Just outside of the  enchanted forest, in her majestic castle Ravenessa began to stir . She opened both eyes, waiting for them to focus from a long sleep. Once she felt more alert she stood, rising from the  black canopy bed. She didn't see Stergis anywhere. How long has he been gone? She wondered to the empty bed chamber. Hurrying to her closet she threw on the first thing she could find. She didn't function well in the early hours of the day. Her inner clock and her soul were nocturnal by nature.

 Stergis loved that about her. As soon as she was decent, leaving  her sleeping loft to wander the castle (to see if she could find her dark sorcerer). In a swift, graceful manner the sorceress checked in the kitchen for her mate of souls. When she entered the  kitchen, the only other person was a  hired servant Joannah. The servent girl leaped up to her feet from a sitting position as not to appear lazy to her employer. Hurrying to the cupboard, Joannah grabbed a large mug and began to prepare coffee for the mistress, then brought it to her. Ravenessa was the most polite boss she'd ever met. Gossip through the castle stated she could be cruel and sinister but only when there was no alternative.

The lady of the house thanked the servant before leaving the kitchen with the steaming mug. Stopping to sip the coffee, she thought for a moment. Nearly spilling her coffee in the black and white marble floor, it came to her from out of nowhere. She knew him well enough. Her study or the potion room were the only two places she would ever find him. Walking down the long corridor, she wanted to check the potions room first.

 It was a newly decorated space, a gift for him. She had it arranged  to make him feel comfortable . Their bonding ceremony was still a few weeks away. Rounding the corner and entering the potions room she looked and Stergis wasn't there now but he had been at some point. The room smelled of him.  Standing there for a little longer she sipped the coffee before it cooled off any further.

Walking a  down the hall way she headed for the study, it was the last door on the left. Peeking in the door way, sure enough there was her immortal mate, working over stacks of books. Crossing the room with divine elegance she stopped at the desk sitting on the edge crossing her long shapely legs. She just looked at him with affection, as she sipped away at the large mug.

"Well good morning darling, I was wondering when you would be up." Stergis nearly purred the words to her.

"The same to you sorcerer." She then leaned in for a soft but lingering kiss.

"What plans do you have for the day?"

"Later this afternoon I must drag your sister out of Richard's bed and make her go shopping with me." She informed him.

Stergis still cringed at the thought of his sister in any man's bed. At first he completely loathed the thought of Richard's existence. Especially when he found out that he was dating Veronia. Ravenessa had a way of calming him down whenever the rage and fury tried to claim him. She reminded him that after not seeing his sister for a few decades, he may not want to pick a fight. She and Veronia were trapped in another reality in an insane asylum. That was a lot to come back from, home life would take time to readjust. After a few attempts on both sides, Richard and the dark sorcerer were more friends than immortal enemies. More than a few times he had drinks at the pub with the warlock brethren and their companions.

It was nice having drinks with them and having his dark princess with him. He was excited about their up coming bonding ceremony. He was in real love, soul mate kind of love. Stergis completely adored her and he always would. She helped him come out of his shell a little. He had made friends with a few of the other people of the village,  a few magical creatures of the enchanted forest. A few sprites, gargoyles and gnomes. 

They were a lot of fun, twisted sense of humor though. They were fascinating to him, some nights he would sit out side in the court yard and talk with them. Ravenessa enjoyed their company as well. Just then when one of the servants walked in carrying fresh coffee his mind shifted to the here and now.

Sue ann, their servant brought a large pot of coffee and left it for the two of them and headed back to work in the rest of the castle. When she left the two of them sipped their coffee together and talked about their bonding of souls ceremony. There were plenty of things, like the guests, the other creatures were going to help with the decorations. They sat together until the time passed into mid day.

"Darling it's getting late, I'll have to go soon." She informed the sorcerer.

'Would you have just one glass of wine with me before you go?" He begged in a sweet little vice.

"Yes, I could stay for just one but then I must go." She replied softly.

Stergis got up and grabbed a few glasses and a bottle. He was adjusting to their new life together, but he wasn't used to having servants yet. He poured the dark crimson wine into a glass for her and then him.

"Thank you dear I don't like to have the first one alone."

"I do enjoy having a glass with you, too." Ravenessa commented before taking a first sip. Even though she hadn't left yet, she was already eager to return. Sipping wine in the study with her mate, The enchanted sorceress stayed as long as she could without being too late. As time fought against her, she finished off the wine and kissed him softly before saying goodbye. Heading to the village, she hoped Veronia would be ready to go by the time she made it to their cottage. Her mind began to wander as she walked through the forest.

 She kept day dreaming about their soul bonding ceremony. She had to admit there hadn't been this much happiness brewing from her soul in this lifetime. Staying lost in her daydream she almost walked the entire way without being fully aware of it. She was transfixed on thoughts of the ceremony and of her sorcerer. As she arrived in the front of their cottage, taking a deep breath Ravenessa hoped that friend was ready, and that she wasn't interrupting anything. She snickered at the thought. Slowly walking to the wooden front door, she could hear Veronia giggling. It was nice to see her happy, over the last few weeks she had a good friendship with her fiance's sister.

She knocked firmly on the door. Two seconds later Richard opened it. He invited her to come in and have a seat. She smiled and thanked him. After a few minutes of silence she asked, "Where is Veronia?'

'She's getting ready.It shouldn't be much longer." Richard teased.

As he finished that sentence Veronia emerged from the back room of the cottage in an elegant lavender and crème colored sundress. She looked absolutely breath taking, the dress seemed to be tailor made for her. Richard  just stared at the love of his life, awe struck.

"Veronia dear you look stunning in that dress." She complimented her newest best friend.

"Thank you, I'm so glad you made it to our cottage safely and rather quickly too." Veronia told her.

"So are you ready for this little shopping adventure?' Ravenessa asked in a light hearted tone.

'Yes, it should be a lot of fun." Veronia answered her amd turned to kiss Richard goodbye. He told her to have fun and he'd be here or at the pub when they were done.

The two women headed east to a larger village with a lot of upscale shops. .It was one of Ravenessa's preferred shopping places, but it was the first time Veronia had been here Ravenessa was glad that her to be sister in law agreed to go with her. Ravenessa felt a close kinship for her. It was nice to have her there with shopping alone is just boring in her opinion. With a sly grin Ravenessa handed Veronia a red velvet pouch filled with gold and silver coins

"What is this?" Veronia asked a little unsure.

"It's from Stergis and me, so you can go shopping too. Buy anything you wish." Ravenessa told her. Veronia was so touched by the gift she hugged her almost sister.

Thank you so much but why?"

"So you can enjoy it. There is one other surprise as well"

"What kind of surprise?"

"Were not just going dress shopping. The village we're going to has tons of stores for magical items. There's a nice candle shop that I know you're going to love." Ravenessa explained to her with an almost girly excitement.

"You are the best.I'm so happy for you and my brother.He couldn't have met a better soul." Veronia spoke completely from the heart.

"Thank you. I'm glad to see you are adjusting to coming home again. I can see that you are very happy with your Richard, I think it's wonderful." Ravenessa told her.

"You're right, it is wonderful. He's a wonderful guy." Veronia informed her as the two kept walking through the forest heading to their intended shopping adventure.

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