by Unknown
“I’m not a witch! I feel like a damn convicted criminal, as if I’m some thing out here crawling around on the ground beneath your notice and you’re just waiting for the right moment to grind me beneath your heels. I want to shout, ‘I’m innocent,’ until someone believes me. And how weird is it that a soul can find its body and return to it? That’s just plain nuts!”
“You’re shouting.” Talon glared at her. “And you are a fucking witch.”
Saylym flashed him a look. “Bloody hell! All right. I’m a witch. Happy now? Why would that mean I have to die? Not die? Or whatever you want to call it? I haven’t done anything wrong. I know I agreed, but I see no reason for this bonding thing you keep mentioning. I’m innocent of harming anyone.” She paused, nibbling at her lip. “Well, except for the eye. And that was an accident.”
* * * *
Talon felt like strangling her. Why was this one female so hard to reason with? Why wouldn’t she commit? And why did she have to be the one woman he wanted above all others?
Talk about unreasonable! His pretty, dainty witch had a giant stubborn streak, as well as a mean, wide streak of perverseness. And she yelled at him. That just wasn’t done. A witch did not yell at her future mate. A witch didn’t yell at a prince. He snorted. Guess someone forgot to inform her of those rules.
Be patient.
But it was hard when he felt like tossing her over his shoulder and carrying her to the ceremony, demanding her cooperation.
“Saylym, baby. You have no control of your magic. It’s unstable. You never know half the time when you’re using it. You’re like a time-bomb. It makes you extremely dangerous to our realm.” He sighed, searching for the right words to make her understand and accept. “The guild is made up of frightened old men. They’re scared of you and your lack of control over your powers. What they can’t control or understand, they destroy.”
He was running out of words. He’d just have to be blunt. “Darling, they’ll send someone to cast your spirit into a plane where it can never find its way back to you. Your body will be sealed in a container unit, never to be unsealed. There’s no place safe for you to hide. Nowhere. It’s simple. You either bond with me or you cease to exist.”
Horror filled her eyes.
Talon swore softly and gathered her in his arms. “The only way I can protect you and keep you safe, is to bond with you. No one would dare touch royalty. This isn’t easy for me either, sweetheart. You have no idea the risks involved mating with a half-breed.” He took a deep breath, slowly exhaled and rubbed a hand wearily over his face. “I see that look on your face and I want you to stop it. I don’t mean it as an insult when I call you a half-breed. I’m simply stating facts. I’m asking you to share your life with me. I’m asking you to allow me to share my life with you. For the last time, I’m asking, will you bond with me this night?”
He didn’t know what he’d do if she refused. The thought of using force made him sick. He’d have to force her, and damn it, that would ruin forever any chance of happiness for them. “Say yes, La-Scheme.”
He searched her eyes, reading the doubts, the hesitation. He took her hand, gently rubbing her wrist with his thumb. “You already agreed once to bond with me. I’m holding you to your agreement. I’ll be good to you. You don’t have to fear I’ll be cruel. I would never harm you. Say, yes, and mean it this time. Please?”
“Yes.” Her voice was so faint that at first Talon thought he’d imagined her reply. His head jerked up. “Yes? You said, ‘yes’?”
“Isn’t that what you wanted me to say?”
“Yes.” He frowned. He didn’t like the distance in her voice. She might agree, but was her heart in it? He thought that somehow, that made him a loser.
An uncertain smile curved her mouth. “Yes. I will bond with you, as you like.”
Talon couldn’t shake his unease. Gently, and to reassure her, he wrapped her in his arms. “Hold on, darling.”
“Talon! I’m not dressed for a wedding.”
“You will be.”
“Wait! I need more time.”
Talon pressed a tender kiss against her mouth. “There is no more time, darling. Hold on to me.”
* * * *
Outside Sanctuary
The Magic Forest
The bride wore black.
And it rained, making it a superbly perfect day for a wedding.
