Chapter 26 - Izzy
IZZY
It had only been a day since I’d been with Myel, but once again the stress of our separation had amplified the bond’s call. I needed him… and he was far away, probably in pain, suffering for my sake.
I needed to rest, so I could do everything in my power to help him, but I wouldn’t be able to rest until I’d done something about the bond’s call echoing deep within me.
And since I’d learned a hell of a lot about bindings in the last few hours, perhaps it was time I put that training to the test.
Most of what Lhorine had taught me had been about elvish binding, which was meant to limit another person in some way.
The easiest way to think about it was like binding someone’s hands with rope.
Magical binding worked the same way, only instead of limiting movement, they limited a person’s power in some way.
We’d focused on that, and how the binding collars worked, and about breaking bindings, for most of the night.
Yet, she’d also spent some time talking about the difference between a mating bond and elven binding.
A mate bond didn’t limit a person, instead it expanded a person’s awareness to include another person and bound them together.
It did “limit” Myel and I a little, since we’d always have to sate the bond or we’d suffer…
like I was now. But mostly a mate bond gave more than it took.
It soothed the soul and elevated emotions.
It warned of danger and connected the two individuals.
And it was that connection I sought now.
One of the distractions this past evening had been feeling his pain.
I’d tried to ignore it, turn that part of the bond off so I could concentrate, but now I steeled myself and faced it, dove into it.
I needed to connect with my bond-mate and to do that, I needed to fully commit to this link between us.
Tears leaked from my clamped shut eyes and whimpers escaped my lips as I sank into the agony Myel had endured. I gave myself over to that pain… and it was indeed horrific.
He’d been savagely beaten.
In addition to Golana’s punch, which had crushed his abdomen and destroyed organs, myriad other pains seared and throbbed and ached all over his body. And I felt it all as if it had happened to me.
I cried out, sobbing. I couldn’t help it.
But I hadn’t sought through our bond just to feel Myel’s pain. I’d hoped to help him, reach him, even though we were physically apart.
I laid a hand on my stomach, feeling Myel’s destroyed bowels, and let my healing flow. I sent it into myself, then through the bond to Myel. I expected it to be difficult… but it wasn’t. Lhorine had said our bond ran deep, solid. I felt that true connection now.
Myel’s pain eased as his innards mended.
And so I went, healing Myel’s injuries through our bond. I had no clue how he’d experience this, but it didn’t matter, as long as I could help him.
Izzy? Is that you?
Myel’s voice seemed distant, but I heard his tenuous call.
Yes, Myel, I’m here.
How? The hope and pain in his voice shredded my soul. This wasn’t a physical pain anymore. This was the pain of speaking to his beloved but not being able to be with her. A pain I shared in equal part.
I spent the day learning about bonds. I… I used that to reach out to you, heal you.
Oh Spirits, Izzy, thank you, you are… you’re a miracle!
I smiled softly, the tears I’d shed in pain not that long ago cold on my cheeks.
I… may be able to do more… but I was exhausted, even more so after healing Myel from a distance. I could barely move, every muscle ached with deep fatigue.
“Koar,” I called softly.
“I’m here mistress, what’s wrong?” The dragon’s voice was closer than I’d expected. A large hand took one of mine, lifting it to enfold it in both of his. Koar was already next to me? He must have heard me crying and come to see why.
“I’m with Myel, through our bond, but… I need more. I can do more, but I need your help yet again. I’m so sorry to ask.” I was still floating in a place beyond my body, connected to Myel, my eyes clamped shut. But I knew Koar would help.
“You need energy?”
“Yes, lots… and… I’m sorry, but… this may get… awkward, intimate. Will you… will you stay by me and help me through this?”
He gulped, then sighed. “Yes mistress, whatever you need, as I promised.”
God! I’d never known anyone so willing to do anything and everything for me. Even Vyns had kept some distance between us at the start. But Koar had been one hundred percent devoted from the get-go.
“Thank you.”
We quickly performed the ritual which siphoned his energy into me, for the third time in less than a day.
The man was a deep well of energy, always willing to give.
