“And familiars?” he asked, his lips curling knowingly.
“They’re a designation all their own,” I said. “Created by Hecara.”
“Deltas, yes. Witches have always lusted after more, haven’t they?” He pointed towards the mug he’d prepared for me again. “I must insist you drink this. It will calm your nerves.”
If anything, his “insistence” was making me less calm. “What’s in it?” I asked, peering to see my reflection in its murky surface.
“Ah, a good witch never imbibes an unknown brew, does she?” he smirked, almost delighted that I’d asked. “But don’t worry, there’s nothing in there that will harm you.”
When I raised an expectant eyebrow, he elaborated.
“Nightbloom thistle, grave-mint, a little dreamsalt…” He paused briefly, his voice becoming low. “And something whose name has long been forgotten. It keeps thoughts from… spiraling.”
I took another look, my hands remaining by my side. Yeah, I wasn’t drinking that. “Maybe I don’t mind it too much when my thoughts spiral.”
He was still, so much so that I couldn’t even detect the soft rising and falling of his chest. Finally, he shrugged in resignation. “Suit yourself. Let’s continue, shall we?”
I didn’t know what to make of his tone—patronizing, yet tolerant. Like I was an adorable child he was required to test but couldn’t find it in him to punish me for giving the wrong answers.
I thought back to where I’d been. “Right, so the gods created the designations, hoping that by having more in common, it would keep us from killing each other off.”
“But?” he asked, a hint of a smile ghosting his lips.
“But it still didn’t work. So then the gods decided that in order to encourage harmony between their children, they would assign each of us a mate from a different race. A person perfect for them in every way.”
The man nodded along. “That is the common telling. But even true love is not enough. How else did they… incentivize these pairings?”
“Power,” I replied, my voice quiet. Power Victor had found. Not me.
“Yes!” he exclaimed. “The gods granted a boon of power to mated couples, but also some drawbacks to keep them together, as you’re well aware of. That’s why you’re here, after all. True love, unparalleled power, but enough of a vulnerability to keep you humble and cautious.”
I crossed my arms, wondering if this was some criticism of my leaving Victor, and my patience was wearing thin. “Okay, so that’s the legend behind the origins of mate bonds. Only I’m not sure why you feel the need to have me explain this to you. Are you trying to convince me to submit to Victor? Because he’s—”
“Not your mate.”
I paused, heat flooding my cheeks. It had been world-shattering enough to hear Victor tell me that he knew the truthlast night, but it wasn’t like him to admit to any kind of weakness or problem.
He reached over and took my tea, placing it in my hands, the unspoken order to drink forcing me to comply.
The taste was unlike anything I’d ever had before, earthy and bitter, yet with cloying sweetness that almost hurt my teeth.
He remained in his position, leaning into my personal space, his breath hot on my face until I’d finished the whole thing.
“The legend says that all Magiks have mates, and yet so few of you ever get to experience that kind of love, that kind of strength. Do you think that’s fair?”
My mind was cloudy, and I blinked slowly.
“No,” I whispered in reply, unable to find it in me to argue.
“No,” he spat. “We’ve been denied this gift for far too long, suffering in the shadows, alone and weak. But now, we’ve finally built a system that will help us create these bonds ourselves. We need but one goddess and her divine grace to replicate the connection. And Victor has happily volunteered to be our first test.”
Just one goddess? But which goddess would agree to such a thing?
I opened my mouth to ask, but darkness claimed me before I could speak.
34
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