Page 76 of Ashborne Phoenix

She knew, in that vow, with a single statement, I would have given Grace control over my power and blocked Mother’s ability to seize me.

Any Cruor’s power could be increased by binding in this way—but only if the two truly worked together. It was a risk few were willing to take. Because it opened a link that gave the other person the option to wield your power on your behalf. A true unity of power. But a desperate risk if your partner took control and used it for their own gain—or worse, against you.

It was why the Cruors had developed so many rituals that carefully protected their autonomy.

The binding vow Breckon had been about to offer would have braided his power with Grace’s. They would have been strengthened by each other, and their children benefited by an increased potential. Yet, their power would never truly have mingled. They would each have kept their individual agency… and thus, limited the power they could wield against each other.

I’d given Grace an unshackled vow. I’d offered her everything I had—and she’d returned it. That meant either of us could take hold of the other’s power and use it as we chose.

It also meant our power couldn’t be accessed by any other. We had locked down against any other soul. Any attempt to grasp power from either of us would send a Cruor’s power back on themselves, just as had occurred for Breckon. Something that would terrify my mother—unless I’d found a loophole she’d never identified.

Without my audible response to close the loop, she couldn’t be sure. And the question would be eating her up inside.

I hoped she choked on it and died.

She’d be asking herself if I’d managed to tie Grace’s power to me, without giving up my own. She wouldn’t move against me until she was sure.

And she was furious about it.

Mother stood at my shoulder bristling. Scrambling. Mentally reviewing, discarding, and adjusting every plan she’d made to this moment, because she no longer fought me. She now wrestled the magik itself.

I smiled at her, and slipped my hand into my pocket to stand casually, but kept Grace in the circle of my other arm and waited for Mother to answer to her king.

“I did warn you, Burk,” my mother sighed. Internally, I would have cheered. At least for now, she was going to pull rank—and throw her lot in with me.

It was precisely what I needed. Thank God.

“The girl is powerful—more powerful than any of you admitted to me. And you fumbled. Both of you. The uncertainty around her state… it’s unacceptable. She is in need of a truly powerful leader to harness her potential and use it for all our good. Not a sycophantic slave master.”

The king’s jaw tightened. But Mother wasn’t finished.

“Since neither of you appeared able to be what is best for all of us, I allowed someone to claim her who is.”

There were gasps and rumbling disapproval, but I met eyes with the king. And now, I didn’t smile, but met his gaze flatly, because there was only one puzzle piece remaining that would drive him to work against me quickly.

“Don’t worry, Sire. You’ll still get what’s coming to you,” I said quietly enough that the court wouldn’t hear.

Burk’s eyes narrowed, but I turned from him to address the circle.

“I am Vane Xavier, the Heir Apparent. I’m not dead—and I wasn’t raised from death. I left you all because for a time I chose not to embrace my birthright. But when I found Grace and understood her potential… well, you’ve all seen what’s come of it.

“Before Breckon found her, I had already done the work to bring her blood alive. Do not blame your Dominus for not seeing it sooner—I had Grace glamored to protect her when this bastard came for her. His contract claim was a barnacle that needed prying off. And you’ve seen today, I have succeeded in that. She is no longer tied to the man—and she is very deeply, firmly, tied to me.” I looked down at Grace and smiled. “She is my Pair Eternal.”

The collective inhale was sharp enough to echo.

“Impossible!”

“Can he do that?”

“Is he Dominus or—”

It was my mother who stepped in then. “You can’t be truly Paired until you’ve undertaken the rituals,” she said, her expression and tone simple, firm authority. But her eyes glittered with a promise to punish me.

I smiled. “Then, begin your chants.” I turned back to the court and the king. “That’s why we’ve gathered tonight, correct? Breckon refused to wait another day? It’s the only sentiment of his that I echo. I have waited long enough, and proven my strength—I refuse to be delayed a moment longer. Let the ritual begin. We are claimed, vowed, and ignited. Let us finish this!”

Something flashed in my mother’s gaze at that, but she stifled it quickly. A chill of nerves started in my chest, but I just turned back to Grace and kissed her once more, holding her into the embrace, and thrusting love and reassurance through the bond.

‘This is going to get dark, but I’ll handle it. Follow my lead. If you feel uncomfortable, or afraid, express it. Remain ignorant of the forms in their eyes. Let them see you as a pawn. Let them underestimate you, beautiful.’