Page 51 of The Rebel's Prize

She nodded, seeking reassurance in his face.

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to lose you. Because I want to know you. Because it felt like my heart broke, too, when I broke it, and I've missed you every second since."

Was it a good idea to bring up what she'd done? Probably not. But there could be no lies between them now. "Because we're stronger together," she continued. "Better together."

She could drown in the green of his eyes, intent on hers.

"No taking it back this time," he managed, half breathless. "If you do this, it stays. You stay. We stay." His hands anchored her hips, stilling her. "So be sure."

"I'm sure."

"Then so am I." A laugh rumbled softly from his throat.

"Something funny?"

"Apparently you get to stab me after all."

She raised a brow. "Stab you?"

"Last time this involved a knife. And blood."

True. But there were other ways to form a bond. Sometimes all it took was will and magic and trust.

"No knives." She flung her senses out, seeking for a ley line. It was distant, but it answered her call willingly enough.

Lucien's eyes widened. "Goddess. You shine."

"And you sing," she said, bending forward to nip at his lip. Maybe a little blood couldn't hurt. "Sing with me. Let me in."

"Always."

He tilted his head back as she let her magic reach for his, pulling that deepest part of him toward hers, lighting up their power until it felt as though the tent was alight around them, sparks dancing through the air before her eyes like a thousand shooting stars.

Not stars, though. Magic.Hismagic. She laughed as she realized she could feel him again and let the magic run wilder through them. Something answered, sweeping them both up and throwing them together in a dizzying rush that felt like she was falling through every memory she had of him and maybe he had of her. A thousand glimpses of smiles and laughter and his face turning to hers and hers lighting up for him. The pleasure came, too, intensifying the feeling into something too strong to bear.

This time when she came, she felt him, too, even as he called her name and the magic flared again, carrying them both away.

* * *

The next morning, Chloe woke early, stirred by the sound of footsteps crunching on the ground outside. Lucien's arm was around her waist, warm and reassuring, and a quiet sense of happiness hummed through the bond even though he was asleep. It made her smile. Which brought a flurry of images of her face smiling to her mind.

Not her memories. They couldn't be.

Her eyes widened.

Lucien's?

But how? Had they done something different with the bond?

It had been intense, yes. The magic crashing through them had been undeniable. As though all the barriers between them had fallen in that moment. But notnow. She still felt like herself, knew the boundaries where she ended and he began. Knew what she felt through the bond was him, not her.

So why was she getting hints of his memories?

Surely it was only to be expected that it felt different. The first time had been desperation, and she'd still been mostly determined to keep him at arm's length. She hadn't known she loved him. Hadn't wanted their joining in the way she had last night. Hadn'tneededit.

Of course it was stronger this time. But she didn’t remember anything from her lessons at the Academe about bonded mages sharing memories. And until they returned to Lumia, she had no way to learn more.

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