He stood on the rock, the cold damp wind blowing in his cat's face. His vision was clearer, his senses keener, his body stronger, more vibrant, more alive as he drank in the feel of the spirit bounding through his mind. One. After all these years, one, at last.
His gaze swung to Skye. One with his beast, perhaps, but not whole. Not completely. Not yet.
Thinking of his man form, he shifted, smooth as glass.
Belatedly, he realized the wind had stopped, the sky had cleared, and in the east, the sun was starting to rise. He reached for the beauty who owned his heart...and stopped midreach as he stared at the sleeve on his arm.
"How is this possible? I lose my clothes when I shift. I always have."
"Your gifts come through the power of your animal. You've been lacking a lot of that power." Skye's smile was the sweetest in the world. "Now that he's with you, you'll both be stronger."
He gathered her hard against him, then swung her around, laughing. Finally he set her down and turned to his men, who were all watching him, bemused.
"I don't think I've ever heard you laugh," Tighe said, a quiet grin on his face and wonder in his eyes.
"I feel...reborn," Paenther said.
His brothers gathered around him, slapping him on the back, and pulling him into hard, male hugs. His only disappointment was that Vhyper wasn't there to share it with him. But he was up at the house, free of the evil. Trust might take a while, but it would come. He had to believe that.
Lyon grasped his forearm, then pulled him into a hard hug. When he pulled back, a rare smile lit his friend's face. "You look like a new man, B.P."
"I am. Thanks to Skye." Paenther reached for her where she'd stepped aside and pulled her against his side.
Lyon held out his hand to her, his amber eyes turning serious as he offered her this purposeful act of trust.
Her expression uncertain, Skye placed her hand in Lyon's. He sandwiched it between the two of his. "The Feral Warriors are in your debt, Skye. If you ever need us, all you have to do is call. And you're welcome at Feral House for as long as you wish to stay."
Paenther watched her eyes tear as a warm, sweet smile creased her face. "Thank you, Lyon."
His heart burned with love.
Skye looked at Paenther in surprise as he gave a tug on her hand, pulling her to a stop as the Ferals and their women made their way back through the rugged, rocky woods after the ritual. She'd heard Paenther say he felt reborn, but she didn't think he had anything on her. For the first time in her life, she'd pulled good power instead of dark, without pain, and the rush had been breathtaking. Wonderful warmth had flowed through her body, full and strong and right.
She'd healed Paenther. And pleased Lyon. The Chief of the Ferals had accepted her and told her she could stay.
A bittersweet smile twisted her lips. While his offer had brought tears to her eyes, the decision wasn't hers. She could only stay if Paenther wanted her to.
"Problem, B.P.?" Tighe asked, his arm looped around Delaney's shoulders.
Paenther smiled, tumbling her heart all over again. "I just want to talk to Skye without an audience, Stripes. We'll be right behind you."
As the others passed, he took her into his arms and held her against him. Just held her, his arms telegraphing a tension that had her starting to worry. Was this when he would tell her that a part of him would always love her, but of course she couldn't stay? That he appreciated her help and wished her the best of luck in her life?
She buried her face against his warm chest and steeled herself for whatever he needed to say, refusing to let her grief show. She wouldn't do that to him. To either of them.
Paenther stroked her hair. "Look at me, Beauty."
Taking a deep breath, struggling to hide the heart that was breaking, she pulled back and looked up into his beloved face.
His expression melted, turning infinitely tender. "I love you, Skye. Since the moment I saw you in the Market, I've been obsessed with you. Even while I still thought I hated you, I was falling in love with you. And I know now that even though my panther and I are finally one, we're not whole. And we never will be without you."
Tears sprang to her eyes. "What are you saying?" she breathed.
He lifted his hand and cupped her cheek. "I want you to be my mate, Skye. To be by my side. Forever. I can't live without you."
She stared at him, hearing the words that had lived in her deepest dreams for days now. Hearing them, but not quite believing.
