Lethe knelt next to the sofa. "Hello there, witch," he said softly and she opened her eyes to smile at him.

"You were mean," she informed him, shifting a bit. He smiled back, but with darkness in his eyes that she didn't like. "What's wrong?"

"We've always maintained honesty between us for the most part and I find myself unable to break that habit."

"That's a good thing." she pointed out. "What did you find out?"

"They took part of your soul to the underworld," he said flatly and watched fear flood her eyes.

"I'm not ready to make that journey yet," she said with a bit of panic in her voice. His strong fingers went through her hair and held on.

"I'm not ready for you to make that journey either," he said firmly and the panic died back. That easily, he marveled. Her hand covered his and the slowly creeping iciness of it reminded him of what he had in his pocket. "I do have a way to keep you here until that part is retrieved, but it is complicated. And you aren't going to like it. For that matter, neither do I."

"Spell it out, faery," she said with an attempted light tone.

"You need an anchor. Something forbidding you from crossing over completely. That won't allow you to do so."

"I thought you had already done that." she joked.

His face remained serious. "Something that will bind you here. Our deal is what saved you, to begin with, I think. Not taking my payment last time bound you to a debt..."

"What do you want to bind me to?" she interrupted. He held her gaze.

"Me. Using one of two ways to bind one soul to another in the faery way. Handfasting is not an option for me..."

"We've gone over that. You have reasons and knowing you, really good ones. What is the second option?"

He took out the simple band and held it out for her to see. "A slave's bond. One that has to be ..."

"You're serious."

"It is temporary. Your aunt is working on a way of getting your soul back or anchoring you here. This is just until she does." he rushed on desperately, seeing the darkening look in her eyes. "It is one that has to be done voluntarily through seven steps..." he stopped when he saw the tears. He stood and turned around to stare into the fire. "I know how this seems, in light of our deal. My incubus touch will only last so long as I am not a born incubus. After that, you will grow cold again even with the touch repeated. It will get worse until you fade completely." He said, the fear roughening his voice. "There is one more thing, just to keep things fair. You'll have my word that no further negotiation will take place until after your soul is whole again and the band is off of you." There was silence behind him. "Say something," he said harshly.

"Like what? Thank you for trying to save my soul and my life? Damn you for not finding any other way to do it? Scream out that it isn't fair?"

"That about covers it," he said morosely.

"How about this? I love you for trying to do all of it and being willing to risk my condemnation to save me," she said from right behind him, right before her arms slid around his waist. He stilled. Love? Why did she have to speak of love? "And I trust you not to take advantage of it. Now put it on me. At least, I'll have matching gauntlets." He turned and slid his arms around her. Love always changed things.

"I give you my word on something else," he said thickly. She rested her head on his chest. "I swear to you, I will make her suffer as no one else has ever suffered for turning you even temporarily into a slave. That is not who you are meant to be. You should be free." She smiled tiredly. That was as close to a declaration of love as she would get from him. She'd take it.

"Damn straight. Then I get to kick her ass for hurting you. Then you can kill her." she leaned heavily on him as the room spun. Then tilted as he scooped her up and set her back on the sofa in his lap.

"You're getting cold again." He wrapped the blanket around them both. "There are seven steps to this but we want to try and draw out the process as long as possible to give your aunt time. Each step is essentially a repeat of the last. The first will hold you to me for a while so we can draw that out but after that, the process has to be by a certain time frame or the magic fades. You won't actually be compelled to obey me completely until after the seventh step is taken."

"What's the first step?"

"Saying that you give everything you are to me and are bound to my will. Then I slide it onto your wrist. For each time I get you to say it after that, another band will loop around your arm."

Astra grinned in spite of herself. "Each time you get me to say it?"

He smiled reluctantly, in response. "I thought it an apt way to follow the guidelines of the process and still keep ourselves entertained. I'll still be bound by the rules of our deal so it should get interesting."

"And frustrating."

