Alone. Ajo was alone.

He'd dismissed the crowd of attendants that set on him the instant he swallowed his last bite of breakfast—a meal Galeia had been absent from.

From there, the day passed in a blur of frenzied movement and endless noise.

The rise of dusk would signal the beginning of the wedding and coronation, and afterwards there would be a celebration unrivaled by any in recent memory.

After a lifetime of waiting, Ajo could scarcely believe the hour had almost arrived. He was sitting in front of his mirror, admiring his reflection as he basked in the first moment of quiet offered all day.

He tried not to fuss too much with his hair, which had been brushed and meticulously shaped. Atop his head was the ring of branches the Queen had given him at the ball, which would be replaced by his real crown in little time. He looked at his wedding attire, silver and white silk accented with golden chains, with a blunted and polished sword resting at his waist, more a ceremonial prop than a deadly weapon. The most important accessory was the purple lily pinned to his chest. Its color, he was told, matched Galeia's bridal gown.

When he thought of his bride, he tried not to allow the gloom of the previous days to overcast his peace. Somewhere during his contemplation, his mother entered the room.

"My son," she said with a proud smile, "and my king."

She dipped into a regal curtsy.

"Please, mother, there's no need for that." He paused before asking, "Have you seen Galeia? How is she?"

He was embarrassed to ask it, but he needed to know her mood.

"She locked herself in her room last night, and only opened the door this morning to allow attendants inside to help her prepare. She's no doubt waiting to make a grand entrance."

"Mother...I..."

"You look perfect."

"Thank you, but I wanted to ask...are you happy? On this day?"

She moved to him and placed her hands on his shoulders before bestowing a kiss on his forehead. 

"I am so proud of you," she said. "And I could not be happier."

Ajo felt like a child, but it was a comforting feeling.

"What will you do after I am crowned?"

"Whatever the new king commands. If he would like me to stay, I will stay. If he commands me to leave—"

"No, I would never do that!"

She gave a good-natured laugh. "I do have a mind to walk the world, now that I know the kingdom will be in capable hands."

"There is much to discover in it."

"And I haven't had the chance for eons. I think it's time I take a journey of my own, and when I return...perhaps there will be a grandchild or two to welcome me home?"

"If Galeia can stand to look at me."

"Hush, don't carry those burdens on this day."

"What if I need you?"

"What need do you have for an old monarch?"

"What if...I need my mother?"

"I have prepared you for my absence, as all mothers should. Has my work been done in vain?"

"No."

She touched his face. "If you need me, my son, listen to the wind. It will carry my voice."

They talked about gentle things. The Queen's pride for her son. Ajo's imminent ascent. The prosperous future of the kingdom.

Ajo's heartbeat quickened with each passing moment, until at last the Queen stood and moved to the door.

"It's time. Your court awaits."

Ajo's legs felt weak when he lifted himself from the chair.

"Are you ready?" the Queen asked.

"I'm ready."

A servant was on the other side of the door. The poor girl was shaking, her hand raised to knock, and when she saw the Queen and Ajo she froze with her fist in mid-air.

"Is everything all right?" the Queen asked.

The servant mumbled something neither of them could hear.

"Speak up," the Queen urged. "What's the matter?"

"She...she's gone."

"Who's gone?"

Ajo knew the answer before the servant gave it.

"Galeia."

***

When Ajo charged into Galeia's bedroom he was met with an ominous scene.

Nothing.

The room was empty.

Scattered throughout it were dozens of unopened gifts, all the treasures he had brought home for her—

Galeia had barely touched them.

Desperation took hold of his heart, and for a manic second he believed his bride was somewhere in the room. He tore through every possible hiding place, from bed to closet, flinging gowns and wrapped boxes as he went.

She was gone.

He turned to leave, intent to hunt the castle and woods, but was stopped when his mother appeared in the doorway.

"Where is she?" he demanded.

"There was glass everywhere. She took it."

"Took what?"

The Queen shook her head.

"The Soul Bind."

***

Trees whipped past Ajo.

The Queen was by his side, a hair ahead of him.

It didn't matter if the court was waiting. It didn't matter if the wedding feast was growing cold.

There was an entire wood to cover, and if anyone was hiding her they would answer to a king's fury.

But Galeia was not in the woods.

The Queen found her first, just beyond the edge of the trees, where the domain of their kingdom ended.

At the border of magic and men, Galeia and the human were wrapped in each other's arms.

"No," Ajo heard the Queen's panicked whisper. "No."

Galeia was in her bridal gown, a dark dress with black stones sewn into it. A crown of purple lilies sat atop her hair, and painted on her face were the ceremonial markings of marriage: Black dots under her eyes and a line on her bottom lip. That line was meant to stain Ajo's mouth when they shared their first kiss as husband and wife, a symbol for him to wear until it faded away.

The human, the groom, was dressed in similarly formal, though far less elegant, attire.

Across his mouth was a smear of black.

Circling Galeia's finger was a silver band, a human custom symbolizing marriage.

The Queen roared from the trees, and her fury sent a wind that blew violently through the couple. They turned to the forest, and a hauntingly beautiful smile danced on Galeia's lips.

"This is my husband, Oliver," she said to the trees. Guilt flashed on her face. "I did not want it to be this way, but can't you see how happy I am, mother?"

Recognition filled the human's expression and he fell to his knees.

