by Meg Anne
Darrin squeezed her arm gently, before leaving her at the door of the Chamber to stand with the rest of the men. Her eyes roamed the room, noting the blazing candles and otherwise barren décor. She smiled at each of her Circle in turn, feeling their pride and approval as they returned her silent greeting. Finally, her eyes fell on Von, who was standing at the window and staring out below, his obsidian hair tied in a queue at the base of his neck.
Plotting your escape already? She teased as she admired the fit of his black shirt and leathers.
He tensed at her voice in his mind, but recovered immediately. You won’t get rid of me that easily, I’m afraid. He responded as he turned towards her with a small smile playing about his lips. His eyes widened as he took her in. As they came to meet hers they were smoky with desire.
Von crossed the distance between them, his hand reaching towards her. Aqua eyes glowed with happiness as she lifted her hand to place it in his. At the display of skin revealed by her false sleeve, Von swallowed quickly. You undo me with your beauty, Mira. Even his mental voice was rough with hunger for her.
Their fingers touched, and she shivered at the wave of warmth it brought. He squeezed her hand to signal he felt it too.
Timmins stepped forward motioning for the two to step into the middle of the room.
She turned to face Von, aqua eyes meeting slate gray. She took a shuddering breath, overwhelmed with the immensity of the moment. It is true, she had bound herself just as tightly to the other four men in her Circle, but this time she was binding her very soul.
She could feel Von’s thumbs idly rubbing circles on her hands offering his strength and support.
Timmins spoke, his voice ringing out with authority, “Have you readied and cleansed yourselves for the vows you make to each other today?”
“We have,” their voices chorused. She was pleased at how steady and sure hers sounded, despite the tidal wave of emotion rolling through her.
“Do you understand the importance of the bond you will share?”
“We do.”
“And are you prepared to take one another in, to love and safeguard, until the Mother calls you home?”
“We are.”
“Then please proceed, and may the Mother watch over and nurture the bond you solidify today.” Timmins stepped back, the other men stepping away from the wall and forming a circle around Helena and Von.
Taking her hand, dwarfed by his own, he brought it to his chest to rest over the steady beat of his heart. She felt her own race in response.
Covering her hand with his, he began in his deep growl, “In the name of the Mother, I, Von Holbrooke, bind my life to yours and take you into both my heart and my spirit, to be my Mate. I shall respect and protect you, your beliefs and your people, taking them as my own. I vow to be true to you above all others. I promise to love you wholly and without restraint, in this life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember and love again. From this day forward, my place is at your side, placing your desires and needs before my own, until such a time as the Mother calls us home.”
Aqua eyes swirled with smoke as she brought his scarred hand to rest over her heart and pendant. Leaving the hand he had covered on his chest, she covered the hand now resting on hers.
When she spoke, it was with the voice of many.
“In the name of the Mother, I, Kiri Helena Solene, accept you as my Mate. I bind my life to yours and take you into both my heart and my spirit. I shall respect you, your beliefs and your people, taking them as my own. I vow to be true to you above all others. I promise to love you wholly and without restraint, in this life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember and love again. From this day forward, you will always have a place by my side. I will hold your life and happiness above all others, including my own, until such a time as the Mother calls us home.”
As she finished speaking, the candles flickered and a gentle breeze swirled around them. The wind continued to encircle them, creating an insoluble barrier between them and the Circle. Neither Von nor Helena moved, although their hearts now beat in tandem. She could feel his spirit inside her, much like when he healed her the day before. What had been a whisper of essence was now a firm and solid presence, as familiar to her as her own.
“Mine.” Her voice was fierce in his mind. His lips twitched in amusement. He had never felt stronger or more humbled than he did in that moment surrounded by the full glory of her love for him. He had never understood the emotion before, had not realized that it was what he had been feeling since he first met her. With her spirit infused with his, he knew he would always carry it with him now, like a beacon. She would be his strength and his purpose.
“Always, Mira.”
Aqua eyes were bright with tears, as she took a step towards him. Leaning down to meet her, Von sealed their vow with a kiss.
Chapter Ten
Hours had passed since the mating ceremony had concluded, but the revelers had no intention of leaving. Helena found herself stealing glances at her Mate from across the room, the pulse of spirit an unwavering arrow pulling her back to him. It was as simple as a question being formed in her mind, she just had to start wondering where he was and she would know instantly.
She was still unsure of the limitations of this bond between them, in fact, it did not seem that those in her Circle were aware of such a possibility. She had tried to ask Timmins about the bond between a Kiri and her Mate, but he had only murmured a few nonsensical phrases about the two being halves of one whole.
One thing that was becoming clear, even despite any physical distance between them, was that unless she was specifically focused on him, such as when she would speak directly to his mind, his presence would remain a mere imprint. It would be indistinct, like that gentle lapping of waves against the shore or a soft breeze brushing against branches. And while it would give the impression of his general state of mind, it would not provide any detail.
