As I bind Dayton’s soul to ours.
Castletree is too weak to hold another soul. My mother warned me a mate bond was not a strong enough tether to tie two fae together. It’s why she had to use Castletree to begin with.
But what oftwomate bonds? Our golden threads burst with life. I will tether Dayton to Fare and I forever.
“Remember, I cannot help you,” my mother says. She’s pale and weak but somehow managed to crawl over to me. “Sira drew too much of my magic. This is all you, Rosalina. Pull back the veil until you see not only your bonds but your souls.”
I take in a deep breath and concentrate in the same way I do when I harness the power of transformation. Light shines offFarron, flickering like embers in a hearth. A glow emits from me too, pulsing a soft rose gold. Around Day, it trembles in waves, but it’s so faint, reminding me of mist dispersing under the sun’s rays.
We don’t have much time.
“I’ve done it.” My breath rattles. Merely seeing this part of the hidden world takes all my concentration and strength.
“Good,” my mother says, drawing closer. “Now, weave all the parts together in a single braid, strand by strand. But I warn you, Dayton has no life thread of his own. If you or Farron fall, it could mean the death of all three of you.”
Farron opens his amber eyes, staring back at me. The choice throbs through our bond, as if there’s no choice at all.
For our mate.
Furrowing my brow in concentration, I begin to pull pieces loose. It’s sticky and slow, like the threads of our souls are caught in honeyed mist. Farron lets out a gasp of pain as we tug ourselves apart.
“Weave your mate bonds into the binding,” my mother urges. “It will hold this all together. At least in theory.” She pauses. “What you’re doing has never been done before.”
“Always such encouraging words,” Caspian huffs at her. He paces like a caged animal above us.
“But she’s your daughter,” Papa says. “Rose, trust in your heart.”
We braid slowly. My breath hitches as more of our essences weave together, yet Day’s soul slips further with each strand, vapor unraveling in the wind.
“We’re losing him, Rosie,” Farron whispers.
“No.” I reach out and clasp Farron’s hand. “He’s staying with us. Do you hear me, Day? You’re staying with us.”
Strand over strand, Farron’s warmth, my light, Day’s misty blue, all twined with our glowing bonds. Again and again and again.
Black dots the edges of my vision. Sweat beads my forehead. But we’re almost there, at the end of our tie. I can’t tell where one of us ends and the others begin.
“Ready?” I whisper.
Farron’s lip trembles, and he nods.
I let the veil drop. A gasp escapes me as I fall back to reality. Dayton lies beneath us.
With shaking fingers, I smooth the hair from his brow and watch his chest, willing it to move. Castletree is silent. All the princes’ eyes are on me. My mother and father hover close. And behind them, Astrid, Marigold, and the rest of the staff watch us. I hadn’t even heard them come in.
My gaze falls to Dayton, and I swallow the fear rising in my chest. He hasn’t stirred.
“Please, Day,” I choke out. “Please.”
Farron grasps his hand, tears staining his cheeks.
Then—
Dayton gasps. His eyes flutter open, and he’s breathing. He’sbreathing.
He gazes at me, then Farron, and then the rest of Castletree. “Why’s everyone looking at me? Just a little surface wound.”
Farron’s crying now, shoulders shaking with it. “Hardly the time for jokes.”
