Page 43 of Soulmates

And what did Jake want? Maddox. And to not work for his father. And to teach. He would love to teach other magic users how to live good lives and to pass on some of the knowledge he’d gained. In his quietest fantasies, he worked at a school where he could do just that—teach magic users both offensive and defensive magic. Jake wanted to guide young mages in how to use power and when not to. He could picture Maddox teaching alongside him. Maddox could teach almost anything. History, theory, elements, healing, gardening. And he could keep up his own studies like the nerdy academic he was.

But Jake didn’t know where to find such a place. Maybe they’d build it themselves. As much as he’d fantasized about getting an apartment with Maddox back home, that fantasy had soured over the past year as Maddox brought out more and more research about the truth of their societal structure and potentially their families’ roles in it. Maddox’s, definitely; Jake’s, probably. That apartment kept getting more and more distant, though Jake has clung to the thought as if living together would be the way Jake was going to find out for sure if Maddox loved him back. That question had been answered now. He should have known all along.

Footsteps sounded behind him. Santiago was trying to be quiet, but he’d always been able to hear her, much to her eternal frustration.

“Is it okay to wake him?” she asked.

“Yes. What’s up?”

“Cricket found something.”

The three of them made their way into Cricket’s living room, where he had a book open on top of the piles stacked on the coffee table. It was one of the books referencing marriage ceremonies Jake had found. Cricket started talking about one involving the tying of the hands, which is a practice that seemed to stretch across societies when it came to marriage. The ceremony Cricket wanted to try asked the couple a series of questions, and a shield of air was conjured around them before they were told to let go and embrace.

“It’s worth a shot,” Santiago said.

“I think we should do it,” Maddox said.

Looking at Maddox, Jake said, “I’ll try anything you want to, you know that.”

Cricket nodded while still staring at the book. “Maddox, I want you to drink the potion before we try. You’ll need your strength.”

They tried the ritual outside, considering the two of them had semi-exploded last time. Cricket collected some old rope from his toolshed and had them stand opposite each other, with Cricket on one side and Santiago on the other.

“Take some deep breaths and focus on each other. Look into each other’s eyes and just take a minute to breathe together and see each other.”

Jake looked at Maddox, his hair shining, his eyes literally gleaming, his sweet half-smile directed at Jake. Jake forced his breathing to match Maddox’s.

“Now, I’m going off the general idea of several ceremonies and working with what the intent seems to be.”

Cricket wrapped the rope, scratchy and browned with age and use, around their already bound hands up to their wrists. “This rope represents the tying of two people together, body and soul.”

He stepped back. “Jake, do you accept Maddox as your bonded match for eternity or until both of you perish?”

“Yes.” No hesitation. He would always choose Maddox.

“Maddox, do you take Jake as your bonded match for eternity or until both of you perish?”

“Yes,” Maddox said and blushed.

“Focus on each other. Reach inside, beyond what can be seen.” Cricket paused for them to settle into a meditative connection before continuing. “This bond is the most important one you will have in your lives. You must hold it above family, both chosen and by blood. It is not to be entered into lightly. You will share your lives, your triumphs, your losses, your every day. You must remember each moment that you are no longer two but are one.”

A sudden dome of solid air surrounded them. “If you accept this bond fully, with your whole hearts and souls, embrace and allow your souls to fuse.”

They took a simultaneous breath, Maddox looking as nervous as Jake had ever seen him. Fear clouded his eyes. But fear of what? They kept eye contact as they lowered their hands, dropping the rope to the ground. Maddox smiled at him and stepped into him, their free arms going around each other. They sank into each other and waited. But nothing happened.

Maddox stalked into the house, yanking Jake behind him.

Cricket trailed in their wake. “I wasn’t expecting it to work. Not with zero prep or discussion ahead of time. But we had to try to get a feel for what a ceremony might be like. Plus, we could have gotten lucky,” Cricket said, following them through the back of the house into the kitchen. “That ceremony was just one idea. There is a lot we can try.”

“We know that,” Jake said.

Maddox huffed.

“That’s cute. You look like you want to stalk off but can’t because…” Jake held up their clasped hands, and Maddox rolled his eyes.

“Getting pissed about it isn’t going to help you,” Cricket said. “We have to get you more in tune with your magic channels.”

“Maybe one of my magic channels is angry. Fire, you know,” Maddox said as he attempted, and failed, to cross his arms.

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