"Paenther...I'm Mage."
He grinned at her. Grinned. "You don't say."
But it wasn't funny. Tears burned her eyes, tears that were part joy and part heartbreak. "Don't joke, Paenther. They'll never accept me."
He was immediately serious again, but his expression never lost that wonderful tenderness.
"Don't cry, little one. They'll accept you. Sooner or later, they'll accept you. But until then, we won't live at Feral House. I'll find a place nearby and have it warded against draden attack. It'll work, Beauty. I promise. I'll make it work."
His expression became intense, almost desperate. "You're a fighter, Skye. Don't let them scare you. Please don't. Fight. For me. For us. All three of us."
"Three of us?"
A tiny smile formed on his mouth. "You, me, and the panther. He's a stubborn cuss. He's growling at me to make you say yes." He cupped her face in his hands. "You're my world, Skye. My heart. My soul."
Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead, then pulled back to look into her eyes again, love shining from his own. "Be my mate."
The tears slipped down her cheeks. "Yes. A hundred times yes, Paenther. A hundred times yes."
Paenther pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly, the kiss tender and fierce. Everything she'd ever dared dream of.
The others were waiting by the cars when they finally caught up with them.
"Skye's agreed to become my mate," Paenther announced. "We'll find a place to live not far from here."
"You don't want to live at Feral House?" Kara asked. Her gaze turned to Skye. "It's a little crazy, but I think you'd like it."
Lyon looked at his second. "I'd rather you be at Feral House, B.P." He turned to her. "If you don't want to live with us, Skye, I'll accept your wishes, but I'd like you to reconsider. I meant what I said. You're welcome in Feral House. Period. We'd be glad to have you join us as a permanent addition."
Skye looked up at Paenther, but he didn't return her gaze.
Inexplicably, his jaw had hardened. "Does that go for everyone? I won't subject her to prejudice day in and day out."
"Prejudice?" Tighe asked. "Were you paying any attention to the rest of us out there on the goddess rock? We were grinning like loons. That woman of yours has a magic touch, B.P. And I mean that in the best possible way."
Jag growled. "What if her people come looking for her again? She's ours, now. She stays here where we can protect her."
"Does that go for everyone?" Paenther asked.
To a man, they nodded. Skye felt the tears threatening to spill over again.
Paenther turned to her. "What do you think?"
She lost her battle with the tears. As they slid unheeded down her cheeks, she told them all, "I lost my family when I was eight. I've waited a long time to find another one." Her voice broke on the last.
Kara bounded over to her and wrapped her in a joyous hug. A moment later, Delaney joined them, grinning at Skye.
"What did I tell you? Wives-in-law."
Kara shook her head, looking from one to the other. "No. Sisters."
Delaney nodded. "Sisters it is."
As the women pulled apart, Skye turned to Paenther, crying openly now.
Paenther swept her into his arms, cradling her like a child as she wept.
"I hope those are happy tears."
Skye laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing wet, teary kisses to every part of his face. "What do you think?"
Paenther grinned. "I think I'm the luckiest man alive."
Skye pressed her hand to his cheek and pulled back where she could see his eyes. "I intend to make it my life's goal that you always feel that way."
The wicked gleam that entered his eyes had them both laughing. Then he kissed her, and the outside world disappeared.
Epilogue
One week later
Paenther stood at the foot of his bed, his arms crossed over his chest, one shoulder leaning against the high post, a smile pulling at his mouth as he watched Skye. She sat in the middle of his bed, her legs crossed in her brand-new fitted jeans, her slender form and small breasts displayed to fine advantage in the soft purple shirt she'd donned that morning.
On her shoulder, her cockatiel leaned forward to rub its cheek against hers. In her lap, the black schnauzer puppy played with the tabby kitten. Sweet laughter burst from Skye's throat, and he grinned outright. He'd never tire of hearing her laugh.
