Chapter 35
‘If the Gods deemed our Bond worthy, who are we to deny it? A bond between Elves and Fae can only bring us more power. I hope one day you will see that. I hope one day you will forgive me.’
— Written correspondence Evyen Deyanira to Tinyrah Kazimyr
Airess
Airess reached for him as he disappeared out of the hall. Her head spun with confusion.
“He will come around,” Ismene said, cutting through the tension. “A mating bond is a serious thing, especially to Fae males. Let him process.”
Airess whirled towards Ismene. “I’m half Human and half Elve, a mating bond isn’t possible. Elves don’t even have mates, much less Humans.”
Ismene clicked her tongue. “Incorrect. You do–it only goes by a different name. In Elven history, they call it The Bonded. Only Elves and select Mindborne Humans can have these bonds, though they have been muted in Luciena. Tell me, what does his energy look like to you?”
Airess flushed. “I don’t know–”
“I know you have The Sight, girl. What does it look like?”
“It looks like his eyes,” Airess admitted. “It’s beautiful. His energy is silver, as shiny as armor with an array of colors. It’s the only aura I had ever seen like this.”
“You see this in him because you are Bonded. Only a Mate, or Bonded, can see right through to the soul. I don’t understand the full scope of what your Bond to him means, but we know it is entirely unique to you both.
You harness the physical connection between Mates, and the energetic tie between The Bonded. ”
Airess took a deep look inward, her mind now whirring with every little moment she had begun to suspect something was different about her, about him.
Her supposed Starlight and Dreamwalking abilities that her mother had sworn to keep secret from the world, no matter what happened to her. The fact that she looked completely different than the Elves on the Lucien continent, as if she hadn’t hailed from there.
The moment she saw Taryn for the first time at the ball, his aura shining to her as if saying hello, her irrational affinity for him from the moment they were trapped together in that jail cell.
Airess’ visits to his past in the dreamworld–her visits with Ima in the dreamworld. How she accidentally triggered the Godspirit to save Taryn in the caravan while poisoned with donstenyte.
Airess clutched her chest.
“What does being Bonded Mates mean?”
“Right now the Bond is in the beginning stages. Once the relationship is consummated, the true effects of the Bond will take place. Your souls will be completely tied together.”
Airess blood heated. She felt as if she were frozen in place. The relationship needed to be consummated for the Bond to take effect?
“I…” Her mouth was dry. “I don’t know what to say,” was all she could say in response. Airess was speechless.
She didn’t doubt Ismene’s words like Taryn did. Airess felt Ismene’s truth, saw it in her own aura.
Ismene’s face softened. “Why don’t you go get some rest, dear? We can resume our lesson another time.”
Airess excused herself and rushed out of the temple doors. Her thoughts clashed against one another, making her head swim. She was too worried about what Taryn was thinking right now to feel excited. Her jaw clenched as she recalled how Taryn had just told her he didn’t want a mate.
Would his feelings change? Would… hers?
Airess didn’t even fully understand the scope of what being mates meant. It wasn’t exactly something she was familiar with growing up in Elven culture, especially living in a land where Bonded connections were muted by the wards.
Despite all this worry, Airess couldn’t help but find the entire concept of Mates and The Bonded infatuating. Beautiful, even. The fact that there could be someone out there destined to be intertwined with one’s soul was the epitome of Fate. The epitome of love.
Airess stopped walking, realizing the weight of her last thought. The weight of who Taryn was to her, and she to him, crashed into her. She stared at her shoes. A miniscule smile upturned the corner of her lips.
Of course.
It would be Taryn.
Taryn, whose skepticism in the unknown balanced her faith in it.
Of course it would be the male who could never bite his tongue, always challenging any authority whilst she had mastered the opposite during her time in the castle.
Taryn, whose elemental abilities were a stark contrast against her energetic Magick.
He was her opposite in every way. And yet, they were perfect for each other. They belonged to one another, like the stars holding the moon upright in the sky, Taryn had been her rock.
Airess lifted her chin. She knew what she had to do next.
Find Taryn.
Airess walked down the path in frustration toward the guest house she shared with Taryn.
She burst his door open, finding his room empty, the only thing to stir was the curtain flowing from the breeze.
