twirl in the night air. Embers of magic danced around him, trailing throughout the rest of the park where wizards watched in awe.

To flourish his showcasing, he created images of different animals in the sky with his leaves and wind magic. Silver embers twinkled amid the pitch black sky as he made shapes of snow deer, lions, and snakes. Ripples of excitement and applause followed shortly after Everett finished performing, allowing Seraphina to step up and showcase her own water's element.

However, Kieran didn't stick around when they cast blessings. It was as if the vampire had vanished into thin air, leaving Everett to give his blessings to his sisters instead. Confusion swarmed him like a horde of bees as he darted through the park, trudging through the pulsing embers of magical particles. Everett called out his name, as if expecting him to emerge in bat-form.

Did he just leave him? Everett couldn't understand why Kieran would just walk away until dread smacked him like a ton of bricks. Had he been escorted out of Briarwood? If they'd done it while he performed, it was possible he'd not noticed while concentrating on his own magic.

Everett tried to focus on Kieran, wondering if he could find a way to channel into that bond between them. If the council kidnapped him, they either dumped him on Nevermourn's border or locked him up in their own grimy prison cell. He needed Kieran to send him some kind of message to find him. As if he'd read his own thoughts, memories of the lake rippled through his mind.

It was like a glimpse of someone else's memories flooding through his mind, and as Everett rushed through the forest, he wondered why Kieran took off through there. Why not wait in the park with the others? Did someone else lure him out there?

The blood moon's reflection swam in the lake's opaque surface. Stars above spilled out across the waters like little crystals, where Everett remembered swimming countless times as a child after pestering his older sisters to sneak him out in the night.

Perched on of the ginormous rocks, Everett spotted the vampire's silhouette, seeming lost in thought as he approached. A dim expression shone on his handsome face, devoid of his usual pleasant demeanor. Kieran didn't acknowledge him. Instead, his gaze remained on the rippling water, where only Everett's faint silhouette was visible

"Are you alright?" Everett reached out, touching his shoulder. "Why did you leave so suddenly? I couldn't follow through with my plan."

"You shouldn't make your town hate you by announcing a courtship with me publicly. I won't force you to say anything to my family either, just let me handle them."

Everett frowned. "I don't understand."

"We come from very different places, Everett. I see what they mean with you wizards around here and your traditions. It would be sinful for you to have blessed a wicked vampire such as myself for your little show back there."

"I thought that was the point." Everett crossed his arms over his chest. "Nobody will approve of me seeing a vampire, you know. But I don't mind. I'm an adult and can date whoever I desire."

"Yes, and you should also be able to keep it as private without nosy glares or hateful words traveling about you," Kieran replied.

"Did someone say something to you? Please, be honest. If my folks are trying to frighten you off-"

"No, it's nothing like that. Although, I won't be surprised if any of these wizards hex me." Kieran forced a laugh. "Just seeing you perform your magic made me realize how good you have it here. Where I live, wizards don't have these kinds of freedoms or celebrations. If your council would deem you wicked by staying with me, I don't want to force you to live in a country where you might not be as happy."

Everett blinked. "Ah, I get it now. That is a valid point, but again, this is my decision. If Orick and his goons force me out of Briarwood over this, I will fight it, and if I lose, then you better prepare me a luxurious bedroom in your home." He grinned. "I swear, you better get me an actual bed and not a coffin."

Kieran laughed. "Yeah, I'll be sure to do that."

Endorphins and magical energy still buzzed around Everett as he climbed onto the rock beside Kieran. The fall air swept across the land, stirring up all kinds of nocturnal creatures hidden in the trees. An owl hooted to the blood moon somewhere in the distance, and further away, Everett faintly heard the festive music playing downtown.

"Let's not rush whatever this is between us, okay?" Everett suggested. "I know there's the whole blood bond thing, and I'll let you tell your family all about it, but I don't want others coming between us. For now, I just want to enjoy our time together."

"That sounds delightful to me, Everett."

"And, come this winter, I'm thinking about moving out of my folks home. So, I'll need a roommate. Consider it like your little second home where you can stay with me," Everett replied.

Kieran raised a brow. "Oh, wow. That's not very common here, is it? Don't your families usually live together until you marry?"

"Yes, traditionally speaking. But I suspect my sisters will want the extra bedroom eventually." Everett cleared his voice, cheeks warming.

"At least you won't need to worry about making heirs to your family name," Kieran joked.

"That is quite a relief," Everett admitted. "But what do you think? Would that be something you'd be interested in?"

"Of course. Which house around here have you been looking at?" Kieran asked. "I can buy it for us tomorrow."

"Hold up." Everett spread his hands. "I do have money saved up, you know, and I don't plan on you purchasing an entire house for us. We can share the cost. It will take me some time to pay it off, but I can't expect you to just buy it outright."

"If that's what you want." Kieran nodded.

"It is." Everett gleamed.

Kieran reached out, gently caressing the wizard's cheek. "You look rather lovely by moonlight, Everett."

A blush scattered across his cheeks as Everett leaned closer, stealing a peck on the lips from the vampire. "So do you," he murmured.

Everett couldn't imagine anywhere else he'd rather be that night in Kieran's arms, with the moon and stars to bear witness to it all.