by Meg Anne
Without stopping Von slammed his foot into Helena’s door, the door splintering and flying open with a crash.
Within the room, Alina spun around with a sharp cry, her eyes widening in shock at the site of her mistress in his arms.
“Go grab a healer, quickly. Do not spread tales, and do not come back in this room until I ask for you.”
Alina nodded, trembling fingers still pressed against her lips. She rushed quickly from the door, pushing past the four men still standing in the doorway.
Von turned to them, “Guard the door. No one comes in until I say,” he said sharply, his voice still deadly soft.
“That goes for all of you,” he added with narrowed eyes, sparing a final second to stare at Darrin until the blonde man left the room. Joquil followed behind him, gesturing and murmuring under his breath as he sealed the doorway, ensuring privacy for the room’s occupants.
Von set Helena down softly on her bed, finally allowing himself to fully catalog her injuries. A warrior by birth and blood, Von was not one to use his powers as anything other than a weapon or perhaps to bring some minor comfort to the otherwise stark living conditions of the road. His mother, however, was a noted healer in her time, and she had taught him a few things before her passing.
Closing his eyes, Von called the unfamiliar branch of magic to him, feeling the warmth rush through his fingers. He ran a gentle hand down her body, trying to sense any irregularities within her. He found none.
“What did you do, little one?” he asked her softly, easing himself down beside her.
With no apparent injury, Von could only assume that Timmins had been correct in his assessment that she had pushed her magic to its very limits causing a severe drain of her own vitality.
Not pausing to consider what he was doing, Von reached out to her again, resting his hand firmly on her chest over her heart. Driven by pure instinct he tried to share his own life force with her. He felt the drain immediately, tendons pulling sharply in his neck, and sweat breaking out on his brow.
It wasn’t until he felt himself beginning to shake that he pulled away. Letting out a ragged breath he studied her again. The waxen quality of her skin had diminished, and the dark circles under her eyes had faded. She was still too pale, but now, at least, she looked as though she could be sleeping.
He heard her murmur, and his eyes snapped to hers willing them to open. She began to shift restlessly on the bed, a groan escaping her lips as though the movement was too painful.
His lips quirked despite themselves; it looked like his Mate was a warrior in her own way. He understood the fatigue battle could bring and the accompanying sense of frustration at your own body’s weakness.
Her eyelids fluttered open, her eyes widening slightly when she saw him watching her.
“Von,” she rasped.
“You gave us quite a scare, Kiri,” he murmured.
“Kiri,” she repeated, pleasure making her eyes glow brightly. “I did it?”
He nodded, returning her smile.
“Why do I feel like I fell from atop the tower then?” she groaned again as she tried to push herself up.
He placed a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her back down, “I was hoping you’d be able to tell us that. Your Circle says you stepped out of the trial room, showed them your pendant and collapsed.”
Her eyebrow furrowed in confusion, “I don’t remember that. I, I don’t remember much of…” she trailed off, and her eyes widened in horror as it came back to her.
He saw her beginning to panic and immediately began to murmur the nonsensical words one uses to soothe. She calmed quickly but flinched when he went to smooth a strand of hair from her forehead. He noted the reaction but ignored it.
Her eyes flickered up to his, and away again. He could tell she was weighing whether or not to share what had happened, and he knew from experience his patience would do more towards persuading her than any words.
“I saw you,” she murmured finally.
He raised an eyebrow in response.
She swallowed and continued, “You were…”
He noted the blush, “I have a feeling I can guess what I was in the middle of. Did it make you nervous, Mira?” he teased.
She shook her head, smoky eyes narrowing fiercely, “Not nervous, furious.”
He stopped his finger’s lazy exploration of her cheek and jaw. “Furious? I’ve been told I make a woman feel many things during coupling, but that is a first.”
Her lips twitched despite herself, and aqua eyes met his. “Perhaps if you had been coupling with me, I would have reacted differently.”
“Ah.” He shifted uncomfortably, “I dare say you would have.”
“I didn’t like it, Von. The sight of you with another woman…” her eyes searched his own, her voice low and tense with emotion, “you are mine, I--I will not share you.”
He grabbed her hand in response, ignoring another sharp tug in his chest. “I would not expect you to, Kiri. I would not share you either.”
She smiled softly at his words, “I suppose I should warn you that I did not react well… to the sight. I did not realize I was a jealous woman.”
He laughed at that, squeezing the small hand in his. “Noted.”
Her smile faltered, and she related the other sights that she had seen, her eyes bright with unshed tears.
He felt his own tense response to her words, although how much of it was a fierce protectiveness of the beautiful girl that was lying before him and how much was fear at the possibility of such total destruction at her hands, he could not identify.
“It seems we both have been warned today,” he said neutrally.
She nodded, “Yes.”
Looking back up at him and shaking off the final vestiges of her trial she added lightly, “I’m surprised they let you in here all by yourself. I’m not sure if I’m offended or relieved at the lack of people crowding around me in concern.” She laughed, belying any possibility that she was offended.
