Page 185 of Enchanted Heir
“We are only halfway here, guys,” Owen hissed. “Focus.”
I laughed. Owen was right. I was just so happy in that moment, all the nerves and fears I had over what was to come in the next part all just blurred away.
I was married. To Krew. I was his wife. So the next part was just details.
Krew took the dagger Owen handed over, slicing his hand, a red gash running the length of his palm, from finger to the bottom of his palm. Next, he took my right hand gently in his and looked me in the eyes. “I’m sorry, love.”
I kept my eyes on his but winced as he sliced my palm to match his.
We joined our palms, standing eyes to eyes. Krew looked at the officiant, who gave Krew the nod to continue.
I wondered if Krew’s skin would be crawling with magic right now were it not for his hand in mine. Even though I couldn’t see Krew’s magic visibly, I could still feel the buzz of it. It was there. Ready.
“I willingly give you this magic, Jorah Collette Demir Valanova. To protect, to empower, to honor. A thousand lifetimes may pass, yet I will stand steady, bound with you.”
I took a deep breath, taken away by how much this man loved me. And not just how much he loved me, but howwellhe loved me. “I willingly take this magic, Prince Krewan Everett Aiken Valanova. To protect, to empower, to honor. A thousand lifetimes may pass, yet I will stand steady, bound with you.”
I looked into Krew’s eyes and waited. At first, I felt nothing at all, just the familiar comfort of his hand in mine. And then I felt the warmth. I wasn’t sure if it was because my hand was sweaty or not, or it might have been how tightly I was gripping Krew’s hand back. And just when I wanted to break eye contact with Krew and look at our hands or rip them apart convinced it hadn’t worked, the tingling sensation began.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, welcoming the tingle with everything I had. It would work. It had to. I had no idea how this was the only way magic could work on me, but I still hoped with everything I had it would happen. That it would protect us both.
It felt like a full minute passed, both of us just standing in the meadow, palms together. My hand was tingling, but it didn’t at all hurt. As I opened my eyes back up to look at Krew, his eyes never once moving from mine, his eyes flared with his magic and as if it cracked, spread throughout his body. While still touching me, an eruption of navy magic flew out of Krew’s free hand, moving outward in a massive burst of magic.
The shockwave of that magic was enough we were all knocked to the ground. Krew protected me and made sure I landed on top of him.
Palms still together, I looked to the officiant. “Did it not work?”
He was looking at me with wide eyes. He began shaking his head, then nodding it.
Which answered nothing.
I refused to move my hand from Krew’s as he gently moved us to sitting up.
“John, did it work?” I begged.
He looked from Krew to me and back again. “I don’t believe it.”
“Please,” I begged. I didn’t feel any different at all. But Krew had been able to use his magic while touching me for the first time ever. So that was something, right? “Did it work?”
He nodded quickly. “It certainly did.”
With a relieved sigh I let go of Krew’s hand I was gripping for dear life. “Thank goodness.”
I heard a wolf howl, then another, and another join in.
“You are not heart bound though,” the officiant said with a little laugh and a shake of his head.
“We aren’t?” I looked at Krew then, and noticed he was beaming. Not only beaming but also glowing. While still touching me.
John’s eyes went to Krew as he gave him a nod, “You are soul bonded, Your Graces.”
“I—” I lost all words. “We arewhat?”
“You are soul bound, dear. I am sure of it,” he said to me kindly.
I shook my head. “You mean all of that,” I gestured with my cut palm, “wasn’t normal for a bonding?”
He laughed. He just sat on the ground and laughed for a solid half a minute before being able to answer me. “Good heavens no, Your Grace. But the last time I officiated a wedding and got knocked on my arse like this, it was another pair of soulmates. That was more than ten years ago, though.”
