Chapter Nine
“Okay, spill it.”
Charm glanced up and blinked in surprise when she saw Gia and Juliet sitting on the other side of her desk. She hadn’t even realized they had entered her office and had no idea how long they had been sitting there staring at her.
She smiled innocently. “Spill what?”
Gia pointed at her. “You’ve been acting weird for days, and now you are sitting here staring off into space. Something is going on with you. And it’s not just the new hairdo.”
Charm reached up and touched her new shoulder-length locks. The shorter length allowed her natural waves to show more, and she had dyed it a vibrant purple in honor of her new mate. She loved the edgy new look, and she had received a ton of compliments on her new makeover.
“Is it a guy?” Juliet gasped. “It’s a guy!”
“Yeah, it has to be.” Gia grinned. “Look at that secretive smile. It’s definitely a guy.”
“Details! We want details,” Juliet whined.
Charm thought about it for a few seconds, then she grinned.
She had been dying to tell someone about her relationship with Kyryl but had been holding back in case he really was just her dream lover. While the chances of him not showing up were slim, she hadn’t wanted to jinx it. But now that he was due to arrive tomorrow, she was giddy with anticipation.
Even though they had bonded in the dream world, and he had shared his magic with her, their mating wasn’t complete. She wasn’t able to use his magic or speak to him telepathically like most Ilius bonded mates could. The only thing that seemed to be different was he could sense whenever she entered the dream world.
So, every time she went to sleep, he was able to join her.
Over the past week, she and Kyryl had gone on several dream dates. They spent hours talking and laughing together, sharing stories of the past and hopes for the future. In their dream world, he had given her a tour of the palace he lived in with his family. The palace was as big as a city, and it had taken hours to wander through all of the different wings.
Since he was the prince of a freaking planet, she had been worried he would have to return to Ilius to fulfill his duties there. Thankfully, he said that wouldn’t be necessary. He wanted to take her to visit his family, but he assured her that he was looking forward to living at Wonderland with her.
During their dream dates, he had shown her other planets he had visited and shared some of the experiences he’d had with other races. Kyryl was a powerful warrior, but he was also kind and generous. His ability to train others and help them focus told her that he had an endless well of patience. And the list of fighting skills he had acquired over the years showed that he was a male of action as well as words.
His control was almost legendary, and he was known for remaining calm in even the most dire of situations. She really liked knowing she was the only one who could make him lose his composure.
They’d made love countless times in the dream world, but she was ready for the real thing. She wanted to touch him in the physical world and feel the heat of his body pressed against her. More than anything, she wanted to complete their bonding and confirm that he belonged to her.
She wasn’t sure what a prince would do living at a sanctuary, but he assured her he would figure out a way to keep himself busy. He didn’t seem to mind that she was a take-charge female with an attitude, but he was a little concerned about her habit of overloading herself with work.
While she couldn’t swear she wouldn’t overdo it, she could promise him that she would try to delegate more. Added to that, with him around, she had a feeling work would lose its appeal when compared to spending time with him.
Now, she was just waiting for him to arrive.
Pushing work aside, Charm leaned forward and braced her elbows on the desk. “I met my mate.”
Gia and Juliet both gasped.
“What? When?”
“Who is it?”
“His name is Kyryl Lux.”
Juliet held up a hand. “Wait! Kyryl Lux, as in Alestra Lux’s brother? Prince Kyryl Lux of Ilius?”
“That would be him,” Charm confirmed with a nod.
“Your mate is a prince?” Gia whistled. “Do you have to leave Wonderland and go be a princess somewhere?”
“Actually, I think he’s going to be living here with me.”
“Okay, I need the full story,” Gia said, sitting back.
“Me, too,” Juliet said. “When did he arrive on Evo? How did you two meet?”
“That’s the thing. He hasn’t arrived yet.”
Gia’s brows furrowed. “What in hellfire does that mean?”
Charm took a deep breath, then she explained how she had met Kyryl. Both of her friends listened to the story with wide eyes, and when she finished, they both sat there in stunned silence.
“You actually astral projected?” Gia shook her head. “Stars, that is fucking dangerous.”
“I didn’t know I was doing it at the time. How would I know that would happen after I made a wish on a freaking piece of paper?”
“Okay, you have a point there.” Gia paused, then asked, “Does that mean anyone can activate a wish using their blood? That could cause a shit ton of problems if people find out.”
