Sealed With A Kiss

Dragana POV

Watching both of them getting ready to go to Yamuna, to risk their lives for Jasmine, tightened my heart and nearly made me breathless. The weight of what I asked of them weighed heavy on me, and while I appreciated their bravado and their honor in making sure that I understood that none of this was my fault, none my responsibility, deep down I knew better. I also knew that no matter what, I could not choose between them. I knew in my heart that I loved Roman, in spite of all the past, in spite of fear that he would never see me as an equal, never see me as somebody worthy. Many years of solitude within the pack, many years of cold shoulder and downright emotional abuse, did not disappear simply because he confessed his love. I did not know if they ever would and if I ever would fully make peace with this. However, right now, at this moment, as we stood there, on the cusp of change and on the cusp of their departure, I could not allow such a burden to be placed on either one of them.

They both looked at me intently, fires burning behind their eyes every time our eyes met. I knew how rare love is, true love. I knew that even with mate bonds, two people had to work past their pride, past their ego, past their differences. The mate bond did not make everything magically right – it means that this person has a piece of your heart, your soul. That they were created for you, and in my case, as a Tribrid, according to lore and history, that meant that three people had that. That three people were my “other half” and that my heart needed to be split into three. I looked at Art and Roman and did not know if I could muster the strength and courage to split my heart in two, no less three. However, I had to be strong. At this moment, I had to put on a brave face and a smile for them. I did not know of all the dangers of the Yamuna River, and the more Solomon talked, the more I dreaded their trip, somehow wishing I could go with them at the same time.

“A piece of you can go with them… A piece of love you feel for both will shield them and guide them when the skies are dark and all looks lost”, I heard the voice of Nakomi’s spirit, my paternal grandmother, the Queen of the Elder Tribe, one who held Jasmine in the waters of the lake. Walking over, after Lady Asma and her mate bestowed their blessings, I decided to pull on that magic, the power that came from my paternal ancestral line, and the power of my love that I had for both. I knew Art was not my mate, but I did not care. He was the only man that has always been good to me, always kind, always loved me. I would choose him always, even if it meant to reject another fated mate. He deserved my love and loyalty, and as I came next to him, pulling him into a kiss, my whole being hummed with the magic of my ancestors. In that kiss I pushed all the love I felt for him, all the times he made me happy, the dreams of future I had for us. I kissed him with all that I had, including the piece of magic meant to protect him. He responded in kind, and for what seemed like an eternity, we stood in the embrace, for all, including Roman, to see.

Breaking my kiss, I could see Emir, his wolf was already surfacing, and Art trying his best to control himself. “I love you and you need to promise to come back to me”, I whispered to him, although I was sure everyone heard me. He gently moved the strands of hair from my face and kissed my forehead. “Nothing and nobody, no monsters, no dead rivers, no dragons… nothing will keep me away from you”, he spoke softly. I nodded, turning my gaze toward Roman who was watching our exchange, his face unreadable. I could feel jealously washing over him, but for the first time since all this began, I felt something else. A faint scent of acceptance, begrudging acceptance, yet acceptance.

I moved my way to him, and he did not hesitate to pull me into his arms, crushing his rock-hard abs next to my nipples that were already erect and excited. His deep blue eyes sparkled with silver and green, and I knew he was fighting Caleb for control. He did not speak, he just looked at me.. looked at me as if it were the first time he ever saw me. “How do you do that???” I had to ask.. “How, after all this time, do you look at me like that”, I asked.. He did not reply. His lips simply crushed on mine, taking my breath away. The intensity of his kiss was scorching my skin, the electrical buzzing between us. I wanted to give him the same blessing, the same protection, the same love. I pulled on my ancestral magic and used the mate bond, the strength of it, to further empower the spell. I loved him.. And I wanted him safe.. “I know you Roman.. I know you will dive head first into situations… Please… I need you back..” I spoke, lost in his eyes. “I love you.. for now.. for ever.. for always… And do not think you are getting rid of me that easily”, he finally replied, making everyone chuckle as he was not shy about being loud.

I looked at Art who was smiling at us, his eyes trailing between us, indescribable, palpable with emotion. Nobody else said anything, and to their credit they acted as if me kissing two different men was the most natural and normal thing in the world. Then again, I was a Tribrid and all of them had seen the world before me. Pulling myself together and trying to calm my beating heart, I started chanting. The Silver Gate opened up and both Art and Roman gave me one final glance and one final smile, before they stepped through it, to the Yamuna river, to the untold dangers and to the unknown. My chest tightened again, this time with fear and foreboding. I could not lose them. I won’t!!

“That was smart”, I heard Solomon’s voice, a soft, fatherly smile dancing on his lips. “You sealed your magic to the men you love”, he continued. Of course, I should have known that I could not do a spell such as that for him not to notice – after all, he was a Witch King. “I do not know what to do”, I said, genuinely confused still, agitated, and fearful. Their trip was ridden with dangers, but even if they both survived, another issue, an ever-present issue, awaited us. Can I really love both? And if not, who do I choose??