“Ugh,” she let out.
“What’s the matter, Lia?” Gage teased from where he sat with Avery on the settee. “Trying to hide your inner-most thoughts from us, hmmm?”
“You all don’t need to know everything that goes on in my mind,” she huffed.
“Would that be because the self-sacrificial bullshit would need to come to an end?” Zaela questioned, as her eyes remained fixated on her.
“No,” Lia growled.
“Such sweet lies,” I whispered in her ear. She squirmed in my grasp, but it only made me tighten my hold.
“It’s not necessary, but it’s an option I wanted to make you aware of,” Veli chimed in. “Separation is a guarantee once you are on that battlefield. However, hearing another’s thoughts may also serve as a distraction.”
“But it could also lead us back to each other,” Lia breathed.
“Precisely,” the sorceress added. “It is a practice that used to be known amongst both the High Witches and Priests of the realm but was lost once marriages of convenience became the forefront of how the inner workings of the courtworked. And if you wish to avoid another siren situation, you would be able to communicate with one another this way. Even see through each other’s eyes.”
Everyone was silent for a few moments. The only sound to be heard was the crackling of embers as they sparked from the fireplace.
“And you would be able to assist with the practice of these?” I asked.
“It is something you must learn from one another—your bodies and minds working in tandem. Just note that it cannot be undone without severing your bond entirely. However, if there is ever a time where you need to block the bridge or hide your pain, you may temporarily build a wall in your mind if you concentrate hard enough, though you will always be able to sense one another.”
Gods, I could already feel the wheels turning in Lia’s head at that.
“Wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of this? If she’s in pain, I would need to know,” I grumbled.
The sorceress shrugged. “It is an option if desired. As I said before, this ritual enhances your bond, giving you more access and control. You will still be able to sense one another if one decides to build a shield.”
My heart started pounding as I glanced at my mate, and I discovered her gaze was already fixed on me while everyone else watched in silence.
“This is an…intense and irreparable decision. What are you thinking, Lia?”
“That’s not fair. You can’t leave the decision in my hands alone. It’s your life too.”
“I would never burden you with the sole responsibility of making this decision, but you should know that I am entirely for it. It’s to ensure your safety and that you’re never lost to me. I would never be against something as such,” I stated.
I then leaned down and breathed into the tip of her ear, “And imagine all the wicked things I could whisper into your mind, my darling Lia.”
Her body went rigid while goosebumps formed on her skin. She then cupped my cheek with her palm, a soft, closed-lipped smile forming on her face. “Wicked whispers regardless, it’s to ensure your safety as well. Not just my own.”
Zaela cleared her throat from across the room. “Well, I believe the decision is made, then.”
Avery leapt up from the couch, the wine in her glass nearly tipping over its edge in the process. “It’s decided, then! A royal wedding!” she boomed with pure glee.
Gage reached out and grabbed her by the back of her shirt, pulling her back into his arms on the couch, and she fell into him, giggling.
“It’s decided,” Lia said softly with a smile. “I suppose we can spare one night for a celebration before our departure.”
Everyone’s face wore a smile as chatter among the eight of us ensued, discussing plans, attire, and the functionality of such an event.
And then the night carried on, the sound of our laughter and the strumming of Gage’s gittern filled the air as we allowed ourselves to forget about our endless responsibilities and be a family.
Chapter forty-six
Kellan
My hesitance for thewitch bitch and her crone had diminished, replaced by a newfound confidence of being able to ride and tame the conjured beast at my will. The wyvern was just as wary and erratic as the previous one we possessed, but under the mind link of the blood-bonded cuffs, it bent to my every demand and call.
