“We’re ready,” she said, grinning, and Barrett nearly squealed in excitement. Rebel trotted over to Jezebel, and she scratched between his ears as they left.
“You have what you promised?” Barrett checked with me.
I grabbed the satchel by the door, swinging it over my shoulder and patting it. “Let’s seal your bond.”
In the weekswe’d been in Xenovia, I’d never seen the city center so packed. It was as if every warrior, of every clan present, had shown up to watch the future Engrossian King finally claim the man he loved as his bonded partner.
Candles lined the wide steps up to the capitol building, the crowds fanning out around the base of the stairs. Children sat on shoulders, climbed statues, but everyone fell into a silence humming with anticipation as the prince and his consort exited the building from opposite doorways at the top of the platform and walked toward each other in the center.
Thoughwalkedwas a loose term since Barrett was nearly running to Dax, Rebel on his heels. Spirits, I’d never seen anyone so excited. Dax, in turn, crossed in a calm manner, but even he couldn’t hide his fucking grin.
Once they were there, hands clasped, a priestess of Xenique climbed the steps to stand before them. Her flowing amethyst robes slithered over the stones as she turned to face the crowd, a large amulet set against her chest and halo arching over the crown of her head.
“Good evening, warriors. I am conducting tonight’s ceremony on the blessing of Bant’s priestesses in the capital of Banix,” she announced, voice carrying over the city. “The branch of the Angelic Sisterhood has extended their confirmation of this holy union, and it is with their favor that we bond Prince Barrett and his consort, General Dax Goverick.”
A reverent applause rang out across the desert, stretching deep into the city. Mystlights wavered over the street as the sun set, giving the entire crowd and Xenovia that anticipation of nightfall. The one that made you feel like anything was possible.
The loudest cheers echoed from our friends where they lined the steps ascending to where Barrett and Dax stood. All of them, from every clan. Even the Bodymelders, Harlen and Cyren, Erista and her siblings. They were all present and celebrating the bonding of the Engrossian Prince.
“Who witnesses the ceremony?” the priestess went on.
I stepped to Barrett’s side as he’d instructed at least a dozen times, his eager eyes swiveling toward me. “I do,” I declared. “Malakai Augustus Blastwood, brother of the prince and a quarter Engrossian descent.”
Apparently that lineage piece was important for the ceremony to be valid.
“And I do.” From Dax’s side, Celissia’s voice rang out with sheer reverence and appreciation for the symbolic ceremony. “Celissia Langswoll, daughter of the noble House of Langswoll of Engrossian descent.”
The priestess nodded to each of us in turn. “We are grateful for your overseeing of this momentous occasion.” She held her hands out to Barrett and Dax. “I invite you to recite the Warrior’s Words and your vows under the blessing of Xenique and Bant.”
She placed her hands atop theirs, bowing her head and muttering a ritualistic prayer as they each repeated the words that every clan adopted for their sacred ceremonies. My eyesflitted to Ophelia briefly, my skin itching as I remembered a time—over five years ago—when I’d said those words to her in the privacy of our clearing. Surrounded by honeysuckle and jasmine, I’d thought they’d be forever. But fate intervened.
Ophelia leaned back into Tolek, his head bowing between her wings to whisper something in her ear, and I couldn’t find it in me to regret my promise to her or to wish it had stuck. No piece of my fucking wrecked spirit wanted things to be different. Instead, my attention shifted.
And when I met Mila’s eyes, glassy with joy for my brother and his future, that itching along my spine faded. Nothing but damn desire took its place. Her, in that form fitting ivory dress I wanted to disappear under. Her, wearing bronze Soulguider bangles I wanted to peel off. Her, smiling so fucking proudly at me as the Warrior’s Words faded.
Perhaps fate hadn’t intervened with Ophelia and me. Perhaps it had been us, trying to prematurely force a future that had never been intended to survive in the first place. We were meant to be in each other’s lives, but not that way.
Mila winked, and I smiled, turning back to my brother.
“Dax.” He began his personal vows. “My love for you stretches deeper than the valleys, and it was born of something just as dark. Yet somehow, you manage to turn every day into light. You are the beacon in the night that keeps me moving forward, and I vow to love you as clearly and wholly for the rest of our days, with you as a king by my side.”
A rumble of shock rolled across the crowd. Dax stared wide eyed at his prince.
“Bare—”
“No,” Barrett cut him off, squeezing his hands. “You are worthy of this, Dax. I will see you take a crown beside me. You can be a Warrior King to lead our armies, but I will not sit on a throne without you on an equal one by my side.”
Barrett nodded at me, and I removed the silver crown from the satchel he’d given me. The one he’d had fashioned after his own months ago and brought from Banix.
Handing it to Barrett, I stepped back, and the prince faced his consort—his king. “Kneel, Dax Goverick.”
Dax swallowed, clearly struggling at the sentiment ringing through Barrett’s words and the weight of this action. A palpable excitement buzzed through the air—not a single warrior speaking out about how this should not be done.
The general knelt, and with a steady but reverent movement that was as symbolic as the rest of the evening, Barrett placed the crown upon his head. Neither of them were technically kings yet—those oaths would come at their coronation—but it didn’t matter. Tears shone in both of their eyes.
“Barrett,” Dax said, his words softer. “You are such an impulsive person at times, but it’s because you love with your entire heart. And it is that big-hearted prince that caught my attention years ago in a dark palace corridor. And it is that prince I fell in love with.” He took a deep breath. “With your capacity to love others, and your capacity to drive me absolutely wild. I want nothing more than to nurture those things, and I vow to you that I always will. Whether from a throne or a battlefield, you have my heart and my ax, King Barrett.”
Everyone in the crowd was shifting now, eager and bubbling with excitement. My attention flitted to Mila every other second, tracing the low-cut gown and the lace peeking above the neckline, but also thinking of all the promises I wanted to make to her.
