Amber Flame

  He leaned down and kissed her. She parted her lips for him and he drove his tongue inside. He felt the bond grow, then tighten. His wolf wanted to howl, but instead he kept his lips pinned to hers, his tongue in her mouth.

  ~ ~ ~

  Mary felt lost in time and space. Fergus was moving over her, making love to her, kissing her. His alpha wolf power was spreading through every part of her body and at the same time, something was leaving her and moving into him, the part of her that was fae. Can you feel that Fergus, what I’m giving you?

  I can. I hadn’t expected a return offering, but it’s beautiful, like you. And full of amber light all the way to my soul.

  He moved faster now, his cock driving in and out, quick like a wolf and erotic as hell. His lips worked hers, plucking at her and at times, his tongue thrust into her mouth duplicating what he was doing down low.

  She loved him and she was bonding with him. The tugging sensation in her abdomen reached toward her sex, made contact and tightened.

  A rush of light headed toward her as well, full of amber fireworks and shot through with the depth and magic of Fergus’s masculine soul.

  He was heavy on her now and it felt spectacular. The light filled her and surrounded her.

  Ecstasy rolled through her body, taking the dark that was Fergus, and the light of her faeness, blending them together. She had no idea what a normal alpha-mate bonding would feel like, but this was like being transported into the heavens and sustained there by forces beyond her understanding.

  She loved him and she wanted to be with him more than anything else she’d known her entire life.

  He drew back and she met his gaze. His eyes glowed amber as well. I love you, Mary.

  She wasn’t sure she could even speak, so she stuck with telepathy. I love you, too.

  Are you ready?

  I am.

  The bonding came at the same moment as her release as well as Fergus’s. A sound came out of her throat, a wolf’s cry but shaded with everything she was as a fae woman so that it sounded like a beautiful melody. Pleasure gripped her between her legs and a new rush of ecstasy poured through her.

  She was caught up in the blending of her fae to his wolf, and the bond that suddenly settled in place, created a tremendous anchor to the earth and to Fergus. Though it was new it felt as old as time and as solid as the earth.

  She felt different, yet the same. Just … more.

  ~ ~ ~

  As Fergus felt the last of his seed leave his body, he slowed his hips down. He didn’t want the moment to end because what he’d experienced had belonged to another world and ecstasy held his body in a tight beautiful grip. A bond existed now that hadn’t been there before, something that could never be broken.

  Looking down at Mary, he felt a tremendous connection to her and he knew his pack would never come first again. Mary would be his priority, yet not just her, but what they were meant to accomplish together.

  He recalled her saying that essentially he should think outside the box, possibly leave the pack. He would have never considered it before, yet everything had changed.

  And it wasn’t just because of the bond. He saw his pack differently and Savage as well.

  “What are you thinking about?” Mary’s hand rested on his cheek and he turned just enough to kiss the palm of her hand.

  “Nothing much. Just you and me and the future.”

  She smiled. “Nothing serious at all.”

  He chuckled, then slowly pulled out of her. He reached for a handful of tissues, tucked them between her legs, then stretched out beside her.

  When she turned to face him, he drew her close. She angled one of her legs over his thighs.

  He was content as he’d never been before. She continued to caress his cheek, his neck, then moved to his shoulders.

  “It’s as though I was blind,” he said.

  “But now you’re not?”

  “No. I’m seeing clearly for the first time in years.”

  He drew a deep breath. Even the air in his lungs felt different, cleaner. His fae senses felt fired up and the future appeared to him in full, but nothing like he’d expected. “I think you and I will be leaving Five Bridges.”

  At that she rose up on her elbow slightly. “What do you mean? If we leave the province, we’ll be caught, possibly killed.”

  He chuckled. “I didn’t mean illegally. And by-the-way, this is my fae speaking. I’m still caught up in what just happened between us, but I’m looking into the future. It appears we’re headed to Washington D.C. for a series of brief visits.”

  A sharp intake of breath followed. “To lobby for wolf-rights.”

