26. Chapter 26

When Andy was finished establishing Niamh"s mark, she turned to me, and we repeated the process. I had sensed the magic that was used—different from the lifebond spell that she and Dyre had once used, but to the same effect—and thought I could probably replicate it on my own, but Aahil stepped forward again to assist.

I wasn"t so proud that I would refuse the offered help. Besides, I thought maybe Aahil needed to be involved, to feel important to the woman he had just bound himself so firmly to. His small, graceful hand was too hot in mine, and I gave it a little squeeze, earning myself a snooty glower.

I schooled my features to hide the grin that wanted out. I didn"t think he"d be inclined to help us if I told him how cute he was when he was being all protective of Andy.

I had removed my jacket, vest, and shirt, and now stood before a deliciously shirtless Andy as we performed the bonding spell. During her bonding to Niamh, Elijah had appeared in the room, silently watching the physical ritual that he couldn"t take part in himself. He wasn"t the only one watching. All eyes were on me and Andy now. I felt tremulous and shaky as I lifted a hand toward the soft skin of her solar plexus area, just above the gentle curve of her adorable belly.

I had lived most of my life moving from one place to another, never staying long enough to become attached to anyone—except for the one time that ended with me trapped in a grimoire. This bond was a symbol of permanence. Of my intention to never leave.

I had no qualms at all about devoting myself to Andy and, by association, to the others who loved her. I yearned for that sort of permanence and connection. For a family. But it was overwhelming all the same. Like finding myself in a dream, when I was supposed to be a creature of nightmares.

"Ambrose?" Andy whispered my name, careful not to disturb the spell building around us. I knew what she was asking. Was I hesitating because I had doubts? Because I had changed my mind?

Never. I smiled at her, staring into her beautiful gray eyes as I gave her a resolute nod. Then I returned my attention to her skin. My finger glided over her flesh, delicately tracing the stylized outline of a rose in full bloom. The magic tingled at my fingertip as a faint, silvery-white outline appeared on her skin. In the air between us, the smoky tendrils of my power formed a black bloom that echoed my tracing, richer and more detailed than what I managed to draw, a misty interpretation of my intent.

Andy smiled in awe and drew her fingers through the smoky tendrils, caressing the sooty black outline of a petal. The image dissipated as my part of the spell took hold, and she drew her hand down to my center. Magic whispered over my skin, and the first instinct was for me to dissipate, to go incorporeal and turn to shadows so no foreign magic could touch my physical body. But I ignored that initial impulse, leaning into her touch, and soon the unease subsided. This was Andy. I need never run from her.

As the bond settled into place, I reveled in the new sense of connection to my earth witch. At the sense of warmth and love that flowed from her aura. I understood now why Niamh had felt the need to kiss Andy senseless after they completed their bond. My arms slid around Andy"s waist and drew her closer without a single conscious thought. I needed to taste all that warmth and love on my tongue. Needed to breathe her in like the richest, starlit night. This new closeness in my aura made me crave even more.

She seemed to feel the same. Her arms twined around my neck and her lips parted beneath my own with a little groan. It was very hard to remember that we weren"t alone. But all too soon, the flavor of the magic in the air changed, and it brought me back to the real world. The world where I wasn"t the only one with a claim on this brave, wondrous woman.

I pulled away from Andy with a wry smile and a wink. "I think someone else wants to join the party," I murmured. Then I stepped back enough to let Hasumi get a good look at what was going on—including the glorious vision of Andy"s full breasts, and her skin marked with the silvery symbols of not only my bonding, but Niamh, Aahil, and Zhong"s as well.

Andy"s expression softened, and Hasumi immediately answered her unspoken thoughts and emotions. "Yes," they said, reaching out their hand to catch her own and bring it up to place a kiss on the back. "I feel the same, Andy. May I wear your mark as well?"

And it was just that simple. The water weaver didn"t prevaricate or play games. The gorgeous, ethereal creature didn"t taste of fear or anxiety as they stepped before Andy and bonded themselves to her without question.

"I think I might cry," I murmured to Niamh, who stood at my side. Andy needed this. This surety and show of unflinching support. We all did.

Niamh rolled her eyes and slapped my shirt against my chest. But I thought she looked a little misty-eyed herself. She had already covered up her own body, and I knew she wasn"t so much a fan of the male anatomy, so I relented and slid my black shirt on, lazily buttoning a few buttons just to make her happy.

The magic surged between Hasumi and Andy without Aahil"s help. The jinn moved back a bit to give Andy and her water elemental their space, but his sharp gold eyes hungrily watched every movement. He really was attached to her. Maybe to both of them. And I was pretty sure that attachment was the only thing that kept him sane. I reached over and took his hand again, smirking when he went rigid and refused to look at me.

"It"s okay," I murmured to him, careful not to speak too loudly and interrupt Andy and Hasumi"s moment. "We"ll all share. We won"t hog your witch, sweetheart."

