Page 16 of Lord of the Lone Wolf (Bonded Hearts #3)

Kisano chuckled, the sound vibrating against Sephen’s chest. “An interesting theological question. The traditional texts suggest the Powers are aware of all significant events related to their domains.”

“And this was definitely significant,” Sephen joked. “At least to us.”

“Indeed,” Kisano agreed, bending closer for a sweet kiss they both savored. “Though I imagine if Powers were aware of every intimate moment where their names were invoked, they would have little attention left for their actual duties, especially the Love and Fertility Powers.”

Sephen chuckled at the image. “Poor Liros. He’s probably trying to catalog knowledge while being bombarded with the thoughts of every nerdy scholar having a fantasy about him.”

“They likely have selective awareness,” Kisano suggested. “Perhaps focusing only on instances where the connection is sincere or meaningful.”

“Do you think ours would qualify?”

Kisano was quiet as he considered his answer.

“Perhaps. Our relationship to him is unusual. Yours comes from your devotion to Liros and Reskin’s work as a scholarmancer of the Knowledge Power, while mine stems from my relentless pursuit of understanding.

What unites us is the same passion for learning. ”

The knot binding them together subsided, but Kisano made no move to separate their bodies, content to remain joined for as long as possible. Sephen appreciated the continued connection, both physical and emotional.

“Kizoshi’s been so direct about Kitsuki and Auslin having a trinity bond with someone. Has she hinted that the same might be possible for us?” Sephen asked.

Kisano hummed in indecision. “While she has always been very clear all members of the Ariake clan are fated to have more than one mate, she speaks to Kitsuki more directly about such matters, presumably because of his position as heir. With me, she is more circumspect.”

Sephen groaned when Kisano pulled out as he softened. As soon as Kisano settled in bed, Sephen flopped onto him to cuddle. “I wish she’d give us some of her infamous cryptic hints. All she’s told me is that I’ll meet him someday. But that could be a week or years away.”

“Then your paths will most certainly cross,” Kisano said.

“ Our paths,” Sephen corrected with emphasis. “If I’m meeting him, so are you. It’s only fair.”

Kisano kissed Sephen’s forehead, hugging him closer with a contented murmur.

“What about Uncle Jaega?” Sephen asked. “If all the Ariake have more than one mate, why does he only have Fersen?”

“He believes it is because his first mate was Caprina, and Fersen is his second mate. So it is still true, although Caprina is no longer with us.”

They lay in comfortable silence for a while, watching the blue-tinted light shift and change as the sun continued its journey across the sky.

The alcove felt different to Sephen now, charged with new meaning and possibility.

What had begun as a private sanctuary for their pleasure had become a sacred space where they could forge a connection that transcended ordinary bonds.

After some time, Sephen spoke again. “Do you know when the last trinity bond was formed?”

“According to historical accounts, the last remarkable trinity bond formed after the Sundering, when Talwyn separated into a collection of kingdoms,” Kisano explained, shifting to maintain their comfortable position.

“Three individuals worked together to preserve knowledge that would otherwise have been lost forever.”

“How have I not heard of this?” Sephen exclaimed.

“The records are fragmentary, as this occurred eons ago,” Kisano said. “The human member was named Orinth, a skilled scholarmancer with an extraordinary memory who could recall entire libraries of text after reading them only once.”

Sephen’s eyes widened. “That’s incredible. Was he born with that ability?”

“The texts suggest it developed after the trinity bond formed. Their connection enhanced his mind.”

Sephen traced idle patterns on Kisano’s chest. “Who were the others?”

“Palimirno was a fox shifter,” Kisano explained. “A wardmancer whose protective magic was unmatched in that age. He specialized in creating barrier wards between dangerous knowledge and those who would misuse it.”

“I didn’t know that was possible. Who was the Power?”

“Zenathir, who held the mantle of Knowledge long before Liros. The records describe him as being more involved in mortal affairs than most Powers.”

“Tell me more about their bond,” Sephen urged. “How did it work between them?”

Kisano’s mood became thoughtful. “Their trinity bond forged something greater than the sum of its parts, as Orinth’s human adaptability, Palimirno’s shifter instincts, and Zenathir’s vast Power-born wisdom each strengthened the others.”

“How so?”

“Orinth gained the ability to understand concepts far beyond what a mortal mind should have been able to comprehend,” Kisano said.

“Palimirno’s protective magic grew to shield not only bodies but also minds.

And Zenathir, despite being a Power, gained a deeper connection to the mortal experience through them, allowing him to preserve knowledge in ways that remained accessible to living beings rather than becoming too abstract. ”

“That’s fascinating,” Sephen said. “Did Orinth’s lifespan extend to match the others?”