They'd been officially mated exactly twenty-four hours, and the Ferals were still showering her with gifts. Tighe, under Delaney's direction, had bought her two new outfits, including the one she wore now. Hawke had given her the cockatiel. Jag had dropped the kitten in her lap during the mating feast yesterday afternoon while Wulfe had left the puppy tied to their bedroom door during an intimate moment that had been quickly aborted at the sound of the animal's high-pitched cry. As she'd held the puppy with tears in her eyes, he'd quickly forgiven Wulfe the interruption.
Hell, every Feral had brought her something. Except Vhyper. Vhype spent all night every night fighting draden, usually alone. During the day he rarely left his room. Paenther had tried to talk to him, but each time Vhype had calmly, but firmly, turned him away.
Skye looked up at him, her happiness dimming. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing." Nothing a bit of Feral persistence wouldn't solve. Vhyper would come around. Paenther would see to it. Meanwhile, he wanted the happiness back at full brightness in his mate's eyes.
He grinned and shook his head at her.
"What?" she asked, laughter in her voice.
"I'm thinking we may need to buy a second house just for the animals. Maybe a farm."
She gave him an impish smile, but the touch of worry was genuine. "Do you mind?"
"Never." He sat on the bed beside her, leaned forward and kissed her. "All I want is to see you happy, and animals will always be a part of that."
She reached for him, touching his face. "All I need to be happy is you."
He kissed her again, a long lingering kiss that promised to evolve into something far deeper. Until he heard a rap at the door.
"Come in."
Lyon poked his head in the door. "You ready?"
"We'll be right there."
Skye looked up with confusion. "Are we both going?"
He stood and held his hand out for her. "Lyon's gift to you is a little complicated. We'll be gone all day. Kara's offered to watch the menagerie."
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
Several hours later, the car Lyon had rented at the airport pulled up in front of Ezekiel's house.
Skye looked at Paenther with confusion and no small amount of trepidation. Because they hadn't come alone this time. Lyon, Tighe, and Wulfe were with them, Tighe having flown them to the Outer Banks in his small, private airplane. And all four Ferals were heavily armed with knives.
Paenther squeezed her thigh as Lyon turned off the engine. "Trust us?"
She pressed her head to his shoulder. "I do. But he's Mage."
She felt Paenther's lips press against her hair. "Not all Mage are the enemy." When she looked up at him, love shone from his eyes, and something else. Something sharp and expectant.
"What's going on, Paenther?"
"I'll show you."
The four big men piled out of the car. Paenther held her hand, helping her out, and together they walked up the walk. Belatedly, it dawned on her that the Ferals hadn't asked her to lead them.
"You can see it?"
"He's expecting us," Paenther told her.
At that moment, Ezekiel opened the front door and stepped out onto the stoop wearing fresh, modern clothes, his hair clean and pulled back at his nape. As if he'd spruced up for company. Behind him stood the Shaman. A frisson of nervous excitement frayed the edges of Skye's calm. But as she accompanied the Ferals up the stairs, she felt their tension mount, and her own followed.
Ezekiel smiled at her and she went to him and kissed his cheek. "What you taught me saved the day."
"I'm glad, Skye. I'm glad. Now go on in. There's someone here who's anxious to see you."
She glanced at Paenther, who took her hand. Lyon and Tighe went through the door first. Not until Lyon nodded did Paenther lead her into the house.
Three people stood in the middle of the living room, a lovely woman with long dark hair, fine features, and tears filling her copper-ringed eyes flanked by two heavily armed Mage sentinels with looks of soft joy on their faces.
Skye stared at them, one after the other, shivers of sweet recognition fizzing beneath her skin. Her own eyes filled with tears as they found the woman and clung.
"Momma?" Her voice broke beneath the weight of her joy.
"Baby. My Skye." Her mother's voice fell on a sob. "It's really you." Skye rushed into her arms and was quickly enveloped in a group hug as the two sentinels, her beloved uncles, joined them. One by one, she looked into their eyes, seeing tears and love and warm, caring souls.