His smile grew wicked. "No, not necessarily. You're forgetting the negotiations we held in the dark. You wanted more. And I'll see that you get it."

She had chills that had nothing to do with her missing piece of soul. "Lethe?"

"Hmmm...?"

"I give myself to you, all that I am or ever will be. Body, magic, mind, heart, and soul. I surrender my will to yours." She held out her wrist, meeting his eyes. "I trust you," she said softly.

He slid the band around her wrist. "I won't betray that trust."

A sudden gripping inside her had her gasping as the band fastened itself around her wrist. Warmth flooded her veins and her head went back against his chest. Relief and remorse warred inside him as he felt her warmth again. Her arms slid up to go around him from behind her.

He watched as the band with his name on it went past the mark on her neck. A darkly satisfied feeling went through him and drowned out the sick worry. He bent his head as her arms looped behind his neck. "My witch and no other's." he purred. She smiled with her eyes closed, reveling in the heat surging through her.

"Lethe.." she murmured, moving against him.

"Not a good time to say my name like that." he pointed out. She tilted her head back and looked at him dead in the eyes. Then poured all the heat and longing he'd left her with before into her voice.

"Lethe.." she purred. "I'm feeling....defiant."

Lust surged through him. "And I'm feeling possessive. The difference between us now?" He slid his hands down her, treasuring the feel of her moving against him. He cupped her and pressed her back against him. "Now my hands can do as they please," he whispered in her ear.

"Would the rest of you want the same privilege?" she asked unsteadily. It was a decision she'd come to watching him stare into the fire.

"No negotiating until you are free again." he reminded her, his hand sliding away.

"You always swore that this wouldn't be covered in our negotiating," she replied. "I'm asking if your intentions remain as they did when I ate from your hands."

"I won't have you making this decision rashly," he said harshly. "We have time..."

"I want to make this decision now, while I know it is me making it. While you know it is me making it. I'm not saying do it now. But I am letting you know that if you want me, the option is.."

His mouth covered hers, silencing her for a moment. "This is not a question of me wanting you," he informed her. "I've wanted little else since the moment I saw you pull a knife on me. So I'll ask you this and I want an honest answer. Would you be offering if the situation were different?"

She hesitated. "How am I supposed to answer that when the situation isn't different?"

"Then we'll wait. And if you feel the same later, then I won't ask if you're sure." She stood, agitated and he followed her.

"I don't want to die not knowing..."

"You're not going to die," he growled. "And you're not becoming a slave. We're fixing this and there will be plenty of time for me to show you all manner of delights."

"I'm scared, Lethe," she said quietly. His hands slid up and around her, pulling her back to him, securely.

"I'm not." he lied without hesitation. "You are going to be fine."

"You are that sure?" she said, turning and looking up at him. He bent his head and kissed her lightly.

"Yes. Now, where were we? Ah." He lifted her until her legs looped around him. "It is time for me to start working on getting you to take the next step." The way she curled into him told him that she needed a distraction. She needed something to make her stop thinking about this. And dammit, so did he. "Let's have a bit of fun with this, shall we?" he suggested, walking towards the bed.

"I thought you said no negotiating," she said forcing a smile.

"I was thinking more along the lines of the curtains coming down. For us both." Her head rose as he reclined back on the bed with her still wrapped around his waist. The canopy curtains fell.

"For us both? I thought you said..."

"There are things we can do together without completing the act. And while I can't use my mouth where I'd like,..."

"The curtains are down." she interrupted. He paused. "That means something in our deal."

"Alright then we can take turns," he said softly.

"Turns?"

"I do believe I've neglected to think of the pleasures of letting you explore." he grinned at her confusion and lifted her hands to his chest. His shirt vanished as her hands made contact.

"Oh." she realized. "You mean letting me explore you."

"Exactly. Afterward, we can discuss adding a second band to that arm if you find me to your liking. And since the canopy is down, that discussion will be very pleasurable for us both."

"There are a few things I've always been curious about," she admitted. Heat flared in his eyes as her hands absently stroked his skin.

