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Meveris shivered at the feel of his companion”s body against his, Zaryen”s warmth and sweet, rich scent filling his senses to the brim and spilling everywhere around them. His mouth watered, longing for a taste, but…

Not yet. Soon.

At the headmaster”s repeated prompting, Zaryen drew back, and Meveris barely resisted the urge to chase him, to be the one moving closer this time.

Soon, he repeated over and over in his head, following the headmaster off the ceremony grounds and into an office nearby, while keeping his companion close enough to fold their arms together and to hear his heartbeat.

Close enough to know there was something wrong, too.

Something was troubling Zaryen, his desperation palpable and heavy, edging around their mutual overwhelming joy of having found each other.

And Meveris wouldn”t be able to relax until he”d made things right for his companion.

Whatever that required, he would do.

Once inside the office, the headmaster gestured for them to sit on the couch before taking a seat in front of them.

Meveris tried to concentrate on what the man was saying, he really did, but he knew it all already from all the stories his brothers had shared.

Still, despite knowing that the bond wasn”t permanent at this stage, hearing it now from the headmaster made Meveris want to protest immediately, because he knew there was nothing that would make him give Zaryen up. He remained silent, though, clutching his companion”s hand in his as they sat, pressed against each other on the couch. While it was important to know that even under the influence of bonding magic, everyone could still make their own choices, up and including rejecting the bond, he didn”t care for that at all. Feeling the way he did, he couldn”t imagine walking away from Zaryen. No way.

Meanwhile, the headmaster moved on to explain what they were likely to experience in the weeks ahead. All new companion pairs were free to focus on each other in order to get to know one another and to make sure they wanted to proceed with the bond. Then, finally, on the next full moon, the bonding ceremony would take place and their companion bond would be sealed.

”After that, you”re joined together forever and where one goes, the other follows. You”re each other”s companions, but also confidants and protectors.” Master Raizen glanced between them. ”You are what the other needs, always.”

Meveris nodded. This part felt true down to his bones.

As he turned to Zaryen, he saw him already looking at him with bright green eyes and mouth slightly open, and Meveris had never wanted to kiss somebody like he wanted this man right there, but the headmaster”s quiet grunt stopped him in his tracks.

”I am aware that at this stage, your emotions may be overwhelming. However, it is important to be as informed as possible. I am, of course, open to any questions you may have, but as tradition dictates, we also invited a bonded pair to advise each of you, so if you”d prefer to direct your questions to them, that”s your right.” Master Raizen inclined his head towards Meveris. ”Your brother volunteered to be your guide, and his bonded offered to be yours, Zaryen.”

Meveris wondered which one of his older brothers he”d get, and then it hit him that he didn”t even know if Lanveris had found his match.

For him to lose track of his twin would have been unimaginable before, and yet now everything had faded to the background, his senses focused solely on Zaryen.

When his companion tensed at his side, Meveris immediately turned to him, but Zaryen was staring at Master Raizen.

”Headmaster, before we move forward, there is an issue I have to discuss with you and I”m afraid it cannot wait.” He briefly closed his eyes before meeting Master Raizen”s gaze again. ”I ask for you, the headmaster of the Academy, to grant me sanctuary in my hour of need.”

The silence that followed seemed almost oppressive as Meveris stared at his companion, wondering if he might have misunderstood. If Zaryen was already here, if he went through the ceremony, why would he need to ask for sanctuary now?

Clasping his hands on the arms of the chair he was sitting on, Master Raizen leaned forward slightly.

”I admit I did not expect that, but I am, of course, open to hearing your case. If you prefer to talk alone…”

Before Meveris could protest, Zaryen spoke up.

”No! No, I don”t need to talk to you alone.” He glanced at Meveris before facing the headmaster again. ”I cannot imagine not having my companion at my side.”

Master Raizen nodded, probably expecting that.

”Very well. I may need to consult others before making the decision later on, but I”d like to first know what it is about. If you feel unsafe, there are, of course, the steps we can take—”

”My family doesn”t know I”m here,” Zaryen blurted out, and Meveris”s breath caught in his throat.

What the hook did that mean?

Meveris stared at his companion, uncomprehending, but Zaryen didn”t turn to him, keeping his gaze on the headmaster. If it wasn”t for the tight grip he had on Meveris”s hand, one could wonder if he even remembered Meveris was here.

That”s not true, Meveris tried to reason with himself. He”d just insisted you needed to be here. He wants you here.

And yet, Meveris”s heart was still pounding in his chest, because this wasn”t how things were supposed to go. They should have been at least with their bonded advisers by now, if not—

”Your family doesn”t know you”re here,” Master Raizen repeated slowly as if he was trying to make sense of that sentence.

Zaryen swallowed hard. ”No, they do not. While they”d signed the pre-agreement when I was fifteen, they”d changed their minds in the years that followed. My decision hadn”t changed, though, and since I”m of age and had funds for the enrollment from a trust I received recently, I completed and signed the final application myself. I am aware that this is unusual—”

”It”s not only unusual, it is against our policies,” the headmaster cut in. ”The final application is designed to be signed by the head of the family. All of Teranea”s educational institutions require such signature regardless of the age of the student, and I”m sure you know that.”

Which was ridiculous, as far as Meveris was concerned. What business did the parents have to decide which educational path their adult child should pick?

”I”m almost certain that my decision will result in me being disowned, which is why…” Zaryen”s voice wavered, and Meveris pulled him even closer to himself. ”Which is why I decided to emancipate myself by signing this document myself.”

The headmaster stared at him for a long moment.

”This is not how it works,” he finally said, causing both Zaryen”s and Meveris”s heartbeats to quicken yet again.

”It could work, though,” Meveris argued, words rushing out of him now. ”If I had found another path, I would have used it. I researched this matter, however, and while this is not a standard procedure by any means, there had been several precedents. Especially when it was accompanied by the sanctuary request, which this is. As much as it pains me to admit, I know without a doubt that if I were forced to return to my family home, I would not be safe there.”

Headmaster straightened at that, and Meveris had to swallow a growl, ready to defend his mate from any danger, no matter the source.

Zaryen wasn”t done, though.

”Being here, at the Academy, is a dream come true, and I”m asking you to grant me sanctuary so that I can stay here.” He finally looked at Meveris then. ”I want to make sure I can apply myself to my studies and then graduate together with my companion.”

Meveris put his other hand on their joined ones and rubbed Zaryen”s knuckles gently. Of course they were going to graduate together. There was no other way for it to go, now that they were both here, having found each other.

He glanced at the headmaster, who watched Zaryen in silence, and the tension growing in his stomach threatened to overwhelm him.

Was there?