“So, you are to take a half-Drow bride.” Niall’s expression was one of superiority and disdain as he looked at his son.
“Rhiannon,” Keir said as he fought to rein in his temper, “my mate’s name is Rhiannon.”
With a slight wave of his hand, Niall brushed his words aside like one might a fly. “I understand you have met your Mystwalker mother, Keaira.”
“Why did you keep her from seeing me all these centuries?” Keir’s voice came out low and harsh. “Why did you tell me she didn’t wish to know me? And that she willingly went to serve as a pleasure slave to the Shanai?”
Niall shrugged as though it was of no concern. “It was in your best interest. There is no living between worlds. One is either D’Danann or Mystwalker.”
Keir ground his teeth and the heat in his gut grew. “I should have been the judge of that. At the very least when I came of age.”
“It is of no matter now.”
“Niall?” came Keir’s stepmother’s reed-thin, high-pitched voice. “Who is at the door?”
“I must get back to your stepmother.” Niall cast a glance over his shoulder before turning back to Keir. “She would not be pleased to see you.”
Keir struggled to keep his anger in check and said nothing.
“Well wishes,” Niall said, then turned and slammed the door in Keir’s face.
He sucked in his breath. He wanted to rage, to beat down the door. To go back to the San Francisco Otherworld and fight every demon single-handedly.
Niall wasn’t worth his fury. Keir clenched and unclenched his fists at his sides. He let out the breath of air he’d been holding and tried to calm his mind and his body. No, his father wasn’t worth the anger that Keir should have released long ago.
When Keir turned, Hawk was standing at the bottom of the stairs.
Keir’s body immediately tightened, wary of his foe. Aye, at this moment he would be happy to take his half-brother on in a fight.
In just a few steps, Keir stood before Hawk and glared.
Hawk was frowning, but did not look angry as he usually did.
“I never truly realized until this moment how badly our father treated you,” Hawk said. “It is not a wonder you hate me as you do.”
Keir spat on the ground to get the sour taste out of his mouth. “How could you not know? For the gods’ sake, we are twenty centuries of age.”
Hawk pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. When he dropped his hand away he met Keir’s gaze.
“Father always told me you wanted to sleep out there.” Hawk gestured to the barn. “That you did not like my mother and chose to eat your meals alone.”
Keir made a scoffing noise. “You think eating cold rations, sleeping on straw, and smelling horseshit was preferable to a soft bed and a hot meal?”
Hawk let out a loud sigh. “I always thought your defiance was what made Father angry with you. But now I see differently. I never stopped to consider that things may not have been what they seemed.”
For a long moment they studied each other.
Keir growled. “You put spiders in my straw bed.”
“What about you?” Hawk narrowed his eyes. “Destroying my favorite wooden practice sword.”
“Telling Father lies and getting me into trouble.”
“Putting syrup in my shoes.”
“Chopping off a chunk of my hair with shears as I slept.”
“Putting a burr under my horse’s saddle.”
“Stealing Molly from me.”
“Breaking my nose.”
“Shoving me down the manor stairs.”
“The snake pit.”
At that, both Keir and Hawk grew silent. Keir had sought revenge on Hawk for pushing him down the stone stairs. Keir had dug a pit and filled it with hundreds of harmless snakes. Hawk had fallen into the pit and ever since that day he’d had an intense fear of snakes. A fear that he blamed for the loss of his first mate.
Keir pushed his hair from his face and sighed. “I have long regretted that action. Not from the whipping Father gave me but because I caused you to have such fear.”
Hawk lifted his brows, surprise on his features.
“All the rest—” Keir shook his head. “Childish actions that we allowed to let us to continue to fight over the centuries.”
With a slow nod, Hawk said, “You are right, brother.”
For a long moment they stared at each other.
The corner of Hawk’s mouth quirked. “The syrup in my shoes was especially brilliant.”
Keir struggled to keep a straight face. “Spiders in my straw was well conceived.”
Hawk snorted. Keir coughed.
