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My magic manifested as darkest red, glowing bright against the hoveringSeraphi Ousia,bearing witness as it whirled around us before descending to join my blood and Nakoa’s on the ground beneath our feet.
Nakoa’s expression hardened in understanding before a hint of that cruel grin returned with grim determination. Nakoa pulled me hard against him, taking me by surprise when I raised my palm to meet Nakoa’s, weaving our fingers together. Our blood continued to trickle between us as our magic whirled around us and between the floatingSeraphi Ousiathat appeared to have stilled entirely. The breeze picked up again, circling us forcefully as if pushing us together. Nakoa leaned close, whispering in my ear.
“You already belong to me - mind, body, and soul - but Iwillhave your vow Mareina. Even if I must spend the rest of my days punishing you to get it.”
Dread and anger, in equal measure, curled through me like claws seeking flesh. Before I could respond, Phaedra’s voice cut through the wind like the blade, our flesh. With each passing word, a piercing golden light rose from beneath our palms where mine and Nakoa’s hands were intertwined. As Phaedra spoke, that golden light slid over our hands and wove around our wrists and fingers in an intricate design, boasting runes in a language I had only seen on the pythos in my dreams.
“May you serve one another for the benefit of Atratus. May you be one other's strength, allies in every battle, solace in every storm, the light in each other’s darkness, and a source of joy in each moment. By the power of Akash and all the gods who serve her, I, Phaedra Borealis, bless this union and their fated destiny. So mote it be.”
The light settled beneath our skin… Anddisappeared.
My brows pinched as confusion twisted into unease and sank like a boulder in my belly. Nakoa’s markings that only moments ago were elaborate, bright and vivid travelling over his forearm, wrist, and hand had vanished entirely.
As did mine…
I quickly drew up my sleeves, and the sight of what lay marked on the inside of my right forearm had that icy fear trickling back into my veins.
The gold had darkened into black. Instead of beautiful and elaborate whirls and runes like Nakoa’s had been before they faded, now all that remained was…
An inverted torch with wings.
The symbol for Mors.
The God of Death.
The words “Invenitum Thanaratou” scrawling, letter-by-letter, beneath it.
This was it… All this had been for nothing.
Surely, I would die very soon.
I was fucking marked for it.
Had been stalked by Mors’ Pharalaki for years.
I didn’t know what these words meant, though they sounded identical to the ancient language in my dreams, but the mark itself was foreboding enough.
“What have you done?”She whispered in horror, nails digging into my arm.
I was in such shock I could only gape at her like a fish out of water.
Nakoa growled viciously, snatching her wrist in a crushing grip that made her yelp in pain as she released me.
“Get your fucking hands off her.”
A sudden cry tore from my throat as the familiar ache that had always sat at the back of my shoulder blades pierced through me like twin broadswords. A searing pain thatburnedlike hellfire. Bones cracked, and my knees buckled.
Nakoa caught me in his arms before I hit the ground. My vision went white from the blinding pain, followed by a whollyunfamiliarweight that settled on my back. I ground my teeth against the pain before forcing my gaze to Nakoa’s. His face was illuminated with a golden light, jaw slackened, and eyes wide with awe.
“Wings,” he breathed.
My fingers sank into his shoulders, and I ground my teeth in pain while the worst of the pain gradually subsided. I gasped for breath like I’d been held underwater. Warmth and wetness seeped into my palms, and when I could finally open my eyes, I realized that my trim fingernails, while not even long or sharp, had still pierced his skin from gripping him so fiercely. He scarcely seemed to notice, his gaze fixed on what had sprouted from my back.
“Oh, Mareina… They’re beautiful,”he breathed.
The pain in my shoulders gradually faded to a dull, throbbing ache that was, while impossible to ignore entirely, no longer mind-numbing.
Nakoa helped me right myself and maintained his grip on my hands as if he knew just as much as I did that I would likely topple over from the tremendous weight hanging between my shoulders.
