"Fuck, Ten!" Delphi's head went back as she cried out, magic and pleasure burning her alive until she was glowing like a sun in his arms.
Tenebrys pulled her down harder onto him, his knot slipping inside of her. Delphi was shaking, so full she could barely get enough breath, her orgasm going on and on.
Tenebrys bent to press his forehead to hers. "Delphinium, I claim you as my mate. From this day until the day my bones are laid with my ancestors, I will protect you from all harm and put you before all others. I bind myself to you, heart to heart, soul to soul, in this life and the next," he said in an urgent whisper.
Hot magic poured into Delphi from Tenebrys and collided with the fire rose in her chest. The pressure broke, and power pulsed out of them, causing the ground to shake and the water of the spring to ripple.
Fire danced on her lips as she kissed him, Tenebrys never hesitating to accept it. He came a moment later, her name on his lips.
Delphi held onto him, her head resting against his shoulder as she tried to breathe through the magic that was binding them together. She could feel his pleasure, his emotions, and his happiness at having finally claimed her.
"I feel you," she said, awestruck.
"I feel you too," Tenebrys replied, his arms wrapping around her, making her feel warm and safe.
Delphi had never been so happy. She wanted to be with him forever and be his partner and equal in all things. Magic twisted inside her, and she cried out as her power began to burn again.
"Oh, fuck, Ten, something is…" She gripped her head as light poured from her. Her nails lengthened into claws, her incisors sharpening in her mouth.
"Delphi! What's happening?" Tenebrys sounded panicked, but she couldn't reply.
Pain shot through her skull again, quick and sharp. Two horns grew out from the top of her head before a wave of healing euphoria rolled through her.
"Ten…" She stared at him, eyes wide.
"You're okay, love. Look at me." Tenebrys cupped her cheeks. "Breathe. There you go. Again."
Delphi's panic eased enough that she held her hands out in front of her. Her nails were now long, black claws. She touched the sharp incisors in her mouth.
"What… I don't understand," she whispered. "This can't be happening."
Tenebrys touched her horns, and she shivered at the new sensation.
"They are like smaller, feminine ones of mine," he said, voice full of wonder. "What is this miracle?"
"Does this usually happen with mating?" Delphi asked, voice rising in alarm.
Tenebrys shook his head slowly. "No. I think this was your magic reacting to the magic in the mating bond."
"My magic has never done anything like this."
"Witch fire is about transmutation and creation. See those flowers?" he pointed to the delphinium flowers beside their nest of blankets. "They grew from where your blood spilled on the full moon."
"No. That is impossible," Delphi whispered, shaking her head.
"Nothing is impossible now that your magic is loose." Tenebrys touched her horns again, an adoring smile appearing on his lips. "Look at you, you are so beautiful with your little fangs and horns."
"Don't tease me! This is serious, Ten," Delphi hissed at him.
Tenebrys burst out laughing. "So fierce, my little mate."
Delphi tried to wriggle away from him and found she couldn't. It made him laugh more.
"There's no escaping me now, lover. Not until my knot goes down," he said, and rocked his hips.
Delphi moaned, her treacherous body clenching around him. "This conversation about my blood growing flowers is not over."
"It is for now," Tenebrys said, laying her back. When his hips moved again, Delphi forgot about magic flowers entirely.
