Page 126 of Dark Fate

"What exactly is a Soul-Tie?" I ask.

I'm completely in the dark about this divine stranger's identity or how he fits into this cosmic puzzle.

Apparently attuned to my unspoken questions, Seraphina chimes in: "Jophiel is one of Elysium's most trusted confidants. He is an angel renowned for his profound wisdom and boundless compassion."

"A Soul-Tie is precisely what it sounds like. It is an act of willingly giving and tying your soul to another, and they, in turn, offer and tie theirs to you. It shields you, safeguarding your soul from being seized by another."

His gaze locks with mine as the pieces snap together in my mind. He's referring to the horrifying possibility of Moretemis stealing my soul or, even more unthinkable, Rhyland's.

"Okay, but how? What do I need to do? I thought I already accomplished that by bonding with him. I sensed it at that moment—my soul entwining with his." The words tumble out in rapid fire.

"I—We—are not well versed in vampire blood-bonding. A Soul-Tie is far more enduring and intricate," Jophiel states with unyielding authority, his words resonating with absolute conviction.

Isn't that the same damn thing? I'm so confused.

Seraphina faces me, her expression conveying the gravity of our situation. "You must seek the one who holds the knowledge of this ancient rite, someone to guide you through the process. This practice was lost when the realms were sealed away from one another. I yearn to give you the answers you need, dear heart, but alas, I do not possess them."

Realization dawns on me like a divine epiphany. This is precisely why Moretemis has been able to plunder souls with impunity—because they remain unclaimed, ripe for the picking.

"Then why didn't my father tie his soul to my mother's?" I blurt out, desperate for answers.

"Elysium sought to achieve precisely that," Jophiel explains with firm resolve. "However, he was unable to find the means to complete it before your mother's untimely demise. This is why we need you to see it through to prevent such a tragedy from happening again."

I stand there, shock and confusion coursing through me. If my parents had performed this soul-tie, my mother's soul would have been protected, safe from the fate that claimed her. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut, and a deep sense of loss washes over me. But amidst the grief, a fierce determination takes root. I can't let the same happen to Rhyland. I won't lose him, not to Moretemis. Whatever it takes, I'll ensure our souls are bound, forever intertwined, so that we'll never be torn apart.

"Very well." Jophiel clears his throat, signifying the shift in focus. "Let's proceed to the heart of the matter for which we've beckoned you here. We are running out of time."

The implications of that statement elude me. The longer I linger here, the more I feel like a disobedient child, sneaking out and dreading the inevitable moment when the parental figure catches on to my misdeeds.

Talk about divine grounding.

He opens his hands to reveal a diamond-studded box, exquisite and captivating in its craftsmanship. This box, no doubt, carries something significant within it.

"Be ever mindful that Rhyland's path of shadows may yet be your undoing, Dani. Until we know for sure that your souls are, in fact, tied, hold fast to your path and cradle your luminescence."

A final warning.

As the diamond-studded box opens with an almost celestial whisper, Jophiel presents the Atherite stone—a crystal that seems to throb with the very essence of his realm.

My breath catches, stolen momentarily by the pure grandeur before me. The stone's facets are mesmerizing, each appearing to cradle swirling galaxies within their depths, a dance of cosmic light and shadow playing across its surfaces.

"This is the legacy to which you were born," Jophiel proclaims, his voice harmonizing with the essence of the universe. "The Atherite stone harbors formidable powers—forces of creation and annihilation intertwined in its heart."

"What does it do?" I can't help but ask, curiosity laced with awe as I reach out tentatively toward the stone.

My fingers barely graze its surface, but even that feather-light contact sends a shiver of warmth through me. The stone feels almost alive, pulsating with an energy that resonates at the same frequency as my heartbeat.

"The Atherite embodies the very essence of Atheria—light and creation," he explains with a gravity that seems to make the air around us thrum with importance. "It can heal, cleanse, and bring clarity where there is darkness. For you, Dani, it will resonate with your gifts, allowing you to access the light within and manifest it in ways the realms have yet to witness. It is not just a symbol of power but a token of your destiny."

I hold the stone in my hand, admiring its impossibly beautiful appearance—how it seems to drink in the light around it and refract it into a million dancing colors. But when I think this moment can't become more awe-striking, the unexpected happens: the stone breaks free from the confines of my palm, levitating with a mind of its own.

It hovers for a heartbeat, a suspended spectacle of sparkling wonder before it moves—deliberate and sure—toward my crown. The stone gently embeds itself, finding a home among the ornate metalwork as if it was always meant to be a part of me.

My head buzzes, alive with a new power that feels alien yet familiar. Tingling sensations race down my spine, spreading to the rest of my body as the Atherite syncs with my essence.

"And you," he asserts with a grave tone that bears the weight of eternal truths, "are now protected, untouchable, and possibly even transcend mortality."

Immortal—the word echoes in my skull with a reverberation that might as well be a bass drop at Lucian's nightclub.

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