Page 303 of Vasmora

“Their matriarch suggested to Dolion that I would never conceive.” A shine gleamed in her eyes, and she turned away. “So, I gave up my mother’s heirloom to save us. What did it matter if I’d never have my own child to pass it along to?” A tear slipped down her cheek that she quickly wiped away.

“Oh, Rykaia.” As I wrapped my arms around her, she shuddered against me and lifted a piece of the fabric that dangled from my wings, blowing her nose with it. The sight of it had my lips crimping.

“The worst part is, I don’t even want children. I just hate that the choice was taken from me.”

Avoiding that wing, I reached out and stroked a hand down her hair. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you shouldn’t put too much faith in prophecies. They’re all a bunch of bollocks.”

“Maevyth!” She jerked back, her cheeks damp. “I think that’s the first time I’ve heard you curse.”

“Really?”

Her eyes softened as she broke into a chuckle. “You should do it more often.”

I smiled back at her. “I’ll do my best.”

She sniffed and wiped the moisture from her cheeks. “People who curse are the most honest. Not that you’re a liar, as a general rule.” Wincing, she shook her head. “I’m sorry, I’m ruining everything. Sulking at your Bonding Ceremony. What a dread.”

“You’re not ruining anything. We’re sisters. This is what sisters do.”

Her lips twisted into a sad smile, and she wrapped her arms around me again. “I am so glad he found you,” she whispered. “You are the happiness he deserves. And I hope he makes you happy, as well. I only wish that Branimir could be here,” she said, wistfully. “I think you were the peace he longed for.”

“I wish he was here, as well.”

Once again, she pulled away, shuttering her eyes as she drew a deep inhale through her nose, then pursing her lips as she exhaled. “Okay, no more tears.” Her eyes shot open. “You don’t have a drink. I’m going to get you a drink, and we are going to dance.”

I smiled. “Okay.”

She pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Stay here.”

I turned back toward the crowd, watching everyone I’d come to love laughing and dancing beneath the stars. Kazhimyr twirled Allura around. Torryn found himself between both of the Lyverian women who’d arrived with Aleysia. Dolion laughed and patted Aleysia’s mate on the back with his one good hand. Aleysia danced with Zevander, her face crinkled with the kind of laughter I hadn’t seen in her since we were children.

Tears of absolute contentment welled in my eyes.

A flash of a face standing apart from the rest of the crowd drew my attention to the back corner, and I leaned to the side for a better look. Bodies fluttered in and out of my view, and I sat forward, desperate for another glimpse.

Then the crowd broke away, offering a clear view.

Tucked behind the quartet, Branimir stood smiling, eyes gleaming with both sadness and joy as he watched the celebrations. When he turned his attention toward me, my heart clenched.

I waved at him.

He waved back.

“Who are you waving at?” Rykaia asked, momentarily stepping into my view as she set a glass of wine on the table.

When I looked again, Branimir had gone.

“An old friend,” I said.

“Oh?” She glanced toward the crowd and back. “Well, then. Shall we dance, Lady Rydainn?”

A smile pulled at my lips. “We shall, Lady Rydainn.”

* * *

Coarse bark scraped across my cheek, my arms desperately clinging to the tree trunk, knees threatening to buckle any moment. The arm banded across my stomach held tight, Zevander’s body trembling around me, vibrating through me. As the last of my climax thrashed through my limbs, the tight squeeze of my core slowly loosened, muscles turning lax. Spent.

Zevander’s ragged breaths fell across the back of my neck, his hand planted beside my face, composure steadier than mine. He pulled his thick shaft out of me, spilling hot and tingling Bonding essence down my thigh. All while, in the distance, guests still danced and laughed, the music carrying through the quiet forest, to where the two of us had stolen away together.