“I did not give them an option,” he said flatly.
Her laughter deepened, and she offered him a large smile, “I suppose thanks are in order then.”
He shook his head, a small smile playing on his own lips.
“None is necessary, Kiri.”
“You did more than just keep them away,” she murmured, no trace of doubt in her tone.
He shrugged sheepishly.
“I can feel you,” she whispered, tugging on his hand until he met her gaze. “I can feel you inside of me.” Her other hand rested on her chest where his had been earlier. “It feels like you reached inside me and left a little part of yourself in my soul.”
Her words simultaneously chilled and warmed him.
There was a sense of wonder in her voice. “Can I try?”
He blinked, startled. “I don’t know if that’s wise, Kiri. Your trial seriously weakened you.”
She shrugged off his concern, pushing herself up to face him. Bracing himself, he warily watched her reach for him and rest her hand against his chest. She stared straight into his eyes, and he felt the warm pulse of her magic flow into him. He let out a startled gasp, feeling his own sense of awe.
He could feel her spirit swirling within him sweetly caressing his own as shy and playful as a kitten. He felt her very essence, a heady combination of youthful innocence and pure womanly fire and he knew, with complete certainty, that he would always feel her soul entwined with his own.
She went to move her hand, a satisfied smile on her lips, but he stopped her by placing his own hand over hers.
Slowly, so as not to scare her, he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. She melted against him with a soft sigh.
Still connected he could feel her reaction to his kiss, his lips moving gently against hers. Her pleasure and curiosity lapping at him like a gentle fire. He felt his own body respond to her eager sweetness, so he pulled away, but not far.
Her eyes opened slowly, and she studied him with
eyes now darkened with desire. Just as he could feel her reaction to the kiss, she had felt his. She knew the effect her desire had on him.
He couldn’t help the satisfied smile that lurked on his own lips.
“Mine,” she said in a throaty whisper, wonder and desire swirling within iridescent eyes.
He inclined his head, not breaking eye contact.
“Yes, Kiri, and you are mine,” responded the Mate, his own voice rich with promise.
He felt a final caress of her spirit within him as she shifted away. You’ll have to show me that again, later.
He blinked in surprise at her voice in his mind. Before he could ask her what she meant, he heard Darrin pushing the remains of the battle worn door open, his expression openly defiant.
With a groan, Von moved away from Helena. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, still ignoring the dried smears of blood. It was too much to hope I could keep you to myself, he thought.
He saw her lips twitch, and realized that she could hear his thoughts just as clearly as if he had spoken aloud.
I think it’s part of the Mating bond; she offered in response to the unasked question. I think when you infused your spirit with mine, you showed your acceptance of the bond.
He shook his head ruefully, his dimple flashing quickly.
He turned his attention back towards the angry man in the doorway.
“Did you not think to tell us that she had recovered,” he bit out furiously, as he moved towards her side, “We have been beyond worried.”
Von rolled his eyes, “Relax, puppy, she just opened her eyes a few moments ago.”
Darrin bristled at the insult; green eyes narrowed in challenge.
“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you,” Von cautioned, all gentleness vanishing from his stance and expression.
Helena put her hand on Von’s arm, and his eyes flickered towards her, warming slightly as they studied her. He nodded, tersely, and walked toward the door, but not without a final scathing glance at her Shield.
As Von left, Helena let her attention return to Darrin.
He stood tense by her side; she could sense the guilt and concern weighing on him.
“You are not to blame for this, Shield. It was not your place to protect.”
“It is always my place to protect you, Kiri.”
Helena shook her head at his pride. “Do you think so much of yourself, sir, that you could stand between a Kiri and her trial?”
Color stained his cheeks at her admonition. “Hellion,” he whispered, his voice conveying all that he was not at liberty to say.
She opened her arms, knowing that he needed the hug more than she did. He moved swiftly, wrapping his arms around her and burying his head in her hair. She felt him breathe deeply a handful of times. With a final shudder, he pulled away, his mask of calm back in place.
He gestured at her torn and bloody robe, “So what did you do to deserve all that?”
It was Helena’s turn to shudder.
“That bad?” he asked softly.
“Perhaps you should call the others,” she said flatly, ignoring the question and readjusting herself against the mountain of pillows at her back.
He nodded curtly and grabbed the men from the hallway.
As they entered the room, she felt each curious gaze as though the questions were spoken aloud. “It is not my blood,” she answered.
They nodded, but their relief at her admission was palpable.
“The Mother saw fit to warn me what my failure would mean. This is the cost,” she gestured at herself. “I cannot fail.”
“You did not fail, Kiri,” Joquil reminded her.
She offered him a small smile, “Nothing is that simple, Master. My trial is not one to be overcome so quickly.”
“But the pendant…” Timmins started in confusion, before stopping himself.
“Perhaps I should clarify. I passed the trial of the Damaskiri. My magic has accepted me, and I was gifted with the pendant of the Kiri. Now I must face the trial of the Kiri; it is not a trial one can prepare for. It is not the trial written of in your history books, and I cannot rely upon your counsel to see me through this time.”
