"Simon is immortal, and so are you. But we cannot be certain," Agatha said softly, her eyes filled with ancient wisdom. "Hence, a bond must be placed between you two. This bond will tie you together—forever. Even after death, your souls will find each other. But…" she smiled warmly, "death will not come for either of you."
Stella swallowed hard, her fingers slightly trembling as she glanced at Simon. He didn't look worried—he looked determined, like he was ready to do whatever it took to keep her by his side.
Agatha reached for a small silver pouch filled with glimmering powder. "This powder will partially transform you," she explained, turning to Stella. "It will bind you to your mermaid nature while allowing your human form to remain. But the bond itself… that will come from him."
Stella's brows furrowed. "Him?" she asked, her voice a little shaky.
Simon stepped forward, his jaw clenched, his eyes burning crimson as his vampire instincts slowly surfaced. "A death bond," he murmured.
Agatha nodded. "A bond that surpasses death itself. His bite will seal it."
Stella's heart began to race. "His bite?" she whispered, glancing up at Simon.
"You have to trust me, little fish," Simon said softly, his voice dark yet tender. "I would never hurt you. This is the only way to keep you bound to me… forever."
Stella took a deep breath and nodded. "Do it."
Agatha stepped closer to Stella and began applying the shimmering powder to her hands, face, and neck. Almost immediately, Stella felt a strange sensation ripple through her body. Her skin shimmered, her eyelashes darkened, and her eyes began to glow like the deep sea. Subtle caudal fins formed along her arms, yet her legs remained intact. She was still in her human form—but a part of her mermaid nature had emerged.
Simon's eyes darkened, his sharp fangs elongating as his hunger for her intensified. He stepped forward, his gaze locked on her neck. His grip on her waist tightened as he gently tilted her head, exposing the curve of her neck. "This will hurt," he murmured.
Stella's breath hitched. "I don't care."
Without hesitation, Simon's fangs sank into her neck. A sharp, burning pain shot through her, causing her to gasp, but she didn't pull away. He didn't drink her blood—he merely bit, deep enough to create a mark that would seal their bond.
A dark, ancient pattern spread from his bite mark across her neck, glowing faintly before seeping into her skin. Almost simultaneously, an identical mark formed on Simon's neck as if the bond had chosen to etch itself into both of them.
Stella whimpered softly as the pain subsided, her heart racing. Simon's tongue swept over the wound, sealing it, and when he pulled back, his breath was ragged.
"It's done," Agatha confirmed, watching the bond solidify. "You're now tied—body, soul, and blood. Even in death, you will find each other."
Stella blinked, feeling the connection surge between them like wildfire. She could feel Simon's presence in her soul—as though a part of him now lived inside her.
Simon cupped her face, his thumb grazing her bottom lip. "You're mine now," he rasped. "In life… and in death."
Stella leaned into him, her heart swelling. "And you're mine," she whispered.
Agatha smiled softly. "And so it is… the bond has been made."
After that, all of them made their way to the private airport, where the pilots were ready. Stella and Simon bid goodbye to everyone, lingering a little longer in Gigi and Mallory's embrace.
Mallory, despite her usual cold demeanor, held Stella's hand tightly. "Don't let him hurt you," she whispered, loud enough for only Stella to hear.
Stella squeezed her hand. "He won't. Trust me."
When the plane finally took off, leaving a hollow silence behind, Stella exhaled shakily.
He led her to the car, opening the door for her before sliding into the driver's seat. The air felt thick, heavy with unspoken tension as Simon started the engine.
"The gift!" Stella suddenly exclaimed, twisting in her seat to grab a bag from the back seat. Her excitement was evident, making Simon glance at her with an amused smirk.
"What's in there?" Simon asked, his voice casual but his eyes flickering with curiosity.
Stella, still fumbling with the bag, tore the wrapping apart. "I haven't opened it yet." She finally ripped the cover off, revealing two small boxes inside. Her brows furrowed. "There's two. One for you, one for me."
Simon chuckled darkly, shifting the gear and driving faster as the clouds roared overhead. Rain started pouring in heavy sheets within seconds, but neither of them paid attention to it. His focus was purely on her. "Open them."
Stella did. And the moment she pulled out what was inside, she gasped — before bursting into laughter.
In her box was a set of delicate blue lingerie, barely enough to cover anything. And in Simon's box — a pair of black handcuffs.
Simon's eyes darkened instantly as he caught sight of both items. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles turning white as his mind raced. His jaw clenched, and his tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip as an unholy smirk crept across his face.
"Fuck." He laughed under his breath, his voice deeper now. "I can't wait to get home."
Stella, still trying to suppress her laugh, turned to face him. "Seriously?"
His gaze snapped to her, and the shift in his demeanor was instantaneous. Dark. Predatory. Possessive. His tongue clicked against the roof of his mouth before he muttered, "Dead serious."
She raised a teasing brow. "And what exactly are you planning to do, Mr. Winchester?"
Simon didn't even hesitate. His voice dropped into a dangerous rasp. "In exactly fifteen minutes, the entire fucking island is going to hear you screaming my name." His hand gripped the steering wheel harder, his veins straining beneath his skin. "And I'm going to fuck you in every single position that exists — over and over — until you can't even remember your own goddamn name."
Stella's breath hitched. "Simon—"
"No," he growled lowly, his jaw clenching. "You don't get to speak unless it's my name you're screaming." His eyes flicked to her lap and back up to her flushed face. "I'm not stopping until you're shaking, crying, and begging me to let you breathe."
Stella's core clenched painfully hard, heat pooling deep in her stomach. She bit down on her bottom lip, her entire body burning with anticipation. "You're insane."
Simon's smirk deepened, his foot slamming down on the accelerator as the mansion gates came into view. "Correction, little fish — I'm only insane when it comes to you."
Her breath caught.
"So do me a favor." His voice was pure sin now. "Don't bother putting that lingerie on."
Stella's mouth parted, confused. "Why not?"
Simon chuckled darkly, his eyes flicking down to the handcuffs in the box. "Because you won't need it. The second we walk through that door — you're mine."
Stella's thighs clenched, and she had to physically bite back a moan.
Fifteen minutes.
Fifteen damn minutes felt like eternity now.