"Blood to blood—" I claim her with every fiber of my being.
"Heart to heart—" Her moans mingle with the rush of blood as I thrust deep.
"My soul to yours—" Her body arches, offering herself completely. I fill her as the bond ignites.
"Yours to mine—" Her grip on me tightens, her nails digging into my skin—burning with passion.
"Forever bound—" Our connection explodes, threatening to consume us.
"Eternally one."
Our souls weave together in silver and gold threads. I feel her everywhere—in my blood, my mind, between each heartbeat. Her pleasure becomes mine, her breath my air, our hearts beating as one. Colors I've never seen burst behind my eyes as our spirits merge completely.
The bond pulses as her mouth leaves my throat. Every sensation magnifies—her pleasure, surrender, and fear flowing through me.
"Erik," she gasps. "I can feel you everywhere—inside me—"
I claim her mouth, tasting our mingled blood. Her emotions flood me—wonder and terror at how complete this feels. Each thrust draws shared cries as pleasure rebounds between us.
"Mine," I growl. "You are forever mine, Bryn."
Her nails rake down my back as another wave of pleasure crashes through us. "Too much," she whimpers, but her body arches up, seeking more. "I can't—everything's so intense—"
I catch her hands, threading our fingers together and pinning them above her head. "Let go," I murmur, watching tears of overwhelming sensation spill from her eyes. "I've got you. Let yourself feel everything."
The bond blazes brighter with each thrust. Her pleasure spirals with mine, threatening to consume us.
"Look at me," I demand. "Watch me make you fall apart."
Her eyes meet mine, trust warring with fear as her defenses crumble.
"I feel you," she gasps, her inner walls clenching around me. "Everywhere—in my blood—in my soul—" Her back arches as I hit deep, fucking her harder. "Erik, please—"
Her pleasure spirals through our bond until it mirrors mine, building with each thrust. Love, fear, and need tangle, pushing us toward the edge together.
"That's it," I growl as she starts to tremble. "Come apart for me. Let me feel you break, Bryn."
Her legs clench around my waist as pleasure builds. She's close—I feel it in her trembling muscles, hear it in my name falling from her lips like a prayer, feel it in how she tightens around me.
"I've got you," I promise against her throat, where my mark now claims her as mine. "Let go, little bird. Fall with me."
Her release crashes through us both as she screams my name. Her pleasure amplifies through our bond, dragging me over the edge with her. I spill deep inside as ecstasy rebounds between us in endless waves.
"Erik," she sobs, clinging to me as aftershocks wrack our bodies. "I never knew—I didn't know it could feel…"
I gather her trembling form against my chest as we collapse to our sides, still joined intimately. I feel her walls crumbling—centuries of isolation, of believing she wasn't meant for this kind of connection.
"Shh, little bird." I brush tears from her cheeks, my eyes burning as her emotions flood me. "I'm here. I'll always be here."
"I feel you," she whispers, pressing her hand against my heart. "Your love, your fear, your sadness—" A sob catches in her throat. "How did you survive being alone for so long?"
The question pierces my heart. "The same way you did. One day at a time, telling myself I didn't need this." I press my forehead to hers, letting her feel my vulnerability through our newly forged bond. "Centuries of standing in shadows, watching others find their mates, their happiness. Convincing myself that perhaps I was meant for solitude—that my darkness was too deep, my soul too scarred for such grace."
My fingers trace her cheek, brushing a strand of platinum hair behind her ear. Through our connection, I let her feel every lonely night, every empty dawn, every moment of yearning I'd buried beneath duty and control. "But now I understand, little bird. Every century of solitude was just preparing me for you. Every battle, every scar, every moment of darkness—they were all leading me here, to this moment, to you."
She raises her head, those beautiful eyes swimming with tears. "I feel it all," she breathes. "—all of you. It's beautiful and terrifying and—" Another sob. "I've never let anyone see me like this. Never let anyone past my walls."
"I know." I brush away her tears with my thumb. "Your strength has always been your shield. But you don't have to be strong alone anymore."
