Page 4 of Bonded to The Boo Hag

“I will,” he said, his voice steady.

“Palmer, from this day forward, a year and a day, will you partner with Gatlin against his pain, actively working to protect him from it and alleviate it?”

“I will,” I echoed, as sure as he did.

“Then let the binding be so.” Sable’s voice reverberated, the first of six vows taking root in the very fabric of our world, creating a strand of pale blue light taken from the Ether itself, twining it around our hands.

Sable continued. “Gatlin, from this day forward, a year and a day, will you partner with Palmer to share in her happiness, taking the time each day to look for the joy within her spirit always?”

“I will.”

“Palmer, from this day forward, a year and a day, will you partner with Gatlin to share in his happiness, taking the time each day to look for the joy within his spirit always?”

“I will.” The words created another strand of energy, this one yellow.

“Then let the binding be so.” Sable took the strand and joined it with the others, “Gatlin, from this day forward, a year and a day, will you partner with Palmer to share in her trials so that your souls may grow and strengthen together?”

“I will,” he replied.

“Palmer, from this day forward, a year and a day, will you partner with Gatlin to share in his trials so that your souls may grow and strengthen together?”

“I will.”

“Then let the binding be so.” This time, she gathered a gray strand of essence and bound it with the others around our hands.

“Gatlin, from this day forward, a year and a day, will you partner with Palmer to share in her dreams so they may be brought to fruition?”

“I will.”

“Palmer, from this day forward, a year and a day, will you partner with Gatlin to share in his dreams so they may be brought to fruition?”

“I will.”

“Then let the binding be so.” Sable gathered a cyan strand and placed it upon our joined hands.

“Gatlin, from this day forward, a year and a day, will you use your anger to fortify the growing bond between you and Palmer?”

“I will.”

“Palmer, from this day forward, a year and a day, will you use your anger to fortify the growing bond between you and Gatlin?”

“I will.”

“Then let the binding be so.” A strand of red energy formed and snaked around our hands, the energy knowing where it needed to go.

“Gatlin, from this day forward, a year and a day, will you revere Palmer and esteem her as an equal in this bond?”

“I will.”

“Palmer, from this day forward, a year and a day, will you revere Gatlin and esteem him as an equal in this bond?”

“I will.”

“Then let the binding be so.” Sable placed her hands above the writhing energy, the strands of power weaving together tightly.

The sounds of the world around us were silenced as the energy wrapped around our hands pulsated and absorbed into our skin. I looked from our hands to Gatlin’s face, his bright blue eyes glowing from the current of magic he just absorbed. I couldn’t quite understand the look in his eyes, and I took a step forward without meaning to, drawn in by the moment.

With an audible pop, the sound returned, and I blinked, stepping back. I squeezed his hands before letting go, turned, and smiled at our guests.

---