Page 59 of Mountains of Mist and Magic

“So...this is exciting!” Renya beamed, going back to sit with Grayden. “Unexpected, I'm sure! But, another fated mating! What a blessing!”

Triston's face remained impassive, while Julietta's lips turned down at the corners.

“Okay...maybe not such a blessing...” Renya's smile faded.

“We wish to break the bond,” Julietta said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Why in the God's name would you do that?” Grayden exclaimed. Renya smacked him again. Unlike the last time, this hit was a bit harder, and he grunted a little.

“Ouch! Why are you doing that?”

“So you stop saying stupid things!”

“I don't!”

Renya just rolled her eyes and looked from Triston to Julietta. “This decision...is...mutual?”

For the first time during the conversation, Triston looked directly at Julietta. Her eyes met his, and he sighed, seemingly to feel her reluctance. She wasn't sure either, and he had never felt so much relief in his life. The knot in the pit of his stomach loosened, and he let out a huge exhalation of air.

But then Julietta spoke. “Yes.”

And the knot returned, followed by the sensation of hot anguish surging through him.

Renya's brow crinkled, but then she nodded. “I see. Well, I don't even know if it's possible. My father did it, but it cost him greatly. The price was the use of his magic for many years. Triston, I don't mean to sound...insensitive, but you don't have much in the way of magic, do you?”

Triston's jaw clenched, his shoulders hunching slightly. “I have a little more than I did before Cressida returned it, but...my powers are little compared to others.”

His father would be so ashamed. Out of everyone in the room, he had the least amount of magic running in his veins.

“I have magic enough,” Julietta interjected. “Cyrus did it alone with his magic.”

“Julietta, are you sure you want to do this? You just got your powers back.”

“I'm sure.”

“I guess there's nothing left to do other than talk to my father. But I can't help but think that this feels...unnatural.”

Triston was in full agreement. But he kept his mouth shut and tried to ease the massive ball of fire that seemed to be boiling in his belly.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“So...can you help them?” Renya looked at her father. He momentarily stopped skimming the book he was flipping through and looked up at her.

“Renya...you of all people know how sacred these bonds are. I'm surprised you'd even ask me to break a fated bond.”

Renya bit her lip. “It feels unnatural to me, too. But...Julietta is my friend. And she is younger than Triston.”

“By what? Four, five years? That's hardly a huge difference.”

“They just don't seem like a good match.”

At this, Cyrus snorted, and Renya was taken aback. Then she remembered her father's own mating bond and felt guilty. At least Triston wasn't evil, unlike her own mother.

“I guess you're right. There really isn't a good reason for doing it.”

Her father studied her carefully, then reached out and patted her arm. “I know you like to help, Sunshine. But you can't fix every problem for every single person. And besides...I'm not even sure if this is a problem. How long since they found out?”

“Less than a week?”

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