I awoke to evening.

  Through the window, I could see a slice of the Arc against an indigo sky. As I watched, a green-blue moon sailed between adjacent rings, and then disappeared from my sight.

  I attempted to sit up, but the room swirled around me. I was still naked but was now covered by a coarse wool blanket that rubbed uncomfortably against my nipples. I turned my head to the right and saw the body that I had recently inhabited.

  "Charlie?” he said.

  "Circe," I corrected.

  He nodded, “I’m Cormac."

  I could feel a pull between us as though something was tugging me towards him. It was as though I stood at the top of an icy slope and was on the verge of sliding down. I heard Elandra speak urgently, and strong arms slid into my body and lifted me from the bed. I looked up to see Rory's face. He turned and carried me out the door down the hall to another room. He laid me on the bed, tucked a pillow under my head, and walked over to close the door. He stood by the entrance, observing me.

  The force pulling me to Cormac had lessened, but I could still feel a connection. I focused my sight and realized that the cord between us was still present. Blue fibers emerged from my body, passed through the door, and presumably terminated with Cormac. I could see no way to sever the linkage.

  Oh, wait.

  I sat up on the bed. The blanket slipped from my shoulders and fell to my waist. Rory’s eyes dropped to my chest, and then, with an effort, he looked up into my eyes.

  “You can look,” I said. “It’s sort of the point.” My palms were damp, and I resisted the impulse to drag the blanket back up.

  He nodded but held my gaze and did not move from the door.

  “Do you find me—” I swallowed, “—disagreeable?”

  “Oh, no.” He licked his lips. “You are beautiful, my lady…”

  “Circe,” I said.

  “Circe?”

  “She was a sorceress from my world. She loved many men, including a warrior and sailor called Odysseus, who travelled far. Some say that she was the daughter of Hecate.”

  He stiffened at the Goddess’s name.

  “So then,” I said, “why the hesitation? Is there another woman?”

  His face crumpled and his shoulders began to shake. I threw off the blanket and walked over him. I took his arm and led him over the bed. We sat down, side by side.

  “Talk to me,” I said. I reached over and wiped his cheek.

  We sat in silence for a minute. Then: “The pairing between a Mage and her Blade varies widely, Lady Circe. For most, it is a contractual arrangement for a set time. Sometimes only days. Sometimes up to a year. They work together, fight together, then go their separate ways.” His voice was hoarse. “But sometimes, a pair falls in love. And then, they may decide to bond.”

  “Do you mean in marriage?”

  He shook his head. “Far beyond that. I cannot fully describe it to you, except to say that it is a shared experience that lasts for life.”

  “Soulmates.”

  “Aye.” He nodded. “You have the right of it. It only happens once in your life, if at all. And—” he paused as I brushed another tear from his eye, “—few are so lucky.” He unbuttoned his shirt and opened it. A vivid tattoo was inked into his torso, spreading from the right side of his neck. It curled over his chest, spilled down to the abdomen and disappeared into his pants. The image showed twisted vines bearing red and purple flowers vaguely reminiscent of roses. Leaves splayed on either side.

  “When we bond the mark appears.” He ran his fingers over the pattern. “It comes from the Mage, as a gift to the Blade.” He stared sightlessly at the wall. “Hers matched mine.”

  He paused. “I bonded with Stella three years ago. We knew of the rumours of the demons. But we had no way of knowing what the future would bring, so we had a daughter.” He blinked. “The next two years were a nightmare. We were tasked with protecting our village, then escorting its inhabitants through the passes to the north. Always fleeing. Always keeping our child close to us.”

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “You could have left,” I said. “Surely you had that choice?”

  He gave me a crooked grin. “And you could have run from the fire.” He shrugged. “As your companion said, sometimes there is no choice.”

  I slipped an arm around his waist. He stiffened and then leaned into me.

  “So, we struggled towards the border. The night before we crossed, I left Stella in our tent with our daughter as I walked the perimeter. But—” he drew a shuddering breath, “—one of the demons must have infiltrated the camp. The first I knew of it was when my bond to Stella broke.” He was openly crying now, and I held him close. “I killed the collared as he emerged from our tent. When I entered, I saw Stella standing over the burning body of our child,” His voice was a whisper. “She was wearing a collar. And when she began to form another fireball to kill me as well—” His body rocked back and forth. I held him tightly. “—I ran her through.”

  “Rory,” I said, “I’m so sorry.”

  He rested silent in my arms for a couple of minutes.

