Airess flushed. “I don’t know–”
“I know you have The Sight, girl. What does it look like?”
“It looks like his eyes,” Airess admitted. “It’s beautiful. His energy is silver, as shiny as armor with an array of colors. It’s the only aura I had ever seen like this.”
“You see this in him because you are Bonded. Only a Mate, or Bonded, can see right through to the soul. I don’t understand the full scope of what your Bond to him means, but we know it is entirely unique to you both. You harness the physical connection between Mates, and the energetic tie between The Bonded.”
Airess took a deep look inward, her mind now whirring with every little moment she had begun to suspect something was different about her, about him.
Her supposed Starlight and Dreamwalking abilities that her mother had sworn to keep secret from the world, no matter what happened to her. The fact that she looked completely different than the Elves on the Lucien continent, as if she hadn’t hailed from there.
The moment she saw Taryn for the first time at the ball, his aura shining to her as if sayinghello,her irrational affinity for him from the moment they were trapped together in that jail cell.
Airess’ visits to his past in the dreamworld–her visits withImain the dreamworld. How she accidentally triggered the Godspirit to save Taryn in the caravan while poisoned with donstenyte.
Airess clutched her chest.
“What does being Bonded Mates mean?”
“Right now the Bond is in the beginning stages. Once the relationship is consummated, the true effects of the Bond will take place. Your souls will be completely tied together.”
Airess blood heated. She felt as if she were frozen in place. The relationship needed to beconsummatedfor the Bond to take effect?
“I…” Her mouth was dry. “I don’tknow what to say,” was all she could say in response. Airess was speechless.
She didn’t doubt Ismene’s words like Taryn did. Airess felt Ismene’s truth, saw it in her own aura.
Ismene’s face softened. “Why don’t you go get some rest, dear? We can resume our lesson another time.”
Airess excused herself and rushed out of the temple doors. Her thoughts clashed against one another, making her head swim. She was too worried about what Taryn was thinking right now to feel excited. Her jaw clenched as she recalled how Taryn hadjusttold her he didn’t want a mate.
Would his feelings change? Would… hers?
Airess didn’t even fully understand the scope of what being mates meant. It wasn’t exactly something she was familiar with growing up in Elven culture, especially living in a land where Bonded connections were muted by the wards.
Despite all this worry, Airess couldn’t help but find the entire concept of Mates and The Bonded infatuating. Beautiful, even. The fact that there could be someone out theredestinedto be intertwined with one’s soul was the epitome of Fate. The epitome oflove.
Airess stopped walking, realizing the weight of her last thought. The weight of who Taryn was to her, and she to him, crashed into her. She stared at her shoes. A miniscule smile upturned the corner of her lips.
Of course.
It would be Taryn.
Taryn, whose skepticism in the unknown balanced her faith in it. Of course it would be the male who could never bite his tongue, always challenging any authority whilst she had mastered the opposite during her time in the castle. Taryn, whose elemental abilities were a stark contrast against her energetic Magick.
He was her opposite in every way. And yet, they were perfect for each other. They belonged to one another, like the stars holding the moon upright in the sky, Taryn had been her rock.
Airess lifted her chin. She knew what she had to do next.
Find Taryn.
Airess walked down the path in frustration toward the guest house she shared with Taryn. She burst his door open, finding his room empty, the only thing to stir was the curtain flowing from the breeze. The evening sun had just begun to set as she looked out the window in worry, storm clouds beginning to brew overhead. She had barely begun her walk to the heart of the city when she caught sight of King Roz on horseback heading straight towards her.
Once he was upon her, she noticed the sweat under the casual tunic he had on–strikingly different then the silk embroidered fashions she had seen him in at the castle. He traveled without his crown, a statement Airess surely found odd. If Roz truly was a Godling, he sure presented himself as a common male.
He greeted her with a genuine smile as he dismounted, a noticeable difference from the male she had met back in the castle. “Greetings, Airess of Judla!” He announced playfully as his feet touched the ground. Airess didn’t quite know how to respond to such a friendly king, so she opted to bow awkwardly in reply. “Good evening, King…Roz.” Airess winced at the awkward tone in her voice.
The king threw his head back as he laughed. “Please, no need to bow.” Roz gave her an inquisitive look as he noticed her leaving the guest house alone. “Going somewhere?”