"Then I must insist you satisfy that curiosity. And since I'm so generous, I'll add that your hands and mouth are free to be as curious as they like," he said, his voice deepening with just a touch of a purr.

"In that case," she leaned down and closed her mouth around his jaw, stroking it with her tongue. His hand slid up into her hair. She played with it for a few minutes, drawing a growling purr from his throat. She pulled back, scraping her teeth along it as she did. His eyes were rimmed in blue and she caught her breath. "You are so gorgeous," she said softly. His eyes warmed even as his heart still galloped under her fingertips.

"Where do you want my hands, sultry witch?" he asked, combing his fingers through her hair. She giggled a bit then bit her lip to think.

"When I'm close enough, in my hair. When I'm not, holding on to anything they can."

His blood went hot. "You mean for your head to be out of reach of my hands, do you?"

She grinned at the growl in his voice. "Well, it is only fair. You know what I taste like."

"You should be warned of something. It is going to have an effect on you if you fully satisfy...your curiosity."

She tossed her hair back. "Something to look forward to then." He laughed.

"Well then, consider me your playground."

There was a rustling from the other side of the curtains. Instantly, shadows enveloped the inside of it and Lethe rolled, putting her on the other side of him. Few knew how to enter his chambers or that they even existed, but he was taking no chances.

"Lethe, lower the shadows. I came to give an update." Marcus' voice had hope jumping into both their heads. The shadows receded and Marcus drew back the curtains. She stayed on the other side of Lethe for modesty's sake but peeked over his shoulder.

"Well, has she found another way?" Lethe demanded. Marcus shook his head regretfully.

"No."

Lethe muttered a curse under his breath. "Then what do you want? We're busy."

"I wanted to let you know that when you kill Lorrielie, you aren't killing the Unseelie queen. I stripped her of her rank and banished her from the courts. The balance won't be thrown off by blood."

"I don't really care. Either way, she was dead." Lethe said coldly. Marcus smiled a bit when Astra nuzzled Lethe's bare shoulder. The shadows still hovered around her in tendrils.

"I know, but now I won't have to do anything about it. I'll let you get back to what you were doing. How are you feeling? Your aunt would want me to ask."

"I'm feeling better, for the moment," she said in a determinedly cheerful tone. Lethe's hand went up and covered hers. "You can tell her that while I'd really like to avoid finishing out the slave deal, that she doesn't need to worry about me until after she's figured out how to prevent it."

Marcus inclined his head. "I'll do that. You should know that I have a vested interest in this now too. After all, I can't very well let my niece fade into the Underworld, now can I?" At Lethe's impatient look, he stepped back. "But I said I was going. Good luck and let us know if you need anything." he vanished and the curtains slid closed again.

"Did he marry my aunt when I wasn't looking?" she demanded. Lethe nodded. "Why didn't you tell me? That's information I want."

"I was distracted by other things." he reminded her, his voice taut. "If you don't mind, I need a moment." He slid out of her arms and past the curtains.

She wrapped a sheet around her and followed.

He was standing in front of the fireplace, hands fisted at his sides. Shadows wound their way around him. He wasn't angry so that meant... he had lied to her before, she realized. Instead of the disappointment that usually followed that, she felt her heart warm. He'd lied to comfort her.

He was scared for her. Meaning he needed the distraction every bit as much as she did.

He heard her footsteps on the carpet and turned, prepared to drive her back to the bed. She approached with sure strides, letting the sheet fall as she did. His mouth went dry and desire shot through him, like a bolt of lightning.

By the gods, she was magnificent. Fire shot through his veins with a molten strength as every detail was seared into his mind. He took a step back away from the fireplace to watch her approach him. The firelight played over her flushed skin and glinted in her mane of hair.

"I wasn't done with my playground." She slid her hands down his chest, slowly easing him backward. She stopped and smiled at the aroused shock in his eyes. As often as he put that look in her eyes, it felt incredible to do the same for him.

