I usher the Elowen girl down the corridor, my gaze glued on her slumped shoulders and the swaying, alluring hips. Just like her posture, she is a total conundrum. On the one hand, she hasn't shown the level of submissiveness expected from a slave; she talks without being asked a question and her eyes reflect a quizzical thirst for knowledge as if she's truly trying to figure out the mechanics of life. Then there is this other side of her, overly emotional with her feelings openly on display. A treasure trove for an enemy to exploit. She doesn't appear dumb at all, but then she can't rationalize simple consequences. All in all, I'm more intrigued than ever to catch a glimpse of her mind, even though I don't doubt that I'll have my hands full with her utter defiance. Molding her into the female I envision will be a challenge.

Arriving at Celia's quarters, I don't bother knocking. The double doors swing back, giving access to her vast living room with the spitting fire and the heavy scent of sweet honey wine. As expected, she is nowhere in sight. Soft moans drift from her bedroom. A gentleman would turn around and give her privacy, but I'm neither known for my manners nor do I have time to waste. The night is derailing and I need Celia to get it back on track.

I plant my hand on the lower back of the Elowen girl to guide her in the right direction; she tenses under my touch. Practically shoving her, we arrive in front of the bedroom door; this time, a quick knock precedes my intrusion. Celia is in the bed, covered up to her bare chest; the two bumps under the heavy blanket are a clear hint that she is not alone. Head tilted back, she breathes heavily through parted lips. I smirk.

Sorry for raining on your parade, dear.

When her gaze flicks to me, her lips curve to a seductive smile. "Did you come to join?"

I roll my eyes. "I need your help getting my slave ready for the ceremony."

"We are still doing that tonight?" Her body jerks and she lets out a moan. Hitting one of the bulges under the covers, she reins in her toy. "Rohan said it wouldn't happen until tomorrow."

"Rohan isn't the one in charge and the ceremony is most definitely happening tonight." I want this blood bond over and done with. "But I need one of your servants to prepare the girl. She smells like a pile of shite and needs a proper dress."

Celia hits the bump under the covers again. "You heard the Chieftain. Get the girl ready."

The blanket shifts and Brielle's slender frame appears. Her face is flushed and she curtsies, not raising her gaze once. "I'll do it straight away, your highness."

Now that's a well-behaved slave.

She grabs the Elowen girl by the elbow. "Nylah, why don't you give me a hand?"

A second girl frees herself from under the covers; her smile is timid and she stares at the floor. I've never seen her before and give her a good once over. She's more of the robust type that's not usually Celia's taste, although with me out of the picture, she might be going all female with some variety. All three Elowen disappear in Celia's bathing chamber, leaving the countess to tear into me with a frown.

"Your slave caused quite a ruckus. Quite frankly, I have no idea why you haven't killed her already." Celia jumps out of bed, displaying her assets in nothing but a garter belt minus her lace underpants. "And you look a mess."

I raise my chin to allow her access to my collar. The bowtie surrendered early on during my chase, the dress shirt is stained from my run in with the Tisi, and I still feel the dampness on my back from the Elowen's tears. Celia attacks the two silk ends of the bowtie and restores it to its best version in under a minute.

"There. If you put on a jacket and pull your hair back, you might get away with it."

"Thank you."

She smooths some wrinkles on my shirt, her crotch rubbing against me. I expect my body to react but all stays eerily silent. Our fling is truly over.

I step back; not wanting to give her the wrong idea. "I still have plans for the Elowen girl. For now, I want the blood bond." Ending her life is something I can do at any time.

"Suit yourself." Celia smiles. "And remember, my ear and bed are always open to you."

"I know." Leaning in, I peck her cheek. "And I'm sorry I couldn't give you what you wanted."

She wrinkles her nose, obviously not in the mood to discuss our past relationship drama. "I better spread the word that the ceremony is on again." She gazes at the clock sitting on the mantle of the fireplace. "Give me an hour and everyone will be ready for you."

That'll give me enough time to talk to Jori and fill him in on the events in the forest. Hunting him down in one of the libraries, I interrupt him reading one of the heavy teaching scrolls. He studies too much for his own good.

He regards me with a frown. "Did you find her?"

"Yep, and the ceremony is back on. Celia is getting her ready and we should be able to start in an hour."

"Very good."

"The girl wasn't the only creature I encountered in the woods. I ran into two Tisi."

He quirks a brow. "Scouts?"

"That's what I thought at first, but something odd happened. When I fought one of them, he shifted into a field mouse. I didn't think much about it, but then the Elowen girl said that he transformed from a Sotaro."