“Does it work for anyone, or is it just because your mate is from Ilius?” Juliet asked.
“I have absolutely no idea,” Charm answered honestly. “Maybe Jade and Alestra will be able to figure it out when they get here.”
Juliet practically bounced in her seat with joy. “Jade and Alestra are coming here?”
“Apparently, half of Exodus is on their way here. Emma and Trip are coming,” Charm added. She knew they had been instrumental in helping Juliet escape her captor, so she would be especially excited to see them. “Emma just found out she is pregnant. Oh, and so is Jade.”
Juliet grinned. “Stars, I’m so happy for them!”
A knock sounded on the door, and Charm glanced at the monitor to see Ruckus waiting on the other side. She hit the release button to open the door, and he strode into the room, going directly to his mate. He kissed the top of Gia’s head and stroked a hand down her back.
“Something happened down by the lake. Some of the females are requesting we join them there,” Ruckus told them.
“Did they pick a location for the new building?” Charm asked.
“Don’t know. Why don’t we go and see?”
Getting to her feet, Charm glanced at the others. “You coming?”
Gia shrugged. “Sure, why not? We stopped by to drag you to dinner. So, we can eat after we check it out.”
Juliet smiled. “I’m in.”
As they made their way out of the turret where Charm’s office was located, several people waved and called out greetings. She waved back but didn’t stop to speak to anyone. A few people tried to speak to her about work issues, but Ruckus waved them away. She wished she had that superpower. Then again, that only worked for him since he was a freaking giant.
Charm noticed the sun had already set the moment they stepped out of the main building. She had spaced out in her office longer than she realized, counting down the minutes when she could return home and dream about her mate. As they made their way down to the lake, Charm noticed the path was lit up with lanterns hanging from the trees. Her brows furrowed when she saw that a large group was already gathered there.
“What’s going on?” Juliet asked.
“I have no idea,” Gia said.
But Charm did.
She felt Kyryl before she saw him. He wasn’t scheduled to arrive on Evo until tomorrow, but he obviously wanted to surprise her. She felt inextricably drawn to him, like a magical tether was pulling her toward him.
When the crowd parted, she finally saw him standing there. His dark magenta hair was pulled back at the sides, and his silvery purple eyes glowed brighter as they locked on her. He was wearing a set of dark purple robes decorated with silver thread. She knew from what he’d shared with her that those robes were ceremonial and only worn on special occasions.
And what could be more special than their bonding?
She was running toward him before she could think about it, and his lips curved into a smile as he opened his arms wide in welcome. She leaped at him, and he caught her with a laugh and spun her around.
“Charm! What the hell are you doing?” Raek hissed.
“Shh, honey,” Juliet whispered back. “He’s her mate.”
“He’s her what?”
Charm ignored her brother’s shocked gasp as she kissed Kyryl with all the love and longing she had been feeling. His arms tightened around her as he returned her passionate embrace. The moment their lips touched, she felt the bond between them surge to life. It was a hundred times stronger than it had been in the dream, and the intensity of it left her feeling completely overwhelmed.
When he set her back down on the ground, he took her hands in his and smiled down at her. “Greetings, mate.”
“Hi.” She grinned at him foolishly. “You’re really here.”
“Of course, I am,” he said, stroking a hand over her new purple hair. “I belong wherever you are.”
“Do you like it?”
“I do. The new color and style suits you, mate. Now, are you ready to fully bond with me?”
“Here?” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “In front of all these people?”
He chuckled. “Not that kind of bonding, my love. I wish to share my magic with you in front of your friends and family. It is meant to honor you in front of your people.”
“Oh.” Her cheeks heated and flushed with pleasure. “I’m ready. What do I need to do?”
“First, let’s get you changed.”
She was about to ask what he meant by that, then she gasped as he used a swirl of magic to change her leather outfit into a set of robes that matched his own. Her shoulder-length hair was twisted up on the sides, and she reached up to touch the diadem secured on the top of her head.
“What the—?”
“You look beautiful, mate. Let me handle the introductions,” Kyryl said, taking her hand in his.
He turned her to face the crowd. She noticed all of her friends and family were there, some looking shocked, while others grinned at her. There was also a group of staff members that had gathered close by, and a cluster of females who lived at the sanctuary were huddled together a little farther away.