The soft drift of a gossamer mist layered everything in its path and left it glistening like twinkling stars. The boughs of the giant, hollowed-out pine tree were long and thick, so that only the finest droplets of moisture drifted down on the small gathering of witnesses.
It was an ancient forest, magical woods full of thick-limbed Arks, tall graceful pines, and stout magnolia trees, a place where giant-sized mushrooms grew and provided homes for the shy faeries. It allowed them the chance to sneak a glance from their miniature-sized windows, and sigh over the beautiful couple joining their lives this night in their enchanted woodland home.
Within the hollowed pine, there stood a long table and dozens of chairs. Hundreds of candles glowed inside the ancient pine. It was a true fairyland filled with wonder. Thousands of candles flickered outside, floating freely about the forest and lighting the pathways through the woods.
Pine needles carpeted the forest floor, emitting a damp, earthy scent. Red and white flower petals littered the winding path Saylym walked down. Talon felt his breath catch as she walked toward him, a bouquet of white lilies tipped with black nestled in her hands.
He waited impatiently for his bride to reach him at the edge of the circle. His body literally jerked at her grace and beauty. Without question, she was the most beautiful witch he’d ever seen.
She was clad in black satin from head to toe, and her dress followed the graceful lines of waist and hips and glittered with every step she took. Her silver-colored hair lay unbound and drifted down her back and across her shoulders in satiny curls. Droplets of mist coated the silky strands, glittering like sugar crystals.
Talon swallowed hard. She stole his breath.
Saylym smiled timidly at him as he reached out, drawing her trembling hand into his own. He brought her to stand at his left side, deep beneath the pine boughs. “Sweetheart, I’d like you to meet my cousin, Sage, my best man.”
Sage took her hand and pressed a light kiss to the top of it. “Enchanted.”
Talon tugged her hand from his cousin’s loose grip. “Pay no attention to the eye patch. It’s fake.”
She watched in obvious disbelief as Sage switched the patch to the other eye, then winked at her.
Sage snickered. His pale eye glowed with mischief for a brief moment, then he sobered. Leaning closer to Talon, he said quietly, “I hate to do this now, but I think you should know Stry’s gone missing.”
Talon gave a slight nod of acknowledgement to his cousin’s softly murmured words. Right now, his priority was this bonding ceremony, but this was very bad news.
“Did you get rid of that witch?” he asked in an undertone. “What was her name? Kirrah?”
Sage shook his head. “Uh…er…no. I haven’t found her yet.”
“What about the illumrof? Hannah Miller?”
Sage blushed. “Yes. I got rid of her…sort of.”
“What does that mean?” Talon asked suspiciously.
“Let’s just say she’s gone. All right?”
“Did you kill her?” Talon didn’t know whether to be impressed or disgusted. He would never have thought it of Sage.
“Him not kill ugly human woman,” Dinka said quietly, poking her tiny green head up over Sage’s shirt pocket. “After they have big, big fight, roll around on floor moaning and groaning and kissy-kissy, him not kill her. Nearly squashed poor Dinka, they did.”
“What,” Talon shouted before he caught himself and lowered his voice. “You kissed an illumrof? Are you crazy?”
“Shut up, Dinka,” Sage snapped and turned a glare on Talon. “Don’t you have better things to
worry about on this day, cousin?”
Talon shrugged. “Well, she must not have been ugly as a troll if you were willing to kiss her.”
“Uh…er,” Sage fumbled for an answer. “You could have told me she was beautiful. Will you just shut up about it?”
Talon grinned, nodding, but his concentration was splintered. He had to get this handfasting ceremony accomplished. At the same time, he felt as if a knife had been shoved into his heart and twisted.
What exactly had Sage done to the illumrof?
And what in hell had happened to his brother?
Had the witch Nyra killed him? Injured him, somehow?
