Twenty-Seven

 

The initiation was taking place in the middle of a field in the arse-end of nowhere. The sky was bright and clear, with a beautiful view of the stars overhead and, of course, the full moon. It was just me, Alasdair, Grayson, and Saoirse. I swore I could feel the moon goddess smiling down on me. The sensation of a calm motherly figure invaded the back of my mind and tried to reassure me. The idea of having that type of connection with the goddess still freaked me out, but I wasn’t going to back out. Not now.

Saoirse had formed a circle in the middle of the field. Thankfully, the grass was short and scrubby, so I didn’t have to walk through long wet grass again. Grayson had taken up a seat on a large flat rock. He was leaning back, gazing up at the sky with a calm smile on his face. How I envied him. Alasdair remained close but didn’t touch me. He was giving me room to breathe. I didn’t want to breathe; I wanted to hide in his arms.

“It’s time, Niko,” Saoirse said.

I took Alasdair’s hand and walked into the white circle formed of moonstones and white sand. The feeling of the goddess overwhelmed me and almost drove me to my knees the moment I reached the middle of the circle. I was aware of Alasdair’s hand in mine, but the feeling of vastness and balance consumed everything else.

“You have been chosen, Niko. You are more special than you realise,” a serene female voice said.

I gave myself over to the feeling of calm vastness.

“You will help maintain the balance,” the goddess said.

Her caress began at my fingertips and slowly moved up over the back of my hands, around my arms and finally across my shoulders before it dipped under my collarbone. I had been claimed and marked. She slipped away, satisfied with her work. Now came the scary part.

I opened my eyes and felt the weight of what was to come. The soulbond needed to be cemented.

It was just us. I had released Alasdair’s hand, allowing him to drape his arms loosely around my waist. A small sliver of fear marred his silver eyes, no doubt worrying I’d run away again. I leaned into him, feeling his hard chest against mine. The scent of stormy seas embraced me and brought a smile to my face as I inched closer to him. His warm breath sat on my lips, calling me closer. I tilted my head slightly, but I couldn’t do it. I looked into Alasdair’s eyes and desperately hoped he understood that I needed him to close to space. My heart was pounding in my chest as I placed my hand on his cheek, the short stubble grazing the palm of my hand.

We remained frozen like that until he smiled and brushed his lips over mine. It was all I needed. I pressed my lips to his softly at first, savoring our first real kiss. Our first moment as soulbound. Slowly I moved my hand to dig my fingers deep into his hair as I kissed him harder and felt the bond form between us, a physical sensation in my chest binding me to him. He held me close, so gentle and patient as I explored his mouth and slowly melted into him, allowing us to become one.

When I finally pulled away, I smiled at him and saw that flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. I nuzzled my face against his neck and held him close.

“Never again,” I whispered.

Never again would I run from that beautiful man.