He stood, pulled me to my feet, and crushed me against him. “I want those children more than I want my next breath. They’re ours. Will be ours.”
“Not until our land is safe again. After our hand-fasting I’m going to take Siofra on a walking tour of the perimeter, and we’re going to create wards, strong ones that will augment Aukele’s protective field. And he’ll have to replace what’s there with a new one. A stronger one. We’ll make it safe again, and we’ll test the hell out of it. I’m sure Fred would be more than willing to try and gain access.”
A low rumble sounded under my ear. I leaned back, and looked into Tynan’s eyes. “What?”
“I’m not alone anymore.”
EPILOGUE
BILLOWY WHITE CLOUDS FLOWED LANGOURSLY across the deep blue sky. There had been a heavy mist in the air at dawn when Millie, Siofra, and I gathered in the garden to bury the large piece of purple sea glass. But once it was done, and we’d blessed the land, each with our own words, the trade winds whipped through the forest bringing sunshine and low humidity. I figured it was a gift from the goddesses.
When it was time for the ceremony, everyone circled the garden holding hands: Annie, Sean, and Madigan; Adam and Ben; Millie and Harlan, Lorcán and Siofra, and Aukele. Tynan and I stood under the rainbow eucalyptus. Siofra and Millie looked especially pretty with their new necklaces, perfect choices for my “moms.”
Everyone stilled, and Tynan took my hands. “I can never offer you traditional marriage, but you have my heart, my love, my family, and my protection. I will stand for you, and I offer you what is mine to give.” He fastened the cobalt blue sea glass around my wrist.
“Thank you, Tynan Ailill Pierce. I offer you my living and my dying, I honor you, and will stand for you. You have my heart and my love. And, Tynan, I shield your back just as you shield mine.” I fastened the red sea glass on his wrist.
“Thank you Everly Gray Hunt.”
We held crossed hands for the binding ceremony, which began with Aukele. “Everly and Tynan.” He draped a white cord around our hands. “You will honor each others spiritual path. And so the binding is made.”
Annie grinned as she and Sean wrapped a purple cord around our wrists. “You will respect each others truth. And so the binding is made.”
In contrast, Adam and Ben wore serious expressions. “You will be each others strength.” They added a gold cord. “And so the binding is made.”
Madigan ran toward us, laughing. “You will bring each other joy and laughter.” Her purple cord slipped off, she scooped it off the ground, blew imaginary dirt off, and wrapped us up tight. “And it’s binding.”
Harlan’s hand shook ever so slightly as he passed a white cord under our hands. Millie took it, folded it over the top, then interlocked her fingers Harlan’s. They said the words together. “You will bring peace to each other. And so the binding is made.”
Siofra and Lorcán approached us. They each held one end of a gold cord, and wrapped it around our hands together. “You will live as one with the blood oath of unity. And so the binding is made.”
Aukele bound all the cords together with a large piece of white sea glass wrapped in twisted gold and silver wire. “May you be blessed with pure vision. And the binding is done.” And then he slipped the cords off, handed them to Pierce, took my right hand, and placed a purple heart-shaped diamond on my middle finger. “Your mother and father left you this ring. It was your paternal grandmother’s, and her grandmother’s before that.”
Siofra gasped. “It’s the Circle of Nine diamond. Oh my merciful heavens. I never thought to see it.”
The ring weighed heavy on my finger. “What does that mean, Siofra?”
“It’s linked to all the wisdom in the Circle. Of course I should have realized it was passed down through Jayme’s family.” She folded me in a tight hug. “It is so right that it belongs to you, the only person who can access the energy. It’s genetic, your connection to the energy in the diamond. Just like with the sea glass. This is your birthright, mo iníon.”
Pierce rubbed his thumb over the diamond. And then Annie did. She looked deep into my eyes. “You’re going to be an excellent partner for Pierce.” She hugged me hard, tears pooling in her eyes.
Weddings did that. And pregnancy hormones. “Thanks, I—”
“Haven’t asked her yet, A. J.”
She gave him an eye roll. “Seriously? She tossed her hands up. “Well. Now would be an excellent time.”
Tynan took my hands. “I want you to step into A.J’s position, Everly, be my partner.”
My knees shook. “On missions? Like a team?”
“We work well together. We love each other. And Annie is benched. You’re up, Belisama. There isn’t anyone I trust more.”
Panic flashed in his eyes. Just for a second. Like he was afraid I’d say no.
It was my turn to panic. Another second passed, and then everything slid into place. “Yeah. We can do that.” I threw my arms around him and held on. “We’re going to have a good life, Tynan Ailill Pierce, but we’re not naming either of our sons Ailill. Much as I love the way it sounds, two of you would be my undoing.”
Laughter rumbled deep in his chest. “Good to know I’m enough for you, Belisama.”
A note from L. j.
Dear Readers,
A quick note to let you know this is the last book in this segment of the Everly Gray Adventures. However, the next story will be the beginning of the Everly and Pierce adventures.
Happy reading…and as always you have my thanks for reading a TOUCH OF INTRIGUE. I hope you enjoyed it. You can reach me…
Website: http://www.ljcharles.com/
On my website under the Contact Me menu option there’s a form (the 2nd one down) to subscribe to my newsletter. I send out newsletters to announce new releases, cover reveals, Facebook events, book signings…that sort of thing. So if you’re interested, please sign up.
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