“What is it, my son?” she asked in a low, purring voice. “You are very troubled—I can see it in your eyes and smell it in your scent. What burdens you?”
“Grandmother Tigris, I have broken my vow!”
Rarev had meant to lead up to the subject gradually, but the words burst from him before he could stop them. It was as though the shame and guilt in his chest was a geyser that must erupt or it would consume him.
“What’s that you say?” Grandmother Tigris frowned, her blue eyes filled with concern. “I do not understand.”
“I took a vow before the statue of the Goddess to never call a bride until all the other Monstrum had called theirs,” Rarev explained. “Instead, I have Claimed a female before any of my people has had a chance to. I have broken my vow—I am deeply shamed.”
He fell to his knees before the old priestess, hanging his head in abject misery after he made the admission. He could imagine the disappointment in Grandmother Tigris’s blue eyes—he didn’t want to see it there. So he kept his own eyes down on the ground, not looking at her.
“I see.” The ancient priestess’s voice was steady and calm. “And so now you seek absolution?”
“I have come to ask…ask that you dissolve the bond I have formed.” Rarev’s voice was faltering and hoarse in his own ears. “Either that, or you must accept my resignation and I must step down from the leadership of the Monstrum in disgrace.”
“Warrior, look at me,” Grandmother Tigris demanded.
With a heavy heart, Rarev turned his face up to hers.
“Yes, Grandmother Tigris?” he asked hoarsely.
“What you ask is a heavy thing indeed. A soul-bond, once formed, should never be dissolved. And you are the one the Goddess herself chose to be the leader of our people. I do not believe either option you mention would benefit the Monstrum as a whole.”
“But I have broken my vow!” Rarev reminded her. “That is a great shame—there must be consequences!”
“Let me look into your heart,” the priestess demanded. “Close your eyes and open yourself to me.”
Rarev steeled himself as her ancient fingers—so old the fur had been worn from their tips—found his temples. Allowing a priestess to “look into” one, was never a comfortable experience. But he knew better than to refuse Grandmother Tigris.
He closed his eyes, feeling her rifling through his memories of the past few days. His time with Emilia was laid bare—as were his deep emotions for her. He knew the old priestess was also seeing the reasons why they could not be together. He was certain that when she was finished, she would come to the same conclusion that he had himself.
So he was surprised when she stepped back and said,
“The bond must not be dissolved.”
“What?” Rarev’s eyes flew open and he looked at her in disbelief. “You would rather have my resignation, then?”
“I do not wish that either,” Grandmother Tigris said, frowning. “Nor does the Goddess—even now she speaks to me…she tells me that you must stay bonded to Emilia and that you must continue to lead the Monstrum.”
“But…my vow—” he began.
“Was given to the Goddess and now the Goddess herself releases you of it,” Grandmother Tigris said gently. “But if you will not listen to me, then listen to her.”
“What? I don’t understand.” Rarev shook his head. “Grandmother Tigris—”
“Rarev, Chief Commander of the Monstrum Kindred, listen and heed my words.”
The powerful female voice came from above his head. With a start of surprise, Rarev looked up and saw that the statue of the Goddess had become animated. Its eyes—which had been blank and gold only a moment ago—were now the green of growing things and life and its lips moved as it spoke to him.
“Warrior, your vow was taken in good faith and because you wished your people to prosper,” the Goddess said to him, still speaking through the statue. “But now I release you of it so that you may lead the way for them. You must call a bride first to pave the way for other Monstrum to do the same.”
“But, Goddess,” he protested. “The human Press—they hate the Monstrum. And they will hate Emilia if they perceive her to be catering to us instead of looking out for the best interests of Earth.”
“I know you fear for your bride’s wellbeing—that is natural and right,” the Goddess told him. “But you must trust me in this. Not only must you Claim Emilia as your mate—you must do it publicly.”
“Publicly?” Rarev exclaimed. “But, Goddess—”
“Warrior, do you dare to argue with your Goddess?” The statue frowned at him sternly.
“No, Goddess,” Rarev said. “I only thought—”
“Listen,” the Goddess told him. “I will tell you the correct way to present yourself when you Claim your bride for all to see…”
The Goddess spoke at length and Rarev listened and nodded. He still didn’t understand the Goddess’s reasoning, but he trusted her. The Mother of All Life had a reason for everything she did, even when the mortals entrusted to her care didn’t comprehend it.