Seven Days Later - Shadowkeep Gates
Kieran had never seen Rhydian this tense.
His mate stood at the castle gates, arms crossed, jaw tight, radiating "don't touch what's mine" energy so strongly that even the guards had backed up several feet.
"You're being ridiculous," Kieran said quietly.
"I'm being cautious," Rhydian corrected.
"She's a diplomat. Coming to help with my training. Not seduce me away from you."
"Moon fae are known for their beauty and charm. It's literally part of their magic—making people want to please them, protect them, worship them."
Kieran stared at him. "Are you saying I've been magically manipulating you this whole time?"
"What? No! You're different—" Rhydian caught himself, realizing the trap. "That came out wrong."
"It really did." Kieran couldn't help his grin. Watching the unflappable Beast King fumble through jealousy was adorable.
Before Rhydian could dig himself deeper, trumpets announced the ambassador's arrival.
The procession was impressive. Twenty guards in silver armor, banners bearing the moon fae crest, and at the center—
Ambassador Seraphine.
Draven hadn't been exaggerating. She was stunning. Tall and willowy, with platinum hair that literally floated around her face like she existed in her own personal breeze. Her eyes were pure silver, no pupils, and her skin seemed to glow from within. She wore flowing robes that shifted between white and silver and blue, never settling on one color.
She was ethereal. Otherworldly. The kind of beautiful that didn't seem quite real.
Kieran felt absolutely nothing looking at her.
But through the bond, he felt Rhydian's surge of territorial aggression. Felt his mate's beast rising, hackles up, ready to defend what was his.
"Easy," Kieran murmured, taking Rhydian's hand. "Remember—bond works both ways. I'm not interested."
"I know. But she's—"
"Beautiful. Yes. Also not you." Kieran squeezed his hand. "Now stop growling. You're scaring the guards."
Rhydian visibly composed himself as Seraphine approached. Her steps didn't make sound. She seemed to glide rather than walk.
"King Rhydian." Her voice was like wind chimes. "Thank you for receiving me."
"Ambassador." Rhydian's tone was professionally cold. "Welcome to Shadowkeep."
Seraphine's silver eyes shifted to Kieran, and she smiled. "And you must be Kieran. The prodigy everyone is talking about."
She reached for his hand.
Rhydian moved faster, inserting himself slightly between them. "He's my mate."
The words came out as a low growl.
Seraphine's eyes widened, then she laughed—a sound like crystal bells. "I can see that. The bond practically glows around you both. Relax, Beast King. I'm not here to steal your precious moon fae."
"Good," Rhydian said flatly.
"Though I must say—" Seraphine circled them slowly, assessing, "—a hybrid bonded to a moon fae. Unprecedented. Fascinating. The magical resonance must be extraordinary."
"It is," Kieran said before Rhydian could respond with something territorial and rude. "We're still learning to navigate it."
"I imagine. Most moon fae bond with other fae—compatible magic, similar lifespans. But hybrid magic?" She tilted her head. "That's wild. Unpredictable. Dangerous."
"Dangerous how?" Rhydian demanded.
"The training I'm here to provide pushes moon fae to their absolute limits. Having a non-fae mate could complicate the bond's stability during transformation." Seraphine's expression turned serious. "I'll need to study your bond dynamics before we begin intensive work."
"Study how?" Rhydian's hand found Kieran's waist, possessive.
"Observations. Magical resonance tests. Nothing invasive." Seraphine's smile suggested she was enjoying Rhydian's discomfort. "Unless you'd prefer I leave and let Kieran continue training without proper guidance? I'm sure Silvara is competent, but moon fae magic requires moon fae expertise."
Checkmate. They needed her help, and she knew it.
"Fine," Rhydian said through gritted teeth. "But I'm present for all training sessions."
"I wouldn't have it any other way. The bond anchor is crucial to the process." Seraphine turned to Kieran. "Shall we begin tomorrow? Dawn, at your training grounds?"
"Perfect," Kieran agreed, trying to be diplomatic since his mate was failing spectacularly at it.
