Dyna’s pulse faded beneath his fingertips, drowning him in desperation. He looked at her pallid face, wishing she would wake and give him that carefree smile of hers that he thought he didn’t like. If she died when there was a possibility of saving her, he truly would live to regret it.
Cassiel rummaged through their rucksack, tossing out items until he found the carving knife. He winced as he slashed both of his palms. Taking a shuddering breath, he hesitantly placed them over her wounds.
The moment white light flashed beneath his hands he knew instantly that he’d made a grave mistake.
A power shot through his body like a bolt of lightning, filling every crevice of his being with incredible heat. It weaved through muscle and bone with a force that, had he not been kneeling, would have knocked him down. The burning power continued its course from him to Dyna, and light burst from her in a brilliant ray.
Her heart hammered like the rapid flutter of a hummingbird inside of his chest. His hands throbbed with electric warmth where they connected. There was a tugging and a merging inside of him as his life force stitched with hers. Violent waves of pleasure rushed through his veins, blood pounding in his ears, stealing his breath. When he thought it would consume him whole, the sensation waned and his racing heart slowed. In tandem with Dyna’s.
The realization of what he had done weighed on his shoulders with the weight of the world. He had only meant to give her his blood, but in his panic, heexchangedblood with her instead. And Cassiel knew one thing with a terrifying certainty that shook him to his soul.
He had Blood Bonded with Dynalya Astron.
Chapter 28
Cassiel
Cassiel had studied many subjects during his lessons, but the governess of the castle completely disregarded the topic of Blood Bonding. “You will not find anyone willing to bond with you, Your Highness. Therefore, it is pointless to discuss the subject.”He hadn’t argued because he agreed.
No one wanted a Nephilim for a life-mate.
Cassiel snatched back his shaking hands and drenched them in icy water from a waterskin. The deep lacerations tingled as they knitted closed. He stared in dismay at his unblemished palms. There was no washing Dyna’s blood out of his system.
The brisk wind blowing through the rustling trees chilled the sweat on his back, and a shiver passed through him as a howl echoed in the distance. He looked up at the moon among the glimmering stars.
“Elyon… what have I done?” the whispered words shook on his lips.
He had been a child the last time he spoke to the God of Life. To expect any guidance was trivial, for it never came when he needed it. Perhaps, he wasn’t worthy of receiving any. He was a mistake. A thing that was not meant to exist.
He closed his eyes, using all his will to wish he could wipe away the last hour. But an undeniable mesmeric force hummed between him and Dyna. Shame bore down on him like a judgment from the Heavens.
Celestials only reserved the Blood Bond for those who’d found their life-mate. For the act of exchanging blood intertwined their lives forever. It could never be undone. Not until he passed through Death’s Gate, which wouldn’t be for many centuries, long after she passed. He dropped his head in his hands, groaning as he pulled at his hair.
On the impulse to save her life, he had unintentionally married her. Was that all it took to gain a wife?
He thought the bonding act was complex and required something more meaningful. But he had not attended Celestial weddings before, so he’d never seen the bonding performed. Nor had he cared to learn. From what little he heard of it, there were oaths said during the ceremony, then some corporeal and psychological changes followed as the bond was established. He couldn’t recall the details in his jumbled thoughts. But there was one thing he knew. Blood Bonds didn’t forge any feelings of affection.
Dyna would resent him for this.
Cassiel looked down at his new bound wife and winced at the sight of her naked body prickled with cold. He moved to cover her with a blanket, but he noticed her injuries had not healed. Did his blood not work?
Her breathing was steady, and the deep lacerations no longer bled. He took her wrist and felt her strong pulse. His bloodmusthave worked. Well, this was the first he’d ever healed someone. He wasn’t sure what to expect. His healing was instant, but perhaps his impure blood took longer to heal others.
By the moonlight, he noticed something else. Rows of old jagged scars coursed from Dyna’s collarbone to her chest. Claw marks. This had happened to her before.From the depth and width of the scars, the attack had been life-threatening, yet she survived.
Cassiel sighed and covered her. “You’ll live this time too. I suppose that’s all that matters.”
After setting a pot of water to warm over the fire, he ripped his ruined tunic in large strips. He removed the rest of Dyna’s torn clothing, careful to avert his eyes when possible. He left the petticoat, as the only damage was a slash in the bloodied skirt.
Gently, Cassiel washed her with the heated water. The metallic scent of blood was so strong he almost tasted it. He bandaged her thigh, waist, and shoulder with pieces of his tunic.
Whenever he brushed her skin, a tingle moved up his arm in response. The line of energy felt similar to Soul Searching, but this was ten times more substantial. It had to be part of their … new connection.
Cassiel tucked the blanket around Dyna once more. Crusted blood caked her tresses and brows, speckling her lips. He cleaned her face, then worked on washing her hair, running the soft strands between his fingers.
Of all the most ridiculous mistakes, he bound himself to a human. Cassiel straightened at the reminder.
Dyna washuman.
