Jackie laughed. “Gee, thanks, Mama.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be here when the time comes. And yes, I’ll think about moving here. I want to know my granddaughter.” She hugged Jackie again. “I think that elven woman dressed inGelsemium sempervirenswants to start.”
* * *
The ceremony was short and sweet. Guivre herself, resplendent in green vines with yellow flowers, acted as celebrant. She bound their hands together with a strand of spider web. “As you have already dedicated yourselves to one another in the shifter way, all that is left for me is to wish you a long life filled with health and happiness. The strength of love is not just the grand, but the small—the tiny gestures, the quiet thoughts, the anticipation of needs. Your children will feel it and learn from you, and all the world will be the better for it.”
She waved two fingers. The spider web settled into the skin of their wrists, making a complicated knotwork pattern before it vanished. Jackie felt the wave of subtle but powerful magic course through her, and she knew Trevor felt it, too. “Now you will always know where the other is, in this world or any other.”
Guivre splayed her fingers, and the shaded glade lit up with thousands of pinpoint lights. “I, for one, would like some fairy sundew.” She pointed to the table with a stack of full champagne glasses. “First round is on me.”
The attendees laughed and cheered as Trevor drew Jackie into his arms for a passionate kiss that left her no doubt what they’d be doing as soon as possible.
Before they could step away, Guivre touched Jackie’s forearm. “The glade welcomes you and accepts your pledge of defense. Talk to Iolo Maxen about honing your talent for making talismans. You’re a natural, and your talent will grow with time.” She touched Trevor’s hand. “The glade also welcomes you and accepts your pledge of defense. It’s been too long since we’ve had an Ice Age shifter gracing our presence. We are honored.”
“A what?” asked Trevor.
“AnArctotherium.From what is now called South America. Even ogres would hesitate to take on a bear of your size, with those claws.” Guivre cocked her head, and subtle magic flared. “I see. Your parents were imbeciles to drive you off.” She shook her head. “Regular shifters of this age instinctively fear you because you’re a predator of predators. Corrupt alphas like Roehm fear you most of all, because not even magic can make you submit.” Guivre smiled. “You are a gift of your moon goddess, born in mystery in times of need. Your mate will be, too, when you change her.”
Trevor frowned. “Whose magic? My mother’s? She says she doesn’t have any, that Aunt Straya got it all.”
Jackie narrowed her eyes. “Whose need?”
Guivre nodded at Jackie. “The world’s. Extraordinary beings for extraordinary challenges.” She smiled slightly. “Unfortunately, the unseen gods are always coy as to what those challenges are, until after the fact.”
Jackie rolled her eyes. “Just like politicians.”
Guivre laughed, and the glade echoed with the tiny shimmer of bells. “Yes, very like.” She stepped back and waved toward the guests. “Go celebrate with your families and make new friends.”
She turned and stepped daintily toward the red wyvern, who was crouching in the trees. She spoke in an unfamiliar language. The wyvern lowered his big head to the ground. There was something sad and soulful in the opalescent eyes.
Jackie slipped her hand into Trevor’s and felt the mate bond spring to life. “Come on, handsome, let’s do as we’ve been told.” She moved closer and gave him a provocative smile full of sin. “After that, I’m planning on a wild ride or two on my cowboy.”
He laughed as he scooped her and her amazing dress up into his arms and kissed her, then spun her in a circle. “You’re killing me here.”
She laughed. “Right back at you, cowboy.”
He set her back down on the ground and slipped his hand in hers.
She felt a familiar urge and sighed. “Do you suppose the glade heart has a place to pee?