"Weren't you?" he said softly, hands going through her hair. Hers' slid past his waist and stroked the full hot length of him. His knees almost buckled, telling him it was time for him to sit. He went back onto the sofa and she followed until she was crouched in front of him. Her hands rested on his thighs as she looked up at him.

"No. And I don't intend to be for a while."

Her hands glided over his heated skin and a hum of pleasure escaped her. She discovered what made him shudder and found that spot that had him groaning. Everywhere her hands roamed, her mouth followed. His eyes slid closed as hot pleasure enveloped him. Fire seemed to leave her fingertips and sink in wherever they went.

It had been ages since he'd allowed anyone to touch him. And now, as her hands stroked, he wondered why he hadn't asked for this before. Her hands slid past his waist again and nearly destroyed him. A curse escaped his lips as her hands encircled him and caressed lightly. Then hesitated.

"Lethe," she spoke softly. He opened his eyes and looked at her. "I want to taste you but..."

"But what, Astra?" he growled. "By all means, taste me." Her eyes faltered and she looked away. Was his witch still shy? After all of this?

"I want you to like it and I don't know how."

He let out a laugh and let his head fall back. "Just explore. You've done nothing I haven't enjoyed. I trust your instincts."

Instincts? Ok, just do what felt natural. She was about to do something that the thought of had always repulsed her before now and he was relying on her instincts.

Before him. That was the key. Astra had never even considered this before meeting him. She placed a slightly trembling hand at the base of his throbbing manhood to steady him as she lowered her mouth down over him. Pulling him in until she felt him touch the back of her throat. She felt his shiver of anticipation as she pulled him partially from her mouth. The taste was nothing as she'd imagined and was something she was beginning to crave with a voracious hunger. Confidence growing, she lowered her mouth over him again, engulfing the head of his penis and began using her tongue to create a suction lock on him, feeling more and more empowered as she felt his body react.

Repulsion is not what she felt now as his taste filled her mouth.

The flavor was intoxicating and she wanted more. This time, she took what she craved for herself. Suckling and tasting, she left nothing unexplored.

Thick shadows filled the room and his hands tangled in her hair as she followed every instinct she had. One of her hands went up and laced through his. The other began stroking with every retreat of her mouth. His encouraging and, at times, demanding words rang in her ears. She relished the tightening of his grip and the growling in his voice as she drew it out. Her name broke from his lips again and again in a litany of increasingly desperate praise.

Fire raced through his blood and exploded into pleasure in her mouth. Much as he had done before, she slid up against him and kissed him with his taste still in her mouth. He kissed her back, letting her take his mouth in a slow sumptuous kiss. She bit his lip as she pulled back, sending aftershocks through his system.

"You were right." she murmured as that same fire began building in her veins. He tilted her eyes up to meet his. Fire filled hers' and he smiled breathlessly.

Pleasure sang through his veins as it so rarely did. And she was as aroused as if he'd been the one using his mouth. He was completely lost, so lost that he didn't care about anything but her.

"This is still your playground." he reminded her huskily.

"I'm tired of playing alone," she replied.

"Then convince me to come out and play." he dared. Hesitating for a moment to think, she took his hands in hers and ran them slowly up her sides. Using his hands to caress her legs, her hips, her waist. Then she slid them back down. Each time brought his hands closer and closer to her chest. Right before they would have cupped her breasts, she let go of his hands and cupped them with her own.

"Lethe." His eyes shot up to meet hers', full of blue fire. "Come and play." She turned and rested her back against him as she moved her hands. Then smiled when his hands slid up to cover hers.

"Lets' play," he said hoarsely, standing and pulling her up with him. Maybe he had been enchanted, after all, he thought. He kept her hands underneath his as he began to caress her, intent on driving her as crazy as she had made him. Yet, soon, his intent was forgotten as she moved against him in response.

Moved against him with no restraint and he vowed that restraints were one thing he would never use on her again. He slid his hands down and began stroking, suddenly feverish to hear her cries of pleasure.