That was dragons for you. And when his life force filled me, rejuvenated me, I delved even deeper into my bond with Myel.
I had the energy to seek the metaphysical barrier between us, the thinnest of veils in a realm of soul and spirit…
then I crashed through it, into Myel’s very essence.
My awareness expanded.
Koar’s hand still enveloped mine, giving energy as I needed it, close and comforting.
Yet all of that felt far away, my physical body a memory.
It was spirit and raw life essence which dominated this place.
Reality shifted, feelings became physical.
Myel’s love for me was a heated breath coasting over my skin.
Except I didn’t have skin, I was a soul made substantial.
And so was Myel
“Izzy?”
No longer did his voice sound like it came from a great distance.
He was right here with me. His spirit shifted and formed into a glowing manifestation of his body, which was somehow even more real than his true physical form.
He seemed… taller, back straighter, dark soulful eyes shining brighter.
This was Myel as he was meant to be, without an entire life of oppression having ground him down.
And God, he was even more gorgeous than usual.
He usually kept his hair short, but here his dark locks were long, floating behind him, like some story-book faerie prince, dashing and proud and…
…did I mention clothes didn’t seem to be a thing in this strange place of spirit, so he was stark naked.
And so was I, I realized, as I looked down to see my own spirit form.
Myel looked around with wonder.
“What is this place? How did we get here?” The joyous smile on his face warmed my heart.
I couldn’t wait any longer and rushed to him.
And as I’d hoped, even though this place wasn’t physical, his presence still soothed me.
He wrapped strong arms around me, and his love flowed through me, peace easing the tension in my not-body.
“This is our bond,” I breathed as I held him tight. “Lhorine told me tales of bondmates of old who shared a connection so profound they could meet in a realm of spirit or essence or whatever. So I sought that out and broke through the last of our barriers to find you.”
“Izzy,” Myel breathed my name like a prayer, clutching me even tighter. “My miracle.”
And our not-bodies being crushed together in this place seemed to have the same effect as our physical bodies doing the same. Our arousal spiked.
I pushed back enough to find his lips and kissed him. And when my ethereal lips touched his, it was like some long-lost part of me had come home. It wasn’t just a kiss, it was the last piece of a puzzle, the final joining of our souls in this bond.
And through that kiss all our emotions flowed, not only his abiding love, but his heady lust, his need for me. And deeper than all of that, his unflinching devotion… mingled with a terrified doubt.
And because of this deep connection, I understood that dread-dismay instantly: he feared I’d leave him someday.
I had to hope this ultimate joining of our spirit would show him how much he was wrong. He knew how I felt, even if it wasn’t full-on love yet, it was nearly everything else. I needed him as much as he needed me. He was my partner… for life, and I appreciated everything this man had done for me.
As our emotions flowed, our metaphysical bodies began to merge in a way our physical bodies never could.
He wasn’t just deep inside one part of me, but everywhere within me.
And I slid inside him as well. We became one.
It was sexy and steamy and hot and wonderful, but so much better than messy physical sex.
It was pure and utterly sublime, heavenly.
We touched each other in ways I’d never thought possible, sinking deeply into this heated connection, giving and receiving in waves of building bliss. Our bond demanded we come together, and in this place we did… over and over again.
We remained like that, joined in a perfect union of ecstasy and devotion, for a while before I felt a pull.
My body needed me back. It had taken far more energy to be here than coupling in person.
“I have to go,” I whispered as we slowly separated, though still in each other’s arms, just not mingling spirits completely anymore.
He nodded. “I feel my body growing weary as well.”
“I’m coming for you,” I breathed. “I’ll find you and we have a plan to help you win the fight. Hang on, be brave my perfect hero.” I pushed an ethereal hand through his long thick hair.
“I will, I’ll never falter. I’ll hold on. I’ll wait for you, always.”
We drew apart, the pull of our bodies too demanding.
And yet, as that place of wonder faded and my essence settled once more into the heavy and weary confines of my body, I had to smile.
Because the bond between Myel and I was even stronger now. It was complete. And having sated its desire, I finally, thankfully, rested.