"I am humbled by your presence, great Queen of the Wood. We beg your understanding for our union. We did not intend to defy you, but we had to follow our hearts."

The Queen bent the trees back and stepped across the border of her kingdom so the couple could see her. Her stature was tall and menacing, but Galeia knew her power was limited at the edge of the woods, and she could do little more than intimidate. Ajo remained hidden in the wind, choosing to watch for a moment before making his presence known.

"You did not intend to defy me?" the Queen roared. "You have done nothing but that from the first moment you bewitched her!"

"He did not bewitch me," Galeia said. "I mean to make my life with him—here, in the woods."

A glow rose from the Queen, a light that did not look pleasant.

"There can be peace between us," Galeia pleaded.

The Queen pointed at the human. "His life ended, and your heart joined with Ajo. That is our peace."

"I cannot oblige you in either of those things."

"Please," the human begged, "I love Galeia. I will cherish her for the rest of my days."

"Pathetic lies. What your kind promises one day they forget the next. Your words are empty and weak."

"I made a vow, your majesty. I will not break it."

"I know you will come to understand," Galeia said. "You will not punish me for following my heart—just as you always encouraged."

"Your heart belongs to the King of the Wood."

"Ajo will find another—"

Their argument was cut short by Ajo's appearance. His lips were twisted into a grimace and his eyes were wet.

"Ajo," Galeia said with a surprised gasp.

"You think it's easy for me to find a new love," he said in a low voice, "that my heart is so flimsy that it can slip between people like yours. My love for you is not changeable, Galeia. It is not water, but fire." He took a step towards her. "You love me, I know you do. I've seen it and I've felt it."

"You meant the world to me," she said, "and still do. I do not mean to give you up as my dearest friend."

"Set one foot in my forest and I will kill him."

Galeia's posture turned defensive. "We will make our lives in the woods."

A fight loomed above them, and all four waited for someone to strike first.

A grim thought entered Ajo's mind, and before he could think better of it, he spoke.

"Take your time with the mortal if you must. His life will mean nothing in the span of ours. I will allow this...if you swear that after his death you will come home. To me."

He hated to say it. This pathetic bargain humiliated him.

But if that's what it took to have Galeia's hand, so be it.

"You will bind your soul to mine."

His mother turned to him. "Ajo..." she began but did not finish. Her tone implied a secret she did not have the courage to voice out loud.

"I would not make that promise even if I could," Galeia said. "My soul is no longer my own."

So wrapped up in his rage, Ajo had not spied the scroll in Galeia's hand. She presented the page, and scrawled across the top of it were words of doom:

Soul Bind.

The Queen made a dreadful sound. The note of a breaking heart.

"It's not true," Ajo whispered.

"When mother spoke of the effects of the spell...I'm so sorry, but I was horrified to think of such a thing existing between you and me."

Ajo winced at the sting of her words.

"But when I imagined reciting it with Oliver, it gave me unending joy. The spell cannot be completed with anything less than true love. Now you see the proof of it, you see I was telling the truth."

"You have taken your own life," the Queen cried.

"It's mine to do what I please with. You told me I would carry the pain of his loss. I have made sure that will never happen. We will live and die by our love, and I hope you will understand that gives me peace."

Ajo felt like Galeia was already dying before him. He saw the great expanse of time ahead, how she would wither until she was dust.

It would happen so quickly and then she would never walk the earth again.

He had lost her. Forever.

Galeia held the page towards the Queen.

"I will not keep it from you," she said. "I give it back into your care so Ajo may recite it when he finds love for himself."

Before the Queen could reply, Ajo answered for her.

"I have no use for it."

"We did not make this choice easily," the human said. "But I've devoted the rest of my life, and whatever lies beyond, to Galeia. She is everything to me." He took his wife's hand in his. "She is the wild thing that lives in my heart."

Ajo shook with anger.

"You dare speak the very words I wrote for her?"

The human turned to Galeia, shocked. Galeia's gaze fell to the ground, and it was obvious her shame had no end.

"You think I will be merciful," Ajo seethed, "but my compassion has reached its end. My warning stands: Set one foot in my kingdom and my wrath will be waiting. I will kill him."

"Their souls are joined," the Queen warned. "The death of one is the death of both."

Ajo nodded.

"I am already doomed to mourn her loss for eternity."

***

Galeia would not stand for such threats.

Not an hour after their dreadful meeting she was in the woods, alone, ordering Ajo to come to her. Against his better judgment, Ajo answered.

"You threatened our lives," Galeia spat.

"And you betrayed me. What should my answer have been?"

"Sympathy and kindness."

"Kindness? Was it not you who preached a firm hand? What was it? Take the head of the snake that slithers towards me."

"I am not a snake, and neither is my husband."

"Oh, but he is. He found his way into my kingdom and stole what was dearest to me."

"You will see reason, or—"

"Is this why you called me here? To demand the same kindness you refuse to give?"

"I refused to give you my hand, Ajo. Your threats against us will not stand."

"Oh? How will you stop me?"

In the span of a second Galeia's hands filled with blue light—then extinguished just as fast.

"You are not my enemy," she said with a soft sigh.

"Unless you invade my kingdom," he answered.

Galeia turned to leave.

"Give my regards to the towns," Ajo called in a hateful mock. "I'm sure humans will grant you all the kindness and sympathy you desire."

His smug satisfaction was cut short when Galeia answered, "At least as much as the family that turned on me."