"Fly free." he murmured huskily and almost broke her heart, even through the pleasure.

"Only if you come with me," she responded, one arm looping around his neck and the other going behind her to stroke him as he did her.

"This is going to end with us on the floor if you keep that up," he warned, with a laugh in his voice. She grinned and lightly squeezed.

"I thought you were the one keeping that up." she teased then moaned as his finger dipped inside for a moment.

"No. That's all you." he nuzzled her neck and wrapped his arm around her waist to steady himself. Within minutes, his words proved prophetic. They both ended up on the floor when their legs gave out. Her laughter rang out as their breathing evened.

A chill went over her and her laughter died on a shiver. He ran his hands over her and felt the ice creeping back over her skin. The sick feeling lodged in his stomach again, but he was determined to keep it light. He shifted them around until he leaned against the sofa with her still snuggled up against him.

"So am I to your liking?" he murmured against her hair. She tilted her head to look at him and caught sight of the darkness in his eyes that belied his seductive tone. Then smiled and nodded.

"Yes. Very much so. I'll allow the second band."

The words left her mouth and the gripping feeling returned briefly. She closed her eyes and leaned back into him. She hadn't even noticed the cold but now she noticed the warmth flooding her.

"We cut that close, didn't we?" she said quietly and his arms slid around her. He rested his chin on her head. Tension radiated off of him.

"Yes." He was silent for a moment then spoke again his tone taunt. "I want to say something I haven't found it necessary to say very often in my lifetime."

"Uh oh." she teased. "What's that?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" she started to turn to look at him again but his arms tightened. "Hey now. I want to see your face when we talk about serious stuff." Reluctantly, his arms loosened. She turned, straddling his legs. His arms settled around her. It was amazing how quickly she'd grown accustomed to being naked around him, she thought wryly. "So what are you sorry for?"

"For involving you in faery politics. I shouldn't have shown myself to you or visited you that night. And even after that, I shouldn't have returned. If I hadn't, you wouldn't be in the position you are in right now."

She grinned and wiggled a bit on his lap. "I like my position right now, so no apology is necessary."

"Bluntly, you wouldn't be dependent on selling your freedom for your soul if I had reined in my curiosity," he said harshly. Her smile died when she saw the fury-filled guilt in his eyes.

"This isn't on you," she said firmly. "It is on me. I could have chosen not to make a deal with you, but I did. I could have chosen not to accept your protection but I did. This isn't on you."

"I'm the reason you needed that fucking protection, to begin with." he snarled.

"And my cousin?" she questioned. "I would be sleeping with a chair under the locked door and my knife in my hand every night."

"Your cousin wasn't the one who stole a piece of your soul." he countered.

"True. But he would have tried to break it." Her voice stumbled a bit and she took a deep breath. "Why do you care so much?" she asked softly.

He sank his hands into her hair. "Because I have never seen such fire as I see in you. It is a light that warms the shadows of my being. That kind of fire should never be enslaved any more than a unicorn should be chained. You should be free and I am directly responsible for caging that fire."

At a loss for words, she slid her hands over his and rested her forehead on his. A thought went through her mind and she leaned back.

"Have you given thought to letting me fade? If my aunt can't find a solution, I mean." She was startled as he brought both of them to their feet in a flash.

"No. I'll not be responsible for extinguishing it as well. You'll accept those bands regardless of what I have to do to ensure it." he snarled furiously. Anger started to rise and she slid her hands up his to move them. Then felt them trembling. The anger died as she seen the terror in his furious eyes. "Promise me you won't do that." he said in a slightly calmer voice "I have done many dark things in my time but putting out that fire would..."

She put a finger to his lips. "The purpose would have been to save you the guilt. If it would make it worse then there is no point. I don't like what me becoming your slave will do to you. It is going to eat you alive."

"It won't come to that," he said fiercely.

