She loved that part of the vow, because she would offer her life for his. She knew each word to be the absolute truth.
Pesämet andam. I give you my protection. His amusement was warm in her mind. At this very moment, csitri, I think you are giving me protection rather than the other way around.
Isn't that how the whole thing works? she asked. We love and protect one another. Because she knew he felt a fierce desire to ensure her health and safety and she felt that same tigress-like need to take care of him.
Uskolfertiilamet andam. I give you my allegiance. You have always had my allegiance, but we're making it official.
She had known she had his loyalty and faithfulness from the moment their eyes met. She couldn't imagine her life without him.
Sívamet andam. I give you my heart. Her heart changed rhythm, matching his. A steady, strong beat in spite of the fact that he was still nearly starving.
Sielamet andam. I give you my soul.
There it was, that tie she had been waiting for. He had her heart. He gave her his. Now he tied his soul to hers.
Ainamet andam. I give you my body. Sívamet kuuluak kaik että a ted. I take into my keeping the same that is yours.
She took a deep breath and let it out. There was that, his body. So strong. So much stronger than she was. She would never be able to stop him if anything he did frightened her. For a moment, one terrible moment, she felt her heart go out of rhythm and her breath exploded from her lungs. He waited as he held his breath, but he said nothing, letting her absorb what he said, what that commitment actually meant. It was a vow, like all the others.
She let her breath out. Felt her heart settle. Dimitri was a man of honor. He loved her, and she always had to trust in that love, just as this night, he would be trusting in her love.
I have no doubts, Dimitri. You are my other half and together we'll get through anything.
Again there was that burst of heat, bathing her mind in his love. It surrounded her and lifted her up as nothing else could.
Ainaak olenszal sívambin. Your life will be cherished by me for all my time. Skyler, you know I have cherished you always, but this means so much more. Te élidet ainaak pide minan. Your life will be placed above my own for all time. I would never hurt you, or frighten you or ask you to do something you are uncomfortable with. Do you understand?
Of course she understood. She'd always known, on some level, that Dimitri was a man above men. He allowed her to work her way to him on her own. He never once had tried to make her feel guilty or to push her toward him faster. He gave her room, and yet he was always there when she needed him. How often had she leaned on him in the middle of the night when the nightmares were too close? He'd never asked for anything in return.