After Seraphine was shown to her quarters, Rhydian practically dragged Kieran back to their chambers.
"That was embarrassing," Kieran said the moment the door closed.
"She was flirting with you."
"She was being professionally friendly. There's a difference." Kieran crossed his arms. "You need to get this jealousy under control."
"I'm trying!" Rhydian ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "But my instincts are screaming at me. Another moon fae, powerful and beautiful, coming to touch you, guide you, spend hours in close contact—"
"While you watch. Every single session." Kieran approached him. "She even said you'd be there. As my anchor."
"I know. Logically, I know." Rhydian's hands found Kieran's hips. "But logic isn't really working right now."
"Then what is working?"
"This." Rhydian kissed him, possessive and claiming. When he pulled back, his eyes were glowing. "Reminding myself you're mine. That you chose me. That the bond is real."
"It is real," Kieran said softly. "And I did choose you. Not because of magic—because of who you are." He traced Rhydian's jaw. "A jealous, overprotective, ridiculously territorial hybrid who somehow makes me feel safer than I've ever felt in my life."
"That's not romantic either."
"It's honest." Kieran threw Rhydian's earlier words back at him. "And I don't need romance. I just need you."
Rhydian's expression softened. "You're really not interested in her? Even a little?"
"Not even a little. She's beautiful like a statue is beautiful—impressive but cold. You're—" Kieran searched for words, "—you're warm. Real. Mine."
The last word came out fiercer than intended, but Rhydian's answering smile was pure satisfaction.
"Say it again," he demanded.
"Mine," Kieran repeated, letting his own possessiveness show. "My mate. My hybrid. My ridiculously jealous king."
Rhydian growled—actually growled—and pulled Kieran closer. "Keep talking like that and we're not leaving this room for days."
"Promises, promises."
Training Grounds - Next Dawn
Seraphine was already there when they arrived, standing in the center of the stone circle like she belonged there. Silvara waited at the edge, looking interested to see how this would play out.
"Kieran," Seraphine greeted. "And Rhydian. Good. Let's begin with a diagnostic."
"Diagnostic of what?" Rhydian asked suspiciously.
"Your bond. I need to see how it functions during Kieran's transformation." She gestured to the moonlight pool. "Kieran, submerge yourself. Transform to energy state and hold it. Rhydian, anchor him as usual. I'll observe the magical flows."
Simple enough. Kieran had done this hundreds of times now.
He stepped into the pool, felt the familiar rush of moonlight flooding his system. His body began to dissolve, shifting from flesh to pure energy—
"Interesting," Seraphine murmured. "The bond is actually amplifying the transformation. Most anchors restrict the shift, keep it controlled. But yours is encouraging it, feeding power into it."
"Is that bad?" Rhydian demanded.
"Unknown. Hold him there—yes, just like that." She moved closer, her own power manifesting as silver threads that wove through the air. "May I?"
"May you what?" Kieran managed to ask, his voice strange in energy form.
"Touch the bond. Just to map it." Her threads reached toward the glowing connection between Kieran and Rhydian.
Rhydian's power flared, defensive. "No."
"It's necessary for proper training," Seraphine said patiently.
"Find another way."
"There is no other way. The bond is integral to how Kieran transforms. I need to understand it to help him reach Apotheosis safely." She looked at Kieran. "It's your choice. But without this diagnostic, I'm working blind."
Kieran felt Rhydian's resistance through their connection. Felt how the idea of anyone else touching the bond—even just magically—triggered every protective instinct his mate had.
It's okay, Kieran sent through the bond. I trust her. And I trust us. She can't break what we have.
You're sure?
Completely.
Reluctantly, Rhydian nodded.
Seraphine's silver threads touched the bond—
And everything exploded.
Not physically. Magically. The bond flared with power neither of them had known existed, a surge of combined energy that sent Seraphine flying backward twenty feet.
She landed gracefully, looking shocked for the first time.
"By the ancient moon," she breathed. "That's not just a mating bond. That's a soul fusion."
"A what?" Kieran shifted back to physical form, suddenly worried.
