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The Mating Bond opened. Bright white light bloomed at the base of my soul like the trumpet-shaped blossoms of a Morning Glory greeting the early morning sun. In the next beat of my heart, a pink sparkling stream sprang to life and shot straight toward Knox.

Warmth moved between us in bronze-gold with earth-gold, sky-blue, and those blasted pink sparkles threading through it. Emerald flashed with happiness where Sully’s joy met Neysa’s bright, ancient presence. Two souls recognized what both hearts had already answered.

Not ownership. Not a cage. Connection.

Then the pink sparkles got brighter and drifted through the gorgeous Magic. Of course, they did. Those blasted sparkles.

I looked down at them. “Don’t.”

Knox’s eyes flicked to the sparkles, then back to my face. “I didn’t say anything.”

“Your face did.”

His mouth twitched. “Tactical.”

“You’re learning.”

Knox lifted one hand slowly, giving me every chance to step away. I answered by closing the distance myself.

“I don’t know how to do this,” he said.

“Neither do I.” I let that truth settle between us, then smiled. “Good. We’d probably hate doing it the normal way.”

His answer was to kiss me.

No thunderclap wrote Fate across the sky. No Bond snapped shut like a trap. The Magic stayed open around us, warm and bright and chosen, while Knox asked with every careful touch and I answered by pulling him closer.

I asked, too, fingers curled in his shirt, my answer clear in the way I stayed close. He stopped long enough to look at me, really look, and nod once before he kissed me again.

Everything was reciprocal. Question and answer. Want and permission. Choice meeting choice.

Knox broke the kiss abruptly, as if one more second of thinking might ruin his courage. Scooping me up, he made it three determined steps before I said, “I do have feet, ya’ know?”

“I thought this would be easier.”

“I’m too heavy to be carried.”

“No, you are not. Trust me.”

And I did.

He made it one more step before I asked, “Do you know where we’re going?”

He stopped. His brow furrowed. “Well, no. I, umm…”

Guy poked his head out the door. “Hey, Bro. Catch.”

Something silver flashed through the air. I raised my hand and caught the key before Knox could shift his grip.

“Nice catch,” Guy said.

“I’m good like that.”

Knox looked from the key to Guy. “Where am I going?”

Guy laughed. “Behind the house is a guest cottage. Bernie keeps it made up for when her sister comes to visit.”

Knox was already moving down the steps while Guy was still talking. “Thanks, Brother. Talk to you later.”