Helpmeet or helpmate? Need a term for "soulmates"

Advice

Working on a fantasy/alt history/parallel universe setting (more Chrestomanci than His Dark Materials) and I'm needing a term for a type of relationship that's kind of like being soulmates, except it's not predetermined and it's possible to have more than one.

Basically how it works is two people have to love each other in multiple ways (think the seven types of Greek love), and then magic is used to bond them together. If both people are innately magical this bond can form on its own. This can happen in all of the parallel universes with any species that has human level sentience.

When it comes to polycules each pair has to form their own bond within the group. It's very rare for everyone to bond with everyone with more than three people, but a person who loves easily can potentially develop 3-4 (or more, depending on life span).

Haven't decided on the effects of the bond, but it'll be things like empathic connections and physical awareness.

Posted Jul 3, 2026, 6:14 PM UTC

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