That’s a pretty significant difference in phrasing.
Raiden nods and starts to rummage through the various piles of papers on the table, which I’m assuming are his notes. How he finds anything in the scattered mess is beyond me, but then again, I’m one of those people who need everything neat and orderly, or I can’t work in the first place.
“Yes, I do actually. I’ve got some information about it written down. Hang on, let me just find the right piece of paper. I don’t want to get it wrong since my mind is pretty much swimming with information,” Raiden replies.
“I know she’s not my bonded, because she’s not a succubus,” Doc says as he hands me a coffee and places a fresh one down in front of Raiden.
Raiden shakes his head, still going through the pages, “No, you’re wrong. She is your bonded. Hang on, and I’ll show you.”
Doc’s eyebrows hit his hairline as hope floods his eyes. Raiden is far too busy focusing on finding the information to realize the effect that his words have had on Doc, and I can’t help but smile happily at his reaction.
That’s something that I have very quickly noticed. I don’t feel any jealousy towards the others or their connection to Neith. I must admit that I was initially slightly worried that it may become an issue, but I am very happy that I’ve been proven wrong and it hasn’t been one. Not for any of us, as far as I can tell anyway.
It’s just right, she fits like she was always supposed to be with us, which means it works. I’m sure at some point we may run into an issue or two, but I am absolutely certain that it won’t change our relationship.
“What?” Doc asks in shock, the emotion coating his expression and his tone.
Raiden grins as he holds up a piece of paper, “Ah ha, I found it. Okay, so yeah, like I said, she is your bonded. I had to delve pretty far back actually, and I found the information in a book that I haven’t seen before, which isn’t really strange because I do all of those bulk buys at the magical auctions. Anyway, it's rare, obviously because it has something to do with Neith, so of course it’s rare. It was more common a few hundred years ago though, which I thought was really interesting. Succubus and Incubus were able to bond with anyone. It was all about matching souls rather than strength, so differentfrom what it is for the kitsunes. Although it is still about matching souls for the kitsunes, that’s secondary to the need to match for strength.”
“Oh, that’s really interesting. I had no idea that it was even possible. We weren’t taught that it was,” Doc says, a huge grin on his face.
This once again proves that we don’t have all of the information that we’re taught that we have. It is yet another thing that shows that there are huge chunks of knowledge missing.
“Not many people do know, or rather, pretty much no one does. It’s lost information. I’m assuming because it just stopped happening and became only possible between succubus and incubus, so it wasn’t information that needed to be passed on because it simply never happened anymore,” Raiden replies with a confused frown. “I can’t work out exactly when it changed or why it changed, or even why it stopped appearing in any sort of texts, because that is weird in itself. Usually, even if something no longer happens, it’s still documented, and there just isn’t anything in the last hundred years or more with any mention of it. Which is pretty frustrating, and why I moved on to researching something else instead. I’m fairly certain that it’s just more proof that we’re not being told everything.”
I nod, “Agreed. It definitely seems to be that way.”
Doc nods, still smiling. I don’t think anything could knock the smile off his face right now.
“I think that’s pretty safe to assume. It seems to be a common theme at the moment. I don’t blame you for wanting to move on. What if the couple's souls match, but the succubus or incubus is far stronger than their bonded? I mean, if they can only feed off their bonded, then that could easily mean either their death or the death of their bonded.”
Raiden nods, “So as far as I can tell, that didn’t happen often. Usually, the power levels would be the same, so it wouldn’t affect much. However, on the very rare occasions that it would happen, then the magic in the bondwould alter the amount that succubus or incubus would need to feed, so that they would remain as strong as they have always been, and there would be absolutely no risk to their bonded.”
“Wow, that’s pretty incredible,” I mutter.
“Yeah, it is,” Doc replies. “You’re absolutely sure that Neith is my bonded? I don’t just like her a lot, so it’s messing with my magic?”
Raiden smiles understandingly, “I am one hundred percent certain that she is your bonded.” He messes around in the piles of paper on the table again and then holds a piece of paper up to Doc, “Look, I wrote down a list and ticked off all the things that you’ve mentioned to me or the others since you first mentioned that you couldn’t feed.”
Doc takes it off him, his smile getting wider as he reads.
When he finally looks up, his smile is full of wonder and disbelief. “I honestly thought that it would never happen for me, and quite frankly, I never wanted it to. But with Neith, I am more than happy to find out that I have a bonded.”
Raiden grins, “I’m happy for you, man. I’m also so fucking happy to be able to answer a question that someone has asked me for a change. I’m not used to not having the answers, and it’s driving me a little bit insane.”
“I know,” Doc says. “You’ll get more answers, and if you don’t, that’s okay, we can figure it out together.”
Chapter Fifteen
Van
“He’s right,” I agree. Raiden has a habit of putting too much pressure on himself.
“Thanks, guys. Now, I say this with love,” he smirks, “fuck off so I can get back to it.”
I burst out laughing, “You got it, man.” Smirking, I add, “I’m assuming that you don’t want to be interrupted by anyone, so if Neith wants to come and see you, I should stop her.”
His head snaps up, and he glares at me, trying not to look amused, “She’s the exception, always.” He looks back down at his book and then adds, “You need to tell her that sirens have mates. She’s going to be mad as fuck that you lied to her.”
