The Strangling

"It looked like magic."

He smiled. “We will talk more about that tomorrow when I can show you how the sources work, in the natural world.” He looked at her for her agreement. “Trust me?"

She nodded.

"What are the other things that you struggle with?"

"What exactly will happen on Samhain? How is it that you think we will defeat this curse?"

Bron sighed and turned away, looking into the flames of the fire. It needed another log, and he rose to his feet and collected one from the wood stack close to the door. Even as he walked back, he could not find the words. He put the log onto the fire, settling it in with the iron poker.

"In truth, I do not know.” He sat down again in front of her, drawing in his legs and settling his elbows on his knees. To see her staring at him with such trust made his chest tight, for in all honesty he could not say exactly what would occur. “The ancient scrolls give us only guidance in this. What they say is that we should believe, have faith in the ability of good over evil, of the spirit of summer over the dark forces of death and the underworld. They tell of an act of love, and one of faith."

"Will it become obvious, when the moment arrives?"

He hated to see the pucker of a frown upon her forehead. “Yes, I think it will.” He sensed belief in her but also its fragility. Again, he made plans for the morrow, when he could demonstrate the play of things, out in the natural world in the daylight. “The third thing?"

"How is it that you think I can help you? Why do you need me?” Her gaze was direct and somehow innocent.

He almost didn't want to put it into words, despite the passion they had shared earlier that day. Just thinking about it made his loins flood with desire. He smiled, reached across to lift her hand, taking her fingers to his lips. “To answer, I need to ask you a question. May I?"

"Yes, and if I can answer your question, I will."

"When we mated, did you feel that we shared something powerful?"

She stared at him. Her eyes darkened, her lips softly parting. Color rose on her cheekbones, but she did not look away. Her recognition of their arousal was growing, and as it did his carnal spirit sensed its mate stirring and signaled its pleasure inside him.

"What happened did not just happen to us,” he continued, “it affected things all around us."

"I confess I did not notice.” Her words were quiet, breathless.

"No, but in time you will notice it more, and we will nurture it together."

She nodded. She was heavily aroused, and he wanted to focus her on what was happening around them at that very moment, the changes their desire was affecting in the atmosphere.

"Let me explain it a different way. When a couple handfast, often they will choose a special place in nature's garden to make their vows, and the place is encouraged to flourish alongside their relationship."

"Yes, I've known it happen ... but that is merely a tradition. Do you really believe it is more than that, that the place can respond to their love in that way?"

Bron smiled and looked at her in the firelight. He ached to kiss her again. He reached out his hand, opening his fingers. “Put your palm to mine."

She obliged, her hand small against his.

He felt her tremble, and with that a lightning thread of heat emitted from her. Pride blossomed in his heart, for that alone proved how intimately connected they were.

"Oh.” Her lips were softly rounded in surprise.

"When we mated earlier,” he said, focusing her, “we were answering an undeniable force that had been set in motion between us. There was a connection of bodies, and there was an intimate connection of souls, as well as the passion of the moment.” He moved his hand, keeping them barely touching, but centering his desire and forcing it through his palm to hers. His skin began to heat when the connection grew strong, and she gasped when she felt it surge across her palm.

He nodded. “There was a power there, a vital life force. That power can be encouraged, shared and nurtured. It can also be redirected."

Still she stared, amazement and fascination lighting her face.

He closed his eyes and focused on his desire. His cock was rock hard to be inside her sweet, tight channel, to mate with her again. He drew on that power and sourced it into the direct link between them, their splayed palms. As he did, he heard her whimper and felt her start. Opening his eyes, he saw the bright glow between their raised hands.

Her eyes widened. Her chest was rising and falling, her breasts moving beneath the cotton shirt, her breath coming quickly.

"Feel it, Maerose; this is our desire manifest, our need for one another."