Leseldh
“When it’s time, you’ll approach the platform and begin by making your Declaration. Then you can seal your Resonance. According to our records, you can either perform the exchange through a bite, or you can use this.”
“Thank you, Hector. You have been most helpful.”
“The Ceremony will begin shortly. The music is your cue to approach the Platform.”
He didn’t spot anyone of note, other than Vampires from different branches of the Idthraki line.
He didn’t identify any as being Ekanth’s descendants, but that didn’t surprise him.
When he and Malia dissociated from Ekanth’s clan, their ties were forever severed.
Good riddance. With his eyes still on the crowd, he spoke to his Broodling in a low voice.
“Be prepared for any threats.” Voresta tensed at the instruction.
“I won’t let anyone interfere with the Ceremony.” Voresta’s words were steel, and his eyes flashed with determination. Leseldh nodded before returning to Malia.
She’d found a row of seats near the platform, and Finare was seated beside her. His hand gripped hers tightly, and Leseldh felt a disproportionate wave of jealousy rip through him at the sight.
I will End him if he gets in my way, his mind screamed.
“Finare, let go of my Resonant,” Leseldh snapped as he stormed towards them.
Finare huffed a sigh, and Leseldh watched him lean in to kiss Malia’s cheek. The sight made his temper flare, and his hand shot out to grasp Finare’s wrist in a crushing grip. He tugged him away from Malia, snarling, “Get downstairs with the other onlookers.”
Finare’s eyes flashed with challenge, but he didn’t argue. Leseldh’s eyes tracked him as he retreated towards the stairs. Once Finare was out of sight, he redirected his glare at Malia.
“Your alliance with Finare ends here. Once our Resonance is sealed, there will be no more sojourns in the clubs.” Leseldh’s threat seemed to ignite Malia’s ire.
She opened her mouth to reply, but the words died on her lips as stirring music filled the air. Leseldh’s aggression dissolved, and his heartbeat kicked up in pace as he offered her his hand. “It is time.” She stared at his hand for a moment before grasping it.
Leseldh dragged Malia forward. Hector peeled back the deep-red, velvet curtain on their approach. Leseldh wrapped his arm around Malia’s waist and steered her onto the platform. He wore a satisfied smile purely for the audience’s benefit.
He felt Malia stiffen against him when her eyes found the small crowd gathered below. She gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head, but there was no backing out. The music faded and the Ceremony began. Leseldh took a breath before making his Declaration.
“People of Noctis. You are here to bear witness to the Resonance Ceremony of I, Leseldh Idthraki, to my Resonant, Malia.” Leseldh’s voice boomed throughout the space.
His Announcement caused a ripple of murmurs to rise from the audience below. Leseldh couldn’t discern the words. He didn’t care to.
Leseldh hadn’t intended on confirming his bond with Malia through a formal Resonance Ceremony, but her recent undesirable behaviour warranted decisive action. He would no longer tolerate a Resonant that acted on whatever whims controlled her at any given moment.
‘Ceremony’ was a generous name for this process, and it wasn’t a necessity for sealing the Resonance. The spectacle was merely to make a statement.
Leseldh retrieved the ceremonial knife from the case in his jacket pocket and held it aloft.
“Malia and I will confirm that we are Resonant Vampires through an exchange of blood. Once we have drank from each other, our Resonance will be sealed.” The attention he garnered filled him with a power that he didn’t know he desired until that moment.
“We will now begin.” Leseldh turned to Malia. He spoke in a whisper that only she could hear as he glanced at the knife, “Would you like to take the bite, or would you prefer I break the skin?”
Her sharp intake of breath told him the question transported her back to their first night at Sabor Sanguine.
“Apparently my beloved has stage fright,” Leseldh chuckled humourlessly as he pressed the knife to his wrist and swiped it across.
The knife’s kiss drew a trickle of blood before the wound healed over. But the offering was enough, and his arm moved to encircle Malia’s waist, drawing her closer. He pressed his wrist to her mouth, and although she fought to keep her lips closed, the blood made its way past them.
Malia let out a shuddering breath, and he felt a surge of hope that the Resonance was on its way to being sealed.
He dug his fingers into her side—a silent threat.
She winced but didn’t resist him. He lifted his hand, tucking the curtain of hair on the left side of her neck behind her ear before pushing it over her shoulder.
He cast his eyes down to her exposed neck and smiled.
He pressed his mouth over her Creation scar.
He sank his fangs into her neck and drew her blood into his mouth.
The taste that greeted his tongue was different to what he remembered—all traces of her sweetness was gone, leaving only an unpleasant saltiness.
What sent alarm flooding through him was what came afterward—while he’d expected to feel exultation and utter devotion, he felt unchanged.
Why do I feel the same? Because my love for Malia simply cannot intensify any further.
Leseldh ignored the panic surging in his chest. He turned to face the audience.
The crowd burst into applause, but Malia was quick to pry herself away from him.
She pushed the curtains open and fled the platform at a run.
“Thank you for witnessing this momentous event!” Leseldh cried, a joyful expression plastered on his face as he addressed the audience. He let that mask fall away as he passed back through the curtain to chase Malia down.