Page 147 of Heart of the High King
“Dragons claim their mates with a bite that leaves no mark. Centuries ago, a draconic tradition began of exchanging rings,” Dra’Kaedan said. “Aleksander and Rafe will now exchange bands to allow the world to bear witness to their joining.”
Mortis loped to them with a dragonskin pillow in his mouth, and Worth took it from him. Untying a ribbon as the sunlight reflected off the jeweled band, Worth flashed the rings. In what was Madeline’s most intricate work, she’d used a pave of sapphires and blue and black diamonds in a seamless flow between the two colors of D’Vaire that represented both of their beasts. Over those gems were tiny, precise reproductions of their dragons in the silver and gold, which also edged the thick rings. They were going to be impossible to miss, and Aleksander loved them. Worth handed one to Aleksander while Somerly took the other and passed it to Rafe.
“Chosen by Fate and accepted by my heart as true, I accept you as my mate,” Aleksander stated proudly, sliding the ring onto Rafe’s finger.
“Chosen by Fate and accepted by my heart as true, I accept you as my mate,” Rafe responded quietly. Slowly, he pushed the band on.
“In an ancient tradition of the Vampyr Clutch and adopted by D’Vaire, High Arcanist Delaney the Dark and Vampyr Lord Grigori Volkov-D’Vaire will now assist with the attachment of collars, or necklaces as they are commonly referred to outside vampire circles, designed specifically for the High Kings. While they will not use the words sacred to the Vampyr Clutch, each chain with its blood lock will show the world they are committed to only each other,” Dra’Kaedan said.
Aleksander bent his knees so Delaney could place the collar on him. It was two thin chains—one of silver and one of gold—with a two-toned lock with a full-color version of the D’Vaire heraldic emblem on the face. Once Grigori got the other around Rafe’s neck, the athame was handed to Noirin, who nicked Aleksander’s finger. Alaric did the same to Rafe, and they spread their blood on the crests, sealing them for eternity.
“By the tradition of the Draconis High Court of D’Vaire, you are now mates. You have honored all of us by allowing us to bear witness to your joining,” Dra’Kaedan proclaimed.
Aleksander and Rafe tugged off their cloaks and handed them off to Drystan and Conley. T’Eirick made another cut on Aleksander’s palm while Saura did the same for Rafe. They placed their hands together with a smile.
“Draconis to Draconis. High King to High King. Our blood has spilled, and our spirits have bonded. We ask Fate to grant us a mark from left shoulder to elbow so the world may bear witness we belong only to each other,” Aleksander said. A fiery burn raced over his biceps, and there was a grayish outline of the dragon Rafe had been. On Rafe’s skin he was happy to see his beast decorating his skin, but he hated the sadness in his gaze. Rafe’s mouth twisted as he shrugged.
“Sorry,” Rafe whispered.
“None of that,” Aleksander responded in the same soft voice, then tugged Rafe against him. “We would like to thank the Grand Warlock, who gave us an outstanding ceremony today. Although we had many people who also participated, we would have preferred to include everyone, as each of you are important to us in equal measure. I would also like to personally express my gratitude for my mate. I wasn’t whole until I met Rafe, and everything I am and will be in the future is because of him. He is, in fact, my hero.”
Rafe buried a hand in his hair. “Thank you, I love you too,” he said a moment before their lips met. As far as Aleksander was concerned, his mating ceremony was perfect.
