I chuckled. "Well, that settles it then. If my fate can't be changed, why even try?"
Anger flared in her eyes. "Stop making light of this. This is serious."
I threw my hands in the air. "You've just said that my fate can't be changed."
"Some fates can't be changed. It didn't say that all fates can't be changed."
"Semantics."
She narrowed her eyes at me. "You use semantics as you see fit, twisting words to whatever suits your agenda."
I took her hand, lifted it to my lips, and kissed her knuckles. "You chose to fall in love with a prince of Catonia. Twisting words is second nature to me." I smiled. "Two days ago, you told me that I needed to accept you as you are because I chose to fall in love with a shaman in training. Fairness demands that the same rules apply to me."
"You're the most stubborn person I've ever met."
"Back at you."
A weak laugh escaped her. "I'm serious, Alar. If something happens to you because you refused to leave?—"
"Then it will be my choice. My responsibility. Not yours." I pulled her into my arms, holding her tight. "Stop trying to save me by pushing me away. We're partners. We face things together. That's how it works."
She buried her face in my shoulder, and I felt the dampness of tears against my skin.
"I can't lose you," she said, her voice muffled.
"You won't."
"You can't promise that."
"No," I admitted. "I can't. But I can promise that I'll fight for every moment we have together. I can promise that I won't give up on us without exhausting every other option. And I can promise that if the worst happens, it won't be because I didn't try."
47
SHOVIA
"The bond cannot be predicted, rushed, or forced. It either forms or it does not."
—Shaman Saphir Fatewever, Day of Volition address
Istared at my reflection in the mirror, admiring my new flight uniform, which had been issued for today's ceremony. The dark blue fabric was thick and insulating but soft and comfortable. After the ceremony, we would take our first solo flight with our bonded dragons.
Assuming I was found worthy and heard my dragon's call.
As it turned out, we wouldn't know the names of the dragons until we heard them speaking in our minds, which meant that we wouldn't be able to stay away from the dangerous one because it wouldn't be up to us.
It was disconcerting, but all I could do was hope that no one in our quintet would get so unlucky.
"You look great," Codric said from behind me. He was already dressed, lounging on the edge of our bed with that easy confidence he wore like a second skin. "The uniform fits you well."
"Thank you." I turned to face him. "You don't look too bad yourself." I walked up to him, or rather, sauntered over, and leaned in to kiss him on the lips.
He grabbed me, and a moment later, I found myself on my back with him on top of me, getting properly kissed. It was lovely, but we had no time for that.
I pushed him off me. "Save it for tonight, lover boy."
He smirked, kissed the tip of my nose, and then, in one swift motion, had us both on our feet.
Sometimes the guy made me dizzy.
