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His fingers brushed across her throat. “But would you want it? Being bound to me?”

Anxiety was etched along the soft lines of her face as she spoke. “But what if we’re separated? What if you meet someone else? This could ruin any chance you have at happiness. No. No! I won’t—”

He silenced her with a kiss, soft at first, then deeper, more desperate. “Bind yourself to me, Perine Wilder.” He gasped between kisses. “If we’re separated, I’ll use our soul bond to find you. It’ll also protect you from Valus, no matter what you choose. You don’t have to be alone in this. Let me help… please.”

A nervous laugh bubbled from her, her eyes shimmering with hope and she nodded her head.

She whispered, “Alright.”

“Perhaps my mother truly can see the future after all,” Oleander mused as he carefully pulled out the rope Laurel had given him earlier that day.

She raised a brow. “I was wondering what that rope was for. I assumed it was something more... Brightmore-esque.”

He grinned. “Why not both?” Zila growled warningly at him, they were running out of time. Oleander cleared his throat and clarified, “Actually, it’s a family heirloom. For mating rituals.”

“What magic is included with your rope?” she asked, biting back a smile.

He ran one hand along the rope to soothe his nerves. “It wouldn’t be that much different than the temporary bond. We’ll always be pulled toward each other and then there’d be the extra awareness of how each other’s feeling, which… was quite nice in the Arcane Vaults.”

“Would it… would it be alright if we also did something customary from my Circle?”

He shot her a wary look. “What do you have in mind?”

Perine bit her lip nervously. “It’s just that I was researching Fidelity Berries because… well that doesn’t matter now. They have garnered a horrible reputation and sure, they’re famous for preventing you from being with another physically—in fact, being with anyone else would make you feel nauseous—but originally their magic was created so that if we were searching for each other, then we’d always find—”

Then Oleander did the only thing any sensible demon could do—he kissed her.

She was trembling with nervous energy, but the instant their lips met, she melted into him. And for one breathless moment, the turmoil, the fear, the impossible weight of what lay between them all fell away.

She pulled back and rested her forehead to his. “I’m… I’m just scared. And I need you to be able to find me, no matter what happens next.”

“Then what are we even discussing this for?”

With a half-playful, half-commanding tone, she added, “Bind our hands together, then. Zila can be our witness.”

It was agreed then. Zila padded toward them, her eyes narrowing at Oleander before sitting pompously beside them. With a reverence that seemed to echo through the air, Oleander wound the rope around their hands, looping it loosely but deliberately. Perine’s expression clouded with doubt. “Are you sure you want this? To be stuck with me forever?”

“I am,” he said simply. “And you?” His question trembled, nervous energy crackling in his blood. An unabashed smile broke across her face as she pulled him to her, kissing him with a fierceness that could rival the fire storm raging around them. Runic magic swirled around them, shadows shifting between, as the soul bond began to form. Oleander felt the rope come to life, the magic coursing through him like soft, electrifying lightning.

Peri pulled two tiny berries from her bag and placed one each between his lips as he placed one between hers. His heart jolted, painfully skipping a beat. But then they were kissing again, the pain fell away to the back recesses of his mind.

As the shadows faded away, Oleander felt the soul bond—so much more intense the temporary bond—thrumming in his blood. Perine’s eyes met his, and he knew she could feel it too.

She kissed him again, like this was the last time she might ever see him. He kissed her back, a promise in his every breath—that no matter what, he would always find her.

He swept Peri into his arms, cradling her close. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, and she nestled against him. He pulled away just enough to gently wrap the light grey Scarf of Protection around her neck. Peri gazed at it with such affection that Oleander’s heart fluttered, a sense of pride swelling inside him.

She huffed out a laugh. “Well, the colour is actually quite lovely.”

He smirked. “I know. I’ll be expecting an equally lovely mating present as soon as you’re able.”

The rumble of many large hellcats thundering towards them came from the nearby forest, and Perine grabbed his face, kissing him fervently. Her grandfather was the first to burst through the trees riding atop his own hellcat, his violet eyes blazing with a fury the likes of which Oleander had never seen before. He was screaming Perine’s name as if it were a curse, the righteous hate in his posture and tone sent a blade of cold terror slicing through Oleander. Moloch was here to kill her with his own two hands, Oleander was certain.

An angry wind whipped around them, making it hard to hear anything. He grabbed Perine’s face and half shouting, half begging, he said, “You have to accept Her bargain!”

“Wait, no.” Peri recoiled, pushing back from him, her eyes wide with a mix of anger and horror. “Now that we’re mates I—maybe my family will listen!”

Great winds curled around them as the Goddess’s power rushed towards her, whipping their clothes and hair uncontrollably. Oleander pulled her closer to him and laid his forehead onto hers. “Perine, they won't! Please don’t make me watch you die suffering.” His voice came out choked with desperation. “I need you to live… even if you never forgive me for this. Please.” Hot tears slipped down his face. “If you won’t do it for yourself—do it for me.”