Page 140 of Born of Starlight
I felt light again, like he had just breathed air into me. For so long, I’d belonged to others, for so long, my choices seemed to be made for me. “When we are both ready, I would like that. Being re-bound to you,” I admitted. Something saddened me about having no bond with him now.
He cleared his throat. “Well, we’d need to be married first—and the wedding would need to be the gaudiest, most over-the-top affair this realm has ever seen. Three cakes, multiple bands, released doves.”
I burst out laughing.
“You wound me.” He held his heart playfully. “Imeanthat.”
“You would want to marry me? How very mortal.” My face grew serious. “I don’t know the first thing aboutlivingout here. I’d make a terrible wife. I don’t even know how to cook…an egg.”
“I hate eggs.” He rolled me on top of him, nipping at my neck. “Plus, I have all I could ever want to eat right here.”
“Be serious.”
“Oh, but I am.” He met my eyes with hooded intensity. “I look forward to spending the rest of my life teaching you every mundane thing about living out here. We’ll travel the whole realm—every Corridor. You’ll see it all. Every mind-numbing monument to mortal arrogance, every shore, every court.”
My heart swelled—life.I’d never dreamed of my own life the way he promised it.
“And when we are bound again you will have no doubts that I am irrevocably committed to loving you. We are already Source Matched. It would be no different. Plenty chose to be bound and married to their Source Match if it is also a love match.”
I pushed up on my arms abruptly. “Source Matched?”
“Oh, did I leave that part out?”
It was an ancient principle that I’d thought was a myth. When Source Origins walked the earth, they created pairs—magic-wielders whose magic called to one another for protection.
Because the Origins were fickle and liked the entertainment of it, it was said they often did not interfere in helping those matched find one another. Leaving it to chance.
“How do you know that we are Matched?” I stared into those irises flecked with green and gold.
He smiled up at me. “I just do.”
Somehow, that explanation was enough. I’d felt the same realization as that blade came down upon him—that same crushing weight of impending loss.
That dark feeling was chased away by the sun peeking further through the window. The bustling sounds of civilians leaving the Keep cut through the sounds of the birds chirping. The fall of hundreds of feet crossing the courtyard carried up the palace walls.
Guilt stung me as hooves clattered along the cobblestone. We needed to return to Queen Sybilla and face the day.
As the people of Luz left the palace grounds, theysang.It was a solemn tune but one filled with forlorn hope.
“Her lips grew blue, but the stars brushed her heart.
“And made it beat anew.”
I paused, tapping Fen gently to let me rise. “Are they singing about me?”
Fenris smiled mischievously before releasing me to slide off of him and get out of bed. “Why shouldn’t they?” he asked.
When my brows scrunched, he rolled his eyes playfully.
“Your actionssavedthem, Asterie. The sacrifice of your life to give me my powers back saved them. Your journey here, your prophecy. Sybilla has clearly spread the word.”
A lump grew in my throat as I approached the window. Their faith in me seemed so misplaced—the actions that led me to Luz were ambling and graceless.
The volume of their voices rose, and more of them sang, learning the simple chant. Verses were added. They sang of me, they sang of Fenris, they sang of their brave Queen, of the enchantresses that stood against one of their own kin to save them, of the King of the forgotten realm who sent aid, of a new North King who would herald peace in the Corridor.
“Now.” Fenris sat up and watched me. “Will you have me on my hands and knees begging for you one more time before we go and face the music?”
I couldn’t help but smirk. “We’ll need to be quick this time.”
