Page 36

THEY ROSE in silence just before sunsrise, skin still marked by the echoes of the night before, by the heat and closeness neither had spoken of aloud.

Beneath the quiet, aslow, rolling tension unfurled in Maya’s chest, equal parts dread and steady resolve. The immensity of what waited beyond their door pressed in from all sides, sharper than breath, more demanding than thought.

Riv’En dressed first, every movement regulated, pulling on the ceremonial robe provided for the gathering.

No armor. Only pale fabric edged in dark thread, falling in quiet layers that concealed muscle and line of form alike.

Maya followed, fingers trembling slightly as she gathered the pale cloth the Elaroins had provided, knotting it with jerky, too-sharp motions.

The robe’s substance settled across her shoulders like something more than fabric, but a signal to everyone who would watch.

When Riv’En extended his hand, she took it. No words. No protest. Their bond throbbed between them like a living thing.

They stepped out into the pale morning together, and the first chime knifed through the air, high and sharp as a blade drawn from its sheath.

Maya froze, spine stiffening beneath the press of Riv’En’s hand at her lower back.

Together, they crossed the wide courtyard, the hush of the gathered crowd folding around them like a veil.

Their ceremonial robes whispered with each step, pale gold fabric brushing against stone as they moved in sync, neither speaking.

The raised platform loomed ahead, its base surrounded by concentric circles of inlaid resonance stones that shimmered faintly beneath the dawn light.

Without breaking stride, Riv’En guided her to the first step.

They climbed together, purposefully, each footfall matched, the quiet knowledge of what was coming sinking into every step.

The platform beneath her feet vibrated, alow, steady hum from the resonance stones layered beneath the stage.

At the far side, the Councilors stood in perfect formation, tall and still as carved figures, waiting.

She glanced up, squinting against the riot of color overhead.

The dawn light didn’t fall in steady gold as on Earth.

It fractured through layers of crystalline flora, shifting blue to green to a pale, molten silver.

The entire courtyard shimmered with it, trees and buildings alike painted in refracted light that pulsed with the planet’s slow heartbeat.

Around them, acrowd had gathered.

Hundreds of Elaroins stood in near-silence.

Tall, sharp-edged warriors with skin in every shade from pale pearl to deep slate, each marked by unique striping and shimmer.

Their ranks dominated the space, awall of silent judgment and strength.

Among them were a few women, positioned at the outer edges of the gathering.

Their presence was quieter, more observant, not participants but acknowledged witnesses.

It wasn’t fear. It wasn’t reverence. It was the kind of watchful, predatory quiet Maya had come to expect from Riv’En’s people.

Third stood to their right, flanked by Fifth and Sixth. Their expressions were set in stone. All of Alpha Unit had gathered here this morning, with Anya beside Third. She gave Maya an encouraging smile.

Vaeyra stepped forward.

Her bare feet glided across the polished stone platform without a whisper of sound. Her dark skin gleamed like oil poured over silver, intricate black markings swirling up her arms and across her exposed throat.

Maya swallowed as the second chime sounded, deeper this time. It vibrated straight down her spine.

“This is the ancient law,” Vaeyra began. Her voice carried clear across the platform, calm and resonant, as if woven into the air itself. It wasn’t technology, Maya realized. It was the planet itself, carrying Vaeyra’s words like a living speaker system.”It is for the bond. For the future.”

Maya’s throat tightened, her breath locked halfway in her chest. She flexed her hands slowly, as though forcing blood back into fingers gone numb.

Her gaze caught on a flicker of light rippling through the resonance stones, and for a heartbeat, she focused only on that, connecting herself to the shifting silver rather than the storm building aroundher.

Vaeyra turned her head slowly, scanning the gathered warriors, her gaze a quiet command in itself. When she looked back to Maya and Riv’En, something in her posture changed. Her chin tilting ever so slightly, as if acknowledging them not as individuals, but as something larger.

“When Riv’En, assassin of Alpha Legion, returned to Elaros,” Vaeyra continued, “he did not come as warrior alone. He came marked by anomaly. By change. By bond.”

A ripple moved through the crowd. Faint. Measured.

“His heat flashes marked him unfit,” Vaeyra said, voice sharpening. “His abilities were fractured. His future, uncertain. We have not seen such since the earliest era. But it is not for us to judge whether such can be redeemed. Only for the Chase to determine.”

