Chapter 39
Ravi looked at his reflection in the hall mirror one last time, a lump forming in his throat all over again. He ran his hand down the bright red sherwani with the intricate gold embroidery. The long jacket stretched down past his knees, and his fitted trousers were the same shade of red.
Yuki swept into the hallway to check on him. His soon-to-be mother-in-law had been a freaking whirlwind, saving his ass.
Upon arriving at Burkhard after escaping the Jaeggi, Ravi had gone straight to Yuki with his newest problem. Ravi wanted—no, needed—to be bonded to Sora, now. He’d wanted to be romantic, but the Jaeggi had definitely turned this into a NOW situation.
The only problem was his mate deserved a proper ceremony that paid respect to both the Abe clan and the wind dragons, not that Ravi had any clue about those traditions. And proper took time.
That sweet woman had kissed his forehead and smiled, telling him to leave it all up to her.
In one week, she’d managed to get her hands on a proper montsuki for Sora, the gorgeous red sherwani for Ravi, and a proper mandap had been placed on the mountaintop where Alric and Cameron had been bonded.
She’d even had a dragon bring the same three sake cups that had been used in her bonding ceremony to Ryu.
“Are you ready?” she asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Ravi turned and pulled her in for a tight hug, nearly lifting her off her feet. She giggled and hugged him back.
“Thank you so much. This…this is everything. Sora deserves to have such a perfect day.”
Yuki cupped his cheek as he released her, tears sparkling in her brown eyes. “You both deserve to have a perfect day. My son is so lucky to have found you.”
“I promise we will visit often. You will grow tired of seeing us.”
Yuki laughed as she stepped back and quickly ran a hand over her dress. “And we will be here often. This castle is so very fun, and your king presents an intriguing healing puzzle that I won’t be able to tear Ryu away from for long. We will see each other plenty.”
And then, of course, there were going to be babies in their future. Many babies, if he and Sora had any say about it. Ravi had little doubt that Ryu and Yuki were going to be doting, devoted grandparents.
“Now, it’s time. Your dragon is waiting in the courtyard. Sora has already caught his dragon.”
Ravi nodded. Balin had given him a crash course in bonding ceremonies with wind dragons. The clothes were colorful, usually red for happiness and good luck. Both the dragon and mate arrived at the ceremony spot riding dragons, one coming in from the east and the other from the west.
Under the mandap, they would meet and exchange floral garlands before lighting a fire to represent their new life together, and the officiant would offer a blessing.
When he’d asked Alric to be the officiant for their bonding, Alric had demanded that Sora and Ryu immediately complete the first round of surgery so he could be up and moving in time for the ceremony.
After the blessing, they would kneel at a table with three sake cups.
They would each take three sips from each cup as part of the Abe clan tradition.
That was when they would make their vows.
The first set of vows was to each other.
The second set was to their family. And the final was to their clans.
Ravi prayed he wouldn’t forget what he needed to say. Just looking at Sora made him tongue-tied most days, and he needed this to be perfect for his mate. He could do this.
Taking a deep breath, Ravi stepped into the courtyard and laughed. He’d recognize Baldewin’s dragon anywhere.
“You’re flying me?” He’d not been able to choose between his closest friends and had asked them to fight it out over who would be flying him.
“I held you when you were a baby. Of course I’m flying you,” Baldewin replied, his voice a deep rumble through the empty courtyard.
“I’m pretty sure Gunter and Warin can claim that, as well,” Ravi snickered.
The dragon made a movement like he was shrugging his massive shoulders. “I also outrank them.”
Ravi shook his head. He refused to believe Baldewin had pulled rank simply to have the honor of flying Ravi to his bonding. “Why I do feel like this was more likely settled with a game of Twister?”
Baldewin smiled, flashing a whole lot of long teeth. “I wouldn’t know anything about that. Now, climb on. We don’t want to be late.”
With a little help, Ravi climbed into position right in front of his massive wings.
Baldewin smoothly pushed off and launched them up into the air.
Earlier in the day, nearly the entire castle had been carried up to the ceremony spot.
Some were left behind as guards, and others were working on the massive feast, but the bonding ceremony was being recorded so they’d be able to watch later.
Baldewin circled the parapets and then soared off toward the east, weaving over the mountains until the signal was launched into the air.
