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My breathing grows heavy as I picture being tied up. I have dabbled in BDSM before, but I can’t say I’m well-versed in that area. I suddenly want to know exactly what it would feel like to be completely tied up and at his will. I nearly moan at the thought.
Judging from his dark expression, I imagine Malix is thinking similarly.
Solaris clears his throat and it serves as a bucket of cold water dousing us. Malix drops my wrist as if my touch burns him and takes a step back. I try to convince myself his actions don’t hurt because we are strangers, but my stupid heart isn’t buying it.
Solaris reaches for the vial I tried to grab. “This is just honey, albeit a rare kind meant for bonding ceremonies, so it’s hard to come by,” he explains for my benefit. His curious eyes stay on me a beat longer than necessary and I hear Malix’s growl behind me.
Solaris has the decency to look contrite. “Sorry, Your Highness. It has just been decades since I have last seen a human. They’re magnificent.”
I try not to feel like a prized pig at an auction, but it’s a weird feeling to be talked about in such an otherworldly sense.
“Let’s get on with this.” Malix beckons, and Solaris quickly obeys. He adds in another white liquid that he says purifies the heart, whatever that means, and finishes up by crushing dried rose petals into the mix. He stirs the ingredients together within the chalice and places it aside once he finishes.
“If you two would grab hands,” Solaris instructs, and before I can act, Malix takes my hands in his. His touch is warm, warmer than anyone I have ever touched before. I wonder if that’s because dragon fire runs through his veins, but I don’t give voice to my thoughts.
The reality of the situation sinks in and I barely register what Solaris says about eternal bonds and everlasting joy. I’m about to be married to a dragon king in a different realm. A delirious giggle almost leaves my lips from the absurdity of the situation, but I clamp my mouth shut.
My behavior doesn’t go unnoticed because Malix squeezes my hands tighter. Not painfully so, but enough to say ‘quit fucking around.’ If Malix is freaking out, he’s not showing it. That bastard.
He remains calm and collected, his face void of all emotion. If anything, he appears bored, and I’m half tempted to stomp on his foot to get a reaction out of him. Probably not the best way to start off a marriage, though.
“It is time for the bonding drink. This mixture symbolizes your union and commitment to one another. For love to blossom, even in the shadows of doubt and uncertainty. It is to give you strength when you have no more to give yourself or each other.” Solaris reaches for the chalice on the table and holds it out to Malix first.
Malix grabs the chalice and looks down at the liquid like it personally offends him. He hesitates for only a moment before he brings the cup to his lips and drinks heavily from it. After a few seconds, the chalice gets passed to me.
The scent of honey hits me first since that’s the main ingredient in the drink. I didn’t particularly like honey in my world, so I’m not excited to drink it in its raw form. Hopefully the smashed-up rose petals and the white liquid Solaris added make it palatable.
I feel the eyes of both men on me, their expectations hanging heavily between us. A part of me wonders what Malix would do if I refuse to marry him. Would he call Ender back and demand a new human to provide aid for the battle?
The thought of another person in my place sends something akin to jealousy through me. Without further hesitation, I drink down the bonding serum.
The liquid is sweet on my tongue, but not overly so. It reminds me of a fresh mango smoothie on a hot summer day. My body instantly warms and my head spins. It suddenly feels like I’m a stranger in my own mind.
“Can you hear me?”
The voice comes so suddenly and I gasp, nearly dropping the chalice. The voice sounds like Malix but he hadn’t spoken out loud. No, it had come from within my own mind.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Again the voice comes.
“What the hell is that?” And what the fuck was that white substance Solaris put in the drink to make me hear Malix’s voice in my head?
When Malix speaks, it’s out loud this time. “Dragons can communicate through links. You’ve been given the ability to communicate with us now. Our link should be the strongest, which means I’ll be able to sense your thoughts even if you aren’t projecting them to me. And you’ll be able to do the same.”
I’m mortified by this invasion of privacy, but it’s too damn late to do anything about it now. It’s just going to be a day of doing things I don’t really want to do.
“With the bonding drink fresh on your lips, it is time to solidify the union between dragon and mortal with a kiss,” Solaris says.
A kiss? Fuck no! I open my mouth to say as much, but Malix beats me to it. “I don’t think that is necessary.”
I should feel relieved he said exactly what I was feeling, but I don’t. It makes absolutely no sense that I’m this pissed. I know it’s not rational, but I’ve never claimed to be. My current situation can attest to that.
“My King, it is necessary to complete the bond.” Solaris sounds like he’d rather be anywhere but in this room with us. I don’t blame the man. My almost-husband is an intimidating figure. I can’t imagine what his dragon looks like if his human appearance can cause a grown man to tremble.
“It’s not?—”
“If you don’t kiss me, I bet I can find someone here willing to do so.” The words leave my lips, cutting Malix off, and the entire room freezes. Solaris sucks in a breath, eyes comically darting back and forth between the two of us. If he had the chance to fly away, I bet he’d take it.
“What did you say?” Malix’s voice is formidably low, full of possession he’s not entitled to.
