Page 11 of Upon Shattered Bonds

She had never before seen the expression he wore. Utterly content and debilitatingly in love, the emotions unintentionally funneled through the sovereign bond between them.

Slowly, her mind began to drift to thoughts of her own mate. If she had mated Zeke, would she have experienced the same bliss?

Before Nina could help it, her eyes betrayed her, spearing over to where he sat next to Nero. Though the other sovereign was enthralled by the duo walking down the aisle, Zeke’s attention was fixed on her.

His jade irises held hers captive, full of yearning. Desire. Regret. And a deep sadness that Nina hadn’t thought him capable of.

Her attention swiftly refocused on Drake and Blair, the chink in her armor completely covered once more. Nina would never betray the loneliness that coated her soul like tar, nor the bleak feeling of isolation that’d slowly begun creeping into the unoccupied recesses of her mind. She’d never acknowledge Zeke and what he represented.

When her fledglings arrived at the foot of the platform where she and Kaien stood, Nina became what everyone expected of her: the sovereign. Strength immortalized.

Chapter Four

Regardless of how hard he tried, Zeke’s gaze wouldn’t stray from the woman leading the ceremony.

After sixteen centuries of life, Nina was still the most breathtaking woman he’d ever seen. He was always struck by her competence and sharp intelligence during Raeth sovereign meetings, but he was never able to drink his fill of just looking at her during those occasions.

For the first time in ages, the stirrings of anticipation danced in his stomach. Tonight, he’d take another stab at the wall of rejection that she’d put up between them.

As was customary, the mating ceremony took little more than ten minutes, but the sincerity in the bride and groom’s promises of eternity to each other moved every person in the room.

Zeke applauded when was necessary, he stood when the couple walked down the aisle, and he offered the obligatory small talk with Nero when they strolled toward the waiting reception hall.

His mind, however, was preoccupied with thoughts of the woman who’d graced the aisle only moments before. On the arm of her third in command, she was the picture of grace and sophistication, her long, elegant strides carrying her away from him. Nina had warned him to keep his distance, but Zeke had never been one for following orders.

Amid the endless chatter that seemed to flow casually between the guests, Zeke had no problem maintaining appearances. As sovereign to the Danada, a clan four hundred and seventy-odd Raeths strong, his reputation preceded him. And here, where most of the immortals were many centuries old, the ties between them had been established long ago.

Isaiah, the sovereign leader of the Sylth clan in Utah, was the only other Raeth at their table. His mate, a water Elemental named Rukia, was beside him. Casually draped over the back of Rukia’s chair, Isaiah’s arm lingered around her petite shoulders with a possessive air, his fingertips lazily stroking the top of her arm. One corner of his mouth was quirked upward, amused at something his mate was saying.

For once, Zeke envied the other man. Isaiah had found the love of his life—and entered the eternal bonds of matehood shortly thereafter—and had never been happier.

Deep brown eyes shot over to meet his. Hesitation lined Isaiah’s brow before a polite telepathic request opened a channel in his mind. Zeke.

Zeke clenched his jaw and responded. Yes, Isaiah?

I have never apologized for my error with relation to Nina.

Teeth grinding together, Zeke fought the need to deck the other man—again—for bringing up the subject that still bore holes in his heart. She is not bound to me.

No, but she is your mate, and I’d ask for your forgiveness.

The truth that rang through the statement gave him pause. Studying the other sovereign for any signs of fraud, Zeke exhaled and attempted to moderate his response. What would be your reply if I had slept with Rukia before you’d finalized your bond?

Intemperate jealousy flashed behind Isaiah’s eyes, a tangible aura of strength whipping outward for a half moment before the other Raeth reined it in. Rukia, however, noticed the sudden change in her mate’s emotions, and cast him a questioning look before curling her fingers around his.

At her touch, Isaiah softened, and the anger in his eyes was replaced by understanding.

I understand.

What went unsaid was the gravity of the act itself. Very few Raeths would ever consider engaging with another’s unbound mate, regardless of the hostility Zeke and Nina had held for each other at the time.

But Zeke knew that the blunder hadn’t been one sided, and the mere fact of their enmity toward each other had undoubtedly led Nina to an isolating existence. He knew it had for him.

Zeke said nothing in reply. Severing the telepathic communication line between them, he refocused on the speeches taking place on center stage. He’d listened with only half an ear to Remmus’ best man speech, noting the humor and charisma that the Raeth seemed to exude on a cellular level.

Moments later, Nina herself took the floor and began her Maid of Honor speech. Filled with humor and intentional jabs at the couple, her easy monologue divulged that she and many others had known they were fated for each other long before they did.

Garnering more than a few cackles of laughter, Nina turned to her brother and fledgling with the kind eye that defined her, one she’d never shown Zeke.

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