Page 53 of The Pactbound Angel (The Soul Mirror Duet #1)

She threw her hands up in keen frustration.

“You don’t love him! There’s no possible way you can.

You’re barely even acquaintances. This is a blind marriage , Nat.

The Church of Minue and the Church of Valiset work together to ensure those don’t happen, especially royal ones.

The stability of your marriage affects the stability of the kingdom.

You don’t know each other. Our parents don’t even know his.

I can’t stand by and watch while you marry someone you don’t know, much less don’t love, Nat.

” She shook her head vehemently. “I can’t, and I won’t. ”

The tenets of Valiset, the Goddess of Health, while not outright forbidding blind marriages, certainly discouraged them. They often ended in divorce. Heartache. Ruin. Hurting the body as well as the mind. Is she saying this marriage is destined for failure? I wanted to reassure her.

“Look, he told me about a special fey bond we have. Or will have, called an eluva bond. Apparently, the reason he’s doing this is because he said he believes I’m his elu. Or something to that effect. Does that help you?”

“An eluva bond.” She rolled her eyes. “What, pray tell, is that?” She held up a finger as I started to explain it. “Wait, don’t tell me. Let me guess. A special, super powerful connection where you magically fall in love, have twenty fat babies, and call each other cringy pet names?”

I twisted my mouth as I muttered. “He wasn’t very detailed on the specifics.”

“Gods above, Nat. This isn’t one of your stories ! This is real life! That kind of thing hasn’t existed since the pantheon split. And, even then, it wasn’t called that. It was called c-something or whatever. He’s making shit up.”

I shrugged with raised hands, shaking my head and getting even more flustered. “I don’t know, Raewyn. He just said it was a fey bond.”

“Well, even if it is a fey thing , it won’t work. You’re still going to be two strangers who have the daunting task of being attached at the hip for life. Both of you are going to be miserable. But, hey! At least you get a nice hat and wardrobe to go along with it.”

Miserable? No, not after all I’ve learned to keep him happy. And this offered bond? He’s everything I asked for when setting out four years ago, when I came up with the idea of devoting my life to another’s happiness. Checks all the boxes.

Where there had been hesitation, a void of joy, there was now resolve.

I just wanted to prove her wrong.

Heat rose in my chest. Anger, white hot, crawled its way from the churning pit of my stomach to my face. I spat, “Typical, Raewyn. Just typical of you. Only you know best for my life, right?”

My sister stepped closer to me, her harsh whisper continuing, “You know, maybe I don’t know everything.

But I know for damn sure you’re not happy about this.

You couldn’t possibly be happy, so stop pretending like you are.

You’re latching onto the first proposal from a worthy man who sees you for more than just a nice name and a piece of ass. ”

My exasperation flared. “You wanted me to find someone, Raewyn! In the next town, no less, remember? I did that! I actually did that! ”

Raewyn threw her hands up. “To fuck, Nat. Not marry! They’re two separate things!”

“Not to me!” I snapped, and Raewyn was startled into silence.

I instantly felt guilty, but it was pushed down by my rage.

This was Raewyn’s standard mode of operation.

What I needed was decided by her, because I couldn’t be trusted to determine it, and they somehow always came second to her wants.

My life was a waste, filled with boredom and predictability.

If that’s how she truly felt, fine .

Before I could continue, Raewyn spoke. Her eyes refilled with tears, with hurt. “I’m going with Georgina and M.A.L.C.O.L.M. to the grove, then I’m going home. I love you, Nat. May Minue and Valiset bless your happy union .”

I watched as my sister stalked off back towards the group, who were all staring at us. Except for Georgina, who was tinkering with the hinge on M.A.L.C.O.L.M.’s right elbow.

Prince Jaylin ran to me, hands extended. “Is everything alright?” Taking my hands in his, he looked concerned. “Are you still saying yes?” His eyes wide, it seemed like he was almost afraid.

My rage began to dissipate. My throat was hoarse when I spoke, but at least the anger within it was gone, leaving guilt in its place. “My answer is still yes, Your Highness. Of course. She just… my sister is stubborn and doesn’t agree with my decision to marry you.”

Prince Jaylin looked nonplussed. “I see. I am sorry she could not be more supportive of her sister. If I may say so, she sounds envious. Most are of an eluva bond. They’re not common and are widely-celebrated.”

“No.” My eyes followed Raewyn. She wiped her eyes and approached Ramiren with bowed shoulders. They exchanged words, and I wondered what they were saying. “She may be the envious type. But for all her faults, she is not envious now.”

“I understand, Lady Nathalia.” He suddenly smiled brightly. “My mother and father will be overjoyed. I finally found my elu.”

“Yes, I’m sure. Excuse me, please.”

I slowly walked towards Raewyn and Ramiren, who were still talking. My ears strained to make out what she was saying.

“...but, why don’t you just…?”

Raewyn abruptly stopped as she spotted me standing within earshot. She sniffled and stomped away. I stared at her back before turning to Ramiren. “Are you going to the grove with them?” My stomach knotted again to a sickening degree.

Raewyn is just having a tantrum, but she won’t leave. She’ll come to her senses and attend.

Georgina could go, her automaton too. But I couldn’t bear Ramiren’s departure. Only that was not feasible. I would be a married woman, and I could not find an excuse for him to stay. It would be selfish of me to even try.

Ramiren kept his eyes on me. “I will stay, at least until after the wedding.” His eyes flitted above my head, and I could see them almost imperceptibly narrow.

Prince Jaylin, coming to stand behind me, placed his hands on my shoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze. I could hear the exaggerated cheerfulness in my future husband’s voice, like he was trying to keep up appearances for my sake, “Certainly. You are most welcome.”

I kept my eyes on Ramiren and thought back to what I had told Raewyn.

You can choose to be happy. Happiness is a choice.

Right?