Last night when he had asked if he could mark her, she believed by the mark he meant a temporary one. In the life of a vampire, there were different bonds when it came to dealing with different types of relations formed between two people. It could be a bond between a master and his most trusted servant, or it could be a temporary mark placed on the skin, a bond between two partners claiming a person until time came to end it. Decades ago, pure blooded vampires who led the covens placed marks on their coven members. And then there was the soul bond.

The first time Heidi had heard about it, the topic had piqued her interest and curiosity which had led her to the library in the mansion to read it. Considered to the rest, soul bonds were special and peculiar. It wasn't something to be played around with. Holding true to its name, the soul bonds intertwined the two individuals destiny and souls. Though there were very little details on how to soul bonding took place when it came to the souls, it was written in the books on how the partners could sense or feel the emotions of the other. Being destined to each other, if a person did die, the partner would soon follow. Unlike the temporary bonds placed on the partner which could be broken, the soul bond was something that couldn't be taken back once placed. The process was irreversible that made it rare for vampires to use it.

She stared at him, not letting her inner most things transpire on her face but unfortunately, it seemed that the thing she had read about vampire partners sensing the emotions had been true as Nicholas tilted his head, "What's the matter?" Nicholas wasn't the kind to wear his emotions on his sleeve but Heidi could see his eyes observing her and the blots in his head already working on what she could possibly be thinking.

Nicholas told her that it was a soul bond but wouldn't that mean a mark was supposed to be visible on her neck by now. When she had tried finding the place he had bit she had found nothing. Except for the fatigue, there was neither pain nor any marking. Didn't that mean the soul bond hadn't taken place? thought Heidi to herself. Nicholas looked patient as he waited for her to speak. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions. She was happy yet a little distraught.

"Isn't there supposed to be a mark to verify if the bond took place or not?" she asked him a little troubled.

"Not necessarily. For average vampires, yes, but it need not hold the same for pure blooded vampires. We can choose to reveal or hide it from the eyes. It isn't safe nor the right time to let people into our secret now, is it?" he asked her, "Is that what was bothering you?" his voice was full of tenderness for her, making her heart so full that could make her cry.

"Come here with me," he got up, taking her to stand again in front of the large mirror.

He stood behind her, letting both his hands circle around her waist, bringing her back snug against him. Heidi blushed at his actions, unable to look at her own reflection in the mirror and she instead looked at him. Nicholas was focussed on her more than the reflection that projected back, his lips touching making contact with her neck and she instinctively closed her eyes as a soft intangible sigh left her lips. The water she had previously left open was undoubtedly overflowing from the tub but that didn't matter right now as his nose ran up against the side of her neck, reaching behind her ear, he kissed the spot right below her ear, whispering softly,

"Open your eyes, darling," and she did, very slowly.

Her eyes fell on her neck that had an ink like marking. It was like an invisible thread that had been tied around her neck into a little bow at the side. The thread was made of letters and the more she saw it, the more she realized that it wasn't any random letters but name of the person who had bonded with her that read Nicholas Rune. One end of the thread held a lone feather, upside down. Was this the mark? Thought Heidi to herself. It looked no less than a choker necklace.

"Not all vampires and pure blooded vampires have the same marks. Each ones are different and they solely represent both the souls into a form of art. Isn't it intriguing," he trailed his hand across the mark which vanished in the next second.

Taking one step away from her as if suddenly he had turned back into a gentleman, he let her have the s.p.a.ce she needed before she turned around to face him.

"Why?" she whispered in question, not looking at him, "I mean-We are still in the truce, aren't you worried about it?" She asked him.

If he was keeping the mark hidden it meant they were going to carry ahead the plan of the truce like they had previously spoken. He could have waited but instead he had gone and bonded with her, and with that she feared many things. She hadn't told him anything yet, nothing about her or the Duke who had asked her to kill the lord.

Heidi remembered the conversation she had with Nicholas when Warren had first explained about Rhys and Lettice.

Lord Nicholas said, "Soul bonds are very unique and you can't give it to anyone you want. It can take place only if the person is in love. You won't find many though."

"Because vampire's don't fall in love like humans," she said.

"That's right."

If every word he had uttered to her were true until now then did that mean...Heidi felt blood and heat both rush up her neck to her face. Her heart beating faster with the truth she had just found out by herself.

"Seems like you already found your answer, darling," Nicholas hadn't said it out loud but it was clear as day that he loved her. The lord was in love with her, "Stanley wouldn't be happy if he found out the water had been running down for more than five minutes."

"Ah, yes," a shocked Heidi answered in a daze.