“Did you invite everyone at Wonderland?” Charm whispered.
“Just about.”
She did a double take to gape up at him, but he just squeezed her hand and smiled at the crowd.
“Greetings. I am Alpha Charm Barra’s mate, Prince Kyryl Lux of Ilius. We would like to thank you for taking the time to join us this evening to witness our bonding,” he announced. “This place is near and dear to our hearts since it is where we met, and the Festival of Lights is what brought us together.”
Murmurs swept through the crowd.
Close by, Jade Vyper said, “My cousin is a very smart male.”
“I know that, but why are you saying that now?” Lucian asked.
“He introduced himself, stating his title, but downplayed it by using hers. He also marked his connection to this place, so he is no longer considered an outsider. And he thanked everyone for joining the important ceremony, which will make them more curious than fearful about the show of power they are about to witness.”
“He did all that in a couple of sentences?” Magnus Artane asked.
Brielle leaned against his side. “Yes, if you read between the lines.”
“How are they mates?” Raek asked, sounding bewildered.
“He just got here!” Fenris added. “He doesn’t even know my sister!”
“He does,” Juliet corrected. “I promise I will tell you all about it later.”
“They look like a couple of gods wearing those robes. What is this ceremony?” Gia asked as she linked hands with Ruckus.
“He is going to honor her with the mating pledge,” Alestra told them. “It’s a royal custom. First, they will pledge themselves to one another. Then, he will bond with her as he calls upon the elements to bless their mating. It is a big honor since he is giving her full access to his magic. Doing the ceremony here will also connect them to this place, so he is declaring this is his new home.”
“Why didn’t we do this?” Jais asked.
“Because I had no idea who I was when we first bonded,” Alestra reminded him. “Once I got my memory back, and I shared my magic with you, you almost split the world in half.”
“Right. Fun times.”
“They’re not going to do that here, are they?” Fenris asked, sounding alarmed.
“No, nothing like that,” Alestra assured.
Charm frowned as Kyryl pulled her away from the crowd and toward the lake. “What are we doing now?”
“It will be safer for everyone if we do the ceremony on the water.”
“On the…”
She let out a gasp of surprise as they began walking on the surface of the lake. She knew he could control the elements with his magic, but it still felt strange walking on water. Once they reached the center of the lake, they stood in the center of a ring of lanterns.
He held his hands out with his palms facing up. “Placed your hands on mine, and don’t move them until we are done. I’m going to say a few words to you, then you repeat them back to me.”
“Okay.” She placed her palms against his and took a deep breath.
“I, Prince Kyryl Lux of Ilius, pledge myself to you, Charm Barra of Wonderland, as your mate,” he announced in a strong voice that rang with power. “Bonded by love and magic, may we walk together in the light for eternity.”
“I, Charm Barra of Wonderland, pledge myself to you, Prince Kyryl Lux of Ilius, as your mate,” she declared. “Bonded by love and magic, may we walk together in the light for eternity.”
She felt her hands start to heat up as Kyryl began pushing magic into her palms. When they both began to glow with purple light, she forced herself to remain still. She kept staring into his beautiful eyes as the wind began swirling around them.
Droplets of water rose up from the lake and small rocks and stones were lifted from the shoreline by the wind, joining in the cyclone of power. The flames from the lantern flared up, joining in the tornado as it twirled around Charm and Kyryl. When their feet were lifted off the lake’s surface by the power of the elements, her hands gripped his.
“Don’t worry,” Kyryl said through their bond. “Just keep your eyes on me. I love you, Charm. Accept me and my magic. I will never harm you.”
“I love you, too, Kyryl. And I trust you.”
When the purple magic surrounding them pulsed out and joined with the other elements, it created a flash of light so strong it was almost blinding. Then, that light was sucked back into Kyryl and Charm, and she felt the power settle within her.
He pulled her close as they floated in the air. “How do you feel?”
“I feel…magical,” she said with a little laugh. “I almost feel drunk with power. So, we are officially mated now? Oh, wow, I just realized we are talking mind to mind now.”
“We are. We are bonded by love and magic,” he repeated the words of the pledge solemnly. “Now, you can never escape me.”
Leaning closer, she brushed her lips against his in a light kiss. Why would she ever think of escaping when she finally had everything she’d ever wanted?