Page 55 of The Missing Sentinel
“I know your feelings about weapons, but I have a suggestion. If we use your daggers, it would turn them from weapons into athames. Many in my family display their athames as a reminder of that important moment in their lives. We could do the same with your daggers.”
It made Drexley sad that he could not honor the request, because Ducarius’s idea was lovely. “I wish we could, but I do not have my weapons any longer.”
“Where are they?”
“I do not know. My memory does not stretch that far back. I cannot recall the last time I trained or what happened to them. But my belongings are not so numerous that I could lose two curved daggers among them. They are not in my trunks, and Adney would not allow weapons to be stored anywhere else in the house. I must assume that I rid myself of them somehow. Perhaps Adney aided me.”
“I see.”
“Do you think it was wrong of me to destroy them?”
Ducarius caressed Drexley’s cheek. “That is not up to me to decide. They were your property, not mine. I already know you have no interest in training, so it makes sense that you would not want to keep blades lying around.”
“I wish I had kept them; having them as athames would have been nice.”
“We could wait and have an athame made if you want.”
Drexley shook his head. “No, I think it will please me to use your weapons, knowing they are always with you. It will be almost like a piece of us goes with you too.”
“You are right. I hope it does not make it harder to attack others knowing that my blades have bound us together for eternity. That would be horrible.”
Given how diligent Ducarius was about his training, Drexley had no fear that his other half would hesitate in battle no matter what important events including his daggers. “Get your weapons, Ducarius, and let us be about our business.”
“One thing I love is the words my extended family have all used in their ceremonies. Would you mind saying them with me?”
“It will be lovely to include something traditional from your family. I would be honored.”
Ducarius picked up a dagger and changed the poison to the black one alone. Once the task was complete, Ducarius handed it to Drexley. Then he repeated the action with his second blade.
“Do you want to cut me first?” Ducarius asked.
“I have no argument with that order.”
Their eyes locked as Ducarius held out his left hand. Drexley smiled. Ducarius winked at him. Swallowing thickly as his emotions surged, Drexley blew out a breath.
“Cut swiftly across the palm,” Ducarius reminded Drexley gently.
“It will hurt you.”
“So would an eternity without you, and the pain of the cut will last only long enough for the wound to heal.”
Drexley cupped Ducarius’s wrist and whipped the dagger as quickly as he could manage through Ducarius’s skin. Blood welled and pleased Drexley. He set the dagger aside and held out his arm. His jaw flexed as Ducarius cut him. The pain from the poison was intense, but Drexley would have endured anything necessary to be with his other half.
“Repeat after me: Chosen by Fate, and accepted by my heart as true, I accept you as my mate.”
The words were beautiful, and Drexley hoped they would be fully committed to his often-faulty memory as he spoke them back to Ducarius. They sealed their wounds together, and Drexley kept his gaze fixed on Ducarius’s face. In his mind was a crystal-clear vision of two souls wrapping snugly around each other.
A heartbeat later, a surge of emotion joined his own joy. Drexley grinned as he realized he was experiencing Ducarius’s happiness.
Then he heard Ducarius’s voice in his head. “I love you.”
Tears fell unheeded down Drexley’s cheeks. Although he had imagined how lovely it would be to belong fully to Ducarius, they were just moments into their completed matebond and he was already delightfully overwhelmed by the experience.
“I love you too.”
Ducarius yanked Drexley close and banded his arms around him. Clinging to him, Drexley wept and thanked Fate for old magic and curious Skeleton Lords.
“I hope you heard me,” Ducarius said aloud.