He drew in a deep breath. He couldn’t deal with that right now. He couldn’t worry about his brother. Not now. Later, after he mated with Saylym, then he would search for Stry. He smiled down at his unsuspecting bride and whispered, “You look enchanting, like a beautiful faerie queen.”
* * * *
Saylym blushed at Talon's compliment, and tried to frame a response.
“You, too…er…” That was hardly what she’d meant to say.
Talon looked handsome in his black silk shirt and black leather pants. Soft, charcoal-colored suede boots encased his feet. His hair fell long, a glossy fall of blue/black across his shoulders and back.
A wide, red satin band circled his lean waist and an athame, at least fifteen inches, was strapped to his middle. The knife’s hilt was Gothic in design with in-depth graving and talismans. Celtic knot work armed the cross in the handle.
Eldora, Saylym’s Maid of Honor, stood to Saylym’s left, sniffing softly and dabbing at her eyes as though she was able to shed tears. “I’ve never been anyone’s Maid of Honor before,” she whispered.
Saylym patted the old woman’s weathered hands. “I appreciate you being willing to assist me with my gown. Thank you.”
“It was nothing child. A little bit of satin created with magic.”
The high priestess nodded and the ceremony began. She instructed the happy couple to step inside the cast circle. Saylym entered the circle beside Talon. The priestess stood straight as a rod directly in front of her. The woman’s face was smooth and serious. She reminded her of a stern school teacher. She gave Saylym a brief nod of approval.
The priest stood across from Talon, arms folded across his scrawny chest as he waited for the priestess to speak first.
“Saylym Winslow, Prince Talon, is there any sorcery good or evil involved to force this union?”
“No,” Talon replied and glanced toward his bride.
“No,” Saylym whispered softly. “No sorcery.”
“With no magic or sorcery involved, do both of you consent to this bonding ceremony of your own free will?” The priestess watched both of them closely and waited for their replies to her question.
“I do,” Talon said huskily.
Saylym nodded her head.
“You must say the words, child,” the priestess instructed.
“I do,” Saylym obeyed meekly.
“Very well. As Saylym and Talon have both consented to the bonding ceremony of their own free will, I call upon the earth, air, fire, and also spirit. I summon the goddesses and gods of love. This couple, who have consented to bond, shall have everlasting peace, love, and joy in their lives. So that they shall cling only to each other and never whisper false words to one another or betray their vows, from this day forward, they shall cling only to each other. So that they may be fruitful and raise their children in a loving home together.”
The priestess paused, searching both their faces before she nodded and continued, “Bonding is a sacred covenant, never to be taken lightly. It is a joining of the physical body, emotional, intellectual, material, and spiritual soul of all living things. It is the sharing of a couple’s feelings of love and commitment. Talon’s seed shall spill upon fertile ground for this most prolific of seasons and that fertile ground shall bear the fruit of their mating.”
She stared at Saylym for a long moment. “Child, do you agree to the spilling of Talon’s seed within your womb? From this day forward, do you agree to bear his children and only his children?”
Saylym felt heat scald her face. “I do.”
“And Talon, do you agree to enrich Saylym’s life by giving your seed to her and only her?”
Talon hesitated. He looked from the priestess to Saylym and back to the priestess. Sweat dotted his upper lip.
The priestess narrowed her gaze. “Talon? If you have doubts, now is the time to speak. Will you spill your seed in Saylym’s womb so she might bear fruit?”
“I will.” His voice was barely audible.
“Speak up, please, so that all might hear you.”
“I will.”
The priestess gave a slight nod at the couple. “Today, Talon and Saylym wish to share this bonding ceremony with friends, family, and loved ones who have come to bear witness. This couple has chosen this night to bond beneath the moonlight and misty rain. We have all come at this place to acknowledge and support their commitment to share their lives together for all the centuries ahead.”