First one let out a chuckle, then the other. Before they knew it, they were laughing hard enough that Keir had a difficult time catching his breath.
Hawk wiped tears from his eyes. “The time you pushed me into the swine pen before my outing with a girl. Whatshername.”
Keir’s face hurt from grinning. He never grinned. “You should have seen how you looked, head to toe in mud.”
“I took you down, though.”
“Aye.” Keir shook his head. “It was a good fight.”
Hawk quieted. “That it was.”
“Rhiannon and I are to be mated.” Keir had sobered. “Would you stand by my side to serve as witness to our joining?”
Without pause, Hawk said, “Aye.”
He extended his hand and Keir took it in the hand-toelbow grip of their people. Then Hawk surprised Keir by embracing him as a brother and slapping his back.
Hawk drew away and they released each other’s arms. “I will see you at the hall tomorrow eve.”
Keir gave a low nod. “I will see you then … brother.”
Hawk returned Keir’s nod and jogged up the steps to the manor and let himself in.
Keir shook his head and started back to the village where he’d left Rhiannon with her Coven sisters.
Chapter 40
Keir didn’t let up on his grip of Rhiannon’s hand until they reached the Chieftains’ place, which she recognized from her last visit. It was evening and a cool wildflower-scented breeze caused her hair to stir about her neck and cheeks.
Rhiannon wore a beautiful dress of vivid yellow beaded with clear crystals, which touched the top of her matching beaded slippers. Lise, along with Galia, had brought the dress to the cabin that morning as a gift for Rhiannon’s and Keir’s joining day. It fit beautifully, a straight-cut style with a princess neckline and a short train.
Keir looked handsome in what must have been his dress leathers. She barely kept in a grin. He looked basically the same as always—incredibly yummy.
Her belly did a double twist as Keir escorted her up the stairs and into the castle-like Chieftains’ building. This time they went to the left, through the biggest pair of doors she’d ever seen, and into a huge room that reminded her of pictures of a great hall in King Arthur’s court.
To her surprise the room was filled with people, mostly D’Danann warriors dressed in black and wearing their weapons belts with their swords and daggers. But there were other beings, too, including Faeries, Pixies, Brownies, and what Rhiannon thought might be Dryads.
Light flickered from sconces, casting shadows on the faces of the people and beings gathered in the hall. Tapestries of D’Danann in flight, in battle, as well as couples and children, decorated the walls. The room smelled of wildflowers and roses.
With her arm tucked to his side, Keir escorted her along a velvety green carpet to the front of the room. All the people stood on either side of the carpet. Whispers and conversation followed in their wake and he received many pats on the back from his fellow warriors. Yet some seemed distant, others looked almost angry.
They didn’t approve of a D’Danann marrying a woman with Elvin blood, Rhiannon was sure of it. And did they know the Elvin in her was Drow? Would they care? But at least many beings in the room didn’t seem to have a problem with the fact that she was ha
lf Elvin.
The next thing she knew her Coven sisters were flooding the room with Galia buzzing behind them. The seven witches and the Faerie surrounded her. Again they hugged Rhiannon and exclaimed their happiness for her.
Then Cassia said, “We have the joining of not two but four races in peace. Perhaps it will turn out to be a beginning of true and powerful alliances.”
“I think you could be right,” Sydney said with a broad smile.
Keir tugged Rhiannon’s hand and drew her from her Coven sisters toward the front of the great hall.
All around them was laughter and chatter, but Rhiannon was certain she heard some grumbling, too.
When they reached the huge dais at the front of the room, she wasn’t sure her legs would hold her up. She still didn’t doubt her decision, but it didn’t make her any less nervous.
More people flooded the hall. She’d never have guessed Keir had so many friends, as gruff and as unsociable as he came across. Maybe some of them were curiosity seekers.
A hush settled over the crowd. Along the emerald green carpet, the High Chieftain, Chaela, slowly made her way toward Rhiannon and Keir. Chaela’s royal blue robes were long enough to trail behind, and her hood almost kept Rhiannon from recognizing her.
