Tingles rushed down Dyna’s arms. The bond didn’t influence how she felt. That one fact had her shoulders sagging with relief. Her feelings were never false.
“I hope one day you could forgive my mistake,” Cassiel said, the lump in his throat bobbing. “You are not obliged to me in any way. The bonding happened without your consent, and you are human. Our ways do not apply to you.” His silver gaze flickered to her, then fell away. “You are free to marry whom you wish when the time comes.”
Marry whom you wish.
He was freeing her. Giving her the choice to live how she wanted, and yet …
Dyna looked out at the sea and listened to the water lap as an ache filled her chest.
“Do you despise me for what I have done to you?” he asked softly.
She shook her head. “Your selfless act saved me. I don’t hold it against you.”
His cool fingers turned her cheek so she would look at him. “Then why do I sense you are troubled?”
“What does the bond mean to you?” Dyna asked, unable to mask the break in her voice. “Does it mean nothing?”
Cassiel simply stared at her, and his hand slipped away. She resumed watching the sea, suddenly self-conscious for being so candid. She hardly understood the aspects of a Blood Bond, but she knew in her heart it was important. He said himself it meant marriage. That made him her husband and she his wife. She couldn’t simply ignore that and marry another. Dyna glanced down at Cassiel’s loose fist resting on the table. Those hands had bonded them, but it had nothing to do with her heart.
“Well, the deed is done,” she said faintly. “You have my word that I shall not reveal it to another Celestial on my part. I don’t wish for you to be exiled at the expense of saving my life. It was a mistake after all.”
“Saving you was not a mistake,” he replied, his tone careful. “That I do not regret. My father might pardon me for giving you divine blood as it resulted in a Blood Bond. If so, your immunity now extends to all Four Celestial Realms.” His expression shifted. “And well, now he cannot foist me into marriage.”
Because he had been forced into one with her. Dyna couldn’t help the slight sting the thought invited. Cassiel was studying her, and she made sure her walls were in place.
“Wait, what do you mean he cannot?” she asked.
“A bonded life-mate truly is for life. I can never exchange blood with another because it would taint the bond we have. I hear doing so is a disgrace and agonizing, akin to adultery. That applies to you as well. You cannot mix your blood with another unless you wish to do me harm.”
Dyna scoffed. “I’m sure there is no risk of another reckless enough to impose their divine blood upon me.”
The corner of his mouth quirked. “You are probably right.”
Even if they kept it a secret, King Yoel would eventually find out when he attempted to arrange a life-mate for his son.
“Will … will your father be angry?”
“Oh, I certainly expect to sustain his displeasure.” Cassiel sighed. “For other than this reason, I did not go to Hermon Ridge as he believed. Lord Jophiel must have notified him by now that I failed to arrive within the allotted week after leaving Hilos.”
She gasped. “Cassiel, your father will assume the worst has happened to you.”
He frowned and rubbed his forehead. “I had not considered that. I could not tell him I would go to the place that took my mother from him. He would not allow me to go.”
The night she showed King Yoel her map to Mount Ida, he’d been shocked. She must have reminded him of his lost love. He accepted the loss, but Cassiel still clung to the hope his mother was alive. Dyna heard it in his voice last night and could see it now.
“Will he send the Watchers after you?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No, that would put the Realms at risk.”
“But you’re his son.”
“The life of one Nephilim weighed against the security of the Four Celestial Realms holds no contest.”
Dyna couldn’t believe that King Yoel would abandon his son, no matter what was at risk. A parent was meant to protect their child.
“We’re near Hermon Ridge,” she said. “Perhaps he would send the Valkyrie to your aid.”
“Who?”
