Chapter 6

“You’re joking, right?”

“Why would I joke about something like this?”

He stared at her, his mind scrambling. This has to be some sort of elaborate prank, right?

“I ... I don’t understand. W-What do you mean ‘bonded’? What does that even...?”

“You seriously don’t know?”

“Know what?” He retorted, his frustration mounting. “That I’m committed to a woman I just met after some crazy, out-of-this-world sex?”

“It wasn’t just sex,” she corrected him, her tone turning serious. “I-It ... It is ... a connection, okay? We are tied to each other.”

“Tied? Like with ropes?” His own weak attempt at humor fell flat.

“God, you are clueless, aren’t you?” Her shoulders slumped. “Listen to me we are ... how to say this ... mates now.”

“Mates? Li-Like ... penguins?”

She rolled her eyes. “Not exactly. It’s more like ... soulmates, but with a lot more ... intensity.”

“Intensity?” Mark echoed, his voice rising. What the hell is she talking about? “You call this ‘intensity’? I call it freaking insane! One minute I’m in library, the next I’m chasing you across town, and now I’m apparently married?”

“Hey, you were the one who couldn’t keep your hands off me,” she retorted, crossing her arms defensively.

“Because of your damn perfume!” Mark shot back, gesturing wildly. “It was like some kind of ... love potion or something!”

“It’s not perfume. It’s ... it’s my scent. It’s how bonded individuals recognize each other.”

“Recognize each other? For what?” Mark scoffed. “A quickie in the library stacks?”

“It means that we have an affinity to be together- mind, body and soul.”

He threw his hands up in the air. “This is ridiculous! I don’t even know your name!”

“I am Ria.” She introduced herself nonchalantly. “And whether you like it or not, we’re bonded now. So get used to it.”

“Get used to it?” His voice rose an octave. “I can’t just ‘get used to it’! This is my life we’re talking about! My future!”

“And mine,” Ria added, her tone softening slightly. “Look, I get that this is a lot to process, but...”

“A lot to process? This is insane! This is...” He paused, searching for the right word. “This is batshit crazy!”

“You know what’s crazy? You acting like this is all my fault. You didn’t seem to complain when you were deep inside me.”

“You expect me to just accept this ... this ‘bonded’ nonsense without any explanation, without any choice in the matter?”

Ria’s lips pressed into a thin line, her patience wearing thin. “Look, I get that this is a lot to take in, but yelling at me isn’t going to change anything.”

“Then explain it to me! This stupid supernatural pheromone trip!”

“It’s not a pheromone trip,” she countered, her voice rising to match his. “It’s a bond! A connection that goes deeper than anything you can possibly imagine!”

“Yeah, well, my imagination is having a hard time wrapping itself around the idea of being married to a woman who throws temper tantrums.”

Her face hardened, and she stepped closer. “Maybe if you took a moment to understand instead of panicking, you’d see I’m not the enemy here.”

“I don’t even know who you are,” Mark clenched his jaw, his fists balling up at his sides. “And right now, I’m not sure I want to.”

Ria’s eyes narrowed, and her tone turned cold.”You know what?” she snapped, her voice low and dangerous, “if it’s that ridiculous to you, then just leave.”

He stared at her for a moment, his chest heaving with a cocktail of emotions. Marriage? How the fuck did this happen? His mind raced, trying to grasp the absurdity of the situation. This was beyond anything he could have imagined.

Then, without another word, he stormed out.

Bonded? Married? What kind of ridiculous soap opera did I just stumble into? Mark wondered, his feet hitting the pavement in a rhythm that seemed too mundane for the chaos of his thoughts.

He couldn’t deny the intense attraction he felt towards her, the way their bodies had moved together. The memory of her touch, her scent, sent shivers down his spine.

Marriage ... I went from single to married in less time than it takes to order a pizza. And I didn’t even get to choose the toppings.

His mind recoiled at the bizarre turn of events. He’d gone from fighting off robbers to being caught in a supernatural marriage trap, all in the span of twenty-four hours.

