to the library, whe

ent bonding ritual, Uncle,"

ed, squeez

er opener from the desk. "We need

e Ethan could react, I took a strand of his. I

sn't the simple "soulmate bond" Ethan imagined. He knew the de

rgotten. A bond where one party seemingly offers everything, but upon the ful

be bound as one, in this life and all others," I

milar vow, his voic

on a small, ancient stone tablet carved with Celt

wisp of smoke

a low rumble. He looked at me, a deep, searching

o, U

ic. "This is amazing, Elara!

and I leaned against him, a

s a different man at d

table, in my father's usual spot,

use and Elara's trust fund. When can we get those transferred into my

lattered onto her

assets are my assets. It's just simpler to get it done sooner rather than later. We can skip the expensive wedd

stared at

finally choked out. "He hasn't even marri

an find you someone so much better. Someone who respects you. Just nod, and we'll throw

mine. If she's not my wife, the old magic... well, it wouldn'

by lightning. They started berating me,

. They hadn't seen the true depths of Etha

cond chance to see the

Dad live in, are all in my name. There are the Beacon Hill condos, the Cape Cod property,

tory gleam. He knew I was wealthy, b

t to me?" he asked, try

We'll just keep this house

our parents need to write wills. When they pass, th

reathtaking. I ag

nt the next day at the bank, a faint, shimmering mark, like a tin

he muttered,

ond," I said softly. "A

ugged. "Weird. Didn'

mptied, my property signed away, he still

ok so down. My money is your money, right? I'll take care of you. It'

o pushed for a bond, desper

o love me, t

me a glass of p