Page 82 of Their Chosen

“But there's no way she can fight the trials. Soon she won't be the most powerful fae. There will be a new queen,” Baer spoke up, the least familiar with the Court.

“Somehow, I doubt she'll relinquish control that easily.” Lennox voiced exactly what I had been thinking. “I just haven't been able to figure out what she has planned.”

“But that's not possible. Right? She can't circumvent the trials' proclamation. Can she?” Baer questioned. “Right, Master Jude?”

Jude was smearing a salve onto Rhowyn's wounds to prevent infection, listening with a frown on his face to our conversation. He finished up while we all waited for his response.

Straightening up, a hand on his lower back, he sighed. “I've never heard of anything, but that doesn't mean the same as there not being a way. The Queen has access to records that I'll never see. Such as previous knowledge passed on from former queens. So, yes, it may be possible for her to maintain control, even after the trials,” he said, fear seeping into his voice.

Being the Head Priest, he had the most knowledge of magic, but that didn't make him all knowing. I couldn't help the flash of fear that coursed through me at the thought that we'd have to endure more of Titania's tyranny.

We all stood there silently, that thought plaguing us until Arryn spoke up. “There's not much we can do about that right now. But tonight, we can help Rhowyn heal.” He paused to meet all our eyes in confirmation.

He met my gaze last, and I hesitated, fearful of what this meant for my people, but I had known the moment I introduced myself as the last consort that there would be no turning back for me. I had made my decision then, for better or worse, and there was no changing it. So, I nodded, accepting that my fate was now tied to Rhowyn's and her other consorts.

“Good,” he said before turning to face Master Jude. “Which brings us to why we asked you here. We're ready to complete the bonding ceremony.”

“I suspected as much when His Highness asked me to come,” Jude responded.

“We're hoping the bond with us will unlock Rhowyn's glamor and magic. That it will help her heal more quickly,” Baer spoke up.

“Technically, no one will be healing her directly. She'll be doing that on her own once her magic is unlocked,” Lennox chimed in.

Jude eyed each of us before asking, “Has she agreed to this?”

“Yes,” we all confirmed.

“Does she know what all being bonded entails?” he asked.

Baer rubbed his neck sheepishly. “Not fully, but she knows she needs her magic if she has any hope of surviving the trials.”

“Master Jude, we know this isn't the usual ceremony, but please. She doesn't deserve to suffer because of my mother's cruelty. Please, help us help her,” Lennox pleaded, completely out of character for him.

“As much as I wish she was awake to voice her agreement, I also don't want to wake her yet. The pain will only get worse for her before it gets better. The more she can rest, the better she will heal,” he murmured, rubbing his face. Another sigh left him, and he looked every bit his age, older than he did earlier this evening. “Fine. If you’re all sure.”

“Yes,” we all voiced our consent unanimously.

“Then I will complete the bonding ceremony.”

A tension released inside me at his agreement, one I hadn't known I was holding. I watched as the same feeling passed through the others. Jude busied himself setting up the supplies for the ceremony, all of us glued to his every move.

Once we did this, we would be irrevocably tied to each other. We would have access to each other's emotions, able to tell when one was near or hurting. I would no longer be alone, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that kind of intrusion. It would be nothing compared to the change for Rhowyn. But none of us really had a choice. It was all decided for us the moment the land had selected her as the Chosen and us as her Consorts.

Finally, Jude completed his preparations and turned to face us. “Please, gather near Rhowyn in front of me,” he instructed, stepping back a step.

We all came around to the right side of the bed, nearest Rhowyn who was still resting peacefully after Jude's spell, her respirations deep and even. “Each of you, please hold out a hand. When I cut your palm, place it over her Chosen Mark, and I'll speak the words to bind you,” he stated calmly as I glanced at her shoulder, finding the mark, lashes cutting through it.

Noticing my gaze, he said, “I won't have to cut her since the lashes will allow for the mixing of your blood. One small mercy in doing this now.”

I nodded as Arryn spoke. “We're ready.” He held out his palm, ever the dutiful soldier and our unspoken leader, keeping us on track and from falling apart. I hadn't been with them long, but I had already seen this, how the others deferred to his calm and calculating nature. It was only fitting that he went first.

Jude stepped up to him and cut his palm deeply, the blood immediately welling up. Arryn placed his palm across Rhowyn's Chosen Mark as Jude then poured a liquid on them both where they were connected and said, “Avalonia, you have chosen these two to be connected, and we seek your approval for a deeper joining, one which binds them irrevocably. Please accept their wish to be bound to your Chosen from now until their dying day.”

As he finished the words, a glow began and slowly increased in brightness. Magic intensified in the air around them, and a snap echoed around the room as Arryn's bond was accepted. He pulled his hand back, his palm healed completely.

Baer eagerly stepped up next. He had wanted this bond since the first day from what I had gathered. Jude repeated the process, and we all watched as his bond was accepted.

He glanced at Arryn afterward, in awe of the process and obviously feeling the bond between them now as he touched his chest.

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