Page 100 of Stolen Threadwitch Bride
My husband. My love. The man who’d seen me even when I tried to hide. Who now was choosing to link his life to mine, to bind us forever.
The world blurred and I had to blink away hot, happy tears.
Boyd produced a red cord and gave one end to Sylvie. “Red for your heartsblood.” They wrapped the cord around our linked hands. “Spelled silk for your bond.” Another wrap. “Unbreakable.” Somehow they coordinated and tied a knot. “One for tomorrow.” Another knot. “Two for a year and a day.”
Ly squeezed my hands, chin dipping in not quite a nod. My heart fluttered like it was trying to break free of my ribcage and reach him.
Sylvie and Boyd tied a third knot. “Three for forever.”
They stepped back, Boyd sniffing. Were his eyes over-bright?
But Ly tugged me closer with our linked hands and ducked, touching his forehead to mine. “I’ve missed you,” he whispered, immediately followed by, “I love you.” As though he didn’t know which to say first.
“Me too.”
He flashed a grin and nudged his nose to mine. “Which?”
I scoffed softly and angled up to almost meet him. “Both.” Then we moved as one, closing the distance with a long, sweet kiss.
Sylvie cleared her throat, and we pulled a couple of inches apart.
“Sorry.” Ly huffed. “Thank you both.”
I nodded my thanks and blinked from her to Boyd. “Is it… are we done?” I didn’tfeelany different.
“Well, you two have the main—ahem—bodyof the ritual to perform.” Sylvieactuallywinked as they started for the door.
Snorting, Boyd clapped her on the shoulder as if congratulating her for such a good pun. “And gods forbid we keep you two apart any longer.” They waved from the doorway.
“Have fun.” Sylvie grinned, canines glinting.
“Lots andlotsof fun.” Boyd flashed his eyebrows up.
And then they were gone, the door clicking shut, leaving us in silence.
“Ari.” Ly grazed his lips over my knuckles, pulling me so close, our bodies pressed together. Head bowed, he examined our linked hands. “Is it silly some part of me feared you might not come?” He bit his lip and looked up at me through dark lashes.
Shy. He was actually shy. And he’d feared I might refuse the bonding.
Not such an arrogant prickat all.
My heart warmed like it might be made of the hot chocolate Hil had started brewing in the evenings.
“Oh, Ly.” I shook my head and kissed the tip of his thumb. “I’m afraid it’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard you say.” I kissed his fingertips next, each in turn, as he had when he’d given me the boon to work with spidersilk. “But I think you might’ve just achieved the impossible.”
Cheeks pink, he raised his eyebrows. “Oh?”
I started on the little finger of his other hand, holding his gaze as I dipped my head. “Somehow you’ve made me love you even more.”
A foolish kind of smile pulled at his lips. “And all it took was for me to say something silly? I should do more of that, then.”
I laughed against his middle finger before moving to the next. “It was vulnerable of you to admit your fear.Thatis what touched me.” His next finger pressed into the soft flesh of my lower lip. “And that’s what I’m here for, to hear all your fears, your hopes, your dreams… and desires.”
When I kissed his thumb, I flicked the pad with my tongue. “I am here for all of you. Just as I don’t hide behind a hood, I don’t want you to hide any part of yourself from me. No shame, no fear, because I’ll love you no matter what.”
“Ariadne,” he breathed, eyes gleaming. He shook his head and pulled me into another long kiss, all tangling lips and sweet nibbling that hitched my breath. “You are…” He shook his head again. “You’re beyond words.”
We stood that way a long while, hands and gazes connected, chests rising and falling slowly, drinking each other up in the flickering candlelight.
