Page 30 of Court of Twisted Angels (Cruel Beautiful Angels of Aerasak #1)
I guide our zarryn-drawn carriage through the winding path of the estate, watching Kyrie's face for any hint of her reaction. The afternoon sun catches in her auburn hair, creating a halo effect that reminds me why humans once thought we were divine beings.
The estate sprawls before us - acres of carefully tended gardens with crystalline fountains that catch and reflect magical light in rainbow patterns. Ancient trees line the cobblestone path, their branches heavy with silver-tinged leaves that chime softly in the breeze.
"Almost there, little bird." I squeeze her hand as the carriage crests the final hill.
Her sharp intake of breath is exactly what I hoped for. The manor house rises before us, its white stone walls gleaming. Delicate spires reach toward the sky, connected by graceful archways embedded with protection runes that pulse with a subtle blue glow. A grand staircase sweeps up to massive double doors carved with our family's insignia.
"This is... ours?" Kyrie presses closer to the carriage window.
"Every inch." I direct her attention to a smaller but equally elegant house nestled in a grove of flowering trees about a quarter mile away. "And that's for your family. Close enough for visits, but..."
"Far enough for privacy." A smile plays at the corners of her mouth.
The carriage stops at the base of the stairs. I help Kyrie down, savoring the way she takes in every detail - the hanging gardens cascading from the balconies, the enchanted butterflies that leave trails of starlight in their wake, the way the very air here feels charged with ancient magic.
"The grounds extend past that silver lake." I point to the glittering water visible through a break in the trees. "There's a private training yard behind the house, and the library takes up most of the east wing."
Kyrie turns to me, her green eyes bright with wonder. "It's perfect."
I pull her close, breathing in the scent of her hair. The house may be grand, but it's her presence that will make it home. After generations of darkness, my family's estate will finally know light again.
I lead Kyrie into the ancient stone circle behind the manor, where twelve crystalline pillars rise from the earth like frozen flames. Moonlight filters through the canopy of silver-leaved trees, casting ethereal patterns across the ground. The Praexa stands at the center, her ceremonial robes shimmering with embedded starlight, while our families stand nearby.
"Are you ready, little bird?" I brush my thumb across Kyrie's knuckles. Since we didn't get a proper soul bonding - with her being unconscious and all - we decided we wanted a redo. Especially with both our families now healed.
She squeezes my hand in response, her eyes fixed on the intricate runes etched into the ground. They pulse with a soft blue light as we step into the circle together.
The Praexa raises her staff, and ribbons of golden light spiral around us. "Join hands," she instructs, her voice carrying the weight of centuries of tradition.
I face Kyrie, taking both her hands in mine. The magic intensifies, wrapping around our joined fingers like threads of liquid sunlight.
"By the ancient laws of our people," the Praexa intones, "and the power vested in me by the Council of New Solas, I bind these souls as one."
The runes beneath our feet flare bright, and I feel the first tendrils of the bond forming - a warm current of energy flowing between us. Kyrie gasps as our auras merge, her green eyes wide with wonder.
"Speak your vows," the Praexa commands.
"I, Azrael, bind my soul to yours." My voice remains steady despite the surge of emotion in my chest. "Through darkness and light, through triumph and trial, until the stars fade from the sky."
"I, Kyrie, bind my soul to yours." Her voice trembles slightly, but her gaze never wavers from mine. "Through darkness and light, through triumph and trial, until the stars fade from the sky."
The magic crescendos, lifting us inches off the ground as golden light erupts from the pillars surrounding us. I feel her - all of her - through the newly forged bond. Her joy, her fears, her fierce love. The connection runs deeper than blood or magic, binding us together in ways that transcend the physical realm.
When the light fades, we remain suspended in that perfect moment, our souls intertwined as completely as our fingers. Sariel and Raphael step forward, offering the traditional blessing in ancient xaphan, their voices harmonizing with the lingering magic in the air.
I lead Kyrie to our private balcony, its white marble rails adorned with luminous vines that curl and pulse with stored sunlight. Below us, New Solas spreads like a tapestry of gold and silver, magical lanterns dotting the ancient streets in patterns that mirror the constellations above. The spires of the Grand Temple pierce the clouds, their crystalline surfaces catching the last rays of sunset and scattering them across the city in prismatic waves.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" I unfurl my wings, the white feathers catching starlight as I wrap them around her. The warmth of her body seeps into me as she leans back against my chest.
A flock of star-wrens soars past, their ethereal songs echoing off the castle walls. In the distance, zarryn-drawn carriages wind through the cobblestone streets, their bells chiming softly in the evening air. The scent of night-blooming jasmine drifts up from the gardens below, mingling with the distinct tang of magic that always hangs in the air here.
Kyrie traces the carved runes in the balcony's stonework with her fingertips. Tiny sparks of magic follow her touch, responding to the fresh bond we share. "I never thought I'd see the city from this angle."
I rest my chin on her head, breathing in the subtle scent of her hair. The newly forged soul-bond thrums between us, a constant reminder that we're now irreversibly connected. Through it, I feel the mix of wonder and trepidation in her heart, matching my own emotions perfectly.
A chorus of temple bells rings out across the city, their deep tones reverberating through the evening air. The sound makes my wings quiver, and I draw Kyrie closer, sheltering her from the cool breeze that carries the metallic tang of approaching rain.
"The view is even better during storms," I murmur against her hair. "Lightning dances between the towers, and the protection wards light up like rivers of blue fire in the sky."
She turns in my embrace, her green eyes reflecting the magical lights of the city below. The soul-bond pulses stronger, and for a moment, I can see New Solas through her eyes - not just its beauty, but its promise, its dangers, its mysteries. All the challenges that await us seem less daunting with her at my side.
And that's where she'll stay. Forever with me.