"It might," she said softly and seen the bleak flash go through his eyes. "So I'll say this now of my own free will. I love you. I know you can't return my sentiment and I can live with that. I know you care. Normally, that wouldn't be enough, but under the circumstances, I'll make an exception."

"Don't do this," he whispered agonizing pain lancing through him.

"Don't do what?"

"Don't accept this. Don't settle. Don't give me your farewell speech." he pulled her up and against him, hands sliding down and around. "Just don't." He was silent for a moment then scooped her up. Her arms slid around him.

"Where are we going?"

"Back to bed. There are things I need to tell you." He flashed them both to the bed and reclined back. "You deserve to know the reasons why I can't just hand fast and end this now. Why I can't give my heart after you've laid yours in my care."

"You don't have to."

"I know. But you deserve it. I'm of the Fae but not of their blood. I come from a different world. One that is ruled by a queen who wanted me by her side. I would not. I had a family there. Not one of a mate or children but kindred spirits. She had them imprisoned and gave me two choices to keep them alive. Leave that world or bind myself to her."

She laughed. "I take it she didn't like your choice?"

He smiled a bit. "No. She did not. I chose to leave. So she cursed me. Told me that if I ever came back handfasted, my family would be killed."

"So to handfast would be to say you would never see your family again. That's understandable."

"I felt you should know. The truth is all I have to offer you."

That wasn't precisely true, she thought. If he could offer truth, maybe she could offer something to look forward to for them both.

"Ok, I'm going to do something dangerous. Let's assume my aunt finds a way out of this."

He relaxed a bit. "Dangerous indeed to hope but preferable."

"Agreed. If she finds a way out and I am free of this band, there's something I want."

"Starting pre-negotiation already?" he teased, running his fingers through her hair. She took a deep breath.

"No. This isn't covered by our deal."

Intrigued, he looked at her. "Then what is it that you desire, witch?"

"To be in your bed."

"You already are." he pointed out dryly and she hit his chest lightly.

"I'm in your bed as the most experienced virgin to ever exist. After this is over, I want you without boundaries or limitations. Without any deal governing what we do. I want to officially become your lover." her face was a bit red, but her voice was sure.

"You're sure? I won't ask again, you realize that?" he pressed. Swallowing, she took his hand and slid it down her body until he encountered wet heat. Fire flared in his eyes and his hand curved into a caress.

"Remember when you said that was yours?" She asked with need turning her voice husky. At his nod, she continued. "Did I argue then? I'm sure."

His fingers began to stroke. "Suddenly I'm wanting your aunt to hurry up more," he growled as her eyes slid closed to savor the pleasure. He stroked and teased for what seemed like hours. Until the chill started to seep in again. He closed his eyes briefly then sent her flying.

"And was that to your liking?" he purred in her ear after she'd collapsed against him, breathing erratically. She nodded then gasped as the gripping went tighter.

"Already?" she asked in a small voice that shattered his heart.

"Yes. The time between will grow shorter. So let's not waste time." He pulled her up and kissed her deeply. An idea struck him and he pulled back. "In the interests of not wasting time and since we are going to be together permanently, if not officially..."

"Spit it out, already," she said recovering a bit of her smile.

He hesitated then dived in. "Perhaps you would prefer to live with me. Sleeping here, living here. The changeling would take your place in your home and stay. She likes it anyway."

"And Kyra?" she questioned, with a frown. He smiled.

"I like that cat. She can live here as well. I wouldn't ask either of you to separate. You are more like mother and daughter than mistress and pet. It would increase her safety as well in case the UnSeelie bitch tries to get to you."

"You think she would do that?"

"At this point, I put nothing past her. You living here would be nonbinding. You could leave anytime you like. I would give you a way in..."

"Ok. Let's do it." she interrupted. He slid fingers through her hair.

"That easily?" he questioned. She shook her head.

"Oh, I'm terrified. But can think of nowhere I'd rather be."

"You humble me." he murmured, forehead on hers. Then took her mouth with a fire that led them down their own pleasurable journey.

All the way mentally urging her aunt to hurry.