The evening sun had just begun to set as she looked out the window in worry, storm clouds beginning to brew overhead.
She had barely begun her walk to the heart of the city when she caught sight of King Roz on horseback heading straight towards her.
Once he was upon her, she noticed the sweat under the casual tunic he had on–strikingly different then the silk embroidered fashions she had seen him in at the castle.
He traveled without his crown, a statement Airess surely found odd.
If Roz truly was a Godling, he sure presented himself as a common male.
He greeted her with a genuine smile as he dismounted, a noticeable difference from the male she had met back in the castle.
“Greetings, Airess of Judla!” He announced playfully as his feet touched the ground.
Airess didn’t quite know how to respond to such a friendly king, so she opted to bow awkwardly in reply.
“Good evening, King…Roz.” Airess winced at the awkward tone in her voice.
The king threw his head back as he laughed. “Please, no need to bow.” Roz gave her an inquisitive look as he noticed her leaving the guest house alone. “Going somewhere?”
“I was leaving for an evening stroll, if that is allowed, of course.” She definitely didn’t want to get into the fact that she was actually trying to track down Taryn, her supposed Mate. Even thinking about it now felt so surreal.
“Of course. You are allowed to come and go as you please, you aren’t a prisoner here.” Roz’s face flickered with seriousness before the corners of his mouth upturned. “Do you mind if I join you?”
Airess never expected the king to want to walk with her, but she obliged with a polite nod and they began to walk. “It certainly is different here. Where I come from, no royal would ever dare to stroll with a commoner, much less ride on horseback.”
“I see, the customs in Luciena are dated, in my opinion. However, you’ll find I quite enjoy my horse.” Roz mused. “Though, I could hardly classify you as a commoner. You were a woman of nobility where you lived, were you not?”
Airess stared at her sandals as they walked on, “My…father was a governor, yes, before they merged my province to join Luciena. I’m not so sure I could claim to be a highborn Lady now.
” Airess said with a grimace. She paused, because her father wasn’t her father, and her name wasn’t her name.
She could only wonder who her real father was.
The only thing Airess knew about him was that he was a Human man that lived in Tevye.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” Roz commented, clearing his throat as he changed the subject. “Have your lessons been going well with Ismene?”
“Yes, I’ve mostly learned the forgotten history Luciena buried. And…” Airess cut herself short, not knowing if she were to mention the brief history of the Godlings or the prophecy.
“And what else?” Roz prodded.
Airess stopped walking and looked at him. “She told me that you are a Godling.”
Roz stopped and turned to her, a surprised look of relief at her words. “Yes.” He admitted.
“Why didn’t you mention it sooner?”
“If I would have told you upon your arrival, not knowing everything you do now, would you have believed me?”
“Fair enough,” Airess conceded. “However I’m not quite sure what we are supposed to do now that we know the truth.”
Roz waved a hand carelessly, “Worry not, my friend. There is plenty of time for that in the future. Tell me, are you a fan of balls?”
If Airess wasn’t in the presence of a King, she would laugh at the question.
I’m not quite sure, Roz, considering the last one I attended changed my life entirely.
“I don’t mind them.” Airess said instead, falling into her old ways of responding mechanically, as if she angered this King enough, he would morph into Arzhel himself.
“The Salamoon Ball is tomorrow night. We would love for you and Tarynon to attend.”
“We would love to attend.” Airess said as she looked forward, not really present in the conversation as she was reminded about Taryn again. Her Mate. Could it really be true?
Would it be wrong of her to lean into this so-called Bond? Did she even have a choice? Arriving in Rune had been unlike anything she had ever expected, the culture vastly different than Luciena. The Fae lived differently here. She loved it.
Airess loved the idea of starting over, of becoming someone new, chasing after a life she was destined for. Whether this prophecy talk was bogus or complete truth, she felt deep in her heart that everything in her life was about to change. Again.
She wished Taryn would come back, so she could tell him that she wanted to try.
That she accepted the Bond. That she accepted him–all of him, even the parts he was too ashamed to name.
She saw the way his aura flickered with hot shame as they realized what they were to each other.
She needed to tell him that she didn’t care about his past. She didn’t care what he had done.
“ – are friends, but I was wondering if you wanted to share a dance with me at the ball?”