Maya caught Riv’En’s hand where it rested against her side and squeezed once. The simple contact fortified her, cutting through the swirl of tension. Her breath shuddered out slowly, her pulse steadying just enough to meet what camenext.

“By ancient rite,” Vaeyra said, voice cutting clean through the dawn, “the Bonding Chase must be completed. In the earliest era, it was not merely for union, but for survival. Warriors would chase their chosen through the forests of Elaros, proving strength, proving ability. It was how bonds were sealed, not by word, but by action and by blood. The mate secured. The bond witnessed by all. No less, no more.”

She paused, eyes sweeping over the gathered assembly, her voice steady as stone. “Are there any who claim the right to challenge?”

The gathered voices died abruptly, leaving only the faint pulse of the resonance stones beneath theirfeet.

Even the air went still. The planet seemed to hold its breath.

Then—

A voice. Deep. Rolling out from the back of the crowd like thunder on the horizon.

“I claim the right to challenge.”

Maya’s stomach plummeted. Her pulse stuttered. She turned, searching the crowd, but it was Riv’En who moved first. His hand shifted from her lower back to her hand, steady and possessive, fingers pressing just hard enough that she sensed it through every layer ofskin.

A ripple spread through the warriors, bodies shifting aside. Apath opened.

And through it stepped a man who could only be Elaroin.

Massive. Taller than Riv’En by a head at least. His skin wasn’t the pale pearl or soft bronze Maya had seen among others.

It was deep charcoal, almost black, striped with vivid silver markings that pulsed faintly with each step he took.

His hair was shaved close to his skull, except for a long braided length that hung down his spine like atail.

His eyes caught hers and held. Asharp chill lanced through her, the kind that tightened every muscle beneath her skin.

Her breath stilled, acold knot forming just beneath her ribs.

For a flickering moment, all she could see were those liquid, silver eyes, steady and unblinking, as though he already knew her, knew everything that would comenext.

The stranger stopped at the base of the platform. His voice rolled out again, perfectly steady, perfectlycalm.

“I issue formal challenge,” he said. “By right of blood. By right of trial. By Elaroin law. Ienter the Chase.”

For a heartbeat, Maya couldn’t breathe. The quiet didn’t break. It cracked.

Half the warriors shouted in protest—deep, guttural barks that shook the air. The others answered with encouragement, voices rising like a storm front crashing against stone. It wasn’t chaotic. It wasn’t disordered. It was wild, sharp, terrifying.

Maya stumbled half a step back. Riv’En didn’t move except to tighten his grip on herhand.

Third cursed low. Fifth’s hand went to his weapon automatically, only to realize he’d surrendered it upon arrival.

Sixth said nothing, his stance so still it might have been carved from stone, arms folded, expression unreadable as though the entire scene failed to touch him at all.

His eyes tracked the challenger with glacialcalm.

Vaeyra didn’t flinch.

She lifted both hands, and the air around her shimmered, not with light, but with something stronger. Like gravity increasing.

Silence slammed down again.

Vaeyra’s voice didn’t rise. It didn’t need to. “This is law,” she said. Her eyes shifted to Riv’En. To Maya. And then down to the challenger standing below them like a living mountain.”It is Brotha’s right to issue challenge. His right to join the Bonding Chase.”

Maya’s heart slammed against her ribs. Her mouth opened, protest rising, breaking.

But the words caught behind her teeth. She couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t speak. Her fingers tightened around Riv’En’s hand, the strength of his touch the only thing grounding her as what Vaeyra had said settled over her like stone.

Not fear. Not anger. Something sharper. Cold disbelief, heavy as gravity.

“The winner,” Vaeyra said, “will claim the bond. The mate. The future.”

Brotha lifted his chin slightly. His silver eyes never leftMaya.

Vaeyra’s final words fell like a blade.

“Any who fail... will be forfeit.”

Maya’s breath caught. Her pulse stuttered. For a single beat, her mind whispered: this cannot be happening. And in that moment—

Riv’En’s voice broke the silence. Low. Calm. Absolute.

“Then let it begin.”

The words barely faded before Vaeyra’s voice rang out once more, sharp and clear. “Maya Mirabella, remove your robe. Riv’En and Brotha, as well. Brotha, join us on the platform.”

Maya’s breath caught, her spine going rigid. For a heartbeat, she hesitated, eyes flicking toward Riv’En. His gaze met hers, steady and unreadable, but he gave a single nod. There was no choice.