Page 8 of Upon Shattered Bonds

Nina had made it her personal goal to locate and destroy those that survived the initial raze. In the last century, she’d discovered more than four dozen and melted them down to ore. There were few exceptions to the rule, though she could admit to keeping a pair of merjha handcuffs for when they might be needed.

A telepathic ping made her straighten in her seat.

For a moment, she contemplated ignoring Zeke. They had very little to discuss regarding Raeth matters, and even less outside of them. The treaty between them served to head off war but didn’t require her to be on friendly terms.

With a sigh, she opened a telepathic channel between them. What, Ezekiel?

May I speak with you for a moment?

Zeke’s deep voice reverberated through her, a tingle of awareness flaring down her spine. It was followed by the bitter trail of poison that was her usual reaction to his charisma. She’d long been immune to his charms—and with good reason.

I can’t imagine what we’d have to discuss outside of clan issues or the peace treaty.

Nina, your brother’s wedding—

—Is no concern of yours. Nina barred her teeth, unrepentantly cutting him off. Goodbye, Ezekiel.

She knew he much preferred his nickname, Zeke, but using his full name gave her some sense of distance. If she became too cordial with him, it’d become a slippery slope.

Without another word, she severed the link between them. Now wasn’t the time to worry about maintaining good relations with the other sovereign. Today was a joyous occasion, and one she wanted to celebrate whole-heartedly.

Kaien and Blair were mated, soon to be wed—one of the many couples to come together as a result of the Peace Accords. Functioning as Kaien’s and Blair’s sovereign, she would be the one who’d preform the bridal ceremony. While a mating bond solidified by its own clock, a mating ceremony was ritualistic, a linking of the two souls for eternity before the eyes of their clan.

Customarily, the clan consisted of only Raeth members, and logic followed that mating celebrations were the same. In this case, however, the ceremony had been extended to invite members of every immortal breed.

Happiness bloomed deep within her chest. The knowledge that they would be together, united in an eternal mating bond, eased the tension that’d flooded into her mind as of late.

When Blair and Kaien had asked for the ceremony to be performed at the House in Lexington, she hadn’t been surprised. Since it already served as a meeting place for the Peace Accords, many guests from all the corners of the world and breeds of immortal were already comfortable there, and Blair loved the countryside.

Nina had taken innumerable precautions around the venue. Not only did the safety measures circumvent any potential aggression from outside sources, but it reduced the likelihood of violence that might come into play with the gathering of so many big personalities.

She couldn’t shake the impending sense of doom, despite sparing no effort to ensure the peace. It worried her.

Feeling jittery, she pocketed her phone and excused herself from the room. Both Reyna and Celeste were there to provide emotional support as Blair’s bridesmaids, and the uneasy feeling in Nina’s gut was unrelenting.

Guests had begun to arrive a half hour ago. Aidan and Kane, two of Kaien’s groomsmen, were happily escorting people to one of the halls designed for mingling before the ceremony. Remmus, Kaien’s best man, had long been Kaien’s confidant and best friend and chose to stay close to the groom.

Nina’s lips twitched at the memory of Blair choosing her as Maid of Honor and the theatrical way she’d asked. Eight-hundred balloons had been delivered to Nina’s doorstep—presumably one for every year of Blair’s immortal life. Her fledgling had appeared out of the woodwork and gifted her a candy ring, asking her to be Maid of Honor on one knee.

On one hand, Nina was deeply honored, and on the other, it simply made sense.

Pride was quite possibly her Achilles’ heel. Humility had evaded her all the many years of her life, and while she occasionally fronted well enough, she’d never been truly modest. After twelve centuries, strength and confidence were as much a part of her personality as her own nature.

She emerged onto the terrace and hummed in appreciation. A vivid red painted the sky, fuchsia pink and vibrant canary splashing through the parting clouds in a colorful palette. Notes of spring whispered in the March wind, but the biting chill of winter was quick on its heels.

Nina fussed idly with the roses that’d only just bloomed. While her twin brother had anticipated he’d have the time—and wherewithal—to complete the task, he’d been too wrapped up in wedding responsibilities.

Fortunately, Gideon, the monarch of the Elemental nation, was already in attendance and had happily sprouted the blooms to perfection only minutes ago. It’d been a wonder to watch the earth Elemental work with a gift eerily similar to her brother’s abilities. And there was one less thing to worry the bride.

Nina’s psychic senses flared out to survey the area. Given her position as sovereign, the act was automatic. Minds in her immediate vicinity pinged into her mental map, blips on her radar, as the wave spread outward. Most were intimately familiar to her: clansmen, fledglings, even dignitaries who sat on the Peace Accords council.

On a fundamental level, some minds boasted stronger natural shields than others, though it mattered little. Telepathy had always come naturally for her, as had teleportation. She wielded her destruction talents with an ease that would have stunned others. Transfiguration was the only gift that nearly always tested her.

Night settled heavily over the festivities, the dimming light outdoors marking the spring equinox. A nocturnal creature, the waning sunlight never bothered Nina. However, Elementals—and most Raeths—were diurnal, and she used her telekinesis to flip on the outdoor lights.

Running her fingertips over the silky petals of a white rose, she smiled. Mating ceremonies were fairly quick endeavors, and tonight would be no different. Raeths tended to prefer what came next: the party. No time to lose.

Nina pivoted on the balls of her feet, intending to assemble the guests when she froze.

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