“No. Not really. Leastwise that’s not how you were raised.”

“I know I haven’t been much for thank-yous and stuff. But I get it now.”

“What’s that?”

“All the limits I used to think were so severe, so much more strict than others. You did it to keep me from being him.”

Tom snorted. “Partly I suppose. You’re headstrong. He was too. But so am I. Headstrong isn’t a bad thing. I just wanted you to have a sense that you could do anything you set your mind to. That inner strength and confidence your father lacked in the end. And then you ran off to Los Angeles and I worried so much. I just had to hope you’d snap out of it. And you did. You’ve built a good life, Dominic. You and Meriel will have a good relationship. And one day you’ll have babies and I can teach them how to fish and camp too.”

Dominic had needed to hear that. He hadn’t realized it until that very moment just how much.

“Meriel can see the marks. The protective ones on my body.”

Tom’s brows rose for a moment. “Really? Your magick works together well then? I didn’t grow up in a clan. And then once you came along I wanted to get you away from any group of witches where you might be discovered. I know the rules I was raised with, but you’ll have to teach me about your life now.”

Dominic realized no matter what else, he and Tom would get past this.

“When I first met Meriel we had this sort of … potential. Major attraction. The clans are run by full-council witches, as you know. But they’re like junior partners until they meet and do the ascension spell with their bond-mate.”

“So you were compelled to be with her? So she could take over a corner office?”

Dominic grinned. “I felt that way at first. I didn’t trust any of it, but I can’t deny the appeal. Anyway, it’s not so rare it’s only one person in the world or whatever. I could have walked away. She gave me space, gave me time as I worked it through. But I don’t want to.”

“So you’re one of them now?”

“Yes. What I choose to do is up to me. Meriel is obviously very involved. They have committees and they own several floors of a building in downtown. They have businesses and it’s all to benefit the entire clan. They’re like a giant corporation but also maybe some of the mafia too.”

It was Tom’s turn to laugh. “When you’re hiding from those who want to harm you and yours, the rules change.”

“Exactly. Anyway, not all bond-mates are romantic or sexual. Sometimes it’s just a person you’re magickally connected to. Meriel’s mother’s bond-mate is like that.”

“So what’s the catch? I mean, the bond is voluntary you said. What happens next to ascend?”

“This is how it was explained to me and I’ve found it pretty accurate. Each of us has natural defenses — barriers around our magicks. Not all witches, but a small percentage the clan witches call full-council have a way to unlock it via another person. You have to choose to let those down and marry your energy with your bond-mate. The ascension spell unlocks those walls and, well, the best way to put it is that the magick of each person works as one unit. The spell throws all the walls around our latent magick wide open. Essentially an ascended witch is operating at full capacity because there are no reserves waiting for the balance of a partner. The bond-mate is a stabilizing element to channeling all that magick. Like the third leg on a stool. I’ve got my magick, Meriel hers and then there’s our magick.”

Meriel came into the room and he turned to smile. He liked the way she looked, her hair loose, face clean of makeup.

“Am I interrupting anything?” She looked worried and he wanted to fix that.

“I was just explaining how the bond works. I was about to say that the spellwork we do together is even stronger than anything we do individually. It’s harder to break down with unraveling spells. You should see the warding she helped me do at Heart of Darkness.”

She smiled up at him.

“Can you get these potatoes on the table? I’m going to do the eggs. Scrambled okay?”

“Yes, please.” She took the potatoes and set the table, getting coffee and juice for everyone.

Chapter 21

“SO do you want to talk about it?” Meriel looked up from her meal and across the table. He’d been moody and a little distant since they’d returned from Bend. He’d thrown himself into his work, making excuses to stay at his place instead of staying with her.

He’d been fine when they were still at Tom’s. A little pouty here and there. Snippy, but he hadn’t really distanced himself until he’d pulled up at her place and said he had a lot of work to catch up on and left.

He hadn’t asked her to stay with him and she’d felt like he needed the space so she gave it to him. She’d given him a few days, knowing he was upset about his parents and probably needed a little time to process by himself without the pressure of her or Tom’s presence.

But this had gone on long enough and she was done. They had a life together and it was time to remind him that she was part of it.

“About what?”

“Really?” She sent him a raised brow.

“Look, it’s over and done with. The past is the past.”

“Really?”

He sighed. “I don’t want to do this.”

“Hm. Too bad. I do. You can’t just pretend you’re not upset about all you learned when we were at Tom’s. I get it. How can you not be? I’m not going to judge you for your feelings. I just want you to talk to me so we can work our way around it.”

“I can’t emote on demand.”

“I’m not asking you to. I’m asking you to share yourself with me. I’m not looking for tears or rages, unless that’s how you feel and you want to do that. But you’ve avoided me for four days. If you’re angry at me, let’s talk about it so we can work it out.”

“It doesn’t matter. You think what you think about her and I think what I think. Anyway, just because we’re bonded doesn’t mean I have to vomit all my feelings at all times for your amusement.”

She stood and grabbed her purse, clamping down on her own hurt. “You’re right. You can’t. And if sharing with me makes you feel that way, there’s nothing more for me to say. I’ll be away until Friday. I’ll call you when I get back.”

She’d hoped he would come after her, but he remained seated so she took her coat and left Heart of Darkness, running into Simon on the way to the door.

“Meriel. It’s good to see your pretty face.” He bent to hug her. And then when he pulled back he took a good look. “Don’t tell me he’s still locked up.”

“He doesn’t want to share with me and I can’t make him. But I can’t sit here knowing he’s upset and that he won’t open up even a little. I know it’s still new between us, but I can’t feel this way and I don’t think it’s helping him either. Keep an eye on him please. I’m going to San Francisco. I’ll be back Friday.”

“Give him a chance. He’s never had anything even remotely like what he’s got with you. It makes him vulnerable to share. He doesn’t know how to do it right.”

“I know. I’m not walking out on our relationship. Just this moment in time. I brought him dinner. I try to talk to him. He ignores me. He hasn’t slept over in a few days. He’s shutting me out of his life so until he’s ready to let me in, I have to be patient.” But it hurt too much to stay around just then. She wanted him to come to her and share. Understood why he hadn’t yet, but it left a lump in her throat and hurt her stomach.

“He’s been working too much. I think he slept here last night. Though I did notice he’s got one of your T-shirts as a pillowcase, so he’s not as tough as he tries to come off. Will you be safe? I mean, away from here when all this stuff is happening?”

“Yes. I’ll be on Owen land with other Owen witches. Life goes on. I can be there for him, and I am, but I can’t experience his grief and his guilt. I have to go. Please watch him. If anyone suspicious comes around, will you let me know?”