Chaela stepped up the few stairs onto the dais and pushed back her hood. She was so beautiful with her long blond hair and bright green eyes.
Silver came up to Rhiannon, a smile on her lips. She pressed a bright bouquet of brilliant blooms of red, pink, yellow, and blue into Rhiannon’s shaking hands.
Great. Now she had trembling flowers, too. Not that she wasn’t appreciative. And the fact that Silver hadn’t chosen anything plain like white was pretty cool.
Silver placed a circlet of colorful flowers on Rhiannon’s auburn hair, stepped back, and smiled. “You are so beautiful, Rhiannon.”
She smiled at her best friend. “Thank you, Silver.”
More tears glistened in Silver’s eyes and Rhiannon’s felt a little watery, too.
Silver moved behind Rhiannon, and she was surprised to see Hawk standing just behind Keir. Would wonders never cease?
Chaela cleared her throat. From her position above them on the dais, the beautiful woman looked like a golden-haired goddess.
The High Chieftain motioned for Keir to climb up one side of the dais, and Rhiannon on the other.
Damn. Her legs were shaking so badly, Rhiannon was afraid she would trip and sprawl across the dais. But thank Anu she made it.
Chaela stood behind them so that Keir and Rhiannon were closest to the crowd. They slowly walked up to each other and stood maybe an inch apart. The flowers she held were probably tickling him.
“Why are you willing to participate, when my mate is half-Elvin?” Keir asked so low that those gathered in the room likely couldn’t hear.
The High Chieftain said, “You have suffered enough at the hands of your father’s people. The least we can do is seal your chosen bonding properly.”
“You have my gratitude.” Keir gave a deep nod, then smiled down at Rhiannon as Chaela began to speak. Rhiannon’s face felt frozen. She hoped not in an expression of terror.
Keir took the flowers from her, crouched, and gave them to one of the younger women near the dais. When he straightened he took Rhiannon’s hands and linked his fingers with hers, and she felt a thrill at his touch.
Chaela placed her hands over theirs. Her emerald rings glittered in the low lighting from the sconces throughout the room.
“Keir, D’Danann and Mystwalker,” Chaela started and Keir shot her a look of surprise, “do you wish to soul bond with Rhiannon, D’Anu and Elvin?”
His gaze returned to Rhiannon’s and he smiled in a way that made her want to melt into him, become a part of him.
“With all my heart and soul,” he said so clearly that she was sure it could be heard in every corner of the room, “Aye.”
Chaela gave a slight nod and turned her bright green eyes on Rhiannon. “Rhiannon, D’Anu and Elvin, do you know what it is to be soul-bonded in the D’Danann tradition?”
Rhiannon swallowed. “It is a marriage of two people who love one another.”
The High Chieftain kept her steady expression. “It is more than that. A soul bond is something that can never be broken. You will feel each other’s pain, each other’s joy. Should this bond be broken by either of you, it would slowly drive you mad. Only death can sever the bond.”
Rhiannon shivered and her heart gave a little lurch. Okay, so Keir hadn’t told her about this part. Even Copper and Silver had neglected to mention it.
But she knew this was the man she wanted to be with forever. She had no intention of ever being separated from him.
She straightened her stance. “I understand.”
Chaela gave a nod and a smile of approval. “Rhiannon, D’Anu and Elvin, do you wish to soul-bond with Keir, D’Danann and Mystwalker?”
“With all my heart and soul,” Rhiannon replied as she gazed into Keir’s dark eyes, “yes.”
Chaela released their hands.
A sudden vibration traveled throughout Rhiannon’s body. Her head spun a little as if she had an onset of vertigo and the trembling that had already wracked her body became more intense.
In the next moment she felt as if something was being sucked from her body. Keir caught her to him as iridescent sparkles danced and intertwined between and around them. A tightening sensation caused her to feel like she had just become a physical part of Keir, and he had just become a tangible part of her.