Ravi’s heart raced as Baldewin smoothly turned and carried him toward the elegant white-and-red pavilion.
From a distance, he could see the mix of people and dragons gathered, waiting for his arrival.
And then he saw the flash of blue approaching from the opposite direction, carrying a man dressed in black.
Sora was riding Sahan, and Ravi nearly let out a cheer. He’d known the two were close friends, but Sora had refused to share who would be carrying him to the ceremony. It seemed fitting, a blending of both his fire dragon and wind dragon families.
When Ravi set both feet on solid ground, he finally got a good look at his mate.
Sora had never looked more handsome or regal.
Dressed in a black montsuki kimono with black pants decorated with thin white pinstripes, Sora moved away from Sahan.
His lush long hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall at night.
It was only when Sora had lifted one raven-wing brow at him that Ravi realized he’d frozen, enraptured by his beautiful mate. Grinning at his absurd good fortune, he crossed to where Sora stood.
“Afraid you were in the wrong place?” Sora teased softly when Ravi was standing before him.
“Afraid I was dreaming.”
Sora leaned forward, touching their foreheads together. “Not a dream. A wonderful reality.”
The moment was broken when Alric stepped forward with large floral garlands made of happy yellow and red flowers in each hand.
Ravi did a double take to see that the king was, in fact, wearing his crown for the occasion.
He’d been present when Alric had complained more than once about wearing the thing, and he was honored that Alric had donned it for the ceremony.
The king was looking dapper as always in his dark suit, accented across the front with a wide red sash the same color as Ravi’s sherwani.
They each accepted a garland and placed it over the other’s head before following Alric inside the mandap. As they moved, Ravi was only vaguely aware of the sound of people following. They lit the fire to symbolize their new life together.
From there they moved to the low table where they knelt on either side while Alric remained standing over them. Very carefully, Alric placed a hand on the top of their heads and spoke for the first time.
“Today, we gather for the bonding of Abe Sora, son of Abe Ryu and Yuki of the most esteemed Abe clan, to Ravi Yamuna, only son of Marut Yamuna and Kamala Yamuna of the great wind dragons.”
Ravi shivered at the unexpected mention of his parents’ names. It was nice to have them spoken here, to be reminded of whose child he was, and that his parents were no doubt here with him in spirit.
“As King Alric Burkhard of the Fire Dragon Clan and representative of the four kings, I offer our most profound blessing on this couple. May the winds of fate blow gently across their lives, filling their home with happiness and the laughter of children. May their heartaches be brief, softened by the love of family and friends.”
To Ravi’s shock, there came an answer from the three other kings in attendance. In unison, they said, “May they be blessed.”
There was a new tingle of magic in the air, giving it a thicker, heavier weight. The proceedings had just gotten the stamp of approval from all the dragon kings. God help anyone who tried to stop them.
Sora gracefully reached across and poured the ceremonial sake into the first cup, which was painted with the most delicate cherry blossom design he’d ever seen. Picking it up, he handed it over to Ravi, whose fingers trembled slightly.
Don’t spill it. Don’t drop it. Don’t break it.
With the cup lightly clasped in both hands, he looked at Sora, and the rest of the world fell away.
Strangely, his usually excitable dragon was completely at peace, staying still in his mind.
There was just the sound of the winds rushing across the mountain, whispering of the years of love that stretched out ahead of them.
And there was Sora’s handsome, smiling face.
The words came so very easily, as if they’d always been inscribed on his soul, waiting for this moment.
“I, Ravi Yamuna-Burkhard, vow to always love you with all of my heart and my soul. I vow to devote my life to your happiness and the happiness of our children. I vow to lay down my life to keep you safe and protect you always. You are my happiness, my heart. You are the wind that lifts me in flight and carries me back to our home.”
Sora blinked away tears but didn’t catch them all in time. One slipped down his face. His wide smile never wavered as he watched Ravi take three small sips from the cup and then hand it over.
“I, Abe Sora, vow to always love you with all of my heart and soul. I vow to devote my life to your happiness and the happiness of our children. I vow to lay down my life to keep you safe and protect you always. You are the joy that heals all wounds and gives my soul eternal life.”
As he watched Sora take the first three sips, Ravi felt the little strings running from his soul to Sora’s growing stronger and tighter, binding them together.