  “Yes,” he said. “We’ve got to have more space. Savage will always be on the verge of war if we don’t get a few hundred square miles of open land.”

  “Will anyone listen to you? To us?”

  “With the alter wolf population growing as fast as it is in the U.S., they’ll soon have to start listening. Wolves won’t stay bound by barbed wire very much longer. It’s just a matter of time. We were close to a full-on war tonight and not only because of Sydon.”

  She nodded. “I feel how edgy all the wolves are. They can’t howl and shift as they need to, or run.”

  He held her gaze. “Are you willing to do this with me? I don’t want to make the same mistake as before. We need to be a team, but I won’t step one foot outside this room if we’re not in agreement.”

  “Are you giving me veto power?”

  “I am.”

  She leaned close and kissed him on the lips. “Good, because I promise you there will be times when I’ll say no to you.”

  He felt how serious she was, even adamant.

  He kissed her back. “And I’ll need you to say no whenever your fae senses tell you to. I might fight you now and then because I’m damn stubborn.”

  “And I’ll fight back, so beware.”

  He couldn’t help himself. He smiled and caught her chin in his hand and kissed her again. “I’m duly warned.”

  “As for these jaunts to D.C.,” she said, “my faeness is with you one-hundred percent. I know Savage is in deep trouble, that your wolves, our wolves, need land and lots of it. We can go see the council right now, if you want. I’m ready.”

  He smiled again. “I think we can wait a few hours.”

  “Fergus?”

  “Yes?”

  His gaze followed her hand as she planted it between her breasts. “This bond is amazing. I can feel your heart beating here, inside me. I swear I can.”

  He realized he could hear her heart as well, like a second beat within his own skin. “Me, too.”

  He’d spoken truthfully when he’d told Mary not long ago that she’d changed everything for him. He’d been a solitary wolf, though he headed up the Gordion Pack. Now he was connected to Mary, to his wolves, and to all of Savage in ways he’d never dreamed possible before.

  ~ ~ ~

  A week later, Mary sat beside Fergus on a dark red couch in the sitting room of his newly remodeled master suite. When he’d begun work on the space, he’d brought in a trusted witch to cleanse the entire area of the horror Sydon had committed in his bedroom. The original furnishings had been burned on a sacred pyre, a potion added to the fresh paint, and new, consecrated furniture brought in.

  She curled her knees up beside Fergus and worked on the intricate braid design that Sharon had created, but she struggled to get it right.

  “Why don’t you make up a pattern of your own?” He offered. He caressed her thigh as he spoke, a gesture that sent delightful shivers up and down both legs. She made love with him frequently and howled her head off in the soundproof chamber. He did the same.

  She released a lock of his hair, separated the recent untidy bit, then tried again. “I’ve thought about it, but I really like your former wife and without her, I wouldn’t be here in Savage. No, we’ll keep her design and I’ll learn to make it, even if it takes me the next decade trying.” She just didn’t
have Sharon’s nimble fingers.

  She worked at it again for a few minutes, huffed an exasperated sight, then pulled the braids apart once more. She changed the subject. “Warren has grown really comfortable around me since the bond. Have you noticed?”

  Fergus growled softly, a sound she loved. “He touches you more than he should. He’s taking advantage of the bond. I need to have a talk with him.”

  Mary grinned. “You’ll do no such thing. Warren’s lonely, that’s all. The way you were before you took me illegally in the dreamglide.”

  “I don’t care if he’s lonely. I want his paws off you. I mean, when we met at the White Flame the night after we defeated Sydon, he must have hugged you three times. How is that right on any level? You’re an alpha’s mate?”

  She let the braids go, caught his scowling face in her hands, then kissed him. “Tell you what. Every time you feel he’s being inappropriate with me, I’ll make it up to you.” She then slid one hand slowly to caress him between his legs. He was in a half-aroused state, something very usual for him when they were this close. “I’ll use my tongue and my lips and take you all the way if you want. Deal?”