"Soul fusion. Exceptionally rare. It means you're not just magically bonded—your actual souls have begun merging. Becoming one entity in two bodies." Seraphine approached cautiously. "How long have you been bonded?"
"Almost two months," Rhydian said.
"Impossible. Soul fusion takes years. Decades. You two have barely known each other and you're already—" She cut herself off, studying them with new intensity. "Show me your marks. The mating marks."
Kieran pulled his shirt aside, revealing the intricate pattern over his heart. Rhydian did the same.
Seraphine's eyes widened. "They're identical. Perfect mirrors. That only happens with soul fusion." She looked between them. "You're not just mates. You're soulmates. True soulmates. The kind legends are written about."
"And that means what exactly?" Rhydian asked.
"It means—" Seraphine's voice held awe, "—your training is going to be completely different than I expected. Soul fusion changes everything. Kieran, when you reach Apotheosis, Rhydian will transform too. You'll both transcend physical form. Both become living magic."
Silence.
"Both?" Kieran repeated. "But Rhydian's not moon fae—"
"Doesn't matter. Soul fusion means what affects one affects both. If you reach Apotheosis, he comes with you." Seraphine started pacing, clearly recalculating everything. "This is unprecedented. A hybrid achieving Apotheosis through soul bond? The power levels would be—" She paused. "Actually, this might be exactly what we need to fight the Sealed Ones. Two beings of pure energy, perfectly synchronized, combining moon fae and hybrid power."
Through the bond, Kieran felt Rhydian's shock matching his own.
They weren't just partners in battle. They were becoming the same being.
"Is that—" Kieran swallowed hard, "—is that permanent? The soul fusion?"
"Yes. Once begun, it only deepens. Eventually, you'll be able to share thoughts without trying, feel each other's emotions as clearly as your own, even share physical sensations across distances." Seraphine's expression was unreadable. "It's the most intimate bond that can exist between two beings. And also the most dangerous."
"Dangerous how?" Rhydian moved closer to Kieran instinctively.
"If one of you dies, the other follows immediately. Soul fusion means you're one soul in two bodies. Lose one body, lose both souls." She let that sink in. "You're more powerful together than any bonded pair in history. But also more vulnerable. Your enemies only need to kill one of you to kill both."
Kieran felt cold dread settle in his stomach.
"Can we reverse it?" he asked quietly.
"No. Soul fusion is permanent. But—" Seraphine's voice softened, "—most bonded pairs would consider it a blessing. You'll never be apart. Never truly alone. Even death won't separate you."
Kieran looked at Rhydian, found his mate already looking back. Through the bond—through their fusing souls—he felt Rhydian's reaction.
Not fear. Acceptance. Even relief.
We were always going to be together, Rhydian sent. Forever or not at all. This just makes it official.
You're not scared?
Terrified. But not of being bound to you. Of failing to protect us both. A pause. Are you okay with this?
Was he? Kieran examined his feelings. The idea of losing his individual identity, of merging with someone else so completely—
It should have terrified him. He'd spent so long fighting for independence, for control over his own life.
But with Rhydian? The idea of being so connected they were essentially one being?
It felt right. Like coming home.
I'm okay with it, Kieran sent back. More than okay. I'm—relieved. No matter what happens, we're together.
Forever.
Forever.
Seraphine watched their silent communion, then nodded. "Good. Because we'll need to adjust the entire training regimen. If you're both transforming, you both need to prepare. This just got significantly more complicated."
"When has anything about our lives been simple?" Rhydian asked wryly.
"Fair point." Seraphine smiled, genuine warmth in it for the first time. "Alright, soulmates. Let's make history. Let's turn you into something the Sealed Ones have nightmares about."
Silvara stepped forward, her ancient eyes gleaming. "I believe the term is 'power couple.' Let's make you the most terrifying power couple in existence."
Kieran and Rhydian looked at each other and grinned.
Soul fusion. Joint Apotheosis. Becoming living legends.
Why not?
They'd already done the impossible just by surviving this long.
Time to go further.