They continued to recite vows, acknowledging their families with the second cup and their clans with the third.
Ravi hated to admit that it became a little bit of a blur.
Finally, Sora set the final cup down and they held hands across the table.
Sora smiled broadly and lifted his voice while at the same time drawing on Ravi’s power. “Sifa fat-conqi gabofo zold vitar gev adi.”
I claim you as my mate and bind your soul to mine.
Ravi was sure he’d never waited so long to hear a spell cast. At the same time, he had never been sure he’d find someone to say those words to him.
“Sifa fat-conqi gabofo zold vitae,” Ravi replied, nearly choking on his joy.
I claim you as my mate and give my soul to you.
Brilliant gold flared across Sora’s lovely eyes, briefly changing the deep-brown irises to gold coins that glowed with an inner light. Magic energy rushed down Ravi’s right arm and through Sora’s body to exit out his left, completing the circle and officially binding them together.
The sudden connection was followed by a wave of emotions.
What he’d been able to sense from Sora while he’d been kidnapped had been a pale shadow of what he felt now.
Each emotion was so finely nuanced that he could nearly read his thoughts.
Pure, unadulterated joy, confidence, devotion, and love.
So much love. He couldn’t imagine how Sora managed to keep it all in his body, but then it only matched what Ravi felt for his mate.
Ravi’s dragon roared in his ears, and Sora suddenly laughed, making him think his mate had heard the happy shout as well. Releasing one of Sora’s hands, he grabbed his new mate and pulled him close, sealing their bonding with a hungry kiss.
Alric’s laughter filled the canopy. “It is official. May I present the newly bonded couple, Ravi Burkhard and Sora Burkhard.”
A roar of cheering flew off the mountaintop, and Ravi found himself laughing while kissing his brand-new mate. He never wanted to stop kissing this man, didn’t want to move from this moment, but they had family to greet and a celebration to get to. They had a lifetime for kissing.
Reluctantly, he released Sora and stared into eyes that now held a little ring of gold. It marked him as a mage mated to a dragon.
“I love you, Sora Burkhard. My honey bear.”
“I love you, my handsome dragon.”
They rose as one and hugged Alric before turning to the crowd. There was a rush of well wishes, hugs, and laughter. Ravi was swamped with happy friends and faces he’d grown up with, but it was several minutes before he realized that he hadn’t seen Gunter.
Yes, he’d gone out of his way to drive the dragon crazy on more than one occasion. Okay, he did it all the time. But there was no way Gunter would have missed this.
Pulling himself free of Cassie’s bone-crushing hug, Ravi moved to the edge of the crowd. He finally spotted Gunter standing off to the side, away from all the noise. Clinging to Gunter’s side was Nikki.
The mage looked alternately terrified, overwhelmed, and fascinated by all the dragons and mages milling about. Here and there a dragon would shift and dart off back toward the castle, and Nikki’s eyes would follow the dragon.
Nikki leaned up to Gunter’s ear and whispered something.
Gunter nodded and replied, his gaze finally catching on Ravi, who’d been watching them intently.
A small, resigned smile lifted one corner of Gunter’s mouth, and he shrugged, but Ravi didn’t miss that Gunter’s hand also tightened on Nikki’s, keeping the mage tucked close against him.
Gunter might give all the signs of not being pleased with the arrangement, but he also wasn’t handing Nikki over to any other dragons.
Interesting…
Nikki was not the sort of mage Ravi had imagined would capture the dragon bookworm. They were too chaotic and impulsive for the compulsive, anal retentive dragon, but then maybe opposites did attract.
Ravi smiled at Gunter and Nikki before returning to the crowd of well-wishers. Nikki had kept to themself in the past week, rarely leaving Gunter’s library and speaking only to dragons if they could help it. Mages still made them extremely nervous, and Alric wasn’t pushing the matter yet.
Ravi would have to speak to Gunter when he could get the dragon alone. Get the full scoop.
Or maybe he should speak to his new mother-in-law. Yuki seemed to be the wonderful meddling mother type. Ravi bet she knew how to play matchmaker.
Chuckling to himself, Ravi started cooking up some evil plans. But they could wait until after he spent some time with his mate. For now, Sora needed his full attention, and he couldn’t wait.