Free Soul Mates Bind by Sandra Ross

Chapter One
    “THE VOWS YOU HAVE TAKEN have only served to strengthen the song shared by your hearts. Everything of the material world returns to the Earth one day, but the bond and connection shared by your spirits is fated to ascend to the heavens. May you always be as one in your passion and fire together. Your hands are bound as Bride and Groom. Now, you are what your hearts have always known you to be: Husband and Wife. You may now share your first kiss.”
    Lola and Marcus looked deeply into each other’s eyes before joining their mouths together in a passionate first kiss as husband and wife. The sound of their guests clapping and cheering rose around them and, turning together, they laughed at the crowd gathered for this very special event and walked back down the aisle, hand in hand. And then they waited outside to greet each person who showed up today to help them celebrate this very special occasion. 
    Lola was absolutely radiant in her happiness, which only served to make her even more beautiful. Her gown had been personally created for her according to her own design specifications. It was made of a deep purple silk that fell to the floor. With golden flecks in the material, Lola almost looked like a fairy queen as she moved among her guests. The humans who were there—friends of Lola and Davis in New York, as well as colleagues from work—felt like they were held under a spell as they marveled at how beautiful the bride was. It was not a spell, though. Lola was so happy she shone. 
    The real magick was the happiness conceived for that occasion. And that was also part of what Lola and Marcus felt, though they did not know it.
    The witches and warlocks present at the occasion certainly knew about it and held high hopes for in the future. With Soul Mates present, what could go wrong? Who would have thought that a legend and a myth could still come true in this age? It wasn’t magick. It was a miracle!
    The wedding was held inside of Lola’s and Marcus’s new country estate, with the reception built around a central bonfire on the lawn. Tables and chairs were set up so that everyone could enjoy the light emanating from the fire while they ate and drank. An area for dancing had been set up near the live band that they had been hired to play. And the flowers… it seemed that the place was constructed in overflowing blossoms with their mesmerizing smell, almost like a part of the breeze that fanned every smiling faces in the estate. 
    All told, it was very magical. 
    Even Sable, Lola’s mother, was impressed with the way it had turned out, despite initially turning up her nose at it. She had whispered to Lola that the wedding to Marcus would be the talk of the city for years to come, and that she was actually excited about it. 
    Everything was beautiful and perfect, and she and Marcus were anxious to begin their honeymoon. They were planning to take a month off and tour Europe. It was something they looked forward to and they planned to visit some of their friends—humans and witches alike—while there. All of the big cities were on their itinerary, and if they were having a particularly great time in one place, they would simply extend their stay. 
    Even though Lola loved her job, she resigned from the position. But she agreed to remain as a consultant and do some editing because she really wanted to focus on Marcus and their time together. Neither of them had been apart since her birthday in Mystical Grove, when they realized that they had been together more than once in their past lives. 
    But neither had they been together for centuries either, since their last lifetimes together. They both had a lot to make up! 

Chapter Two
    DAVIS, Lola’s protective father, was not thrilled that she went away on a trip and returned with a new boyfriend in tow. But as he got to know Marcus better, he started to understand just what a wonderful man he was for Lola. 
    He could only shake his head about the Soul