“But his blocking rune is still?—”
Ella reached out and touched the black ink with her finger. Her own Infala glowed bright, shining through her clothing, her fingertip illuminated, the dark pigment quivering then finally giving up its hold on Draikis, dissolving beneath her touch.
His Infala erupted with energy, the light shining out as the rune rapidly settled into the shape it had been trying to achieve. Ella lifted her top, revealing her own Infala.
The two were identical.
The display projection shifted from the text to their runes, allowing all present to see that, in fact, Draikis and Ella were as of this moment Infala bonded. They were mates for life. As for the rest of her claims about this being a part of Norvalian life in the past, those still needed verification. But this? It was incontrovertible.
Totaxxis rushed toward them in a rage, fists raised. “No! This cannot be allowed!”
He dropped to the ground, a stun blast laying him out flat. Elder Soparo lowered his tiny but powerful weapon, shaking his head as he walked to the poor man and stood over him. “You should know better, Totaxxis.” He turned to the couple, his countenance seemingly lighter by a thousand pounds. “And you two. I am pleased we will not require the assistance of the Dotharian overseer. Punishment is bad enough, but executions? Distasteful to say the least.”
Ella cocked her head, a little confused but glad for his change in countenance. It seemed the elder was actually truly happy for them. He had to be a hard ass to uphold the laws, and that was something he took very, very seriously. But Draikis was like a son to him, and now? Now he had a new member of his “family”.
“So, uh, what now?”
He rested his hand on Ella’s shoulder, a warm smile spreading across his face. “Now? All charges will be dropped. We will figure out the rest later. But for now, you two are newly bonded, and in a manner the likes of which I do not think any of us have ever seen, let alone anticipated ever being possible.”
“Yes, it is a bit overwhelming,” Draikis noted.
“That’s one way of putting it, my boy. And as newly bonded mates, we all know what that means. I will have a little something delivered to you.” He turned to his assistant. “Escort them to their chambers. It’s time we give them a quiet place to formalize the bond.”
Draikis’s cheeks darkened with embarrassment, but also happiness. Soparo noted his shift with an amused chuckle.
“Go on, my boy. Enjoy yourselves. We’ll have much to discuss whenever you come back up for air. But please, take your time.”
Draikis took Ella’s hand in his, their fingers intertwined, energy flowing between them. He smiled so bright that Ella thought her heart might burst at the sight of him.
“That we can do, Elder Soparo.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Draikis and Ella outpaced their tag-along in their haste to reach his quarters. The man in their company under the pretense of escorting the newly bonded wisely accepted the situation for what it was. They were Infala bonded, and in front of his and the entire order’s eyes just now, and though they had all taken their vows, they were also all men and knew full well what that would entail.
Draikis’s door was open the moment they reached it, Ella disappearing inside in a flash. The priest, however, would still abide by the rules of decorum, no matter his rush.
“Thank you for accompanying us, Florian. We can take it from here.”
The man nodded, a tiny hint of amusement replacing the judgmental annoyance he and his mate had brought to the order so recently. “Enjoy, my brother.”
Draikis intended to, and with great vigor. His Infala was, in fact, glowing so brightly that it was plainly visible through the fabric of his tunic. The door shut, sealing them in, the sound-masking of his chamber active the moment it closed. He turned to find a nude whirlwind of passion pressed up against him.
Ella’s lips smashed against his, their tongues swirling, devouring one another as ravenously as a starving person suddenly presented an all-you-can-eat buffet, their Infalas pulsing bright, urging them to consummate the union.
Ella pulled away a step, her body racked with physical pain from the effort.
“Wait. Your back.”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. They whipped you, Draikis. Because of me.”
“Because ofus. And it was worth every lash.”
“Let me see.”
“I told you, it’s fine.”
