Once I Stop Loving You, You Die

"My eighteenth bonding ceremony with Kael Frost was canceled—again—because of my adopted sister.

Mother opened a mind-link, her voice flooding into my head laced with agitation: ""Briar's having another episode. Stomach cramps, bad ones. Your father and I are taking her to the infirmary. Handle the ceremony yourself—you've canceled enough of these by now, you're better at it than anyone.""

My lifelong best friend and maid of honor, Liora, was even blunter: ""Is your ceremony really more important than Briar's life?