Page 85 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood

“He said that you have all the books on mating bonds that are currently available?”

She peers up at me from behind her thick-rimmed glasses, her blue eyes wide.

“Yes, Prince Karius has asked that I study them, given the current situation.” Even though it’s only the two of us, she whispers the words as if afraid someone might overhear us.

“I’m Adina, by the way.”

She smiles awkwardly. “I know. Isadora,” she offers. “But everyone calls me Iza.”

“Would you mind if I join you?”

Her eyes widen at my words, and a long stretch of silence passes between us before she finally answers.

“I suppose…there is no law against it…then again, there hasn’t been a situation like this…”

It’s as though she is having a conversation with herself.

This one is insane. Just take what you need and return to your room.

She’s not insane. She just seems uncomfortable, like she’s not used to being around people.

Great.

I ignore Athriel, turning my attention back to her.

“I just thought that it might be useful for you to have a second pair of eyes. Perhaps we can find answers a little quicker.” She seems to consider my words for a moment. “And there’s no one more passionate about studying whether there is a way to break the bond than me,” I add.

The tension seems to leave her shoulders, and she finally nods.Thank the gods.

I clutch the back of the chair opposite her.

“Can I…?” I gesture toward the chair, and she nods profusely.

“Sorry, yes…let me just move these out of your way.” She stands up quickly and starts moving the books aside, making room for me. I want to tell her that it’s fine, but she is already halfway through before I get the chance. A small smile tilts my lips upward as I watch her.

She blows out a breath and pushes her glasses up her nose once she’s finished.

“There, that’s better.”

“It is.” I agree with a smile as I sit down. “So, have you found any information?”

I pull a book toward me titledThe Decrees and Laws of the Gods.

“Not much,” she admits. “A lot of it is what we already know, but I’m trying to focus more on how the bond is formed. There isn’t quite as much on that.”

I flick open the page of my book.

“Is that why you’re looking into the laws that the gods created?”

She nods.

“They are responsible for the mating bonds. It was a gift of sorts to all the crowns to help strengthen them during their rule.”

“Oh. Are you saying that the gods already knew who would be mated then?”

“Not just knew but created specifically. Mates are near-perfect matches in strength and power. They are specifically designed for one another. It’s quite romantic.”

I force back a grimace. There’s nothing romantic about being tied to Karius. I sink back into my chair as I take the information in.