I stripped off my gore encrusted clothes, letting them lay where they fell. I entered the stream, ignoring the cold shock of the water against my skin as I waded out to the deeper middle. Almost lazily, I submerged my entire body underneath the water, then came back up, letting it sluice off of me. Absently, I watched the clear water turn murky with blood and gore. I began to scrub at my skin and hair, letting the silent tears fall.

I felt his presence long before I heard him enter the water behind me. Warm hands slid down my shoulders and arms and entwined with my own. I was pulled back against a broad back even as the echo of wild flute music teased my ears. A deep, steady drum beat seemed to pulse in time with my heart as his hands released mine and began to almost randomly caress my bare skin. I felt teeth scrape against the back of my neck and bowed it to give him greater access. I felt his breath in my ear as he began to croon to me in ancient Gaelic. I felt the response hum through my veins as my blood began to burn with warm fire.

I didn’t even make a sound as he lifted me against him, his entry swift and hot. I heard a trilling cry and opened my eyes to view the world through a warm, golden haze. I felt the earth spirits vibrate a response and the very air seemed to sing around us. His teeth closed upon my shoulder and I threw back my head, screaming out as released rocked us both. There was a muffled crack of thunder and the golden haze over my eyes intensified then disappeared, leaving me to slump bonelessly within his embrace.

He held me upright and began to sluice water over me, gently scrubbing at my hair. I gazed down, noting that the water began to run clear. I was turned around and my chin was lifted. I gazed straight up into feral Sidhe eyes without fear.

“Wee Little Witch, do ye accept my bond?” he asked in a solemn tone. I frowned at him in puzzlement.

“I thought we were past that, Devin.” I sighed wearily.

“Nay, Wee Little Witch, ‘tis not a handfastin’ I’m askin’ ye for. ‘Tis a full bonding.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Yon silly, daft Phoenix has scared the Morgan fit to be tied. The bluidy bird almost got loose o’ yuir control.”

“Shi’ahani was never out of control.”

“Nay? Then what made the entire land o’ Dragon’s Keep almost go ‘round the bend?”

“I released justice.”

“Aye, an’ that’s what yuir callin’ it now? I ask ye again, Wee Little Witch, will ye accept my bond?”

“I’ve always accepted you, Devin. You’re my husband.”

“Nay, Wee Little Witch, ye mun say the words.”

“You’re so weird, Devin. Very well, I accept your full bond, Devin McKenzie.”

He suddenly smiled, a terrible, feral smile. I suddenly felt as if acid was burning through my veins and would have dropped to my knees if he wasn’t holding me. I threw my head back and screamed in agony and ecstasy combined, but no sound emerged. I felt the Phoenix spirit rise within me, then slam into his mental shields, which he dropped. His hold on me tightened and his features went full out Sidhe. My vision narrowed to tunnel like darkness then I knew no more.

When I came back to myself, Devin was holding me cradled in his arms on the bank of the stream. I blinked up at him in confusion, then drew in a deep, ragged breath.

His once auburn hair was now pure white and his once hazel eyes burned a bright emerald green as he gazed down at me. His features were still full Sidhe, ferally beautiful, yet lined in weariness.

“What did you do, you idiot?” I heard someone screeching from behind us, but ignored them as I traced his cheekbones.

“My Wee Little Witch,” he sighed softly. “It had to be done.”

“Two souls bonded to a Phoenix Spirit?” I snorted. “That wasn’t entirely smart.”

“Smart? Smart?!?” the voice screeched again. “It was beyond foolish! Beyond STUPID! Do you have any idea what this means?”

“She canna lose control.” Devin sighed and looked up at the screecher. I belatedly noticed that Quineld looked like she’d come off a 3 day drunk. “There are double the reins on Shi’ahani now.”

“Double the reins?! More like double the potential for disaster!” Quineld shouted, her face beet red. I absently noticed that there was a gathering of Fae behind her, and Tremayne looked suitably disturbed.

“If I could have, I would have bound my soul to hers as well,” he interjected. “It would give the Phoenix more stability.”

“Are you all insane!?!” Quineld yelped.

“Angel is a war mage who collects alliances the way some people collect familiars,” Rhia interjected slowly, her eyes narrowing on me. “Kat is the host of a Phoenix Spirit of the likes I have not seen in 1000 years. I think the question is, how insane are we for not having bonded to her before this?”

“If the Phoenix gets out of control, it will burn out anyone who is connected to her!” Quineld spat out vehemently, trembling with rage. “As well as anyone or anything that is connected to the soul-bonded! We’re talking the instant immolation of not only the souls bonded to her, but their bondeds! Then the Phoenix will wipe everything off the face of the land and won’t stop until the host is dead!”

“Aye, but yuir forgettin’ one important piece o’ information, Wolfson,” Devin chuckled, a low, evil sound as his eyes focused on mine. “A full Sidhe bonding means that once I’m gone, Kat dies a complete, full death. Heart, Mind, Body and Soul. That which is bound is extinguished forever more.  Chains of Love and Light.”

“Fuck me sideways!” Tremayne blurted out in a horror stricken tone. “No ghosting, no Phoenix regeneration . . . “

“No passing go and no collecting 200 dollars.” I giggled out in a near insanely hysterical manner, then quickly clapped my hand over my mouth. Devin’s answering grin was both terrible and beautiful to behold. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”

He responded to me in soft, musical Gaelic that had me blushing hotly. He snickered and waved his fingers in a graceful movement. He tucked the eldritch fabric around my naked body and raised me to my feet. I swayed unsteadily for a moment, then my eyes met those of my eldest daughter’s. Her eyes were twin flames of red fire as she smiled back at me, showing her teeth. The rock wolves began that high pitched giggling sound and flowed forward from the ranks of the Fae to swirl around me as Devin stepped away. Angel flowed forward, her every step the step of a graceful predator. I heard several gasps and murmurs of shock as I went to one knee, exposing the side of my neck and Devin’s recent bite mark. Isis didn’t hesitate and lunged to close her jaws over the same spot. I submitted passively, and she released me, licking at the wound with a rumbling purr. Merith came forward and licked me on the spot, then across my lips. I submitted to similar treatment from the rest of the pack amid fierce rumblings from the Fae and shrill commentary from Quineld, then was raised to my feet by Angel. Her palm cupped my chin and raised it so that my gaze met hers. She smiled that terrible smile once more, then kissed me gently on each cheek, then full on the lips before turning to face the rest of the assembled Fae, Quineld, Tremayne and the dragons and unicorns I could see hovering on the edges.

“MINE!!!” She roared out in a fierce and terrible voice, her eyes flaring even redder than before.

“Oh, fuck me sideways,” Tremayne groaned out, turning even paler than before as the dragons let out echoing roars of triumph and the unicorns all seemed to rear up with shrill neighs of maniacal glee.

I did the only thing I could think of then.

I fainted.