Page 139 of Brambles and Bellflowers
“Obviously.” I frowned.
The last of the fire flickered and died, leaving only the moon to light the night sky.
So it was eerie when Miles suddenly spoke. His words were low, but the phrase was hauntingly familiar. “As my blood flows free, our souls join as one.”
My heartbeat echoed through me as the air grew still. I could feel each resounding beat from my fingertips to the bottoms of my toes.
It was the same as the ritual that was in Miles’s book. What were the odds of that?
“Say it after me,” he commanded.
Goosebumps broke out over my skin, but I obeyed. “A-a-as my blood flows free, our souls join as one.”
“And so I promise to uphold my contract with you,” he finished the words.
“And so I promise to uphold my contract with you,” I whispered.
As the echo of my words faded, a shiver shot down my spine. My lungs ached as I held my breath, waiting for the other shoe to fall.
Julian’s emotions had hit me like a wave crashing against the sand before they retreated, leaving only the slight pulse of memory behind and the constant undercurrent of something deeper. That was expected and what I’d prepared for.
So why was nothing happening?
But then, as Miles pulled me closer to him, trapping our tied wrists more tightly between us as he wrapped his other arm around my back, I could feel him.
His emotions reached out slowly, wrapping around me like a warm blanket. His feelings, a mixture of steadfast resolve and quiet strength, offered a grounding force that anchored me firmly to the present. I found a sanctuary in him, a steady place where I could regain my balance and feel safe.
At the same time, a bone-weary fatigue that’d been chasing after me began to be chased away. My aching muscles, my feet—even the slight twinge pulling at my wrist where Miles cut me, were made better.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I’m sharing your burden,” he said, fingers moving in a circle over my back. “That’s our relationship—you help me, and I ground you.”
I looked at him. “What does that mean?”
He straightened at my question. “I can tell how you’re physically feeling and choose to amplify those sensations or take them upon myself.”
But… “Isn’t that what Julian does?” I asked. “Like how he can control my body and emotions?”
“That’s not quite what he’s doing,” Miles clarified, placing his hand over mine. “Necromancers can influence hormones and the nervous system, but it’s not a passive, empathic connection. It’s more diagnostic. Besides, Julian’s not using your Soul Bond when he does that.”
“But…” What was the point of our Soul Bond?
“If you’re hurting or injured with me, I can shoulder your pain for you,” he explained. “It will still exist, but I will feel it instead. Right now, it’s only limited to when we’re touching.”
“You can feel my pain?” I didn’t see how that’d help him at all.
“And other things.” Miles’s face turned pink, and he didn’t look at me.
My skin grew warm in response. “Oh.” Perhaps he was more dangerous than Damen.
“Bianca—” Miles’s features turned serious. “I can’t influence how you feel to make you feel anything that you didn’t already.”
Why was my head spinning? “O-okay,” I replied.
“You don’t have to take me at my word. You’re in tune with my emotions,” Miles continued. He looked nervous as he added, “Do you think I’d lie to you?”
“I know,” I said. “I’d believe you even without feeling it.”
