These Hollow Vows (These Hollow Vows, #1)(116)

He offers me a glass of wine from a nearby table, and I take it, grateful to have something to ease my nerves.

“I had the staff hold back a bottle of solstice wine. Typically, it’s only served on Litha, but since you liked it so much . . .” He lifts his glass and taps it to mine. “Here’s to you, Abriella. I’ve only dreamed of being bonded to such an incredible woman.”

Tears prick at my eyes again. “And to you,” I whisper. “And a new beginning for both of us.”

We both drain our glasses, but my hands are still shaking when we return them to the table.

Sebastian summons a pile of runestones in his open palm and extends them to me.

I hesitate before reaching for one, all too aware of the magnitude of what we’re about to do. I’m ready for this lifelong bond, and yet—

No. No more doubts and no more secrets. I trust Sebastian, and I need to allow him this bond so he can protect me through whatever comes next.

Before I can change my mind, I reach for an oblong alabaster stone. The moment my fingers touch it, the rest disappear. I turn it in my palm to study the symbol. One long, thick line stretches from top to bottom of the longest side of the stone, another line angles off it to the right, and a swirl crosses the middle.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, stroking my thumb across the imprint. I flick my gaze up to Sebastian. His eyes are locked on the stone, and his face has fallen. “What’s wrong?”

He swallows and shakes his head. “Nothing. It’s fine.”

“What does it mean?”

“This symbol can mean sorrow and loss.” He clasps his hand over mine, pressing the stone tight between our palms. “But it can also mean rebirth after those things. New beginnings, like you said.” He bows his head and brushes his lips against mine, keeping our hands clasped. “Are you ready?”

I search his face. I love that he’s not rushing this, that he understands what it means to me. “I’m ready.”

“Abriella Kincaid, I bond my life to yours. I will feel your joy and know your pain. Near or far, we will always be close in heart, connected in spirit.”

“Prince Ronan Sebastian,” I say, repeating the vows as I was instructed. “I bond my life to yours. I will feel your joy and know your pain. Near or far, we will always be close in heart, connected in spirit.”

His lowers his head, brushing his smile across mine, his hand still holding mine tightly, almost as if he’s afraid I’ll pull away.

“Is that it?” I ask. I thought I might feel different somehow, but I don’t.

“It takes a moment,” he says. He sprinkles whisper-soft kisses down my neck and pulls my body close. Pleasure and anticipation shimmer through me. We kiss and kiss until the evening air wraps around us, like a band holding us together.

Then it’s there—a connection between us, something snapping and electric, a power pumping through me to him in an infinite loop.

“Sebastian,” I whisper. The rune is no longer between our palms. “Where did it go?”

He shifts the green velvet at my décolletage to the side and smiles. There, inked on my skin, is the rune that disappeared from our clasped hands.

The sight reminds me of Finn’s chest and all those runes inked there. Does each represent someone he bonded with? A life he stole?

I push the thought from my mind. Tonight is about Sebastian and me. About us. “Do you have one too?”

Swallowing, he nods and turns our joined hands to show me the inked symbol on the inside of his wrist. “We are bonded.”

My vision blurs, and my knees go weak under me. “I think I need to sit down.”

Sebastian’s face pales, but he takes my arm and leads me to a chair just inside his chambers. “I’m going to need you to drink this,” he says, pulling a vial from a pouch at his side.

Pain stabs through my chest, and my lungs seize. “Sebastian . . .” I gasp and draw my knees to my chest as the pain rips through me again. “I think someone poisoned the wine.”

“I need you to drink.” He keeps a hand on my arm. When I’m able to open my eyes, he’s watching me, concern all over his handsome face. “I’m here, Abriella. I’m right here.”

“What’s happening to me?”

“It’s a reaction to the bond. Now drink.”

The pain rips through me. Sebastian’s lips are moving, but his words are little more than a soundtrack to my torture. I try to listen, try to focus on anything except this excruciating pain ripping me apart, but I can’t. I just want to sleep until the pain is gone.

The world flashes—bright with the sunset coming in from the balcony, then the comforting darkness of unconsciousness. Light, dark, light, dark. It’s like I’m being asked to choose—life and pain or relief and nothingness.

“Brie.”

I drag my eyes open.

Sebastian’s pressed the vial to my lips. “You’re dying. This is the only choice we have.”

“Dying?” I always imagined that death would seize me and pull me under. I never thought it would sink jagged claws into my chest and fight me down. I never imagined I’d have a chance to fight back.

“Please drink. The Potion of Life is the only way I can save you.” I hear his tears before I can force my eyes open long enough to see them. “For once in your life, stop being so damn stubborn.”