  He groaned heavily. “You strike a hard bargain. But with that kind of offer, I might start encouraging Warren to come over more often.”

  She laughed and though he tried to pull her on top of him, she gave him a shove and brushed out his long black hair once more. “Not yet, Sweetheart. I need to get this right.”

  “Fine.”

  He settled down as she worked his hair once more. But she sensed the shift in his thoughts as though they were her own. “Are you thinking about the memorial service?”

  He nodded slowly. She let her fingers drift with his movements. “It went well.”

  “I don’t think it could have been more beautiful,” she said. “And I loved how your wolves howled so softly throughout, like a choir.”

  “The pack at its best.”

  “I was so moved and caught up at the same time. I felt the deceased nearby as well.”

  “Did you see them, I mean like you did Sharon?”

  “No, not at all. I just felt their presence and afterward each passed on. It was sad yet beautiful at the same time.”

  “Mary?”

  She kept her fingers pressed to what was becoming her best braid yet, then shifted enough to meet his gaze. “What?” She could feel his need to say something.

  “I’m glad the pack accepted you as it did.”

  She drew a long, slow breath. “When we first emerged from our bonding, I was so afraid.”

  “I know. I could feel you shaking.”

  “But it was amazing, wasn’t it?” Tears rushed to her eyes. “They kept coming up to me, one at a time. I could feel their acceptance and how much I already belonged. I’m still overwhelmed when I think about it. I’d lost my entire family to the alter serum. But I gained six hundred brothers and sisters.”

  “You did. Though I was ready to step down and wouldn’t have thought twice about it, if they’d found our union unacceptable. The way they embraced you, however, confirmed that everything you and I had been through was meant not just for us, but for Five Bridges as well. The new fae part of me recognizes that we’ll become a force for meaningful change in the entire territory.”

  Mary could feel it was well, that she and Fergus had forged their bond for something much greater than just their private relationship. “And together,” she said, “We’ll help build a better future for all the segregated provinces in the U.S.”

  His answering smile was full of affection and his bonding scent suddenly whirled around her. Without giving it a thought, she released the braids. As she slid her arms around his neck, she quickly found herself airborne as he carried her back to bed.

  ~ ~ ~

  After Fergus made love to Mary again, he held her close, loving that she fell asleep in his arms. She was right, he could sense her heartrate within his chest and how the beats slowed as she fell deeper into her dreams.

  His own heart was full and changed. He still wished he’d been a better husband to Sharon, but her forgiveness had meant everything to him.

  Sydon and Sandrine were gone and couldn’t hurt anyone in Savage ever again. The spells the witch had used to cast over each critical pack member dispelled the moment she died. He couldn’t fathom the level of power she’d possessed that she’d been able to corrupt so many wolves all by herself. He hoped a force would arise at some point to end the influence the dark witch covens had in Five Bridges.

  Harley had been devastated to learn of his role in Sydon’s attempted hijacking of Savage. So much so, that Fergus had brought in the good witch, Emma, to help him overcome his guilt.

  Emma was now working with a large number of the previously be-spelled wolves, healing their minds from the distortion Sandrine’s spells had caused.

  Fergus knew that one day Harley would be restored to his usual confidence and pack rank. For now, he let the powerful beta work through his issues and heal.

  Ryan had stepped up to fill Harley’s place. Fergus smiled. He knew Ryan was almost ready to challenge Fergus in a dominance battle, something he would welcome. All alphas enjoyed a solid, legitimate battle. His fae senses also told him this fight would be the first of many and that one day, years from now, possibly even decades, Ryan would break off and form his own pack, something he’d be able to do because of the work Fergus and Mary were just beginning in D.C.

  Fergus would hold the reins of the Gordion Pack for a long time to come, especially since he now had a powerful alpha-mate. Mary would help secure his pack bonds and would bring an even greater communal sense to his family of several hundred wolves.

  A woman’s voice suddenly entered his mind. Okay, I lied, Fergus. Though it wasn’t exactly a lie. I didn’t think I’d be coming back, but I begged to have one last word with you, and I was allowed.

