“A natural reaction to the bonding,” he assured her. He nodded toward the oreads to give warning that they were not alone. “We have company.”
His mate turned in his arms, her eyes widening as she took in the wild appearance of the oreads. Unlike other nymphs, oreads were clothed in animal skins, their long hair worn in coarse braids. Their half-nude bodies with their long limbs, gray coloring, and orange eyes made them look dangerous and predatory.
The goddess in the form of the oread inclined her head and smiled. “Greetings, bride of Selvans.”
He frowned but blanked his expression as Diana turned quizzical eyes on him. “Selvans?”
“An old name,” he explained. “I prefer Silvas in this age. Sometimes immortal ones feel the need to forget the past and reinvent ourselves.”
The goddess snorted. “Some more than others. Yet there comes a time where trivial things are set aside, and we need to remember and embrace who we really are.”
He ignored the barb and helped his mate sit up as he felt her need to greet their visitors properly. She was obviously still disoriented and recovering. Now was not the time for any significant revelations. The golden cord of bond was newly forged. No need to distress her so soon. Not when they still had the strix to deal with.
“Our visitors are oreads, nymphs of the mountains,” he said. “They concern themselves with the fecundity and balance of the wild mountains. Among all nymphs, they enjoy the hunt the most. You might occasionally see them in the mountain foothills of the Eternal Forest. Some mortals find them frightening,” he added, which made the nymphs grin. He didn’t want her to feel any shame if she found them unsettling.
To his surprise, instead of being fearful as he expected her to be, she smiled at them.
“Honestly, I’m more afraid of the green-haired woman in your palace who looks at me like she wants to squash me like a bug. Not that you aren’t truly impressive and worthy of awe,” she added. “I have no doubt you are perfectly capable of terrifying anyone you wish. I truly appreciate your kind greetings.”
The nymphs laughed, their grins widening at the acknowledgement, and they inclined their heads in a show of respect. Silvas’s eyebrows raised at the gesture. It was no small thing to be so honored by an oread, for they rarely bestowed any honor to one who was not among their own.
One by one, the oreads slipped out of the cave, their purpose complete, leaving only the disguised goddess with them in the cave. She toyed with the string on her bow, her lips curving in a teasing smile as she watched him out of the corner of her eye.
“I am pleased that I of all beings was here to greet first the bride of Selvans. It is only right that I be among those who bear witness to your rise, though I spied doves lingering when I approached with my retinue. A strange sight in the mountains,” she added with a teasing smile.
Silvas groaned, wondering just how much of the bonding his mother caught.
The goddess chuckled as she turned away toward the opening of the cave. Glancing over her shoulder, she couldn’t resist making one last parting shot. “Keep in mind, if you ever tire of the silvanus, you will be welcome among us.” Then she ducked out of the cave, returning to the mountainside.
Diana pursed her lips as she stared after the goddess, caressing the bond mark on her clavicle with a fingertip. “That was…interesting.” He reached forward and stilled her hand, not wanting the flesh around it to get irritated while it finished merging. She turned around in his arms and gestured to it. “So is this… What did you do to me?”
Silvas met her eyes, feeling along their bond. She wasn’t angry or scared. He exhaled slowly. He hadn’t wanted to admit how worried he had been that she would reject the changes that would come with their bond. This was the most visible change so far, and her acceptance of it was a big step that would pave the way for her acceptance of her new life.
“It is my vinculum marcam, my bond mark. When we finished our bond, a piece of my soul separated from me to join with you just as I took you into me.” He caressed her shoulder where he could still see the pale imprint of his bite.