Chapter 368: The Bond That Binds Souls

Owen’s brow furrowed into a subtle scowl as he remembered how the newcomer had stepped between them out of nowhere, blocking him just as he approached to greet Aliana after the press conference.

’What is that guy’s problem?’ Owen thought bitterly, his jaw tightening.

He couldn’t shake the memory of the man staring down at him with his dark amber, fearless eyes, as if he was prepared to tear him apart if he took another step toward Aliana.

"Mr. Ross, this is Reve," Aliana had introduced him smoothly. "...My personal bodyguard. Please don’t take it personally. He takes his duties very seriously."

Although Owen had offered an understanding smile at the time, resentment festered beneath his polite mask.

He had hated watching Cillian Pierce stand so comfortably at her side, while he... the man who had literally thrown himself in harm’s way to shield her, was treated like a potential threat.

Just then, a sharp buzz of his smartphone shattered his thoughts.

Opening his eyes, he looked down at the vibrating screen.

A name flashed on his screen, and he raised an amused brow at it.

Picking up the call, he placed the phone in his ear. "Little sister."

"Owen..." Jade paused on the other end of the line before asking softly, "Where are you right now?"

He blinked, caught off guard. "In my office at Van Empire. Is everything alright?"

"I see..." Jade replied, trailing off into another tense silence.

Owen released a quiet sigh. "What is going on, Jade? Just say it."

"I am nearby," Jade explained. "Would you... have a few minutes to meet at the coffee shop across from your building?"

Owen’s brow furrowed. "Why are you wandering around the city? Didn’t I tell you to stay put at Aliana’s house?"

"I had some urgent errands to run and... I am not alone," Jade reassured him. "I just really need to speak with you about something. It won’t take long, as I have another appointment right after."

Owen went silent, his eyes drifting to the digital clock on his desk. "How soon will you be here?"

"In about fifteen minutes," Jade answered. "So... will you come down?"

Reaching over, Owen pressed the button on his intercom.

"Reschedule all my meetings for the next hour," he instructed his assistant smoothly.

"Right away, sir," his secretary answered instantly.

Returning to the call, Owen spoke into the receiver. "You have an hour. Don’t be late."

"Thank you. I will be there in fifteen," Jade replied before the call disconnected.

Swivelling in his executive chair, Owen gazed down at the bustling streets below. From the dizzying height of his floor, the high-end shops and boutique cafés across the avenue looked impossibly small.

"What could she possibly need to talk about?" he murmured thoughtfully into the quiet office.

....

Back in Aliana’s office, the question she had asked hung heavily in the air.

A small, knowing smile touched Cillian’s lips as he leaned back into the sofa cushions. "Why am I not surprised to hear that?" He gave her a small nod. "Very well. I will tell you everything I know."

Before he began, Cillian raised his hand, his eyes flashed red as he snapped his fingers. Right then, a thin, wispy thread of shadow seeped from his fingertips, swirling outward and spreading like a translucent veil around the perimeter of the entire executive suite.

Aliana watched the dark energy settle against the walls before glancing back at him. "What is this? A barrier?"

"A sound barrier," Cillian corrected, offering her a faint smile. "Just to ensure no nosy ears eavesdrop on our conversation."

Aliana frowned slightly. "My office is already soundproofed."

"Against humans, yes. But you can never be too careful," Cillian replied cryptically.

Aliana opened her mouth to press him further, but he simply settled deeper into his seat and began to speak.

"A demon’s fated mate is exactly what it sounds like. Someone made from the very same soul essence as you, destined by the fates to share every lifetime with you. Humans use words like soulmates or twin flames when they meet someone who feels instantly familiar, as if they have known each other for eternity.

Such a connection is exceptionally rare for mortals... and even rarer for beings like us. The universe does not grant everyone a mate. You must be extraordinarily blessed to find yours."

Aliana absorbed his words, her fingers tightening in her lap. "A soulmate," she murmured softly. "I assumed it was something along those lines."

"Soulmate is the human term," Cillian agreed. "But Aliana, it goes infinitely deeper than mere romance or companionship." 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

"What do you mean?" she asked, her heart beginning to thud against her ribs.

"It is as if the centre of your universe shifts the moment you find them. They become your world... the one person who matters above everyone and everything else. A demon becomes fiercely protective of their mate. They exist for each other and... they follow each other into death."

"What?" The revelation hit her like a bolt of lightning.

Cillian’s expression grew serious. "When a mate bond is sealed, their souls become intertwined so deeply that they gain immense strength together but... it comes with a cost. If tragedy strikes and one mate passes away... the other perishes as well. They follow each other, even into the grave."

For reasons she could not comprehend, an unbearable weight settled over Aliana’s chest, making every breath feel like drawing in shattered glass.

She had understood that a fated mate must be important, but she had never realised the cosmic gravity of such a bond until now.

’Follow each other even in death?’ That hit her harder than anything else.

"What did you mean about... a mate bond being sealed?" Aliana asked, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"There is an ancient ceremony the two must undergo on the night of the full moon, where the mates consummate their bond and share each other’s blood," Cillian explained quietly. "If they are truly fated, a unique mark will bloom somewhere on their bodies, signifying the completion of the bond, binding their souls for eternity."

Suddenly, Aliana felt as though the air had been violently punched from her lungs.

Her mind flooded with vivid, breathless memories of the passionate night she had shared with Gavriel on the full moon night.

They had done exactly as Cillian just described.

And yet...

She had seen no mark on her body afterwards, apart from the two puncture wounds Gavriel had later healed at her insistence because she had not wanted anyone to think she had been bitten by an animal.

"What does the mark look like?" Aliana asked quickly. "Is it... a bite mark?"

Cillian watched her closely, immediately understanding the panic behind her question.

It was no secret to him that Gavriel and Aliana had undergone the demonic mating ritual. He had pieced it together when Winston called him the day after the full moon, informing him that his master and madam had remained locked in their bedroom until late evening.

It was a reality that still baffled him.

How had Aliana survived such an intense ordeal?

It had raised countless questions in his mind about the nature of her soul. At one point, he had even wondered whether she might somehow be Gavriel’s fated mate... or perhaps possessed a strength comparable to his.

Though the latter seemed impossible.

But if the mate bond had truly been completed, Gavriel’s powers should have been fully restored. Aliana’s bond would have helped stabilize his immense power, and the two of them would have begun experiencing each other’s emotions more openly. They would have been able to communicate through their minds and, most importantly, would have carried each other’s marks.

Yet judging by Aliana’s reaction, there appeared to be no mark on her.

Which meant the theory remained unproven.

Cillian’s eyes turned solemn, and his voice softened with pity as he answered. "No, Aliana. It is not a simple bite mark. It is a unique symbol that you share with your partner. In a devil’s case, his personal royal crest would physically manifest on his mate’s flesh."