As he approached his house, he saw Lida on the porch, engrossed in a phone call. She held up a finger, signaling him to wait. Mark stepped into the living room, his thoughts a swirling vortex of disbelief and uncertainty. He sank onto the couch, his gaze unfocused as he stared at the wall, grappling with the reality of his situation.

Lida’s voice drifted in from the porch, the snippets of conversation barely registering in his mind. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as he sat there.

He couldn’t make sense of what had happened, and he didn’t know what to do next.

His mind kept returning to Ria, to their heated argument and her parting words. Bond? Connected? he thought, searching for any sign of a change within himself, any indication of this supposed unbreakable connection. But he felt no different than before, no sudden surge of affection or loyalty.

Just confusion, frustration, and a lingering sense of desire.

Maybe she’s wrong, he thought, a flicker of hope igniting within him. Maybe it was just ... a really extreme experience, nothing more.

But deep down, a nagging doubt whispered otherwise, reminding him of the undeniable pull he had felt towards Ria. He buried his head in his hands, overwhelmed by the sheer absurdity of it all.

What the hell am I supposed to do now?

A gentle hand on his shoulder startled Mark from his spiraling thoughts. He looked up to see Lida standing beside him, her brow furrowed with concern.

“What is it, Mark?” she asked softly, taking a seat beside him. “You seem troubled.”

“Li-Lida,” he began hesitantly, “do you know anything about ... being bonded?”

Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Why the sudden interest?”

Mark struggled to find the words, unsure where to begin. How could he possibly explain the whirlwind of events that had led him to this point, the inexplicable encounter with Ria, and the confusing revelation that followed? He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he knew would be a difficult conversation.

He recounted the events of the day, starting with the sensory overload in the library, the intoxicating feeling that consumed him. He barely mentioned what happened with Ria glossing over their encounter, their heated argument, and the shocking declaration of their supposed connection.

When he finished, she let out a sigh. “Oh, Mark, so you’ve found your mate.”

“Can we please stop using that term?” He pleaded, feeling a shiver run down his spine. “It’s just ... weird.”

Lida’s expression turned serious. “This is very serious, Mark. Bonding is a sacred thing. It’s not something to be taken lightly.”

“What the hell does it even mean?”

“Throughout history,” she began, “there have been tales of individuals drawn together by an unseen force, a connection that transcends reason and logic. They call it ‘the bond’, a mystical link that binds two souls together, intertwining their destinies regardless of their backgrounds, their desires, their paths in life.”

“No one knows for certain why it happens, what sparks this connection. Some believe it’s a matter of fate, a predetermined path laid out by the stars. Others speculate it’s a way to ensure the survival of certain bloodlines, a way to pass down unique abilities and knowledge.”

“But one thing is certain,” she continued, her eyes meeting his. “It is powerful, undeniable, and it changes everything.”

“So ... what?” He scoffed. “People just ... bang and then they’re magically bound together? Just like that? And they live happily ever after?” He threw his head back and laughed. “How can something so ... so arbitrary possibly last?”

“Your parents did.”

His laughter died in his throat. “What?”

“Your parents,” she repeated gently, “they were bonded too.”

What the ... This was news to him.

He thought about how deeply in love they had seemed, always together, always supportive. But then, an intrusive thought crossed his mind—how did they meet if they were bonded? Was it anything like his own experience? He quickly shut down that line of thinking with a grimace, cursing himself silently.

“What happened?”

“Nothing,” he mumbled quickly, then pressed. “It’s just ... you never told me this before.”

“It never came up,” she replied with a shrug. “But thinking back now, perhaps I should have anticipated something like this happening.”

“What do you mean?”

“As I mentioned before, some believe that bonding occurs to ensure the survival of certain bloodlines. It’s just a theory, of course, but—”

“But?”

“Your father ... he came from a long line of powerful mages. He was a prodigy himself, with abilities that surpassed even the most seasoned practitioners. And your mother...”

“And my mother?”

She paused, weighing her words carefully. “Your mother ... well, let’s just say that if the theory about bloodlines holds any weight, then all of this makes sense.”

“Are there ... instances where such individuals choose not to be together?”

