Her pulse jumped at the words. “I love you, too.”
He was quiet for a moment. Then he muttered, “I suppose I should do it properly.”
Kara frowned. “What do you–”
He took one deep breath. That was all the warning she had before he moved, dropping to one knee on the worn wooden floor. Her hands flew to her mouth as she watched him, wide-eyed. He looked every inch the commander’s son, the Thorne heir, his back straight, shoulders squared. But when he spoke, it was quiet and raw.
“Even knowing that we might not survive what’s coming, and even though you deserve so much more than I can give you–”
“Sebastian–”
“Kara Hale,” he said, “will you do me the enormous honour of Soulbonding with me?”
She gasped. She couldn’t help herself. The sound that escaped her was half sob, half laugh.
“Yes,” she answered. The word felt like freedom.
“Yes?”
Of course yes, you ridiculous man!
“Yes, yes, yes!” she cried. A giggle slipped out, almost hysterical. “Oh... my father will befurious.”
When Sebastian smiled, joy radiated from him. He surged to his feet and caught her, one hand on her waist, the other on the nape of her neck, and pulled her into a fierce claiming kiss.
“You’re mine,” he growled against her lips.
“Yours,” she answered breathlessly.
For a long time after, they clung to each other. When Kara pulled back, her eyes were still shining.
“Do you... do you know how it’s even done?” she asked.
Sebastian huffed a laugh. “Not the faintest idea.”
That set her off again, laughter bubbling up from her chest until she had to bury her face against him to smother it. It was ridiculous, utterly ridiculous, that they stood here – the two most wanted fugitives in all of Vallenna, with the fate of the realm hinging on whether or not they Soulbonded – and neither of them had the faintest clue how to do it.
“Well then,” she said, still grinning, “I suppose we’d better ask Veyra.”
CHAPTER 37
THE SOULBOND
To Soulbond is to choose a person fully, and forever. It is Arcanthys’ most beautiful vow.
–Ancient Vallennan Blessing
Kara pushed Sebastian down into a chair. “But first,” she said as she shoved bread into his hands, “you eat.”
He looked up at her, a mildly amused expression on his face. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” he asked. “Ordering me around?”
“Future bondmate’s prerogative,” she laughed as she kissed him quickly on the cheek.
It worked. He ate.
Afterwards, he dressed in the rest of the clothes Fatàn had left for him. Kara watched him contentedly, but as he combed his hair back, her stomach fluttered. Gone was the fugitive, the traitor. For the first time in weeks, he looked more like the man she had met at the Arcalon. Strong, steady, a little cocky and–
Utterly beautiful.
