“He means a blood bond,” Kirzalla said, facing him.
“Rebax?” Rixavox asked, dumbstruck.A blood bond was only performed during a mating ceremony, one of the most primal and erotic experiences Luxirians could share with their mates as they bonded their life forces together.It would not only announce their matehood for all of Luxiria, but it would tie them together, with the magic of the Fates, for the rest of their spans.And the blood bond…even Rixavox didn’t know what that would feel like, to have another presence in his mind, to feel his Sessela, always.“I will not mate her while she is in this state!”
For a blood bond could not be accomplished unless it happened during mating.
“The Seeing will take her pain away.It will bring her back from this, return her health for a brief period of time,” Kirzalla argued.“Your blood is strong.Coupled with the power of the Fates’ blessing once the mating has been completed…I believe it will be enough, not only to cure theanglavix, but also herhellixaxava.The magic is strong there.It is strong within you both.”
He knew what a blood bond meant.Their lives would always be intertwined.If one of them died, the other would as well, unable to live another span without the other.If Sessela did not survive the poison that Levrix had given her, if she did not survive the mating ceremony, Rixavox would enter the blackworld with her, perhaps that very night.
But he would try anything to save her.He would gladly give his life, if there was a small chance that she would survive.Because without her, he did not wish to be a part of that world any longer.
“Tev,” Rixavox said, inclining his head, standing.Carefully, he scooped hisluxivaup in his arms.“We will journey to theRilliraximmediately.”
The mating ceremony was always performed in a sacred place.Usually they were performed on the plains of theRavrax’tor, where the Fates’ presence was the strongest.But there was no time for that now.
“Ambassador,” Privanax called from the Coms.Rixavox looked back at him from the doorway, impatient.“Your Instinct will tell you when enough blood had been given and taken.To be safe, give and take a little more.”
Rixavox inclined his head, mood grim.Sessela’s life was dependent on the blood bond.He would do everything he could to make sure it worked.
Kirzalla packed up furs and bundled them into Rixavox’s hovercraft outside, for which he was grateful.The ice storm outside stung his skin and he held Sessela more tightly, trying to shield her.
“Do you think this will work?” he asked Kirzalla softly.
“I believe it is the best option you both have,” she answered honestly.She inclined her head and stepped away.“I will see that the Prime Leader is alerted to Levrix’s actions.Her crime is severe.She will not go unpunished.”
But at that moment, Rixavox found he couldn’t think about justice.He only thought about his female, lying unconscious in his arms, who had told him just that night that she was falling in love with him and who had cried when she’d told him she couldn’t give him offspring.
So, as he carried her onto the hovercraft and activated the cold shield, he sent a prayer around to the Fates and he repeated it over and over again the entire journey to theRillirax.
TWENTY-TWO
Cecelia woke to darkness.
Groggy and disoriented, she tried to remember what had happened, where she was.For a brief, terrifying moment, she thought she was back in the clutches of the Krevorags, the alien traffickers that had captured her and the other human women from Earth.
But then she heard Rixavox’s voice and she smelled a familiar scent of stone and warmth.
She relaxed.
“Luxiva, I am here,” he murmured down to her.She realized he was carrying her in his arms, the way he always carried her to the…
It was why it was so dark.They were in the tunnels.
“TheRillirax?” she guessed softly, her voice sounding faint.She felt so weak and her skin felt like it was on fire.
“Tev,” he said.“We must hurry.Try to stay awake, Sessela.”
Dimly, she remembered their conversation before she’d passed out.She’d told him that she was falling in love with him…and the things he’d told her…
A violent shiver racked her body and Rixavox cursed, his pace quickening.He was murmuring something in Luxirian, like a prayer, a question, his voice getting louder and louder as they approached the end of the tunnel where theRilliraxwas hidden.
Something was different.
As Cecelia fought the urge to go back to sleep, to that blissful place where she didn’t feel like her insides were being burned, she felt what she could only describe as power.Pure power.
And when they stepped through theRillirax?
Cecelia gasped, her back arching slightly.It was like soaking in the sacred pool—that same touch that was both light as air and yet heavy—was all around her.She felt the power gliding over her skin, soothing and incredible and comforting.
