Her eyes narrowed. "Is this how you build alliances? Through kidnapping?"
"This is not my doing," I replied.
"Silence during the sacred rites," intoned the ceremonial officer, a human in elaborate robes embroidered with both human and monster symbols.
The binding ritual began, ancient words from before the wars, when humans and monsters first sought peace rather than extinction for each other. I barely listened, more aware of the woman beside me, her body radiating tension and anger.
"The blood mixing will now commence," announced the officiant.
A young aide approached with ceremonial blades, silver for the human, obsidian for me. My hide was tough, but the volcanic glass sliced through easily enough when pressed to the special gland on my forearm. Dark reddish blood welled up.
Beside me, Kalyndi jerked away when they approached with the silver knife.
"No," she said firmly. "I didn't consent to this."
"The matching is binding under law," the officiant stated coldly. "Refusal at this stage carries consequences for your entire terramares."
I watched conflict play across her expressive face as outrage, calculation, then reluctant submission. She extended her arm, flinching as they sliced her skin, revealing bright red human blood.
The officiant pressed our wounds together, binding them with a silken cord.
The moment our blood mingled, something strange happened. A warmth spread up my arm, unlike anything I'd felt before. From Kalyndi's sudden intake of breath, she felt it too, a tingling, almost electric sensation that radiated from our joined arms.
"The binding is complete," declared the officiant. "What Magnus Terra has joined, let no being sunder."
Ceremonial words, but they carried the law. We were, for all purposes, mated. They removed the silken cord and dressed our wounds, but the strange warmth lingered.
"You will now be escorted to your dwelling," announced a Magnus Terra official. "On the border territory, as befits your unique union."
The journey to our new "home" passed in tense silence. Kalyndi refused to look at me, keeping as much distance as the transport vehicle allowed. I didn't bridge the gap. Whatever this arrangement was, it had begun with coercion on both sides. No pretty words would change that.
Our dwelling turned out to be a surprisingly spacious structure, neither fully human nor monster in design. Glass walls faced the forest on one side, solid stone on the other. Functional, but with obvious concessions to comfort.
"You will find all necessities provided," the official said, keying in a code that opened the main entrance. "The binding period requires seven days of cohabitation before either of you may leave the premises."
Kalyndi's head snapped up. "Imprisoned for a week with… " She stopped herself, glancing my way.
"With a monster?" I finished for her. "Yes, that seems to be the arrangement."
The official cleared his throat uncomfortably. "The binding period is traditional. It allows the... connection to strengthen."
The implication was clear in his careful phrasing. Magnus Terra expected more than cohabitation.
"We will return tomorrow to check on your progress," he added, retreating toward the transport.
When the door closed behind them, we were finally, awkwardly alone.
Kalyndi immediately put as much distance between us as possible, moving to examine the far side of the dwelling. I remained near the entrance, giving her space.
"So," she finally said, breaking the silence. "You're the war chief they decided to saddle me with."
"And you're the healer they picked to civilize me." I kept my voice neutral.
She turned, arms crossed protectively over her chest. "I was promised to someone else. In my terramares. Did they tell you that?"
I expected as much. "No. They didn't consult me either."
"Hmph." She surveyed the dwelling critically. "One bedroom."
