“Hi,” Kara said meekly.
Sebastian said nothing.
In the centre of the temple was a circle inlaid with silver, and the hourglass crest of House Fatàn.
“Kneel there,” she directed, pointing to it. “Facing each other.”
Kara risked a glance at Sebastian as they obeyed. He didn’t say a word, and neither did she. She didn’t think she could. Anticipation fluttered in her chest. Kara gripped his hand tighter, hoping he would understand her meaning.
Don’t let go.
Her knees dug into the stone floor, her free hand clammy against her dress. Sebastian’s shoulders were tense, his sword still at his hip – because of course it was – even here, even now. But he wasn’t watching the room as he usually did. His eyes were on her. And the look in them made her feel braver.
I’m about to Soulbond with Sebastian Thorne.
A thrill ran through her. The whole thing felt surreal. Terrifying but wonderful.
Well, Father, I guess I don’t take your advice very well.
She took a breath to steady herself.
“You are ready,” Veyra said. It wasn’t a question, but Kara murmured, “Yes,” anyway. Sebastian gave one small nod of assent.
Veyra settled into position in front of them, setting a small silver bowl on the stone floor. She added earth, a pinch of dark soil, then water, which pooled around it. Air came next, the faintest swirl of breath over the rim. Last came fire, a sudden flame that leapt up and danced above the rest. Kara’s pulse tripped as she felt the heat on her skin. It was too close. Too hot.
As if he’d read her mind, Sebastian stroked the back of her hand – a silentI’m here.
The bowl glowed faintly gold, and a pulse of something ancient echoed through Kara, gone as quickly as it came.
“In the name of the Four,” Veyra intoned, her voice echoing. “Earth, Water, Air and Fire. The balance of life. The magic that binds us. May you witness this Soulbond.”
Kara squeezed Sebastian’s hand and he smiled faintly in return.
“This bond,” Veyra said, “is not of body or of law, but of soul. Once joined, no force in this world can sever it. Your pain will be shared, your joy doubled, your strength made whole. Where one walks, the other is never absent. To choose this is to choose eternity. Once done, you cannot turn back.”
Kara’s heart turned over at the words. She looked into Sebastian’s eyes. He was pale, but he didn’t look away.
Veyra’s gaze moved to him first. “Sebastian Thorne, Warrior, Son of Fire, do you vow to bind yourself to Karalynna Hale? Soul to soul, magic to magic, essence to essence. To accept her pain as yours, her strength as yours. Eternal, unbroken even by death. By the Four who watch, and under the blessing of the Arcanth, do you so vow?”
Sebastian swallowed. He looked nervous, but when he spoke, he didn’t falter. “I do.” Then quieter, full of a conviction she hadn’t heard from him before, like he’d finally stopped fighting: “My soul is already yours.”
She almost stopped breathing. Hearing him say it like that. The world could have ended in that moment and she wouldn’t have cared. He’d chosen her. Freely. Finally. Always.
Veyra turned to Kara. “Karalynna Hale, Healer, Daughter of Air, do you vow to bind yourself to Sebastian Thorne? Soul to soul, magic to magic, essence to essence. To accept his pain as yours, his strength as yours. Eternal, unbroken even by death. By the Four who watch, and under the blessing of the Arcanth, do you so vow?”
Kara looked into his ice-blue eyes and felt nothing but utter certainty. Tears welled. “I do. My soul is yours.”
Sebastian’s eyes closed for a second. When he opened them, there was no armour there, just him.
Veyra’s voice rang clear in the chamber. “Now speak the words of binding together. Repeat after me.”
She paused, letting the weight of the moment settle.
“Soul to soul–”
Sebastian and Kara’s voices joined: “Soul to soul–”
“Let us be bound.”
