Riyan gave me a small smile. “Good thing we just found out I’m a Hyton. If magic made me grow, then magic can make me normal. We will make our blood bond permanent,I promise.”
Of all the promises I had heard over my life, Riyan’s was the first one Itruly trusted.
I let a smile flick up on my lips. “Promises mean nothing, you know…unless you makethem binding.”
Riyan’s soft smile grew enough to reveal his sweet dimple. “Then bind me toit, Serafina.”
My hands pressed against his cheeks as I raised up on my knees to kiss him. My mouth was so small that I could only kiss his lower lip, but the golden bond that tethered us together sang in my veins as I bound him to his word. I stayed there for a moment, relishing in the small world that only had Riyan and I in it, before I pulled awayto breathe.
A thin midnight cloud passed over the moon and stole most of its light. All I could see was Riyan’s face in frontof me.
His eyes sparked with life. He took a deep breath as he looked down at me and his low voice left his lips. “SerafinaHelia, I—”
A rock clacked in the distance. Riyan swiftly pulled me into his chest. The steel of his blade scraped on the rocks as he drew hissword close.
“We are not alone,” his voice rumbled against my face and hands. “Something is behind us on themountain path.”
His heartbeat slammed against my belly. I was not sure if anything was really behind us, but Riyan believed dangerwas near.
“As soon as the light of the moon comes back,” Riyan said, “we are going toFraleigh’s palace.”
His fingers wrapped around my waist and drew me closer until my cheek mashed against his skin. His long hair fell against my temple and nectar and wheat filled mynose again.
Riyan’s voice was low and serious as he spoke. “I never wanted to take you up Nordingaard, but we have no other choice. General Hyton…he told me what lurks higher up the mountain, but nothing will hurt you as long as you stayright here.”
He pressed me deeper into his muscled chestfor emphasis.
“You need my strength,” he said in a quiet breath, “but if we are going to survive on this mountain, I needyour bravery.”
I wrinkled my nose. “You think Iam brave?”
“The bravest inthe Dukedom.”
“Why?”
“You chose to staywith me.”
I listened to Riyan’s heartbeat slow down until it pulsed at the same rate as my own. Each beat echoed in his chest like the ricochet of a boulder falling off the side ofthe mountain.
Riyan’s heart was strong. Riyan’s heartwas powerful.
But it was not abeast’s heart.
Nordingaard blew a chill around us but I did not shiver in Riyan’s embrace. The golden light of our bond warmed my chest as Riyan’s slow breath warmedmy back.
Even though the moon hid its light, darkness would nevertouch us.
A deep growl echoed off the side of the mountain as Riyan held me against him. I gripped his chest and my fingernails dug intohis skin.
“What was that?” I whispered. “Is ita monster?”
“Kind of,” Riyan replied. “It wasmy stomach.”
I could not remember the last time I had seen him eat. A giant his size could eat half a cow in one day. Or a whole sheep. Or afew people.
“What, uh…,” I stammered. “What are youhungry for?”
“You.” His wry smile brightened the night. “I’ll eat you in a few bites and then pick my teeth clean with that uglybull dagger.”
