Vane ground his teeth as his hand started to heat up. It took all his willpower not to thrust against her. But this wasn't his choice, it was hers.
"Now you have to say the following: 'I accept you as you are, and I will always hold you close in my heart. I will walk beside you forever.'"
Bride locked gazes with him as her own palm tickled. "I accept you as you are, and I will always hold you close in my heart. I will walk beside you forever."
Vane's eyes darkened before he repeated the vow back to her. No sooner had he spoken them than he arched his back as if he were being racked with pain.
Bride squeaked in surprise as his canine teeth grew like something out of a vampire movie.
Vane held her still while he breathed raggedly. His entire body was tense and rigid.
"It's okay, Bride," he growled. "Don't be afraid. It's just our Claiming spell calling out the thirio so that we can bond our life forces together. It'll pass in a few minutes."
"You look like you're in pain. Is there anything I can do?"
"Just wait for it to pass," he panted.
"If we bond, will it stop?"
He nodded.
"Then bond with me."
He hissed, then locked gazes with her. "Do you understand what that is, Bride?
If I die, you die with me. Instantly. Unless you're pregnant and then you will die as soon as our baby is born."
Her heartrate tripled. But as she stared down at him, it seemed a small price to pay. Did she want to live without him? "What the heck?" she said. "If we're going to do this, let's go all the way with it."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded.
Vane sat up under her. He cradled her to his chest and nuzzled her neck.
"After I bite you, you'll have to bite me back in the shoulder."
Before she could respond, he sank his teeth into her.
Bride cried out, but not from pain. An unimaginable pleasure tore through her as she felt him swelling inside her. She thrust herself against him as a divine orgasm ripped her apart.
Her vision blurred as she felt her own fangs growing in her mouth.
Something seemed to possess her until she no longer felt human.
It was Wonderful. The next thing she knew, she sank her teeth into Vane's shoulder.
Wrapped in ecstasy, they held each other as their heartbeats synchronized and the room spun around. Bride had never felt this close to another being in all her life. It really was as if they were one person, united. Physically. Spiritually. Perfectly.
Vane couldn't breathe as he tasted her. He should never have bonded with her and yet he was so grateful that she would be with him. For the first time he understood why Anya had bonded with her mate.
He didn't want to lose Bride. Didn't want to even try to imagine a single day without her in it. Now he wouldn't.
His head swam as his orgasm faded and his teeth receded. Bride pulled away and stared at him as if she were drunk.
"Is it over?" she asked.
He nodded, then kissed her. He kissed her again. "You are mine, Bride McTierney. Now and always."