"And she wasn't lying?"

"No, I'm positive she was telling the truth."

Jori stares at the book in his hand. When he looks up again, the flames of the fire glow in his brown irises. His eyes appear to have darkened over this past year. He's getting more powerful. "Maybe there was a third one."

"No, there wasn't."

"That makes no sense. Tisi are assigned only one soul animal at birth and they can choose to take its form. They can't randomly shift into any other bodies."

"Unless . . ." I turn toward the beverage cart to pour myself a snaps. I down it in one go; the pepper burning in my throat gives me the necessary courage to speak the next words out aloud. ". . . those two Tisi were the Divine Couple."

Jori narrows his eyes. "The Divine Couple hasn't been around in over four hundred years."

"Exactly. They disappeared right after the last fear whisperer was defeated."

"What are you saying, Talon?"

"Everyone knows that fear whisperers threaten the balance of powers. They are creations of Genessa herself to establish her supremacy in defiance of the other gods. What if they sent the Divine Couple as a countermeasure?"

"Well, it would make sense, at least in theory. When you fought the Tisi, did he appear more powerful than others?"

"No, not at all. If anything, he was quite weak, but the second one had some strength behind their magic. They never shifted from their animal form, so I couldn't fully assess what they were capable of."

"That's not good. Usually, Tisi are much weaker in their animal form."

Tell me something I don't know. "I'm not even sure whether they were a male or a female."

Jori wipes his hand across his face. "Are you going to tell the council?" He locks my gaze and the glint of fear reflected in his eyes is like a plea to do the right thing.

"No, not yet. I want to make sure first."

The air deflates out of him with a huff. "I don't know, Talon. Withholding that type of information can be costly, not only for your reputation as a leader but also for the whole Dynasty. The last time, the Divine Couple wiped out an entire race."

"They only were victorious because they united all the other Dynasties and battled as one. I will never let it get that far. Once I'm certain they are the Divine Couple, I will proactively go after them and eliminate them before they can get others behind them. Trust me, telling the council now is premature and will only cause discord inside the palace."

"Yeah, maybe. Ultimately, it's your decision and I'll have your back no matter what."

As my oldest and most loyal friend, I'd expect nothing less. "We should go to the chapel. The hour is almost up."

Walking through the Stye, I find most of the corridors deserted. We pass a few Elowen servants who bow and curtsy; they are careful to avoid eye contact. Most of the others must be already gathered in the main chapel. When I arrive, I have to admit that Rohan did an excellent job. Hundreds of flickering candles befitting such an event, soft harp music to keep the chatter down, and a pleasant warmth that takes the bite out of the air.

Without exception, my subjects have gathered, their faces twisted with the expectation of an eventful night. The Elowen girl kneels on an embroidered pillow next to the altar; she has her head lowered in respect the way it was when I first laid eyes on her. If she had just kept her mouth shut, all this could've been avoided. Reaching the cobbled steps that lead up to the altar, I get down on one knee in front of the priestess.

Her fingers are warm against my temples. "Let your majesty be blessed by Genessa and the other gods."

Mumbles erupt behind me for the opening prayer. I wait until the voices die down before standing up. A few steps separate me from the top of the altar. In the center sits a silver bowl with a plain silver band, a dagger with a zoomorphic hilt in the shape of a serpent dominated by its long, curved tail resting beside it. Genessa's holy snake, the only animal that could facilitate a sacred pact such as a blood bond. I pick up the dagger and let the tip of the blade run over the rough skin of my palm. It's dull enough to require pressure for the required cut to make this a willful decision. Not that I could back out. I'd lose face in front of the entire Dynasty.

Taking a deep breath, I slash into my hand. The bowl catches the dripping blood and the metal of the bracelet hisses as the elements combine. Once the band is fully covered, I step back and let the priestess do her thing. My stare is on the Elowen girl; she has not moved an inch, her head is still lowered, but the ground in front of her is moist from a few tears. An unexplainable desire to protect her rips through my chest and for a breath, I'm tempted to abandon the whole ceremony.

"Your majesty."

I turn my head at the whispered words of the priestess. She hands me the bowl. The metal is cool against the throbbing wound on my hand, although a thin line of red droplets follows me over to the Elowen girl. I gaze down on her; her whole body is shaking like the wings of my wind chime butterfly on a stormy day.

My throat is dry enough to stall my words and I run my tongue over my lips to moisten them. My loud voice echoes through the chapel. "Stand and hold out your hand to be bound to me by my blood."

Reader Input Request: How is the pacing so far?