Aqua eyes turned to smoke, and her voice blended with the harmony of many. “The Mother showed me what my failure would mean. I would be the destruction of us all.”
The men shivered at the wind that whipped through the chamber at her words, but they stood firm.
The mountain of corpses and acrid smoke filled her mind once more.
“Then you will not fail, Kiri,” Kragen said simply, pulling her back from the vision.
Iridescent eyes met his, “Pray you are right, Sword.”
“Whatever the Mother sees fit to test you with in the future, you will be prepared, and we will be by your side. You will not face this alone.”
She smiled at her Shield, “I hope that I am deserving of your faith in me.”
Alina knocked on the door gently. “Kiri, may I allow the healer to check on you now?”
“Am I needed anywhere right now, Timmins?” Helena asked, her desire to curl into a ball and sleep at war with her duty to her people.
“No, you rest now. All that remains is for the Ceremony of Binding, but that can wait, it’s just a formality at this point anyway.”
Helena felt herself smiling at the thought of Von.
“I’ll be outside if you need me.”
“Thank you, Darrin, but you should rest as well. It seems it was a hard morning for us all.”
“I’ll be outside,” he repeated.
She rolled her eyes. “Suit yourself.”
Alina was followed into the room by Tanya, the Palace’s most gifted healer. Tanya exuded competence and unflappable strength. She noted the blood without qualm.
“Are you hurt, Kiri?” she asked gently.
Helena shook her head, “No, merely a bit drained it seems.”
She nodded, as though anticipating the answer. “I’ll just give you a once over, shall I? And maybe a tonic to help you relax for a bit?”
“That sounds lovely.”
Tanya smiled, and set warm hands on either side of Helena’s head. Her last thought before drifting to sleep was that Tanya’s eyes were the exact color of her favorite armchair.
Chapter Eight
“Why are they all naked?” she squeaked.
Gillian’s laugh was a sultry chuckle, “Relax, Helena, they aren’t actually naked, much to my endless disappointment. They have that scrap of cloth covering the most interesting bits, see?” She pointed towards the cloth slung low on the candidates’ hips that tied off in a flimsy knot on the side.
“But, but why?” she asked again, desperation coloring her voice as she eyed the row of men standing on the dais. Heat flooded her cheeks, and she could not bring herself to lower her eyes past their chins.
The women in the crowd were cheering enthusiastically, calling out the names of their favorites and praying for the fluttering pieces of fabric to get caught in a strong breeze and fall to the floor.
Helena couldn’t deny that the sight was a spectacular one, eleven males in their prime were all lined up waiting for her. More specifically they were waiting for the Ceremony of Binding to begin, at which she would publicly choose her Mate.
“Well, I did warn you that attraction was part of picking a mate,” Gillian teased bringing her back to their conversation, “you’ll know you’ve found your mate because of how they respond when you run your hands over their chest - everyone will for that matter.”
Helena’s eyes went wide at the implication, and she looked at Gillian in panic.
Gillian’s enjoyment of her distress was clear. “Relax, Helena; I’m teasing. Tradition dictates that when a Damaskiri rests her hand over the heart of her true mate, her soul will call to his and their heartbeats will sync as the soul is reconnected to its other half.”
Helena recalled the other night with Von and the way that she could feel him inside of her ever
since. She sent a tentative tug down the invisible tether she felt connecting her to him.
Blazing gray eyes met hers from his spot in the line-up. She couldn’t even offer him a shy smile as she looked back towards her feet to avoid the feast of male flesh currently on display.
No one else had realized that the two had inadvertently completed their mating bond while alone in her room, but even if they had, there was no way to escape this final public ritual. Helena was glad that it happened that way, to have to experience that intimacy while thousands of people watched them would have diminished some of the magic in the moment.
Not to mention the reaction to the kiss that had followed. Helena felt her ears turning pink at the memory of that kiss; her toes curling in her shoes. Oh yes, she was thankful that she had been able to avoid that particular spectacle.
“I just don’t understand how that requires them to remove all their clothing,” Helena said through gritted teeth.
Sighing, Gillian rolled her eyes, “Helena, don’t be such a prude. All of the men who are refused tonight will not be lacking sympathy or company for that matter,” she added as her green eyes roamed the cheering crowd.
“The entire process of finding your mate requires a complete surrendering of self. This is all symbolic,” her hand gestured to the men, “they are standing there to bare their souls to you, to show that they have nothing to hide and that they are willing to sacrifice their pride when needed, in order to best serve the realm. Granted the tradition might be a bit outdated, but the meaning is what matters. Besides, even you cannot deny that it’s a little fun.”
Helena brought her eyes back to Von. He stood among the others defiantly; his head tossed back – the better to stare down his nose at those standing below him. There was no shame in his stance, just confidence and a bit of impatience, as his arms crossed over his chest.
Helena had to look away. Standing on the other side of Von was Gillian’s twin. Micha was built much like his sister, looking almost childish standing next to Von’s impressive bulk.
