Page 54 of Her Fallen Angel

She shifts slightly in her sleep, a small furrow appearing between her brows. Without thinking, I smooth it away with my thumb, and her face relaxes again. The simple gesture sends an unfamiliar ache through my chest.

But my love is not enough. I want to give her more.

The morning sunbathes the temple steps in harsh light as I approach. My wings cast long shadows across the pristine stone, each step measured and deliberate despite the uncertainty churning in my gut. Warriors don't bow - not to anyone - yet here I am, about to grovel before the Praexa.

Inside, the temple air hangs thick with incense. My boots echo against marble floors as I approach the altar where Praexa Ananias stands in flowing black robes, her back turned to me.

"I require information about a soul binding ceremony." The words taste like ash in my mouth.

She turns, silver eyes narrowing. "The great Kai'rin, seeking to bind souls?" A cruel smile plays at her lips. "And am I supposed to assume it's with a human, no less."

My magic surges before I can stop it, violet energy crackling along my wings. The candles around the altar flare dangerously. "Watch your tone when speaking of her."

"Interesting." She circles me like a predator. "You'd tie your immortal soul to a creature whose life is but a blink compared to ours?"

My hands clench. "Can it be done?"

"The ceremony wasn't meant for-"

"Can. It. Be. Done?" Magic pulses with each word, making the temple walls vibrate.

She stops in front of me, studying my face. "Yes. Though few Nashai would dare perform it. The gods may have... opinions about such a union."

"I don't care about opinions. I care about results."

"Clearly." Her lips curl. "The great warrior, brought low by a human pet. How the mighty fall."

This time I let my magic flare fully, filling the temple with crackling violet light. The temperature drops as shadows writhe along the walls. "She is not a pet."

Praexa raises her hands in mock surrender, but I catch the calculating look in her eyes. "The ceremony can bind human and xaphan souls. If that is what you need to know."

"And you?" I study her. "Will you perform it?"

She seems to really consider the question before finally saying, "If I must."

"You do." I level her with a harsh glare, one I normally wouldn't dare give a Praexa. But she just nods, and I take that for as good as I'm going to get.

As I leave the temple, I am not so surprised to find Vhex and Mykael waiting for me. They must have seen me go in.

"Were you summoned?" Mykael asks.

But when I hesitate, it's Vhex who says, "No. We didn't think so."

And as much as I hate letting people in, these two are my closest friends. My brothers essentially. And I don't like the fighting that's been going on between us.

"I'm going to have her soulbound to me." Their shock flickers over their features. "She will no longer be human, nor a threat in that way."

"You are willing to tie your soul to hers?" Mykael hasn't recovered yet.

I only nod. I know it's a big undertaking, especially since it means I will never be able to harm her and share my power with her. Xaphan do not take mates like other species. We cannot break it off or go without our soulbound ever again.

But that's what I want with Aren.

"I want it more than anything."

Vhex looks between the two of us and then steps forward, clapping me on the shoulder. "Then, we are happy for you."

Mykael shifts on his feet. "We did not realize how deep your connection with her ran."

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