When the vertigo and vibrations died away, the sparkles cleared and she found herself locked in Keir’s embrace. He crushed his mouth to hers and she felt a connection unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. He slipped his tongue into her mouth and she tasted his maleness, his wildness, all that made him Keir.
Applause and cheering broke out in the room and Keir drew away from the kiss and smiled against her lips.
Pink fireworks exploded around them and Rhiannon grinned when she looked up to see Galia laughing and shooting bolts of her magic at the ceiling and the pink glitter raining down on everyone in the room. Her lilac scent joined the fireworks.
“Your soul-bonding is complete.” Chaela’s voice rang throughout the room and over the cheers of the guests.
Rhiannon didn’t need Chaela to tell her that little fact. She could feel the bond locking her to him and him to her.
But the soul-bond didn’t feel suffocating or like she was chained down. It felt freeing, as if she was more alive than she’d ever been in her life.
“Mine,” she said against his lips. “You’re all mine.”
Chapter 41
As Keir and Rhiannon walked down the dais, she noticed the room had gone completely silent. She thought she heard the scrape of metal against leather scabbards, as if D’Danann were unsheathing their swords.
Tension was thick. Everyone was looking to the back of the room.
The moment Rhiannon and Keir reached the long green carpet and had a clear view of the doorway, Rhiannon saw why.
At the other end of the carpet stood her father, accompanied by several armed Drow.
Rhiannon swallowed, hard. The train of her dress dragged slightly against the carpet as she moved with Keir toward Garran. She felt numb and had a hard time believing her eyes.
The Drow were dressed much as they had been when she’d visited them—breastplates and leather straps crisscrossing their bare chests, leather breeches. Their black, silvery blue, or steel-gray hair shone softly in the light from the sconces, and they were tall and imposing.
Their features were hard and unyielding, almost arrogant as they stood at the end of the carpet.
Except for Garran. He looked … proud.
Rhiannon’s heart rate picked up the closer she got to Garran. Keir held her tightly to his side and she felt the tension in his body against hers.
When Rhiannon stood directly in front of Garran, she tilted her head up to meet h
is liquid silver eyes. They showed a certain hesitancy, like he was unsure. Rhiannon was uncertain, too, but her heart—it seemed to know what to do.
She slid her arm out of Keir’s grip, flung her arms around Garran’s neck, and hugged him. With no hesitancy, he hugged her, too, his grip firm. Rhiannon felt tears slipping down her cheeks and onto her father’s warm skin. He smelled earthy, mossy, fresh, clean scents that felt somehow homey.
When she drew away, she realized people in the room were murmuring, whispering, talking. But she didn’t care. This was her father.
He gripped her hands in his. “I wanted to share this day with you, my daughter. I hope you do not mind. Forgive me for my actions when we first met.”
“Forgive me.” Rhiannon squeezed his hands in return and offered him a smile. “I shouldn’t have judged you so harshly.”
Garran gave her another fierce hug. “We will talk soon, you and I. For now, enjoy your bonding.”
She let her hands slip away. “Are you going to stay?”
His mouth quirked into a smile. “We are not welcome here.”
“You’re welcome as far as I’m concerned.” Rhiannon reached for his hand again, but he stepped back.
“I will see you soon, daughter.” With that, he turned his back and strode along the break his warriors made for him to pass through. They turned and followed him out of the room. Rhiannon watched until she couldn’t see him anymore.
The buzzing in the room had taken on a harsher quality, but Rhiannon ignored it. If they didn’t like that her father was Drow, tough.
Gradually, everything settled down, and Keir took her around the room, introducing her to his friends and acquaintances. Some were very friendly, others barely, but she made sure she maintained her poise. Hell if she was going to let them ruin her wedding night.
Bonding night.
The celebration had lasted far too long as far as Keir was concerned. He wanted to take Rhiannon home to his bed—their bed. As he took another swig of ale, the thought warmed him and his chest filled with pride.
This beautiful woman was his. Her fiery green eyes drew him to her, the sprinkling of freckles across her nose and her fair complexion made him want to caress her, he desired to hold her sweet curves in his arms.
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