I blink, completely baffled. “What did I say?”
Mina steps forward, her gentle smile trying to soothe the awkwardness as she begins leading me toward my home. “The entire purpose of this ritual,” she explains, “is foryouto awaken and for your mate to prove he’s worthy of you.”
“The goddesses may align two souls,” Essin chimes in, “but the male must demonstrate his dedication, hard work, and sacrifice. Who would want a useless male?”
“How would a gift make Theron useless?” Am I missing something important here?
Naïa shakes her head. “You are awoman,” she says.
“Youarethe gift!” Essin finishes with a dramatic huff, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
I should tell Theron to never, ever speak of my gift to him to anyone. For our safety.
51
AWAITING NIGHTFALL
“A crystal you are born. Yet a day shall come when you find a rose, not crimson, as men’s songs tell, but deep as the endless blue of the sea. And in her, your soul shall awaken. In her, your destiny shall bloom.”
—Ánya, holding newborn Theron
Theron
“I’ve never seen such a rose before!” Kaël gasps.
“My mate gifted it to me.” I show off the most precious treasure I’ve ever received. I didn’t expect one at all. The female is the gift, her very existence. Perhaps it’s human culture for a female to do such a thing. But I love it, it’s from her. Even if she gifted me a leaf spirit, I’d say thank you and cherish it forever.
Tonight, my mate and I will become one. Just the thought of it, of finally claiming her, of everything falling into place, sends heat coursing through me, unsheathing my cock. I’ve waited for this day for so long. Over four hundred years of yearning, of searching, of wondering when I would find the other half of my soul.
I stand in the stream with my bratya. Aeson is the first to step out of the water, his bright white fur glinting in the sunlight. Then Zephyr, Kaël, and finally me. Together, we shake the last of the water from our fur, and the droplets catch the light like scattered crystals.
I lift my gaze to the sky. The sun shines bright. The blooming season paints Ávera in different colors of nature. But this year, blue shines the brightest.
“The first of us to bond,” Zephyr says, a smile tugging at his mouth as he rests his paw on my shoulder.
I nod in acknowledgment.
“It is a great honor, Theron,” Aeson adds as he crosses his arms.
It is indeed. My mate is not only the Lidéren from the prophecy but also the one destined to break the curse that has plagued us for generations. Pride swells in my chest.My mate.
“And we won’t even be here to watch you celebrate your lives together!” Kaël whines, his tail flicking in frustration.
With a forceful sigh, I close the distance between us. Zephyr’s paw falls to his side as I turn my full attention to Kaël.
“There won’t be time for celebration,” I say, my voice bitter. I wish it were different. Being the first bonded vólkin in centuries is an honor, but it comes with an unbearable weight. My mate and I carry the responsibility of starting a war—a war to end the suffering of this world. Where my ancestors chose complacency, we will act. Where they turned their backs, we will lead.
“Will you leave tomorrow?” Kaël asks after a moment of silence.
“Yes.”
“After us?”
“Yes.”
Our time joining together will be brief, as will any chance to enjoy the bond we’ve waited so long to form.
“The tsar’s army waits, their ambush approaches. We cannot afford to wait. We must be ready. We must strike first and take them by surprise.”
