Page 55 of Dance in the Stones

Instead of touching it directly this time, Redford simply pressed his palm to the stone wall beside it, letting his gargoyle communicate with it.

The response was immediate - not words, but impressions flooding his consciousness. The castle had been dormant for so long, with centuries of emptiness, disuse, and forgetting its purpose.

When they’d touched the crystal, and their combined signatures matched what Beatrice keyed the wards to, something had clicked. The castle recognized them as belonging.

But it was still uncertain, trying to understand if they were worthy of the trust placed in them.

“It’s like an abandoned child in a way,” Redford whispered. “The last protectors left, and it’s been waiting ever since for someone to come back and need it again.”

“We’re not leaving,” Damon said out loud, addressing the stone itself. “This is our home now, and we’re rebuilding what was lost. You’re not alone anymore.”

The crystals pulsed brighter, and through the stone, Redford felt the hope shine through.

They stayed in the chamber for over an hour, Redford maintaining contact with the wall, learning the castle’s rhythms. It couldn’t speak, not truly, but it could express intent through the stone.

It had prepared those rooms for Finn and Kara because it understood they needed somewhere safe to be. Redford wasn’t sure applying mortal emotion to stones was the right thing to do, but it was as if the castle was happy that after so long, someone was asking it to fulfill its purpose again.

“It’s not just stone and magic,” Redford said as they climbed back up to ground level. “It’s...alive, in its own way. It locked us in this morning because it wanted to observe us together, and understand our bond.”

“That is a wee bit invasive,” Damon muttered.

“It could be protecting itself,” Redford suggested. “It needs to trust that we’re serious. That we’re committed to each other, to this place, and to what we’re building.”

He paused at the tower entrance, looking back down into darkness. “If you think about it in mortal terms, the castle felt betrayed by something that happened in the past, likely connected to why it closed down in the first place. We might never know what happened here, but to the castle, who’s been waiting, it might take a while to trust the new owners.”

/~/~/~/~/

That night, back at the cottage, they discovered the bedroom door was locked again, but this time the intention behind it felt different.

The fire was flickering in the fireplace, filling the room with warmth and light, and somehow…and Redford would never be able to work out why, but the bed seemed so much more inviting than usual.

“Is the castle…” Damon trailed off as he shook his head. “Is this a set up for sexy times?”

Redford turned to find his mate watching him with darkened eyes. “I think it wants to understand our bond and what we mean to each other.”

“I’ll say again, it’s a voyeuristic castle.” Damon’s voice had deepened. “Not that I really care when I’m looking at you.”

Redford cupped his face. “Maybe the castle wants to make sure we’re solid as a couple, and that we’re not going to fall apart under pressure.”

“Well, as long as the castle doesn’t interfere, I’m not complaining. I just don’t want to find the bed suddenly cut in half because the castle didn’t like the look of my ass.” Damon chuckled.

Their kiss was slow, as they took their time. The urgency from their first nights together had mellowed as they got used to each other, but the desire was still as strong. Clothes fell on the floor as they touched each other, mapping familiar territory made new somehow by the firelight and the castle’s watchful presence.

Redford pressed Damon down onto the bed, covering his body completely. Their bond amplified every sensation - the slide of skin, the catch of breath, and the building heat between them.

“Love you,” Redford murmured against Damon’s throat. “Every impossible, frustrating, wonderful part of you.”

Damon’s hands fisted in his hair. “Show me.”

So Redford did. Slowly, thoroughly, using his mouth and hands until Damon was shaking beneath him. He prepared him carefully, paying attention to every one of Damon’s responses – and there were a lot of them. When he finally pushed his cock inside, they both groaned as their arousal grew.

Moving together in the firelight, their rhythm quickened as they enjoyed the sensations. Redford loved how the bond allowed him to feel everything that Damon felt - the stretch, the fullness, Damon’s desire, and the overwhelming rightness of being together.

“Never felt so purposeful,” Damon gasped, his nails digging into Redford’s shoulders. “Never belonged anywhere until you.”

Redford captured his mouth in a kiss, swallowing Damon’s moan as he angled deeper. I was burning out. Hollowing myself out for a job that only took and took. But this - he thrust harder, making Damon cry out - building something meaningful with you. This is healing me.

They came within moments of each other, the bond amplifying those sensations as well, and when they collapsed in the aftermath, breathing hard, Redford knew there was nothing more perfect than his time with his mate.