“I’ve heard of such cases,” she admitted, “but they are rare and often fraught with ... complications. But, Mark, do you really want to choose that path?”

“I don’t know. This is all way too out of my comfort zone.”

“I understand your hesitation. This is a lot to process. But you can’t simply ignore the bond. It’s a part of who you are now.”

“But what if I don’t want it to be?” Mark countered, his frustration resurfacing. “What if I’m not ready for this?”

“Ready or not, Mark,” she said gently but firmly, “the bond is there. And it’s not going away. You can choose to fight it, to deny it, but that path will only lead to pain and heartache, for both you and that girl.”

“But I don’t even know her!” He protested. “We just met! How can I be expected to spend the rest of my life with someone I barely know?”

“It’s not about knowing someone, it’s about feeling them, about understanding them on a level that transcends words or logic. It’s about two souls recognizing each other, finding their missing piece.”

“That all sounds very poetic, Lida,” he said with a sarcastic edge, “but it doesn’t change the fact that this whole thing feels ... wrong. Forced. Unnatural.”

“Perhaps but it’s also a part of who you are. And denying that part of yourself will only lead to more pain in the long run. Besides,” she continued, her voice softening,” As I said before, your parents were bonded too. And you know how happy they were.”

Mark had no comeback for that. The memory of his parents’ love, their unwavering devotion to each other, was like a slap in the face compared to his own confusion and resistance. He felt a headache brewing, a dull throb behind his eyes that matched the chaos swirling inside him.

“Th-This is all too ... much,” he groaned.

“I understand,” Lida said sympathetically. “But even if you can’t accept it fully right now, at least try to be open to the possibility. To what this could mean for you. I wouldn’t recommend trying to ignore it without even giving it a shot.”

Mark fell silent, his mind spiraling down a rabbit hole of what-ifs and maybes. The revelation about his parents, and the sudden appearance of Ria in his life felt like an overwhelming burden.

“What’s her name?”

“Uh ... Ria,” Mark replied, the name feeling both foreign and strangely familiar on his tongue.

“Ria...” she mused, her brow furrowing slightly. “And where is she now?”

“I ... I stormed out of her house after we ... argued about this whole thing.”

“You what?”

“Yeah,” he mumbled, avoiding her gaze. “She was going on about how we’re connected and all that ... and it kind of freaked me out.”

Lida thwacked the back of his head. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I panicked, okay? It was all just too weird, too sudden. I didn’t know what else to do.”

She sighed, her expression turning serious once more. “Mark, you need to understand the gravity of this situation. The bond affects men and women differently. It’s not just a physical connection, but a deep emotional one. And for women...” she paused, choosing her words carefully, “the effects are even more intense. The pull, the longing, the need to be with their person ... it’s overwhelming. It’s very primal.”

“So you’re saying she’s just as messed up about this as I am?”

“More so,” she replied, her voice laced with empathy. “She’s probably feeling a range of emotions right now – confusion, hurt, anger, but most of all, a deep longing to be with you. To understand this connection, to explore what it means for both of you.”

Mark listened, the depth of her words slowly sinking in, painting a much broader picture of the bond’s impact. He rose from the couch and began pacing the room, his frustration evident.

“This is not how I imagined my day going,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

“I get why you are panicking. But avoiding this isn’t as straightforward as you might hope. Bonding—especially one as strong as yours seems to be—doesn’t just dissipate because it’s inconvenient.”

“So what?” He challenged, his voice rising. “I’m just supposed to accept it? Go along with this ... this twisted destiny bullshit?”

“It’s not about blind acceptance, Mark. It’s about understanding the potential of what you’re a part of. The bond can be a powerful force, a source of strength, love, and support. It’s not something to be feared or dismissed.”

“And what if I decide it’s not for me?” He asked, his eyes searching hers.

“Then you deal with it when you’re sure,” Lida replied, her voice firm yet understanding. “But take the time to fully understand it first. Don’t make any rash decisions.”

Mark stopped pacing and let out a deep sigh, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. “Alright,” he conceded, his voice heavy with resignation.