Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 702(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 468(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 702(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 468(@300wpm)
“You are truly my promised, a man brought to me by destiny. I never imagined I would one day have a Dark Companion of my own, let alone one who is also my lover. I know you’re leaving behind your world, and everything you know, so this is my promise that I’ll make sure you never regret choosing me. I would have not been able to save you from the River of Souls, and yet a twist of fate sent you my way. You give me courage, you make me believe in myself, you make me laugh, and you touched parts of me that no one ever has.”
Sylvan shoves me gently when I smirk. “I don’t mean those parts!” He takes a deep breath and goes on while my insides turn into mush. “I love you, and I will never abuse my position. I will trust you, I will cherish you, and if you ever find yourself in darkness, I will be your moonlight. And as I promised you when we met, my body is yours.”
It might be cliche, but I really do feel at a loss for words as he makes his declaration in a voice trembling with emotion. So I swallow and lean closer as the warm glow of the moon’s rays caresses my face. Nobody has ever even tried saying such things to me. I’m almost afraid that I don’t deserve so much love, that Sylvan’s belief in me is misplaced. But as joy bubbles in the middle of my chest, I find the strength to chase away doubts and tell myself that whether I am worthy of trust or not is up to me, and the very idea of disappointing this sweet man, who’s picked me over others makes me ache.
I clear my throat, noticing that my silence is unnerving to him. “I… I don’t know such pretty words. I would write a poem for you, if I could, but since I don’t know how, I want you to know this: I will always be in your corner, okay? If you jump down a cliff, I will follow. You’re the one who makes plans, and I’ll help you fulfill your dreams, because being at your side already fulfills mine. I will do my best so that you’re always happy and so you never regret bonding to me.”
My lips dry as I squeeze his hands more firmly. I know I can never satisfy his poetic heart, but maybe I don’t have to? Maybe all he needs from me is what I can offer? “I love you.”
“Hawk…” Sylvan whispers, and a tear slides down his cheek.
I kiss it off his skin. I want to always be there to dry his tears. “Is this… Are we married now?” I ask, giddy like a kid offered a ball of cotton candy bigger than his head.
Sylvan snorts, looking just as happy as I feel. “You still need to say the words and mean them.”
“Ah yes!” I got so overwhelmed with my vow that I completely forgot about it, but I still remember the sentence he told me earlier, so I repeat it to him, full of excitement for what this next chapter of my life will bring. “Sylvan Goldweed, the most handsome elf ever, I promise you that from now on I am yours, body, soul, and shadow.”
Sylvan gasps, and his pupils dilate, but I feel it too.
The connection that was only a thread before, no thicker than a single strand of hair, barely noticeable, becomes a stream. Invisible, yet so clear. I am squeezing his hand over the rose, but I swear I can sense his heartbeat against my chest.
No. Inside me. That’s how close he is.
Sylvan’s lips tremble, and when his pulse quickens, I sense it under my skin. He drops the rose and it falls into what looks like a pit of darkness under our feet. It’s so black and endless my instincts scream for me to leap away to the carpet. But Sylvan is standing on this shadow too, so I stay.
He’s struggling to catch his breath, so I slide my arm around his waist to steady him.
“There’s… there’s just… so much of it,” he utters in amazement, leaning into me.
I give a short laugh, even though I’m emotional as if someone has injected me with pure adrenaline. “So I’ve been told.”
Sylvan laughs louder than my joke deserves, but it’s the sweetest sound. So carefree and full of delight. His heart is racing as if he were on the verge of orgasm, and it’s kinda making me horny. Does this early bonding mean we get to have an early wedding night too?
He places a hand on my chest, fingers splayed, and when he pulls it away, thick black goo is stuck to it like chewing gum.
Sylvan glances up at me with a grin. “Hawk, I promise, I would have loved you regardless, but this is amazing, and I’ve not even scratched the surface. The things I will do with this…” He arches up to kiss me like usual, but then, just as I’m about to pull him in my arms, the shadows under his feet grow and lift him so he can reach my lips with ease.