Like now, she could tell without looking at him whether he was actually amused or only pretending to pay attention to his companions (he was pretending) but she did not know what the men were actually saying.
However, this impression of him would sharpen instantly if his own emotions peaked. Flashes of anger or mirth would become currents within her, a wave crashing into her, alerting her to his shifting moods and bringing him to the center of her mind. She was curious if this would become more or less sensitive over time. Would she always feel these subtle shifts in temper, or only be attuned to the sharp blade of anger or jolting tang of fear? Was he just as aware of the same shifts within her?
As if he felt the question, his eyes tangled with hers across the room. And as if in answer he gave her a soft smile, more a slight lifting of his lips at the sides, before turning back to the men in front of him.
Helena felt her own smile in response, and couldn't resist the urge to imagine what it would feel like to walk over to him. Her fingers gently brushing against his when she reached his side. The calluses rough against the tips of her fingers, as she interwove them with his own. She would squeeze gently, just once, as if to say, “I am here.”
While her mind wandered, she noticed the slight widening of his eyes and flexing of his fingers, as if he could feel her thoughts being enacted on his body. He turned his head back to her, his eyes narrowing in concentration.
She felt the gentle caress on her palm, almost as if a piece of velvet had brushed against it while simultaneously noting the increasing pressure on her hand. He was squeezing her hand in return!
Helena felt her cheeks warm on their own accord, pleased he had not only been able to actually feel her intentions, but that he wanted to respond in kind. Von's own expression did not shift, except perhaps for the polite smile to warm slightly.
She could now feel a gentle tickling starting in the palm of her hand and working its way down each of her fingers. A phantom finger stroking the length of each one, before starting anew on the next. After all five fingers received a similar mi
nistration, the center of her palm began to tingle. The tingle was constant, like a breath being softly released against it before it was replaced with a very distinct heat.
It took her a moment to place the sensation. It was a kiss! Von was kissing the center of her palm. The tickle returned, but now it was accompanied by a sense of warmth. Wet strokes resuming the exploration along each finger.
Helena felt her cheeks blaze with heat as she realized he was now licking and sucking each of her fingers. There he stood, arms loosely crossed against his wide chest as he leaned against a wall listening to the men continue to joke with one another before him. His head tilted slightly so he could see her clearly. A smirk, proud and male, growing against his will.
“Proud of yourself, Mate?” she asked him, trying to calm the racing beat of her heart.
“Immensely. If that's how you respond to just a thought, imagine what I can do when I'm actually touching you.”
She felt his amusement swell within her.
“What?” she questioned warily.
“It will be fun to test what I can do with said thoughts, while I'm touching you as well.” With that, he sent her a saucy wink and his smirk became a full-blown grin, complete with wicked promise.
Dazed, Helena blinked a few times, trying to resurface from the sexual fog that now seemed to surround her. The guests around her all begin to shift uncomfortably, the women pulling out fans and the men remarking about whether the temperature seemed to be rising, despite the night sky twinkling above.
As if he could tell her magic had also responded to his seduction, and how those around her were reacting to it, Von threw back his head and let out a bone-deep laugh. The sound rich and warm, wrapped itself around her heart.
Under normal circumstances Von was an imposing figure, towering above most others, all hard lines and arrogance. His sheer size and muscle as much a deterrent to any approach as the ever-present scowl on his face.
But suffused with mirth, Von came alive. The silver eyes which seemed as impenetrable as metal sparkled like molten silver pools. The boyish smile easing the years of hardship and worry from his face. There was still the coiled strength and promise of violence generating from the muscles that shook with the force of his laughter, but what had once been a wall of stone keeping you out, was now a magnet drawing you in.
Breath catching at the change, all she could do was stare. He was beautiful.
Helena was not a completely naive farm girl, she had her share of stolen kisses behind the barn with the boys in town, and knew about desire and attraction. But all she thought she knew paled in comparison to the aching throb low in her belly. Nothing she had experienced prepared her for the soul deep want she was feeling now, as she stared at the laughing man across the room.
Von could feel the shift in Helena's response to him like a flood of hot water dripping down his body. His laughter slowly subsided, and he brought his eyes back to hers. He started slightly when he noticed the twin aqua pools were now a swirling iridescent storm. Her cheeks were flushed and her chest rose and fell quickly and she struggled to draw in air.
“Mine.”
He felt her declaration vibrate within the core of his being. All traces of amusement now completely faded from his face. He took a step towards her before noticing the people around him.
Startled he looked around, noting the changes in the garden. The dull roar of voices had faded, replaced with the strains of music and the gentle rustle of fabric. Guests were no longer chatting cheerfully in small clusters scattered throughout the room. Instead, they were breaking off into couples focused only on each other. Many were moving deeper into the shadowed areas of the garden, while those closest to Helena didn't seem to concern themselves with the need for privacy. All around lovers, if only for the night, were paired off, their bodies pressed against each other.
