Sebastian scoffed. “Would be nice to have some instruction, yes.”
Kara flushed but lifted her chin. “We’ve committed to it. But we don’t know what to do next.”
“It is a ritual,” Veyra told them. “A ceremony older than Vallenna, or any of our Houses, and far less forgiving. A Soulbond not forged by words alone, but by true intent and depth of feeling. Speak truth, make your choice, and open yourselves completely. If your souls answer one another, the bond will take. If they do not...” She paused. “The magic will reject you. Violently.”
“Violently?” Sebastian repeated.
“Yes,” Veyra said shortly. “The Arcanth does not suffer false bonds.”
Kara inhaled deeply, trying to calm her racing heart. “We’ll speak it. Freely.”
Veyra smiled, satisfied. “Good. I will call for you tonight.”
Sebastian looked up. “Tonight?”
“There is an element of adjustment to a Soulbond,” Veyra replied simply. “You need to be ready. Time is short.”
“Adjustment? What does that mean?” Kara asked.
“You’ll see.”
Helpful.
She risked a glance at Sebastian. He was staring at Veyra, but he looked calm enough. At the very least, he didn’t look like he was about to draw his sword.
Tonight.
The word jolted through her whole body. It wasn’t some distant thing anymore. It was real. It was hours away. Kara knew that some part of her should feel afraid, but all she felt was bone-deep certainty.
She would always choose Sebastian Thorne.
And when he looked down at her, for all his protests and fear, the truth burned bright in his eyes.
Want.
He had made his choice too.
The summons from Veyra came at nightfall. A young woman, about twenty, in dark purple robes knocked lightly on their door as Kara had been anxiously re-braiding her hair. How did one wear their hair to a Soulbond ceremony? Everything she tried felt wrong – notenough.
“Our lady awaits you at the temple,” was all she said.
Sebastian and Kara followed her out, and Kara could feel the tension rolling off him as they walked. He had a slight crease between his eyebrows and he kept stroking the back of her hand with his thumb.
“Kara, are you sure?” he asked, low enough that only she could hear.
Of course I am.
“About you? Yes.” She gave the faintest, nervous smile. “About getting the words right? Not so much.”
His lips twitched, clearly the closest he could get to a laugh right now. But his eyes were serious. “We’ll figure it out together.”
“Together.”
And they walked on towards the waiting Fatàn temple. It wasn’t grand the way Kara had imagined, no towering spires, it was small, with circular walls carved from black volcanic rock. They rose up to meet thenight sky, then stopped. No roof. It allowed the stars to glitter and shine down on the floor below. Like the Gods themselves were watching. Kara swallowed hard as they climbed the steps. The air smelled ancient, earthy. She caught notes of herbs she recognised, and the sulphur smell that lingered throughout all of Fatàn.
This is really happening.
“Welcome,” said Veyra as they entered.
