Page 71 of The Bound Mage
“Are they—” she hesitated, almost afraid of what the answer might be. “Are they going mad? Like they did with his father?”
Thorne’s head snapped up, his amber gaze wary. “What do you know about that?”
“Only what Eloria told me.” Araya wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly chilled despite the warmth of the kitchen. “She said the shadows went mad when their mother died—because the king had lost his mate. That they slaughtered every person on that battlefield—human and fae alike.” She forced herself to take another breath, her voice trembling. “What’s happening now…is it my fault?”
“You aren’t dead, Araya,” Thorne said kindly. “There isn’t much known about incomplete mate bonds—Eloria has Ysella pulling all the information she can find about them now. I think everyone here assumed you’d eventually agree to the mate bond—but Loren has been very clear that he won’t see you forced into it. What happened with him in the Nw Dominion…it’s not something he ever would have chosen to put on you.”
Araya nodded, though her throat ached. No matter what she thought about what Loren had done, she knew claiming her without her consent was something he’d never stop punishing himself for.
“Did you know the whole time?” she asked softly, staring down at her own hands rather than look at Thorne and be confronted by what the shadows had done to him. “About the mate bond?”
“We did.” Thorne rubbed his good hand over his face, suddenly looking years older. “But it wasn’t our place to say anything. Loren didn’t want to tell you—he almost killed Nyra over it.”
Araya’s brow furrowed. “She wanted to tell me?”
“She wanted to kill you,” Thorne said bluntly. “And leave your body behind for the Shaws to find. She thought it was too dangerous to steal Jaxon Shaw’s bond out from under his nose.”
Araya stared at him, stunned.
“Well,” she said when she found her voice again. “She wasn’t wrong. That would have solved a lot of problems. If I can’t find a way to break the bond it would probably still work?—”
“Don’t even suggest that,” Thorne cut her off sharply. “Especially not in front of Loren. Unless you want to see the shadows destroy everything and everyone they can reach.”
“We should consider all the options.” Araya looked away. “Even the unpalatable ones.”
Thorne was silent for a long moment.
“You’re serious then,” he said finally.“About breaking the bond and going back?”
“I don’t see any other way for this to end,” Araya whispered. “I don’t want to be used to hurt Loren, but what Jaxon did to those females…” her voice caught. “I can’t let them get hurt because of me either. I’m just trying to protect them both. I just wish he understood that.”
“I think?—”
But whatever Thorne was about to say was cut off as the door swung open, Ilyana hurrying in on Veria’s heels.
“Of course you’re sitting up,” the Healer grumbled, glaring at him. “Is it too much to ask that you follow your own instructions?”
“Healers make the worst patients—” Thorne grunted, his voice faltering as Ilyana shoved him back down onto thetable, her hands already glowing as she palpated the writhing shadowmarks that covered his chest.
“You shielded him?” she asked, glancing at Araya.
Araya nodded mutely.
“Then you saved his life,” Ilyana said. “Here—help me get him up. He’ll be more comfortable in his rooms.”
Together, they eased Thorne from the table, half-carrying him back through the corridors to his chamber. By the time they settled him on the bed, sweat had plastered his hair to his forehead, though his smile was stubborn as ever.
“Stubborn male,” Ilyana muttered, smoothing the sheet over his bare chest. She turned back to Araya, her expression gentler. “Eryn sent something for you,” she said, rummaging in her satchel and pulling out a leather-bound folder. “Here—he said you’d want it right away.”
Araya took the folder automatically, her throat suddenly dry as she stared down at the note tucked into the front.I hope this has all the answers you need, Miss Starwind. Written in common—not Valenya.
Her stomach dropped, realizing what must be inside. Accountings of couples who had severed their mate bonds. Why they’d done it—and how. Everything she’d been searching for since she learned the bond existed, delivered to her in a neat little package.
“Thank you,” she managed, realizing Ilyana was staring at her. “I’ll just?—”
The Healer nodded, still watching her carefully. “You should get some rest,” she said. “What you did today—you really did save Thorne’s life, Araya. I’m glad you were there.”
Araya dipped her head politely, barely hearing anything else Ilyana said as she stumbled into the hall. For a moment, she just stood there, staring down the corridor toward her own door. Butthe folder was heavy in her hands, the neat black letters of Eryn’s note seared into her mind.