“Yes, although that is not unusual, as you know from our own bond. What was remarkable was how completely their abilities merged and enhanced one another. The texts describe them working as a single consciousness when facing the most damaged or dangerous knowledge repositories.”

“How long did they work together?” Sephen asked.

“Nearly seven centuries. They created the foundation of what would become the Grand Archives in Zolemni, though the original structure was lost in the Great Fire millennia ago.”

“That’s impressive, even for a bonded human,” Sephen noted. “What happened to them in the end?”

Kisano grew somber. “From the fragments that survived, we know they discovered a sealed vault beneath what is now Laylan. Inside was information on the origins of Talwyn. It contained notions so profound and dangerous that they defied comprehension.”

“What kind of knowledge?”

“The texts don’t specify,” Kisano replied, his face taking on a pensive expression.

“They only mention it concerned the fundamental nature of reality and the barriers between realms. Despite Palimirno’s protective magic and Zenathir’s guidance, Orinth insisted on being the one to catalog and understand the knowledge. ”

“And it was too much for him,” Sephen guessed.

Kisano nodded. “The human mind, even enhanced by a trinity bond, has limits. The texts say Orinth perceived too many layers of reality simultaneously. He could see the past, present, and multiple futures overlapping. His consciousness fragmented across different realms until it shattered into nothing.”

“That sounds horrifying,” Sephen said, a chill running through him despite their physical warmth.

“Palimirno tried to shield him, to pull his mind back to a single reality, but the damage was already done,” Kisano continued.

“And Zenathir couldn’t help?” Sephen asked.

“It was beyond the limits of the Knowledge Power. Unable to carry on without Orinth, Palimirno and Zenathir searched for him in the Beyond Realm, where the barriers between possibilities are thinner. The last entry in their journal stated, ‘What was scattered in knowledge shall be gathered in love. We go to find our third.’”

Sephen was quiet for a moment, processing the story. “Did they succeed? Did they find him?”

“The historical record ends there. But there’s a beautiful poem that many scholars believe references them. It describes three stars that vanished from the night sky only to reappear as a single, brighter light in a different constellation.”

“I’d like to believe they found each other,” Sephen said, snuggling against his mate.

“As would I,” Kisano agreed, tightening his arms around his mate. “Despite the tragedy, their story proves that trinity bonds between humans, shifters, and Powers are possible. They achieved remarkable things together before their end.”

“But it’s also a cautionary tale about the dangers of reaching for knowledge beyond mortal comprehension.”

“Yes, although I suspect what they encountered was uniquely dangerous,” Kisano replied. Not all advanced understanding carries such risks.”

“I wonder if Liros is old enough to have known them,” Sephen mused. “As the current Knowledge Power, he must have access to records beyond our imagination.”

“Almost certainly,” Kisano said. “And perhaps that knowledge influences his interactions with mortals even now.”

Sephen nestled closer, his mind filled with possibilities. “So we’re not without precedent. That’s encouraging, although their ending was sad.”

“It is,” Kisano agreed, pressing a kiss to Sephen’s temple. “And we would be wise to learn from both their achievements and their tragedy.”

“Perhaps Liros has been waiting for the right partners to try again, but with better safeguards this time.”

Kisano hummed with interest. “An intriguing theory. I suspect he might appreciate your optimism if he were here to discuss it.”

Hope colored Sephen’s voice. “Maybe someday he will be. I’d love to ask him about Orinth, Palimirno, and Zenathir.”

“I would enjoy that scholarly discussion,” Kisano said, his fingers combing through Sephen’s hair. “Your enthusiasm combined with his ancient wisdom would be quite something to behold.”

Sephen grinned, already imagining it. “We’d talk for days without stopping.”

“And I would happily listen to every word,” Kisano assured him, his voice warm with affection.

“We won’t know until we try.” Sephen pressed a kiss to Kisano’s chest above his heart. “And trying this was certainly enjoyable.”

Kisano’s fingers tangled in Sephen’s hair. “Indeed. Although a proper scholarly investigation would require multiple attempts to ensure reliable results.”

“Exactly,” Sephen said, lifting his head to meet Kisano’s eyes. “And as scholars, we have a duty to be thorough.”

The kiss they shared was soft and unhurried, devoid of the desperate urgency that had characterized their earlier passion, yet it carried its own sweetness. When they parted, Sephen settled back against Kisano’s chest with a contented sigh, feeling the rightness of their bond deep in his bones.