Alex lunged forward, pulling me into a crushing embrace. “Thank you, Leah. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I managed with my squashed lungs as I patted his shoulder before prying myself out of his grasp
“Sorry.” He laughed. “I guess I just got a little excited.”
I smirked. “A little. But I suppose one should be excited on their bonding day.”
He flashed me a brilliant smile, and in unspoken agreement we wound back through the white trunked trees and green, flower-studded foliage toward the clearing. Unease still hung over me like a stormy cloud, but I fought to ignore it. This wasn’t about what I wanted. Bracing myself, we entered the clearing as a cool breeze swept past.
Across the glade, Ryker leaned against a tree, his arms folded and an unreadable expression on his face. Across from him, Cassie looked up from the goblet she was twisting in her hands, and her slightly swollen eyes landed on me as if she could ascertain my decision with just a glance. I forced a smile, and she leapt to her feet with a squeal, racing across the short distance.
“You’re the best, Kaleah!” She threw her arms around my neck, and I returned the embrace, holding her willowy frame against me. Her reaction alone was worth the cost of my anxiety.
“You might want to withhold your praise until I actually accomplish the feat.” I pulled back, brushing a loose golden lock behind her ear.
She wrinkled her nose and bounded away. “I have faith in you.”
Well that made one of us. Alex joined Cassie as she skipped over to the altar, and with a flourish set the golden chalices atop it. Cassie’s and Alex’s chatter filled the glade, and the hair prickled on the back of my neck a second before a shadow entered my periphery and I jumped. I hadn’t even heard Ryker move. Heart racing, I tried not to fixate on the way the sunlight glinted off his raven black hair and tan skin turning him into something ethereal. Heat blossomed over my face, and I ducked my head, cursing myself for being so weak to him.
His fingers brushed against my arm, sending electric currents racing through my veins. “You’re sure you want to do this?” he asked so quietly I barely heard, but the concern contained there caught my attention, and I lifted my gaze once more. His golden eyes surveyed me, not a single hint of hate or judgment within them, and I wondered at his genuineness. Why did he care when he was supposedly leaving, anyhow?
I chewed on my lip, shifting my attention back to the altar. “What I want isn't important.” I sighed, and ignoring the hardening of his lips, traipsed across the soft green grass toward my sister and her intended. Ryker followed, a silent shadow. With every step, the knots twisted in my stomach, and I tightened my arms around myself as if that could nullify the churning sensation and keep myself from being sick.
“Are you ready?” Cassie chirped, bouncing on her feet where she and Alex faced me across the crude stone altar.
Most definitely not, but the more important question was: “Are you?”
Cassie grinned, her golden hair waving about her face as she nodded emphatically.
“We are,” Alex said, taking her hand in his. Together they knelt before the altar, their countenances matching the cheeriness of the overhead sun.
Taking a deep breath, I released it slowly, trying to let go of my fear and trepidation as well. “Alright. You have the knife?” I turned to Ryker who stood to my left. He slipped the golden sheathed dagger from his belt and passed it over. A shudder rippled through me, and I dropped it on the altar with a clang. It was called blood bonding for a reason.
“It’s not like you’re going to stab anyone with it.” Cassie chuckled and removed the sheath. A thin piece of rolled parchment was wrapped around the blade, and she slid it off the end, holding it out to me. “I assumed instructions might be helpful.”
Thank the Creators, because I had little idea what exactly I was supposed to say. “Your assumption was correct.” I took the paper and unfurled it, glancing over it as my sister unwrapped a golden ribbon from around the hilt of the sword and placed it next to the chalice.
Flowing script covered the parchment, and a bit of my tension eased as I found step by step instructions and words in the divine language to repeat. Ryker moved closer, peering over my shoulder at the paper I held. His breath brushed against my neck sending shivers down my spine.
“What exactly is blood bonding?” He glanced between me and the knife on the altar, arching a brow.
“No one explained it to you when you signed the contract to be my intended?” I asked, confused.
Ryker grimaced. “Let’s just say my contract wasn’t a typical one.”
What was that supposed to mean? Another question to add to my ever growing pile of them.
“Blood bonding is where two people are joined together as partners for this life and the next,” Cassie explained, and I was glad she was able to put it in such easy terms—something I would have struggled to do.
“Your people don’t do this?” Alex asked, tilting his head as he considered Ryker with renewed interest.
“No.” Ryker shifted from one foot to the other. “The closest ceremony we would have is marriage, where couples exchange vows and become husband and wife. But there’s no blood involved.”
“Well maybe you’ll have to teach us more about this marriage custom of yours sometime.” Cassie flashed me a smug grin. Heat seared across my face, and I glowered, noting Ryker’s red hued cheeks out of the corner of my eye as he rubbed the back of his neck and looked heavenward as if asking for strength. She just couldn’t leave well enough alone, could she?
“Don’t we have a bonding ceremony to perform?” I asked, more loudly than needed, but we were in dire need of a change of topic.
My sister rolled her eyes, seeing straight through my charade. “That we do.”