He shakes his head, groaning again. I find that well of power and look around. I don’t know what to do, but maybe it’s like my mental shield. I blink, and an iron lid appears. I slam it closed, feeling my body cool instantly. When I’m pulled back to Ryker, I blink at what I’m seeing. His hands…
I run to the bathroom, vomiting into the toilet. He steps up to my side, pulling my hair from my face. “You did it,” I swear there’s pride in his voice. He drops to his knees beside me. “I’m okay.” My mouth waters as I turn to face him. He’s holding his hands up in front of me, the skin perfectly healed.
“Don’t do that again.” I rest my head on my arms. He shrugs and mutters something about it working before pulling me to my feet. I slam my palms into his chest before flushing and walking away.
“So violent,” he chuckles.
The burning memory of his hands, blistered then instantly whole, lingers in my mind. How can I possibly face everyone now, knowing what kind of power truly flows through me?
forty-five
. . .
raea
A few days later,I settle into my chair, Ryker at my side, Kellan at my other, as Professor Becca discusses the Bonding serum. Its classified ingredients prevent us from completing a Bond until the seers finish their measurements. Once recorded, the individual with the highest reading receives a counter-serum, and the Bond is completed. My body physically recoils.
It feels so…systematic.
I wonder if we can avoid The Ceremony altogether. If Ryker and I are mates, it’s all for nothing anyway. He’s my future. I accept that, even if a pang of loss hits when I glance at Kellan. He knows, yet he clings to hope. He doesn’t know about the mating Bond, just the prophecy. Where the once green light was so easy to detect, it’s now vacant. I should have known it was coming, but it’s still a shock nonetheless.
“You’ll be required to kiss each of the potential Bonds, linking your hands together…” Professor Becca says as I gasp, too audibly.
Everyone around me turns, glaring. It’s been a rough few days, and I’m pretty sure everyone hates me. If I thought everyone whispered about me before, now it’s tenfold. My cheeks flush as I sink furtherinto the seat. Kellan wraps an arm around me, rubbing my arm as he mutters that it will all work out.
I swear I hear Ryker growl. The thought has me tucking my lips to hide a smile when I look at him. He only lifts a questioning brow. I shrug but offer him my hand. He rolls his eyes but takes it, resting our interlaced fingers on his thigh.
“So what happens if your Bond is so strong that none of the other men even come close?” Ryker asks, interrupting the professor. Everyone shifts their focus to him. “I mean, do they stop The Ceremony right then and there? No need to waste time.” He grins knowingly as a flush fills my cheeks and my gaze bores into him. If looks could kill…
“Well, since that’s never been the case, I wouldn’t know,” Professor Becca responds. “There are always two or three who are close runners-up.”
Kellan makes some indistinguishable noise beside me.
Ryker winks at me before responding, “Is there a way to test ahead of time?” He leans back as if comfortable. “I mean, I don’t like sharing.”
This earns a few giggles and whoops around the room.
“Unfortunately, Prince Anders,” Professor Becca argues, clearly annoyed with the display.Join the club.“A Ceremony is required of all royalty.”
She’s about to change the topic when he cuts her off. “But rules can be changed for specific circumstances.”
She sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Prince Anders, if you’d like to discuss this further, my door is always open.” He sits back with a smirk.
“See you on Veilan,” he replies. Professor Becca groans, then continues as if he never interrupted.
Veilan.The second day of the week. He’s always in meetings on Tempas, the first day of the school week.
“What are you doing?” I snap. “Don’t be an ass.”
His mouth comes intimately close to mine. “But you love it when Iam.” He offers me that classic smirk before pulling away. “Mine,” he mouths silently.
I roll my eyes, focusing on the dais.
“For today’s exercise, you’ll be paired off with someone you reported feeling a Bond with during the last exercise.” She looks at Ryker and narrows her eyes. “And no, you don’t get to pick.”
I almost chuckle.
“You’ll find a spot somewhere in the room or out in the halls, and all I want you to do is focus on your Bond. Feel your mental shield fall into place, and then lift it and watch how your Bond responds.” She pauses in the middle of the dais. “We are not Bonding today, people.” This gets a good chuckle from the crowd. She grabs her tablet and tells us our partner has been sent to our devices.
