Page 45 of The Other Side of the Mirror

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

His gaze hesitantly met mine as he quietly continued. “Prophecies are never easily understandable, and I don’t know exactly what about our union will stop the curse. My father certainly never told me anything beyond its existence being the reason behind my imprisonment. Maybe it’s the act of theanimabond taking hold. Maybe the ancient magic of our union will shudder through the earth and stop what was wrought.” He paused, his grip on my hands tightening. “But I’ll give you some time to see if the bond snaps in place before we set a date for our bonding ceremony—to consecrate our bond and to officially introduce you to my court. That’s what my advisors were pushing for earlier, though I realize that may feel fast to you.”

Suddenly, I was struggling to breathe at the thought of marrying someone I had barely met. It was one thing to be…bonded, the link still nebulously unreal. It was entirely another to be expected to be part of some sort of royal wedding. Aviel’s eyes tracked my lips as I sucked them in, then slowly released them.

“I’m not sure how things work here, but arranged marriages aren’t exactly the norm in most human cultures anymore,” I managed haltingly. “I was hoping that our bond or whatever would snap into place first, and we could…”

“Fall in love?”

There was something I couldn’t figure out on his face, something almost tortured. It was gone before I could question it further. His fingers brushed against my cheek almost wistfully, and I let out an unsteady breath.

“Ananimabond is a soul link that comes before any other. No one can run from fate, or whatever evolutionary quirk found a way to pair our kind together. But we have some time—some—to get to know each other.” Those fingers wound into my hair. Slowly, he pulled it over my shoulders, my chestnut waves still wrapped around his hand. “Perhaps I can convince you before time’s up.”

Aviel’s hand moved to my face, his thumb sliding across my lips. I stood there, paralyzed, caught off guard by his touch and the hypnotic look in his eyes. I breathed in sharply as his other hand found the small of my back, pulling me against him. Then his mouth met mine—firm and claiming. I softened into his hold as he kissed me thoroughly. But he drew away slightly, my eyes finding his as they fluttered open.

“You were always meant to be mine,” he growled.

There was a swooping in my stomach as he slanted his mouth over mine once again. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my fingers finding the silken gold of his hair. There was a glimpse of another’s face in my mind, a twist of guilt, but I forced myself to push it away. Aviel’s hands explored their way down my back, his mouth moving to my ear, then down my neck, sucking and nipping until I was weak at the knees.

This is where you’re meant to be, I reminded myself as another flash of comparison hit me.

We were both breathless when we pulled apart. Aviel smiled at me with swollen lips as he led me to the entrance of the greenhouse. With a flourish, he fastened my cloak around me—clicking the clasp into place before securing his own. I linked my arm into his offered one and he walked us back toward the castle, bright against a darkening sky.

As he led me up toward the staircase that would take me to my room, I wondered briefly if his habit of leading me around would change once I knew my way better or if it indicated some need for control.

“Change into the dress on your bed and meet me for dinner,” Aviel commanded.

I raised an eyebrow. “Is that a request or a demand?”

Aviel merely smiled. “I suppose we’ll find out.”

He walked swiftly back down the hall, glancing at me over his shoulder before disappearing around the corner.

“We’re going to have to work on asking, not telling…” I muttered under my breath.

It didn’t escape my notice that despite Bash’s royal upbringing, he still had learned to say please. But after what Aviel told me about his childhood, I wasn’t surprised the False King hadn’t bothered to teach him that form of decency.

I walked into my room, closing the heavy wooden door behind me. Large windows allowed the soft moonlight to filter in, refracting off the pale silver of the walls and the gleaming white marble floor. In the center of the room stood a massive bed that was so wide I could sleep sideways across it if I wished. It was canopied with curtains of sheer ivory and covered with dozens of iridescent pillows, at least half of which I would have to throw off the bed before I could possibly fall asleep. The comforter was made of shimmering white satin that was even softer than it looked to the touch. A snowy white rug covered the floor at the foot of the bed, silver detailing swirling in delicate spirals.

As promised, there was indeed something waiting atop the bed. I stopped to stare at the utterly gorgeous gown draped across the covers. Its glistening silver fabric caught the light, giving the dress an almost otherworldly sheen. Delicate boning interlaid across a fitted bodice before flaring into a flowing skirt. Two sheer panels ran up each side, crisscrossing at the waist, covered in lacy details. A pair of perfectly matching silver slippers lay on the floor by my feet.

I didn’t doubt it would all fit me perfectly.

As I reached out to touch it, the shimmer on my right hand reminded me that I hadn’t responded to Bash’s earlier invitation. I turned away from the finery, my finger hovering over my palm as I debated what to say.

I wish I could. But I should probably focus on being here for now. Definitely before…

I stopped writing, my stomach clenching at the thought of a bonding ceremony…whatever that entailed. It couldn’t hurt to ask someone who knew more about this world than me, but why was my heart beating out of my chest at the thought of Bash’s reaction?

Before what?

His response made me realize my thoughts sent unfinished. I flushed, watching his words fade away.

What exactly is involved in a bonding ceremony?

The response took longer to arrive than I hoped, and I stared at my hand for a long minute before I went to turn on the faucet of the generous bath. There was a silver bell on my dresser I had been told would summon a servant for my every need. But I had no desire to do so, nor did I want the company. I closed my eyes, listening as the water filled too quickly not to be magic. A relaxing dip after all that walking would be the perfect way to clear my head before it was time for dinner.

I was halfway undressed, bubbles climbing the sides of the clawfoot tub, when I felt that strange prickling on my palm. His messages appeared line by line, one after the other?—

---