He hadn’t expected to meet Cordelia and it wasn’t just the flowering vines that prompted his urge to marry her as quickly as possible, but also because of the passion and desire that ignited within his being the first time they kissed. Never had he wanted a woman so quickly with just the brush of the lips. In an instant, need, love and passion had filled his being as if he’d suddenly come under a magical spell. All he could think about was her and wanting her. He had experienced desire before, but never so intense that it burned within and he’d since wondered if he ever really had experienced passion before because everything he felt while kissing Cordelia eclipsed every other encounter he’d had in his life.
Damon needed to make her his. He wanted to worship and devour. To share and merge and become one. He wanted to bring her to the heights of passion until it burst into a glorious release. He wanted to give her that joy and lie in sated comfort each night for the rest of their days. Had the vines not wrapped around their legs, Damon would have swept her up in his arms and taken her to where they could be alone and he could make her his. He lost all reason and he truly meant that he’d been bewitched. She was his destiny and Damon couldn’t be more content.
In fact, that was his very first thought upon waking this morning.
He used to believe content was simply accepting circumstances when denied something more. It was such a bland simple word that in his mind he associated with boring. He’d been wrong. There was such an ease, comfort and happiness in being content. It was calm and Damon looked forward to years of such.
He would need Cordelia’s steady, quiet influence when it came to his nieces. Ianthe already relied upon her and Nephele and Clio liked her, so he need not fear them being at odds with the woman he married. It had been a worry that he’d kept in the back of his mind, even though he hadn’t intended to marry when they were this young.
There were only three matters that concerned him. The first, Miss Perkins. Though in truth, she wasn’t a worry because she would be gone in a few days. The second, the darkness that surrounded him remained; however, he’d not received word of any strangers arriving in Bocka Morrow.
Could Madam Boswell have been wrong?
Or could it be so far in the future that he could spend anxious days waiting, afraid to relax and enjoy?
The third, his guilt for not marrying a witch. Therefore, his mother would need to remain at Nightshade Manor.
Damon had put off speaking to her about it all morning, but after luncheon, he knew he had no choice. After searching the gardens, he finally found her in the back parlor reviewing correspondence.
“Might I have a moment?”
“Of course.”
“I know that Cordelia wasn’t your choice.”
“I am surprised.” She smiled and set aside the letter she’d been reading. “You may be the first of the Drakos line not to marry a witch.”
She was smiling so his mother couldn’t be too upset.
“When Gaia chooses, then we must all accept, and she is never wrong.”
“But it doesn’t free you,” he finally said.
“Free me?” She leaned back in her chair and frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“If I had married a witch, you’d not be tied to Nightshade Manor and could return to Kent.”
Her eyebrows rose as her eyes widened. “So, this other woman could train my granddaughters.”
He frowned. His mother was almost insulted by the very idea. “You wouldn’t feel trapped? Don’t you wish to be free?”
“Where did you get these ideas?” she finally asked with a chuckle.
“Miss Perkins told me that it was unfair to you because you had raised your daughters and shouldn’t be forced to teach your granddaughters.”
His mother blew out a heavy sigh. “I’ll be glad when she is gone. I was so wrong about her, which I’m trying to come to terms with because I’m rarely wrong.”
Damon was surprised she had saidrarelyinstead ofnever.
“If you were to marry the most gifted witch in all the land, I would remain here.” She leaned forward and poured more tea into her cup. “Those are my granddaughters, and they need to be taught as all those of Drakos blood have been taught. The ancestry, history, truths, beliefs and tenets. Nobody else knows what flows in our veins. I do. I will see to their education, and your sisters will as well. One day, they will have daughters and our knowledge will be passed on to another generation.”
Damon’s guilt finally eased. “I should have known better than to listen to her.”
“I hadn’t realized she was so manipulative. I believe she needs to be guided and I have considered writing to the Council.”
“Council?”
“Yes, the Witches’ Council.”