“Mira.” His voice rumbled through her.
She was doing this. Her magic, more powerful than anything he had ever encountered, had the ability to influence not just those closest to her, but everyone in attendance.
Poor proper Timmins would be horrified when he was back in possession of his faculties. Currently, his hands were exploring the rather large buttocks of a sharp-tongued healer named Daphne, while his lips trailed kisses along the skin exposed by her dress.
Von allowed himself to chuckle as he made his way to his Mate. That was a memory he would allow himself to dwell on properly later if only as payback for the mind-numbing lectures he had endured over the course of the last week.
“Helena,” he whispered as he reached her, his hand brushing back a stray curl that had fallen.
She blinked slowly, aqua eyes searching his. “Von? How did you get over here so quickly? Weren't you just...” she trailed off as she looked around the garden.
“Timmins!” she squeaked in surprise, cheeks flooding with color. It was clear she did not know whether to laugh or hide.
“Von, what did I do?” she questioned, eyes scanning back and forth quickly.
“It would seem your magic responds to the intensity of your emotions. The more intense, the bigger the reaction. Were you thinking about something, darling?” he teased.
Eyes snapped back to his, widening in embarrassment. “How do I uh-” she trailed off.
His hand reached out, fingers gently brushing against her cheek before he leaned over and pressed a soft kiss against her forehead. “I think distance would be a start. A spell of this magnitude is probably best to run its course and wear off on its own.”
“But what about,” she gestured helplessly at Timmins, “won't he regret this in the morning?”
Von shrugged, “He might, although he'd be too polite to mention it. Trust me, my love, people are more adept at recovering from a night of unintended loving than you might think. To interrupt them now might cause more embarrassment than letting them wake up in the morning and acknowledge or deny the events of the evening as they will.
“Besides,” he continued, “I think to undo what you have set in motion might require a bit more attention than you have at the moment.”
Cheeks still tinged with pink, she nodded at him sheepishly, “I think you might be right.”
He reached down to take her hand, smiling as he did. “In that case, perhaps it’s time we retired for the evening, my love.”
An answering smile grew on her face.
They stood outside the entrance to her room, no visible signs of Von’s rage lingering on the door.
She looked up at him shyly, but not without heat, as he opened it and stepped inside, pulling her in after him.
Keeping her close he shut the door behind them and she felt the tingle of magic as he sealed it.
“To ensure our privacy,” he said softly, leaning down to brush a soft kiss against her lips. He stepped away from her and walked over to the side of the room to pour them each a glass of wine.
She eyed the door once more, amused that it appeared to be submerged in water. She reached out a finger to brush against the magical barrier, curious if her hand would pass through the substance easily, and surprised to find it was much thicker and less yielding than it appeared.
“Are you sure that’s for privacy or is it to prevent my escape?” she mused as she started towards him.
The promise in his heavy-lidded eyes was enough to wipe the teasing smile from her lips.
He offered her the glass goblet full of ruby liquid sparkling like a jewel under the warm glow of the fire. Her hand only trembled slightly as she took it from him and raised it for a quick sip.
He eyed her over the rim of his own glass before taking a longer sip. Her heart was racing under his scrutiny and she quickly set the glass down on the mantle before the trembling in her hands gave her away.
“What were you thinking about before?” he inquired softly.
“Be-before what?” she stammered, the familiar heat flooding her cheeks.
“Before that diverting bit of magic that caused T
immins to behave like a randy stable boy.” Came the amused response in her mind.
Never good at playing games, Helena responded honestly, “How beautiful you were.”
Straightening, Von studied her in surprise, “How beautiful I am?”
She nodded. “You looked so at ease, so...” she searched for the word, “alive. It was irresistible.”
Setting his own glass down he reached for her, “it is you that are the beautiful one. Had I known what I would find when I started on this journey, I would have been in much more of a hurry to get to you.”
She felt the ring of truth in her heart. “Truly?”
“Oh, Helena,” he whispered, closing the space between them, “Haven’t you realized yet that you were made for me? Had I asked the Mother herself to create a woman to some set specification of perfection in my mind, I could not have come anywhere close to the gift I have found in you. You take my breath away.”
She looked down, stunned by the hunger and passion she saw reflected in his molten gray eyes.
Brushing against her softly, his fingers came to rest below her chin and gently lifted until her eyes met his again.
“You are exquisite,” he continued in the same soft rumble. “And it’s not just your beauty that speaks to me, although when you smile I find it hard not to lean over and kiss you until you forget how to speak.” He paused to brush another soft lingering kiss against her mouth.
“And then there’s your strength. Your ability to persevere when so many others could never even find the courage to try. But it’s your heart that undoes me,” he paused again, his voice earnest, “Your ability to find compassion for people you have never met, and whom probably do not deserve it. Your unwavering conviction that people are inherently good, even when they’ve given you no reason to believe in them.”
