it excites her.”
“That makes two of us. The unpredictableness, I mean. Not the excitement.”
Kyra spins and the dress billows around her. She’s always been adorable with her dark curls and big eyes, but today she looks radiant. “Speaking of Malin, what did she want yesterday?”
It’s the question I’ve wanted her to ask since I walked in the door, but seeing her so happy, so giddy over the upcoming ceremony, I think it’s best to wait. I don’t want to ruin her moment with my bad mood.
“Just going over a few matters of State.” It’s true…in a way.
Kyra puts her hand on her hip and juts out her bottom lip. “You’re lying.”
If I wanted, I could claim confidentiality, but I need my best friend. I sigh. “She demanded I pick a new mate.”
Kyra’s hands fly over her mouth and she squeaks. “What’s his name? Is he cute? When is the ceremony?”
She doesn’t know. That small fact somehow makes me feel better. Still, I scrunch up my face and pry one eye open. “It’s Ryker.”
Kyra shrieks as she jumps up and down, clapping in delight. “I knew it! I told Maz the two of you would be paired off! And why shouldn’t you be? You’ve been raised together, you both need mates.” Kyra’s switched to rapid fire mode and I find myself growing dizzy from her assault. “This is so exciting! We’re going to have to get right to work. Tomorrow. We can pick out your gown and your shoes. Who do you want to attend? Our old housemates? The Dark ones, obviously. But what about the humans? Do you think Malin will mind? Obviously we can’t invite Lena.”
I don’t want to talk about this, but I don’t want to upset Kyra either. “How about we wait until after today? We have more important things to do, right now.” I pick up her wrap from the back of a chair and hand it to her.
Kyra grins at me. “If you insist. I do have a little thing called a binding to get to.” She giggles again and covers her shoulders with the wrap.
Suddenly, the smile fades from her face and panic replaces it. She paces to the far corner before wandering back to me.
“What if I mess this up? Say the wrong thing or something?”
“Then we’ll laugh and you’ll still be bound to Maz at the end of the day.”
She grabs my hands between hers. “The binding, does it hurt? When you combine magic?”
My throat tightens and I force words out. “No. It feels amazing. Like you’re being made complete.”
She drops my hands and kisses me on the cheek. “Thank you, Lark. For being my best friend.”
Without waiting, like she knows I need a moment alone, she hurries to the door and disappears into the hallway. I dab the corner of my eye with my thumb.
“And when you’re ripped from one another, it feels like you’re dying every day. With every breath,” I whisper into the emptiness around me.
#
Kyra’s head touches Maz’s as she leans closer to him. His hand slips around hers and their fingers intertwine. Kyra’s father, Liam, lays a hand on each of their shoulders and Maz’s mother sprinkles scented water over them. The drops splatter across the silk of Kyra’s gown like tiny teardrops.
“To you, I give my heart, my soul and my life,” Kyra says. Her voice catches slightly, but she’s beaming. This is what she’s waiting for since we were twelve and Maz called her bossy. I smile, marveling at how they’ve moved from enemies to this in just a few short years.
Maz places his hand over Kyra’s heart. “I pledge to always honor these vows until my last breath.”
Their parents kiss both of them on the forehead before turning the new couple toward the assembly.
“The newly bound couple!” Liam announces.
Maz’s eyes shine as he smiles down at Kyra. Like the boy who got the prize. Thank goodness he already knows what a handful she can be.
As they proceed up the aisle to the back of the hall, the attendees crowd around them, trying to touch the new couple. It’s considered good luck, but the throng makes Kyra nearly trip. My arm darts out as she passes and I touch her.
“Good fortune to you,” she recites automatically without realizing it’s me.
I don’t care. I’ll take all the luck I can get.
#
Candlelight bathes the reception hall in a warm yellow, and wax runs down the tall pillars, puddling at the bases.
Maz and Kyra each sit at opposite