I stood in front of the conference room door uncertainty consuming me. I wasnt surr I wanted to do this. I didnt know as much about a Fea bond as I did werewolves except the fact that it didnt take away from the soul of the partners if broken. Steeling myself I took a deep breath and opened the door.
Six men including Elias sat waiting. The six candidates looked up as I entered, their eyes traveled up and down my body and state of mind.
"Ah Katalena, there you are." Elias greeted me. "these are the candidates for you bond although not all of them are Fea. Now for the introductions I'll let each of you introduce yourself."
"Rowan Dragos, I am a dragonborn Fea. it is a pleasure to meet you Ms. Storm" said the first man he put one fist over his heart and gave a short bow. his hair so black blue highlights shown in it, and eyes that were a deep violete and a nice olive tone to his skin. His shoulders were broad and muscular. his face was sharp and angular with a hint of stuble on it accentuating his wide full lips that sat under a heavy brow. He had various tattoos peaking out from under his tight black t-shirt that showed of the well defined muscles of his abdomen. A leather jacket hung from the chair he stood up from. His sent was of leather and a bonfire on a crisp autumn night.
"Akylas Kol." the next man who spoke said with a smirk showing off the dimples on his stuble covered cheeks. His messy styled blonde hair fell almost into his stormy blue-grey eyes. His skin was softly tan. He wore a blue shirt that complmented his eyes and fitted jeans he was the second tallest of the bunch at around 6'1. with tastefully well definee muscles. "Griffin. although ive also been called an avenging angel before."
"Marcus Knightly. Kitsune or as some might say a nine tailed fox. " a red headed man said with a griant grin. His aqua eyes danced with mischief. he was tall and lean. his hair was somewhat long and styled messily. He dressed the least formal of the bunch in jeans and a T shirt with saying ' I'm foxy' with a picture of a cute little fox winking. it made the corner of my mouth tug up in a smile as i fought a laugh.
"Killian Dantéus , demon." said another man lazily. His face impassive as if he found the events going on boring. He had Full pouty lips and a strong angular jawline with a hint of a 5 o'clock shadow and high cheekbones. his long auburn hair reaching just past his shoulders. His skin paler than the rest. He sat in a chair still his feet in black business shoes up on the table. Dressed in black tailored slacks, a white button up shirt with a dark grey tailored suit vest the sleeves rolled up and the top buttons undone to show off his lean toned body. He looked sinfully sexy. As he looked at me out of the corner of his eyes I noticed them change from grey to a fiery red before he looked away.
"Jasper Oakland, forest Fea." his tone mellow but strong. he was the tallest of the bunch at 6'2. His skin well tanned and eyes a dark mossy green. Redish blonde hair hung down his back in a braid. A beard graced his handsome but broding face. Close cut except for under his chin where it was just long enough to be a gotee. His over all look was like that of a viking. He dark brown leather jacket with no shirt on under it showed off his muscular tattoed abdomen. His hands wear shoved into his jean pockets making the ride low on his hips. a neaklace hung around his neck. the silver tree on it dangling in the center of his chest. A small smile apeared on his face as he watched me assess him.
"Now that intrdutions are done lets move on to why were here." Elias began," Kathleen is the Shifter." a few eyes widened some looked at me with a new appreciation. " there are vampires hunting her and they have asked for an audience ,which with the current laws I am obligated to give them. Kataleena is not strong enough to handle them on her own and to allow her to be found her could mean a war. My hope is that by creating a bond with one of you her sent will be masked she will go unnoticed."
"Wont they recognize her?" Jasper inquired.
"No," I spoke up. " I have kept a low profile to the point that most dont even know I exist yet. unfortunately the vampires did manage to catch my sent. which is why they have tracked me here. Running away will be useless for me as they would eventually catch up again and most likely when I didnt have allies. The leader of the team looking for me aims to kill me so I wont bring any change wether good or bad."
The mood of the room shifted no longer a meaningless gathering to these men. most of the men looked angry, or concerned. Or in Killian's case impassive his eyes flickering to black then back to grey. I wasnt sure what the changing colors of his eyes ment.
