He shakes his head. “Not in millennia. These are gods-touched bonds.”
I pin my lips, but a strangled laugh bursts from me. “You’re a god yourself, if you hadn’t noticed, and I’m a warrior made with divine energy. It’s only logical.” I reach up, wind my fist into his collar, and grin before yanking him down. “You’re stuck with me now, páti.”
“Say it again,” he says against my lips.
“Páti... husband.”
The groan that leaves him makes something deeply satisfying, primal, and possessive flare inside of me. He’smine. Our kiss is transcendent, his mouth claiming mine as passionately as I claim his. I feel the bond humming between us. We kiss for what seems like hours, but eventually I pull away, albeit with great reluctance.
“As much as I want to stay here, I need to make sure Papa is well.”
My king runs a hand through his mussed silver hair. His lips are red and swollen, his eyes gleaming. Surprisingly, a dark pink tinge washes over his cheekbones. “I understand, but we do, er, need to... consummate the bond in order to fully complete the ritual and seal the vows.”
I lift my brows and grin at his adorably awkward expression. “Not that I am complaining, but don’t previous times count?”
“No,” he says. “We should be fine as long as it’s not too long after.”
“You can wait?”
My soul-fated kisses me softly. “I waited forever for you without any true hope of ever having you. What’s a few more hours? You are worth infinite lifetimes, Suraya.” His eyes burn with reverence, and it’s a miracle my legs don’t give out. “Go see your father. I have to check in with the kingsguard and the Aspacana anyway. I’ll see you tonight.”
“I love you, Darrius,” I tell him.
His eyelids flutter as if he’s savoring the words... as if he never expected to hear them. In truth, thatiswhat he’s thinking, because I can feel every single one of his emotions through the bond. My heart swells as I say it again and he shudders.
“I love you with everything I am, Starbright.”
The worship in his voice is only one part of the reason that I’m on a cloud by the time I make it to the healing wing. Despite the looming threat of war and the foreboding spread of Fero’s rot... I feel light.Hopeful.It’s the strangest thing, as if following fate had been the answer all along. Logically, I know it’s not that easy, but for the first time, I feel like it could be.
Like Darrius and I could conquer everything.
***
WITH MY RENEWEDhope, I burst into my father’s room. Ani is sitting with him. He looks like he’s resting comfortably, eyes closed and chest rising rhythmically. The worry in my own chest loosens.
“Ani, how is he?”
My friend cocks her head, curious blue eyes studying me over the bed. “He’s fine. Sleeping. What’s going on with you? You look different.”
I’m loath to share that Darrius and I had finally performed the bonding ritual. For some selfish reason, I want to keep the knowledge to myself for a little while longer. Once it’s fully complete, I’ll tell her, but for now, it’s a special secret. “Nothing. I got some sleep.”
She narrows her eyes, dissecting every inch of me. “No, it’s something more.” She stares me up and down as I try not to squirm in place, and then she makes a thoroughly disgusted face. “Oh, ashes. Did you and my brother finally do it?”
I snort with a blush I can’t hide. “Do it?What are you, twelve? And none of your business.” Ani stands with a shrug, face neutral, which makes my mirth fade. Is she upset? It’s not as though she didn’t know about the bond. “Is everything all right?”
“Of course. My brother must be very happy.”
“We’re both happy.”
Her lashes dip. “Are you, though? Do you know what the bond entails?”
I blink. “Dare said we would share power.”
A scoff leaves her lips. “Until he decides to take it. They can, you know? Drain you without your consent.”
Something in her tone doesn’t sound right. I peer at her eyes in a panic, trying to see if she has somehow accidentally infected herself, but her irises are clear. “Ani, is something the matter?”
“Ignore me. I am just tired.” She reaches for a small vial sitting on the bedside table, and I wonder if it’s the same dragon’s bloom, but then I see that the contents are yellow, not green.
