Page 118 of The Guardian's Curse

Since breaking his curse, Shoshanna had spent weeks poring over the texts that Paris had brought. Together, they painstakingly translated every page. Though his brothers tempered their hope with cynicism and practicality, Shoshanna was determined to solve their problems and break their curses. Her optimism was infectious. He'd noticed the unusual warmth in Nikko's voice when he mentioned "the witch", and the way Paris's eyes lingered on them.

Still, she had a Herculean task ahead. Unless she was able to find destiny's perfect match for each of them, she would have to find another way. But even with the insurmountable odds, they were far closer than they had ever been.

Just after midnight, Eduardo's Scythe, Hugo, came to fetch them both for the bonding ceremony. He could hear Shoshanna's heart racing as he joined her, lightly grasping her hand to take her into the inner sanctuary of Eduardo's home. They did not speak, but exchanged a series of quiet glances and smiles.

The familiar tingle of Shoshanna's magic clung to the house, evidence of the security measures she'd created for the Elder. Even he had never seen Eduardo's innermost sanctum. Past a wine cellar and a library that smelled of old books and dust, a heavy wooden door led into the small, temple-like room.

Walled in dark gray stone, it was silent as the tomb, with an ornate silver altar along one wall. Dressed in all black, with a small silver pin bearing the sword and rose crest, Eduardo stood in front of the altar. Eduardo's advisors, the Scythe, the Veil, and the Gilded Hand, flanked him. "Miss York," he said politely. "On behalf of the Blade of Auberon, I offer sanctuary and protection from all threats. I offer the sharp bite of my fangs, the dark shield of the Shroud, the financial comforts of my kingdom, and the eternal power of my blood. In exchange, I require your loyalty. When your power and knowledge may serve the greater good of my court, you will use it in service of those who protect you. Do you accept?"

Her hand tightened on Alistair's, and she exchanged a look with him. Then she raised her chin to look up at Eduardo. "I accept your offer and give my loyalty in exchange."

Hugo took her hand, then drew a sharp stiletto from his coat. Alistair tensed instinctively. He knew there was no danger, but it was hard to watch the deadliest vampire in the court wielding a blade at his beloved.

The Scythe pricked the soft pad of her thumb, but Shoshanna remained calm. He nodded and placed the blade on the altar, then beckoned for her to come closer. Eduardo brought her hand to his lips. With a light brush of his lips, he drew her blood into his mouth. The smell of it awakened a raging hunger in Alistair, and an accompanying, primal fury that anyone else dared taste it.

But Eduardo's gesture was largely symbolic, and he surely drank no more than a thimbleful of her blood before finishing. At his other side, Violette poured a dark wine into a ruby-adorned goblet, handing it to Shoshanna. She took a drink, then passed it back. Finally, Stefan Varga held out a silver bracelet, a far more intricate and bejeweled version of one that Dominic had loaned her months ago.

Eduardo placed the bracelet around her wrist. The solid silver bangle was entwined with vine-like strands of platinum and silver that tangled around a silver rose flecked with ruby and garnet. "We once granted these to patrons and sympathetic humans who were kind to us," he said. "This is a sign of my favor."

"Thank you," Shoshanna said, touching it lightly. "I am very grateful."

"I will return your mate to you shortly," Eduardo said, tipping his head to Shoshanna. "Good evening, Miss York. Please enjoy our hospitality."

When she left the room, her scent lingered. Thanks to their soulmate bond, he still felt her presence nearby, a gentle pulse at the base of his spine. She had quite literally become his heart, reminding him that he lived, rather than simply lurking in the shadows.

Eduardo was silent for a while after Shoshanna left, but he finally raised his eyes to Alistair. "Destiny has a strange way of carrying out its will, does it not?"

"Indeed," he said.

"I have considered your request, and I will grant it," Eduardo said. "You have been reinstated to the Shroud, and you will report to Julian tomorrow."

A warm sense of pride filled him. "Thank you, sir."

His eyebrows arched. "I fear that we will need you sooner rather than later. The continued turmoil of the Casteron will bring trouble to our door." He spared a faint smile. "Perhaps you should have remained their king and gotten them in line before handing over your throne."

"Perhaps," he said drily. "And perhaps another foolish upstart would have beheaded me before I had a chance to make reforms."

Eduardo chuckled. "A far more likely scenario. In either case, your primary responsibility is to protect this witch. She will make us powerful, but she may also make us a target," he said. "And if these hunters return, we will need all capable hands to protect our people."

"I will take the responsibility," Alistair said.

He nodded. "I am pleased for your happiness, Alistair. I have not forgotten what you and your brothers have suffered to protect this court. I hope for their sakes, that she can free all of them from their curses."

He nodded. "As do I," he said. "Thank you, sir."

Eduardo nodded and gestured his dismissal.

When Alistair climbed the stairs, he found Shoshanna sitting on a plush settee with Lucia, dressed in an elegant purple dress. She managed a smile and carried on conversation in halting English. She had wept bitterly when they finally told her how long it had been, and how long Kova had been away. But just as Shoshanna claimed to have sensed something, Lucia swore she could feel that Kova was alive. He only hoped that it was not false hope. Given what Shoshanna had accomplished, he believed that her sheer force of will might bring him back. When she wanted something, the universe would reorder itself to make it so.

In his absence, someone had taken over the music. A string quartet played a romantic waltz, reminding him of when he was young. He swept by, grasped Shoshanna's arm, and led her to the floor. She just smiled up at him, eyes twinkling with joy as he led her around the floor. "Je t'aime," he said quietly.

"Je t'aime," she replied.

He kissed her forehead, then spun her dramatically. Her skirt twirled around as she returned to him, body pressed tightly to his. "I will never tire of dancing with you."

Over her shoulder, he saw Dominic speaking to Lucia and coaxing her to dance. Her somber expression melted away into a gleeful smile as he guided her around the floor.

They whirled and spun, occasionally trading off partners. He danced with Lucia, marveling at her grace, while Dominic took Shoshanna around the floor in a whirl of scarlet skirts.

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