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October 10 - October 16, 2025
He hissed as the tip of her finger turned icy cold against his skin. She just laughed at him, a silvery lilting sound that was more beautiful than her piano music. “Cruel, wicked thing,” he crooned against her temple, pressing a kiss to it.
“Five trials,” she said quietly, holding her hand in the air above her head, studying it. He nodded his head. “Yes. They can be done in any order and at any time, except for the first and the last ones.” With his own finger, he touched the tip of her thumb. “The first is The Claiming. When you accept and acknowledge that the twin flame bond exists. Speaking the Claiming Rite initiates the Trials and offers up a piece of your soul to the other. The second,” he said, moving to her pointer finger, “is The Rescuing.”
“That was my rescuing of you, but also when you rescued me by accepting the Mark and restoring my weakened magic and life force.”
“What is the new one?” Sorin gave her a feral grin. “The Joining.” “Hmm,” she mused. “Shouldn’t we have several new Marks by now then?”
“The Joining is physical, yes,” he said. “But it is also the joining of our souls and our magic.” “And the fourth Trial?” “The Sacrifice,” he explained. “It will test what we are willing to give for each other, for our bond.” “What of the fifth?” “The final Trial is The Anointing and can only be given after the other four have been received,”
“When we have the first four Trials completed, the connection must be anointed by a Seer who can confirm and bless the bond.” Her eyes jumped to his. “A Seer? We must go to the Oracle?”
He couldn’t help it. He needed to touch her, feel her. He needed his scent all over her. He had downplayed how possessive males became of their lovers
“A Witch lives here? In the Fire Court?” “A select few do, yes,” Sorin answered with a smile. “If they enter into a covenant with a prince or princess of the Courts.” He pointed to a Mark that was inked on the inside of his right forearm, just below the crease of his elbow.
“You will find a similar Mark on Beatrix, our Healer.” “Beatrix is a Witch?”
“All Healers are Witches. Beatrix’s dominant gift is healing, and she is one of the most skilled in all the realms, but she possesses the other Witch ...
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“Beatrix can still sanctify a marriage so that it is official for…political purposes, until the twin flame bond is Anointed,” Sorin answered. “Hmm,” she hummed, her attention having returned to her own Mark. Her lips were pursed and quirked to the side. He could tell she was thinking deeply about something. “That would probably be a good idea.” “Why?” he questioned, his fingers now lightly grazing up and down her hip and thigh. “Do I need a reason to want to marry you?”
“Maybe I just want to be able to call you husband.”
“Careful, Prince,” she crooned sensuously, “we may be twin flames, but I will still throw down with you.” Sorin chuckled, brushing another kiss to her lips. She hissed at him, but kissed him back.
“Your power will already be feared among the rest of the world, but when our magic is bonded…”
“As for your cycle…” Her eyes flew back to his, widening. “It was not normal for mortals, I suppose, but I am guessing you experience it every season rather than every month.”
“But Talwyn wasn’t lying. I did help raise her in many ways. You learn things, even if you do not want to, when you are put in that situation.”
“You do know you are Fae, my Love, do you not?” he asked in amusement. “I know, but I wasn’t raised Fae. It’s different. I learned to use my words when I am upset.” “You learned to use daggers and violence,” he said pointedly. “Semantics,”
He reached up and pulled a note from the flurries, this one from Briar. Apparently, Talwyn had summoned him as well. Of course, he didn’t know Scarlett had claimed their Courts, and thus their allegiance was now to her.
“Witches do not have a Staying like Fae do. When Fae reach a certain age, we enter a Staying, where our bodies stop aging, usually in our early twenties. Witches continue to age but very, very slowly,” he explained.
“Pick whichever one you like,” he had whispered into her ear from behind her. “Sorin, I couldn’t possibly,” she had breathed, bringing a hand to her throat as she took in the rows and rows of gleaming rings. “Of course you can. They are as much yours as they are mine,” he’d answered, pressing a kiss to her temple. “They are your family riches,” she’d argued. He had turned her gently then, bringing his brow to hers, and whispered, “You are my family, Scarlett. You are my wife. You are my twin flame. What is mine is yours, as if it has always been yours.”
and then it had turned passionate, and he had taken her right there in that room of treasures and jewels, bending her over that case of rings.
A wicked grin spread across Scarlett’s face. “I do believe my husband could rip out a throat with his bare hands if someone so much as looks at me wrong right now. I do not need a weapon.” Talwyn’s eyes went back to Sorin. “Indeed.”
“Sorin was not mistaken, Talwyn,” Ashtine replied, her eyes going to her queen. “They are not mortals. It is as if they have found a way to glamour themselves.”
There are powerful spells and charms out there. After all, I did not know about Scarlett thanks to powerful old magic.
“This is my home, and this is my family,” Scarlett answered, gesturing to the people along her side of the table.
“I can see it,” she said. “I can see that beach as if looking through a window. I am ready to go back.” “I know you are, Love,” Sorin said gently.
“Your twin flame may be a son of Anala, my queen, but your heart beats for Anahita.”
“I hope it is all right that he brought me here,” Scarlett said, her eyes going back to the horizon where the sea stretched far and wide. “This is your kingdom. You may come here whenever you wish,” Briar said simply, stepping to her side. “No,” Scarlett replied with a shake of her head. “I did not come here to take over or claim any lands. This Court is yours, Prince.” “Even then,” Briar said after a pause, “you are free to come here whenever you wish.”
They stood in silence for several more minutes, then Scarlett said quietly, “Thank you, Briar. For not leaving me out here alone.” “It is my pleasure.” His voice held complete sincerity, absent of its usual flirtatious tone and carefree attitude. He reached over and gently squeezed her hand.
“Although I do enjoy watching you two square off. I will be on your side if you prefer. Just to see Sorin squirm a bit more.” “Pot-stirrer,” Scarlett laughed as they walked a little ways up the beach. “Sorin needs someone to challenge him every once in a while. He is used to getting his way,” Briar smirked from beside her.