The priest stepped closer, his words ringing loud and clear to the small gathering. “As male and female energy is necessary for the act of creating life and as these energies unite Beltane after Beltane in the cycles of the earth and the mysteries of life and love, so shall this couple combine their lives together this night in the embodiment of Talon and Saylym.”
The priest smiled. “You may recite your vows to each other now, so that all may witness your joining.”
The high priestess held up a green ribbon for everyone to behold. “Green, the symbol of earth and physical material.” She drew Talon’s left wrist to the bride’s right wrist and tied the ribbon around them, binding the couple together. “A couple now bound by the first law.”
Talon turned to face his bride, his words low and soft. “I promise to live with you for all the centuries of my life, to share all I have in the material world with you. We are partners in life and love, and we will always work as one for the best of our lives together. I will do everything within my power to see to your happiness, this I vow.”
The priest held up a yellow ribbon. He gave a curt nod toward the small crowd. “Yellow, the symbol of air and mental intellect.” He knotted the ribbon around Saylym’s and Talon’s wrists. “The second law of binding.”
Saylym cleared her throat. “I promise to communicate as clearly as I am able. I will share my thoughts with you, my hopes and dreams, as well as my fears and insecurities. My heart shall always be open to you. I promise to listen when you speak, to hear you, whether the words are good news or bad. I promise always to look for the good in your words and shun the bad. I will do everything within my power to see to your needs, this I vow.”
Once again the high priestess stepped into the circle and held up a red ribbon for all to see. “Red, the symbol of fire, power, passion and fertility.”
Talon’s eyes darkened with desire as he watched his bride blush. The priestess smiled as she tied the ribbon around their wrists. “The third binding law.”
Talon cleared his throat, but his voice still sounded strained, husky with suppressed need as he looked into Saylym’s eyes. “I promise to always feed the fire of our physical passion. I will never take you for granted and I’ll always remember you are my friend, lover, and mate. I will always be open to your expression of your love and I will share myself totally with you and no other. Everything I have, everything I am belongs to you. I am yours, this I vow.”
Next, the priest held up a blue ribbon. “Blue is the symbol of water, emotion, and love.” He slipped the ribbon around their wrist and knotted it in place. The fourth binding law.”
Saylym turned to Eldora and took the ring she held out to her. Her knees quivered. Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest. She couldn’t believe she was taking this important step in her life, binding herself to this man.
Talon gently squeezed her hand, encouraging her as s
he slid a sterling silver Pentacle- shaped ring with Celtic knot work onto his finger.
She licked her dry lips and continued, “I promise my heart to you, to love and respect you and always put you first in my life. I will always consider your feelings when making decisions and make our relationship the first priority before all else. I place myself into your care for always, this I vow.”
Talon felt the sting of tears in his eyes as the priestess held up the final ribbon and said softly, “White is the symbol of spirit and all things spiritual, blessed with grace, blessed with purity, honesty, and the love Saylym and Talon share for one another.” She tied a double knot in the ribbon. “The fifth ribbon by law is the last binding performed. The final words shall be spoken by Talon to his mate in the privacy of their home and just before the physical joining of their bodies.”
She nodded to Talon to complete the binding vows.
Talon took the Pentacle and Triqueter-shaped ring Sage held out to him.
“I thought witches were allergic to silver,” Saylym whispered for his ears alone.
Talon’s lips twitched and he eyed the ring on his finger. “I think that’s werewolves, darling,” he whispered back. “Was it your intent to murder your groom?”
She lifted a stricken gaze. “Of course not. It just occurred to me about the allergies,” she said in a low voice.
Eldora snickered and Sage gave a choked cough.
Grinning, the high priestess cleared her throat, indicating for them to complete the ceremony.
Talon inhaled deeply and slid the ring onto Saylym’s trembling finger. “As everything in life is a circle, so is our love. Two hearts beat as one and there is no beginning and no end. We were two, now we are one. Today. Forever. I promise this will never change. Our lives now join to complete the circle of love and fill it with our children.”
