Bloodbound Vows: A Companion

After talk

The ride home is tense, the silence growing heavy between us until I finally break it.

“You’ve barely talked to me today,” I say, glancing at her from the corner of my eye. Layla’s staring out the window, her expression hard to read, lost in her own thoughts.

“I chose to ignore you after you said what happened was a mistake.” Her voice is flat, laced with bitterness. “What’s the point of trying to involve my feelings if you don’t want this? You keep bringing up what I don’t know, but you refuse to inform me. How am I supposed to decide if I can handle it?”

She exhales sharply, clearly fed up.

I slow the car slightly, wanting to focus completely on this conversation. “Layla, being my companion isn’t just some romantic notion. It’s—” I pause, gathering my thoughts, unsure if she’s ready to hear the full weight of what I’m about to say. But I owe her the truth. “It’s an eternal bond. Far beyond human understanding of love or partnership. When we bond, we share everything—my blood, my life, my emotions. You will feel me in ways that will be both beautiful and terrifying. There will be no secrets. My rage, my hunger, my desires… they will become yours to bear.”

Layla shifts uncomfortably, her hands fidgeting in her lap.

“And with this bond comes power. You’ll have strength beyond what you can imagine. Your human frailty? It will fade. But there are sacrifices, Layla, ones you need to understand before making this choice. You’ll be bound to me—and this world—forever. It’s not just danger, it’s the loss of a normal life. Children, a family of your own? You won’t have that with me.”

Her sharp breath tells me the words have hit her like a blow.

I push forward, knowing I need to make this crystal clear. “You won’t age the same way. You’ll see friends, family, and everyone you know grow old, while you remain frozen in time. The political landscape is full of enemies waiting to use you against me. Even in love, you’ll be a target.”

Layla turns to me, her gaze intense. “Sin, do I even have much of a choice? You’ve seen what I’ve handled—everything that’s come my way. My people need me. I would do anything for them, that’s not a question.”

She clenches her fists, her voice rising in frustration. “Even if I could escape, what do you propose I’d do with you? I already feel weirdly drawn to you, like I’m tethered to something I don’t fully understand. I barely know you, but somehow, I already want you. And don’t forget—I’m dangerous too.” Her eyes flash with anger. “Your little girlfriend’s stunt tonight? That won’t happen again. I’ll make sure of it.”

Her words cut through me, the truth of them stinging. She’s right, in a way. I’ve been a coward, holding back, letting my fear of what this could mean get in the way. I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“You’re making this about me when it’s not,” she continues. “This isn’t about whether or not I can handle it. It’s about you—you’re scared of what this bond could become. Own your s**t, Sin.” She crosses her arms, her final words dripping with finality. “I’m going to bed.”