He swallowed down whatever he wanted to say and pretended I hadn"t spoken instead, ignoring me completely. But he didn"t remove his deliciously warm hand from my grasp.

Honestly, I was surprised the charm that dangled at his throat hadn"t had to flare to life and keep him from burning me to ash on the spot just for touching him. He was getting better. It warmed my little black heart to see it.

Zhong eyed me over Aahil"s head, and I got the feeling that the gargoyle was looking out for the diminutive jinn. Oh, how things had changed.

I couldn"t help the little chuckle that slipped out. But by then Hasumi and Andy were done with their bonding, and each of them wore a swirling pattern of silvery markings that looked like ocean waves, right at the base of their throats. Lovely. It was all so lovely to see. It filled me with emotions that I hadn"t thought I could feel until I was freed from the bestiary. Feelings that were warmer, gentler, more comforting than the dark emotions that I usually dealt in and devoured.

But I could feel a dark cloud coming to rain on the parade. I opened my mouth to warn Andy, but I was too slow. I had been too wrapped up in everything that was going on in this room and failed to be vigilant.

Dyre strode into the room like the hounds of hell were nipping at his feet, dark magic gathered in his palms, ready to fly forth at his command. He took several steps, then halted abruptly, his long red hair spilling over his shoulders and his bluish lips pressed into a grim line. Damn, he was so attractive when he used death magic. "What the hell?" Dyre bit out.

His piercing violet gaze swept the room, taking in what must look like a ridiculous tableau. Andy standing in the middle of the room shirtless, too close to Hasumi to be doing anything that wasn"t amorous. Me holding Aahil"s hand like we were best friends. And everyone apparently up to no good.

"Good evening, love," I said as Aahil jerked his hand from my grasp and crossed his arms over his chest. He and Dyre did were not fans of one another. But I refused to move to put more space between us. That would just make me look guilty. Of what, I didn"t know. But I knew Dyre would find some reason to fuss at me. "Welcome to the party."

He narrowed his eyes at me, then waved one long arm to encompass the entire room. "I felt a bunch of weird magic coming from you assholes and I thought something terrible was happening. I rush down here and find you… I don"t even know what the fuck is going on here. But you sure as hell don"t seem distressed."

His gaze landed on Andy"s glorious nudity, then skated away as if he had belatedly realized he wasn"t supposed to look at her. Andy rolled her eyes and stepped away from Hasumi to yank her shirt on.

Aahil, who had been doing his best to fade into the background with his trauma ever since returning from the O"Leary nightmare, stepped forward and sneered at Dyre, showing his short, sharp fangs. "We were simply completing our lifebonds," he said, his smooth voice dripping venom. "You know… declaring our devotion to the woman who has saved us all?" He lifted his pert nose in the air and gave Dyre a look that said the necromancer was a pile of dogshit. "It"s not our fault you took a rare gem and threw it away like so much garbage, you ungrateful corpse." He sniffed. "Or that you are apparently so abysmal at reading magic."

"Aahil." Andy stepped between the two men, blocking Dyre from Aahil"s death glare.

Zhong wasn"t much better. The gargoyle puffed up his chest and his wings extended slightly, nearly seven feet of looming, hard-as-stone muscle and claws. He gave Dyre the coldest look I"d ever seen the gargoyle manage. For Zhong, it was the equivalent of a rage-fueled punch in the face. Niamh silently fingered the dagger that she wore at her waist and her eyes narrowed, the implied threat obvious.

Dyre ignored them all, his gaze sweeping over Andy again, no doubt taking in the new markings that were visible on the portions of skin that her tank top didn"t cover. And evaluating the new magic he must be able to sense clinging to the earth witch, tying her to everyone in the room. Everyone except him.

He didn"t speak for a long moment, his eyes flashing from violet to pure black and back again. I winced to think of the internal battle he must be fighting with his wraith right now. The creature was obsessed with Andy, and he must be furious that everyone else had claimed what Dyre denied them. When he finally spoke, Dyre"s deep voice was lower than usual, as if a hint of wraith lingered there still. And the tone was frigid. "If no one is in danger, I"ll go back to what I was doing; trying to find a solution to the life-threatening mess we"re all in. But by all means, go back to your orgy. Clearly you"ve got your priorities."

He glanced at me one last time, and I knew that the glare he sent my way was masking his hurt. Damn it. Of course he would feel like I was taking sides. And in a way, I suppose I was. Dyre was being a stubborn asshole, and we both knew it. I shrugged, and he yanked his gaze away, whirling toward the door.

"Dyre!" Andy took a step toward him, probably about to try to calm him. And most likely fail.

But she didn"t get the chance. She was interrupted by a surge of magic and the gentle shushing sound of paper sliding over the surface of the kitchen table. Another newssheet had arrived from the outside world, and suddenly our love lives were no longer important.