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Don’t be ridiculous, Liana.He wants this just as much as you. He’s nervous, that’s all.
Alaric passed around the chalices and raised his own, “To Liana,” he said.
“To us,” I corrected.
“To us,” the others intoned, and we all drained our chalices of wine.
Alaric set his down and turned to Finn, “We’re ready. Show us how it should be done.”
The Draconian nodded and turned toward the empty circle of floor in the room's middle. We followed.
My heart beat erratically against my ribcage, and my palms slicked with sweat.
Finn led me to the center where the moonlight could reach me from the open terrace. The chill breeze shocked my sweat-dampened skin.
“The ritual requires contact, so we all must touch her.” Finn took told of my hand, gave a reassuring squeeze and a nod. He whispered only for me, “It’s alright. It’s going to work.”
And he was right—Iwasworried about it not working, or somehow only binding me to one of them instead of all of them. But there was a small part of my mind that rebelled, telling me this wasn’t fair to them.
The Immortal Bond cannot be undone.
If it worked, they would be tied to me forever. Never able to have families of their own. I was depriving them of normal lives.
Alaric took my other hand, and my breathing hitched at the contact. Tiernan gently circled my wrist, above where Finn still clasped my hand. Kade did the same on the other side.
My breathing sped up—becoming more ragged. Panicked.
“Wait,” I said, but didn’t pull away. I swallowed, “Are—are you all certain this is what you want?”
There wasn’t a trace of doubt or weakness in any of their eyes. They regarded me with unwavering strength, certainty, and devotion. As one, they said, “Yes.”
“And you?” Alaric said, faltering, averting his gaze, “Areyoucertain?”
Looking at him—at all my males, I realized I had never been more certain of anything in my entire life. They might’ve been theonlything I was certain of.
“I’ve never been more certain of anything.”
Alaric snapped his head up at my response. His jaw tightened.
“Let’s do this,” Kade said, and I felt the place where his hand gripped my arm warm with the activation of his Grace.
I nodded my agreement. “What now, Finn?”
“Do you all remember the words?”
“Yes,” Tiernan said, and the rest of us nodded. The ancient words were few—only six words in the tongue of old, spoken with intent and while bound of flesh—would bind us of heart and mind forever.
Finn knelt, and with a piece of chalk pulled from his trousers, he drew on the floor at my feet. It was an intricate pattern of lines and swirls and knots. A sigil?
He saw the questioning look I gave him when he rose, and he squeezed my hand again, blushing, “It’s a sigil of the Alchemists,” he said with a bit of distaste in his tone, “I’d prefer not to use it, but this particular one strengthens the potency of an incantation. I thought—well it can’t hurt, right?”
The corner of my mouth turned up in a smirk, “So prepared,” I teased him.
He smiled back, “All you have to do is say the words, Liana. Only once, but with intent to bind with all four of us.”
My teeth clenched, and my grip on Alaric’s and Finn’s hands tightened.
“It’ll be alright,” Alaric breathed, “Just close your eyes and focus.”