  Fergus shifted his head on his pillow and couldn’t help but chuckle. Sharon floated nearby as though sitting on a chair, her legs crossed at the knees. She wore her favorite black boots, laced up the front and tied with small neat bows.

  Still holding a sleeping Mary tight against his side, Fergus smiled. I’m glad you did. But Mary’s asleep. Should I wake her?

  Sharon’s quirky smile appeared. Nah.

  How did you get permission to come back?

  She pretended to fluff her non-existent cropped hair, which only caused her ghostly mist to move and swirl. My supervisor said I did really well, on all fronts, so he said yes.

  Mary suddenly stirred and leaned up on her elbow. Her voice entered their telepathy. Sharon? Is that you?

  I didn’t mean to wake you.

  I heard you in my dreams. Oh, I’m so glad you’re here. Did you see it all? The battle against Sydon, I mean.

  Sharon’s expression grew affectionate as she looked at Mary. I did. You were brilliant. Both of you.

  We couldn’t have done a damn thing without you, Fergus said. You know that.

  Sharon smiled and looked really pleased. I admit I had a hand in things. She screwed up her face. Confronting my flaws was hard as hell, but it was worth it to see that pair get blown to pieces.

  Thank you so much, Mary said, for making the effort to come to me that first time in my house. I know I wouldn’t have made a single move toward Savage without your encouragement.

  Sharon glanced from one to the other. I’m really happy for you both. Just wanted you to know. She appeared for a moment to be listening to someone else. She made an odd disgusted sound with her voice, and addressed her ghostly mentor. Hold on. I’m getting to it. Don’t be so impatient, Gabriel. Jesus. She gave herself a shake and shifted her gaze back to Fergus.

  I have one last message. You might want to keep an eye on your friend, Warren. Seems like some dark witch in Elegance has it in for him, though I don’t know why.

  Fergus felt a ripple of dread pass straight through the fae part of his soul. Sharon, what witch? Do you have a name?
>
  She shook her head. I have no idea and now I’m being called away for good. You two kids behave, or not! She blew a misty kiss with her hand and was gone

  Fergus could feel her absence in the room like some of the air had just been sucked out of the space.

  “That was weird,” Mary said. “But typical. She’s funny, your deceased wife.”

  “You know what else is weird? That we’ve both been talking to my ‘deceased wife’. Sometimes the reality of the alter state blows me away.”

  Mary relaxed against his shoulder, laid her arm over his chest and hugged him. “But what are we supposed to do about Warren?”

  There was a time when Fergus would have been all-wolf and launched into attack mode. He would have contacted Warren right away, offered his help, made up a list of some of the worst dark witches in Elegance Territory, then suggested his wolves track each of their movements. Yup, a whole host of let’s-take-care-of-this-now.

  Instead, he took a deep breath and accessed his faeness. Peace descended in the same moment and what came to him was simple. “Warren will let us know when he needs our help. And when he does, we’ll be ready.”

  Mary chuckled softly. “You know, I confess I was thinking like a wolf. I was ready to leap from bed, fly straight to his compound and repeat everything Sharon just told us.”

  “Couldn’t let you do that,” he said, rubbing her arm.

  “Why not? I mean maybe we should.”

  “Well, here’s the problem, you’re naked. There’s no way you’re going over to the Caldion Compound without anything on.”

  “Oh, you’re so funny. I’m laughing so hard.”

  Fergus sighed deeply and smiled up at the ceiling. He was thinking about adding beams like the ones Mary had in her family room. “I have a surprise for you,” he said.

  “What’s that?”

  “I hired an architect to draw up new plans for us. I want to add on a wing to our private residence.”

  Mary lifted up just enough to meet his gaze. “What for? I mean your home is plenty big as it is right now.”

  He’d never felt so much love in his entire life as in this moment, staring into her light brown eyes. “For your cats of course and your birds. And if you want, I was thinking we could add a surgery, some exam rooms, an office, hire some staff for you. What do you think?”