Marcus, whose grin stayed in place, began to laugh, "Well now didnt this get much more interesting."
Once Marcus's laughter died down I decided to ask them all a question, " I just want to know what a bond would mean for you. I dont want to cause any trouble with this. If you're not willing to make the bond or it means to much for you I would prefer not to. But the choice is yours to be a bond option or not."
"Breaking a bond is not unheard of in my kind, but a bond is still considered sacred. There is a formal 1 year period of a trial bond where the bond is not allowed to be broken. This is for arranged bondings as this would be considered. This is something for you to consider with me as an option." Rowan informed me.
I nodded, "I understand thank you for telling me."
Marcus chuckled, " I think I'd like the same trial period if you consider myself as well. It seems only fair."
"Ok," I thought for a moment worrying about what I'm getting myself into. one year couldnt be too bad " I'll agree to this for anyone who wants that condition. just raise your hand if thats what you want as well."
Everyone but Killian raised their hand in agreement. for the first time his mask was gone and with a look that seemed both of pain and longing he said. "A bond with me can not be broken. But that dosent mean we have to be in what others would consider a marriage style bond if that is not what you wish. After the agreed upon year like you have with the others, if you chose not to be bonded to me in a romantic way I can allow you to help run a few of my businesses as well as live in a maintain my house and be under my protection if you wish. In exchange you would be there to lend freindly companionship when asked."
I thought Killian's honesty was refreshing. It be nice to have a permenent friend. I just was not sure if we would get along since he hid his emotions so much. Then I thought about what he and rowan had said. "So you all want me to treat a bond with you kind of like a betrothel where at the end we either continue the bond or break it."
Akylas spoke up then, "Well in my case there are 2 levels. The initial bond the hand tying ceremony, then the completion which requires fully giving yourself to your partner. In other words if you chose not to continue the bond with me it is the easiest to be broken. If not completed within a few months the bond weakens until gone, usually within a year, if the bonded pair has no romantic contact with each other. So there would be no ceremony to break the bond we could just go our separate ways."
"Kataleena you have 3 days to choose who you want to bond with with the agreed upon terms." Elias spoke then, " I'll condider this formal meeting over. If you wish to continue to get to know one another there is a game room just down the hall., with that he left.
most of the guys headed to the game room, but once Killian was the last to remain. he began stifflely"I must leave now I have my businesses to get back to."as he walked by me he looked into my eyes for the first time his eyes flasing yellow and said softly," I hope you will consider me even tho our bond would not be broken. A bond of friendship with a demon can be a great asset." a small smile graced his face making him devilishly handsome. then he disappeared leaning the sent of chocolate and coffee as the only hint that hed been standing there a moment before.
****
The world was burning. Acrid sent of blood, death, and the burning stench of hair and flesh filled my lungs. The crumbled remains of buildings and and bodies littered the ground. Not a single living soul but me was there.
The scene before me changed. All the men from the confrence room where there in a semi-circle around me. Marcus Knightly, Akylas Kol, Killian Dantéus, Jasper Oakland, Rowan Dragos and another figure that stood with them. Tall and thinner than the rest with the body of a professional runner. Hair so blonde it looked almost white cascading down to his waist. His features were more feminine than the rest but beautifully handsome. Silvery grey eyes with a halo of red around the iris. his clothing dated from mideval times. they looked exspensive, all of it ivory-white with silver embroidery. A long rapier was tied to his waist. He was obviously a vampire.
A womans voice filtered into my ears. ". The road before you has many paths, these men before you will help determine the fate of the world. One will be your ture soul bond. One will be your most loyal friend. One will teach you things you never knew you were capable of. One will make no differance. And one will die. And one will try to bring about the end of the world as you know it. All is not as it seems. You will need them all by your side or the world will burn!"
Fire and smoke engulf the men and me screams fill the air as we burn togther. Then darkness but the scream lives on. I feel like I am suffocating. It takes me a moment to realize the scream is coming from my throat and my blankets twisted tightly around my body is what is strangling me.
As the remenants of the darkness and terror leave as I realize it had been a dream. A prophetic dream with a warning and an answer to the delima I have had for the past 2 days. I would bond with all of them.