The Cycles of Revelation Series

Artifact of the Dawn: Biologism (A Queer Sci-Fi Adventure)

Episode 59: Jevan learns the shocking reason why all Medellans must pair-bond and it makes him question his life choices and future.

Jevan wasn’t sure he’d heard right. “Die? What do you mean? Are you saying that if I don’t pair-bond, I could die?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m telling you, dear boy,” Andreesen replied in complete seriousness. “Why else do you think we made it one of our most sacred traditions?”

“I don’t know,” Jevan admitted. “But then, why did Ardyn’s ancestors forbid anyone from venturing near the Rahn’naa? Some sacred traditions are merely there to cover up generations of lies. What exactly happens when a Medellan does not pair-bond?”

“The last documented case happened about a century ago,” Marta said. “What happened was horrible.”

“Wh-what happened?” Jevan hesitated to ask, his heart already sinking at the thought.

Seeing the distress on Marta’s face, Andreesen patted her hand and related the story. “The case involved a young woman. Someone had horribly abused her as a child, so she dreaded having to go through the pair-bond ceremony and be compelled to be intimate with someone in that way. So, she refused, and her parents allowed it.”

“Forced to be intimate?” Ardyn asked as his ears flattened back. “I didn’t think your people did that.”

Jevan squeezed Ardyn’s hand, knowing how traumatized his friend was over his own forced matings.

“It’s a required part of the ceremony to make sure the bond takes,” Andreesen explained matter-of-factly. “Although most couples enjoy that part. Especially when it’s a love bond, which most are these days.”

“Please, what happened to her?” Jevan asked.

“At first, nothing. Then, a few months after her thirtieth birthday, she aged rapidly,” Andreesen replied. “Within a few years, her body was bent with age, barely recognizable. She died before she turned thirty-five.”

“If I don’t pair-bond before I’m thirty, I’ll just… grow old and die?” Jevan couldn’t help the lump of fear that lodged in his throat, and Ardyn reached out to put a comforting arm around him.

“Unfortunately, yes,” Marta confirmed.

“My goodness, I didn’t know,” Mathias said, looking equally horrified. “I knew there was a strict mandate to maintain the pair-bond ritual, but there was nothing written about why. Jevan is the first one in my village to even consider refusing to pair-bond, so it’s never been an issue before.”

Jevan leaned back in his chair, defeated. What sort of fate was that? Forced to be bonded for life to one person or die young? Without thinking, he stood and moved away from the table. “Excuse me, but I need some time to think.”

Jevan headed down to the cargo deck, where he wouldn’t encounter many others as he wandered the corridors, trying to clear his head. For years Jevan had fought against the idea of the pair-bond, because Mathias had never given him a good reason. Sacred traditions be damned. But now…

After wandering for a while, Jevan made his way back to their quarters. His disappointment at not finding Ardyn there yet surprised him. His heart clenched in his chest, and he recalled their recent conversation when Ardyn confessed his feelings. Too much was going on for them to pursue a relationship right now, but knowing he could die if he didn’t pair-bond made Jevan rethink that decision.

He realized recently that he’d lost interest in being intimate with anyone, a stark contrast to all his randy adventures over the years. There had been plenty of newly awakened Athla’naa who had shown an interest in him sharing their bed, but he’d turned all of them down.

Making his way into the kitchen, Jevan replicated himself a drink. As he sat down, he asked himself, would Ardyn even want to bond with me?

When Ardyn arrived back at their quarters, he found Jevan on the couch nursing a drink. The normally jovial man looked so defeated, it made Ardyn worry. “Are you alright?”

“I don’t know,” Jevan replied with a shrug of his shoulders. “It’s just… we’ve dealt with so much already, and now I find out that if I don’t pair-bond with someone, I’ll die young?”

“You’re right, we’ve both been through a lot lately, but you’re only twenty-five, right?” Ardyn asked, sitting next to him.

Jevan nodded.

“Then you still have five years before you must complete a pair-bond. That gives you time to get used to the idea and… and find another Medellan you might enjoy spending the rest of your life with. Maybe you can go to Ateria and find someone there?”

A sad smile crossed Jevan’s face as he reached out and took Ardyn’s hands. “I already found someone, but he’s a different species.”

Ardyn felt his face flush. “You would want to pair-bond… with me?”

Nodding, Jevan reached out to caress Ardyn’s face. “You’re the only one I would even consider it with, but you’re Athla’naa. I don’t know if the pair-bond ritual would even work between us.”

Is this something I want? Ardyn wasn’t sure. As his heart hammered in his chest, he tried to give Jevan another option. “What about any of your past lovers? Are you sure none of them were acceptable?”

“Many of them were also Athla’naa,” Jevan reminded him. “The other Medellans probably have pair-bonded by now. Even if another Medellan was still free, there are none that I would want to spend the rest of my life with.”

Ardyn’s heart hammered even harder as he ducked his head and flattened his ears. “Are you saying that you want to spend the rest of your life with me, if you could?”

“Yes, I would, if you were okay with the idea,” Jevan admitted. “Assuming it would even work between our species.”

Ardyn stared into Jevan’s eyes for a moment, feeling slightly overwhelmed at the surge of emotions he felt. Ducking his head back down, Ardyn took a breath. “Fate has drawn us together from the moment we met. I don’t know if it’s possible either, but… if it would help extend your life, I would consider it. I don’t want to lose you.”

“You would? But your people prefer open relationships with many partners. If it is even possible, could you be happy being stuck with me for the rest of your life?”

Without hesitation, Ardyn nodded. “Yes. I care for you deeply. Being with you feels like home to me, and I trust you more than I’ve ever trusted anyone.”

A warm smile brightened Jevan’s face as he brushed some stray hair away from Ardyn’s eyes. “You’re right. I have some time. There’s no need for us to decide all this tonight, but… thank you. I feel better knowing you would be open to a pair-bond.”

Standing, he reached out for Jevan’s hand. “Come, let’s get some rest. I’ll fill you in over breakfast on what happened after you left. I think tomorrow is going to be another long day.”

Ardyn couldn’t have been more right.