  “I asked to stay behind and block the pursuit,” he said. “But my General told me to guard Elandra. He told me I could seek my own death only when she had accomplished her quest. So, I came here.” He turned to face me. “But I am so frightened, Lady Circe. I killed my bonded Mage. I had no business protecting Elandra. I am not the right choice to watch over you. And you should know—” he gazed into my eyes, “—that I cannot love you. Once a bonded’s mate dies, we do not join again. We may take partners, but they never endure.”

  “Rory,” I said. “You did not kill Stella. When I was in a trance in the other room, during the transfer, I spoke to Hecate.”

  He looked at me incredulously.

  “Some of which we talked about is not mine to share. But she told me that once a person is collared, they die. There is no return. The person you killed was no longer your bonded. She had passed before you entered the tent.”

  He let out a deep breath. “The Gods so seldom speak to humans—” he searched my face, “—what else did she say? That you could tell me?”

  I thought. “Well, she mentioned her sister, Athena.”

  He jerked slightly. “We almost never use her name. She is our Goddess of War and Wisdom.”

  “As I gathered. If I had to guess, Athena will likely have her own conversation with Cormac.”

  “Cormac?”

  I jerked my head towards the corridor.

  “Ah. He has taken a new name as well.”

  “Yes. And—” I felt myself blush, “—Hecate told me that I would have her other aspects.”

  For the first time, Rory smiled. “And do you?”

  I bent my head. He crooked a finger and lifted my chin, so I faced him.

  “I don’t know.” I was stammering, suddenly aware of my nudity. My nipples were aching, and there was a steady pulse between my legs. “I—I’m frightened. I have no idea what I’m doing. I know we must—”

  Rory kissed me. He gave no warning; his lips were on mine, and his left hand cupped the back of my head. My body stiffened, and then I sank into his embrace. I felt his right hand slide up my flank, and his thumb brushed the underslope of my breast and slowly circled the nipple. I gave a small moan, and as my mouth opened, his tongue slid in between my teeth. My arms wrapped around his back and pulled him into me.

  He pulled back and I gave a small whine of protest. His hand slipped off my neck and slid under my buttocks. He lifted me off the side of the bed and deposited me on my back on the mattress. His legs straddled me and he leant down and gently bit my right nipple, then swirled his tongue around it. I whimpered involuntarily as he transferred his attention to the other breast.

  His head moved down further as his tongue and lips explored my abdomen. His hands slid to my inner thighs and pulled my legs apart. He kissed my mons and my hips thrust upwards of their own accord.

  When he slipped his tongue into my slit, I lost all control. I heard myself cry out, and my hands grasped his hair and pulled his head further into my groin. I felt his fingers slide deep inside, and his tongue began to circle my clit in a steady, sensual rhythm. My legs spread fully apart as I gave myself up to his caresses. Each time I began to shake he would stop licking me and begin to kiss my thighs again, until I was crying in frustration. Only when I begged him did he continue until I released.

  My first orgasm as a woman shook me like a leaf in a hurricane and was unlike anything in my experience. The pleasure consumed my entire body, rose to a peak, drained me, and surged repeatedly. I became aware that Rory was holding me around my hips as my shuddering slowly faded away. He raised his head from my pelvis and smiled gently, then bent down and kissed me softly. I shivered and cupped his cheek, then tugged his hair.

  “Do you need to rest?” he asked.

  “I need you inside me. Now.” My voice was hoarse, and I could feel fluid running down my thighs.

  He rose to his knees as I sat up and tore at his shirt. I was growling in frustration as I pulled at his buttons. He stood up and dropped his pants. I stared at his erection and licked my lips.

  He positioned himself over me, the tip of his penis brushing my vulva. I raised my hips and tried to impale myself on him.

  “I’ll be gentle,” he said.

  “You did gentle,” I gasped. “I want you.” I struggled to pull him nearer. “Please.”

  He leaned over me and stared into my eyes. I felt him penetrate me in a single motion and I screamed with delight. He hesitated and I pulled him tight.

  “Don’t stop,” I begged. “Just—don’t. Ohhh.”

  He began to pound me with a steady rhythm. The sensation of being filled with his cock was indescribable. Every time he plumbed me, I would cry out. I could feel my next climax building, bit by bit, until I felt that I stood on the edge of a cliff.

  I fell. I dimly heard myself screaming as my pelvis contracted and thrust. Rory moaned and I felt him shudder as he released deep inside me. I clamped down on his cock and tried to milk him of every drop.

  I opened my eyes, and found him staring at me, his face worried.

  I could barely see the thread connecting me to Cormac.

  I smiled at him, pulled his head down, and kissed him full on his mouth.

  “Rory,” I said, “Can we please do that again?”