Chapter 4

Mira’s POV

For a moment, I could not move. The bond had formed too quickly, and my mind could not accept it. I had only come to the auction to buy medicine for Riven.

I had not come to be tied to three strange men before the whole hall. The place where my old bond with Caden and Torin had been cut still hurt, yet another pull had already appeared inside me.

Everyone looked at me, as if I had set a trap, or like I was a problem they needed to solve.

The three of them were powerful enough to change my life, but that did not comfort me. Power had never protected me before. Caden and Torin had been powerful too, and they had still broken me in front of everyone.

Whispers moved through the auction hall. Some people stared at my wrist. Others looked at Lyra, waiting for her reaction. I wanted to hide the bond mark, but I hated that instinct. I was tired of shrinking because other people wanted me ashamed.

Riven stood beside me, and seeing him struggle brought me back to myself. Whatever bond had formed, whatever the three men thought of me, Riven’s medicine still mattered more.

I tightened my hold on the Spirit Gem box and forced myself to look away from Caspian, Varek, and Silas. I had survived one broken bond. I would not let a sudden new one control me.

Caspian stepped closer. “Explain what you did,” Caspian said. I held the Spirit Gem box and answered, “I did nothing to you.” Varek looked at the faint mark on my wrist. “Bond signals do not appear without cause,” Varek said. Silas gave a light smile.

“I was too tired to fear them. Riven stood beside me, pale from the nightmare abyss, with the robe hanging loose over his scars.

His hand pressed against the wall for balance, but he still watched the room like he was ready to fight. I had not come for a match, pride, or power. I had come because he needed medicine.

“I am not here for any of you,” I said. “I came to sell my Spirit Gem.” Caden’s face changed at once. “You had a Spirit Gem and never told me?” Caden asked.

I did not look at him. “I do not owe you my secrets,” I said. Lyra laughed softly, though her cheek was still red from my slap. “Weak girls always hide something and call it dignity,” Lyra said.

I turned to the auction master before I wasted more anger on her. Auction Master Ren was a round man with a trimmed beard, nervous eyes, and gold rings on his fingers. “Sell the gem now,” I said.

Auction Master Ren looked from the three men to me. “Lady Mira, after the bond reaction, some buyers may want the Moon Covenant to examine the item first,” Auction Master Ren said. I shook my head. “No,” I said. “The gem is mine. The sale is happening now.”

Auction Master Ren opened the black box. The Spirit Gem glowed blue in his palm, and the hall went quiet. The bidding rose quickly. A Moon Covenant official started high. A merchant family raised the price. An elder from a mountain clan doubled it.

I listened without smiling. The gem had been my last safety. Now every coin belonged to Riven’s medicine. I did not regret it, and that told me how much had changed. Auction Master Ren struck his small hammer. “Sold to Elder Varro,” Auction Master Ren said. “Payment will be made now.”

An attendant brought me a sealed pouch. I counted enough to know I had not been cheated. “Bring me the rare healing marrow,” I said.

Caspian’s eyes narrowed. “You sold a Spirit Gem for a rogue’s medicine?” Caspian asked. I looked at him and answered, “Yes.” Silas studied Riven. “Most people would have used that money to improve their own position,” Silas said. I replied, “Most people here are not my example.”

The attendant returned with a white jade vial. I took it carefully because it might keep Riven from slipping back into the nightmare abyss. Riven looked at the vial, then at me.

“You should not have sold something rare for me,” Riven said. I held the vial close and said, “You should stop deciding what your life is worth.” He did not answer. He only looked away, but the anger in his face weakened.

I turned toward the exit, but Caspian blocked my path. “You expect us to believe you triggered a bond with us by accident and now plan to leave?” Caspian asked. I looked up at him.

“I do not care what you believe,” I said. “Move.” Varek said, “The Moon Covenant will summon you.” I replied, “Then they can wait until Riven takes his medicine.” Silas looked almost amused. “You are not afraid of us?” Silas asked. I answered, “I am tired. There is a difference.”

I walked past them with Riven beside me. Caden called my name, and Lyra said something sharp behind me, but I did not turn. I had sold the gem, collected the money, bought Riven’s medicine, and left.

Caspian’s POV

Mira Veyne left the auction hall before any of us could question her properly. I found myself watching the doors after she was gone. She was not impressive in any normal way. By every rule I knew, she should have lowered her head in front of us, but she had not.

Varek stood beside me with his dark wings folded neatly behind him. “She did not try to plead her case,” Varek said. Silas leaned against a pillar. “She did not try to please us either,” Silas said. “That is either pride or stupidity.” I looked at the doors. “Maybe both,” I said.

Still, I was curious. A bond to me, Varek, and Silas could have raised Mira from shame to protection in one night. But mira had acted as if we were only another delay between her and that rogue’s medicine. I disliked that I wanted to know why.

Caden remained near the front, angry and silent. They knew Mira as a failed moon-bearer, a discarded bondmate, and a woman too weak to hold two males. None of that explained why the bond signal had answered us.

Varek said, “We should test whether the signal was real.” Silas looked at him. “And if it was?” Silas asked. Varek replied, “Then the Moon Covenant will have a record.”

I lifted my wrist and opened the match notice on my seal. I expected a pending request with Mira Veyne’s name attached to ours. I expected proof that she had tried to secure us while pretending not to care. That would have been simple. That would have made sense.

The notice appeared, but it was not pending. I read the line twice, then looked at Varek and Silas. “She cancelled it,” I said. “Mira Veyne cancelled the match request before any of us could approach her.”