Bound by Light (18 page)

“Mr. Allen, welcome. Miss Warren.”

Sydney smiled. “Hi.”

She was surprised he knew her name.

He’s prepared for everything, love.

They were ushered into a roomy foyer and
then into the great hall. Sydney tried not to look overly awed, but
she couldn’t help it. It was magnificent. Three stories high, with
balconies peering down from the top floors, the ceiling came to a
large arch with a wooden beam running the length of the room,
holding six chandeliers.

The fireplace was almost as tall as it was
wide, and looked like it could fit several large men, and it was
lit, not that it warmed the large space. The room was set up in
sections. A massive table was off to the left, with tall chairs
surrounding it.

To the right was a sitting area in front of
the fire. Three sofas and two overstuffed chairs surrounded a
coffee table that looked rather modern in the historical home. The
third section housed a piano, with folding chairs propped against
the wall.

“You made it!” A woman with long brown hair
carrying a swaddled bundle came walking towards them.

Thane bowed. “Majesty.”

“Oh, stop!” she demanded. “I’m going to get
enough of that nonsense next week.”

Thane chuckled. “Samantha, may I present my
mate, Sydney. Sweetheart, this is Her Majesty, Queen Samantha.”

Samantha sighed. “Seriously?”

Thane laughed. “Sorry, couldn’t resist.”

“Call me Samantha, or better yet, Sam,” she
said. “
Please
.”

Sydney smiled. “It’s wonderful to meet you,
Samantha. Is this Phineas?”

“Yes.” Samantha turned him so they could get
a better look. “He’s finally sleeping.”

“We should probably whisper, then,” Sydney
suggested, but Samantha shook her head.

“He needs to learn to sleep through the
noise. It’s what we did with Liam and he’ll sleep anywhere
now.”

“Smart,” Sydney said.

An older woman walked into the room and held
her arms out. “Shall I put him down, Majesty?”

“Yes, Bearnas, thank you.” She handed the
baby off and then hugged Thane and Sydney. “Come on, I’ll show you
to your room. I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve put you in together.
I figured since tomorrow’s your bonding night, it means you don’t
have to move.”

“That’s perfect, Sam, thank you,” Thane
said.

They followed Samantha up the staircase to
the left of the foyer and to the third door down. She pushed open
the door and stepped inside, and Thane guided Sydney in front of
him.

A large bed with ornately carved posts held
a canopy draped in dark red velvet. Also in the room was a dresser
and two high-backed chairs that faced a small fireplace, sitting
between two large windows. Their bags sat at the end of the bed
waiting for them to unpack.

“You have a bathroom right through that
door.” Samantha pointed to the door beside the bed. “And your
closet has another bureau. Please make yourselves at home. We
aren’t formal here... well, we aren’t right now.” She giggled. “The
party will be a little different.”

“It’s going to be great,” Thane said.

“I think so, too.” Samantha smiled.
“Dinner’s at six and we won’t dress up. Just come as you are. I
have to feed the baby, but come downstairs when you’re settled and
we’ll have some wine before dinner.”

“Thanks for everything,” Sydney said.

Samantha squeezed her hand. “You’re so
welcome, Sydney. Don’t worry about tomorrow night. I promise, it’s
going to be great.”

Sydney nodded as she leaned against
Thane.

“I’ll see you in a few.”

Sam left and Sydney wrapped her arms around
Thane. “This room is unreal.”

He smiled. “Aye, lass, ’tis.”

“And this is where it’ll happen?”

Thane gave her a gentle squeeze. “If you
feel comfortable, aye. If not, we can go somewhere else.”

“I feel great, honey. I wish we could do
this tonight.”

“We can at midnight if you want to.”

“Oh, I don’t want to put anyone out,” Sydney
said.

“We won’t be putting anyone out,” he said,
and kissed her forehead.

She leaned back. “Honey, this isn’t our
home, you can’t just wave your movie star card and demand they do
what you say.”

Thane grinned. “What’s this nonsense you’re
saying, milady? All must kowtow to me.”

Sydney giggled. “Hm-mm, you feel free to
believe that. Quietly. In your mind, so only I hear it.”

He laughed and leaned down to kiss her. “All
right, love, we’ll wait.”

“Thank you.”

“Shall we unpack and then head
downstairs?”

Sydney nodded. “Perfect.”

As they were unpacking, Sydney’s phone rang
and she smiled as she answered it. “Hey, Luce.”

“Hey. How’s the trip going?”

“So far, so good. Miss me?”

Lucy giggled. “So, so bad. Especially
because you’re missing all the drama.”

“Uh-oh, what drama?”

“Zach’s just being a dick. He’s sending
threatening texts and leaving dead flowers on my car and
stuff.”

“Why would he do that?”

“I have no idea, but Dad’s team is on it, so
I’m not worried. It’s just that now security’s tightened, which
means, no fun for Lucy.”

Sydney hummed sympathetically. “I’m sorry,
cuz. Next time, you’ll just have to come with us. You’d love it up
here.”

“You’re on. For now, though, Mum’s calling,
so I better go. Send me some photos, would you?”

“Of course.”

“Love you, Sid.”

“Love you too, Luce.” Sydney hung up and
went back to her unpacking.

* * *

Sydney followed Thane downstairs and into the
great hall. Pepper pushed herself out of her seat, holding baby
Chelsea close to her breast, and pulled Sydney in for a hug.
“Welcome.”

“Hi,” Sydney said, and hugged her.

“Careful, love,” Connall ordered.

“Bite me, honey,” Pepper retorted, and her
mate chuckled, but still watched her closely. “He’s extra
protective of this little one. Dating’s going to be a
nightmare.”

“We don’t date, love. Remember that.”

Pepper smiled. “Her bonding night’s going to
be a nightmare.”

“Och, Pepper, no bonding in regards to our
daughter,” Connall demanded.

“See?”

Sydney giggled and kissed the baby’s head.
“She’s beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

Sydney and Thane greeted the rest of the
family and she found herself a little intimidated by Kade. It might
have been because she knew he was a king, but it was also his
countenance. He was regal and hovered over his wife like any
overprotective man would.

Thane kissed her temple.
We all hover,
love. Don’t let it scare you
.

She gave him a barely perceptible nod.

“Do you want some wine, Sydney?” Samantha
asked.

“I would love some,” she said as she sat
beside Thane on one of the love seats.

“Red or white?”

“Red, please.”

A glass of red appeared before her on a tray
held by a young woman in uniform.

“Thank you,” Sydney said, smiling at
her.

“So,” Samantha said. “We were wondering how
you might feel about bonding at midnight.”

Sydney glanced at Thane and he raised his
hands in surrender. “I said nothing, love.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Seriously. I’ve been with you all day. When
would I have?”

Samantha giggled. “I take it this subject
came up?”

“Aye,” Thane said. “Sydney didn’t want to
put anyone out.”

“Oh, it’s fine, Sydney,” Samantha assured
her. “We don’t go to sleep early when we’re here, so if you want to
bond as soon as your birthday’s official, please feel free to.”

“We’ll talk about it,” Thane said. “Okay,
love?”

Sydney nodded, forcing her nerves down.

It’ll be fine, sweetheart.

She nodded again. “We’ll talk about it,” she
parroted.

“You let me know what you want to do and
we’ll organize the staff.”

“Thank you, Samantha,” Sydney said.

“No problem.”

“We’ll all be here,” Pepper added. “So, you
have nothing to worry about.”

“Aye, Sydney,” Payton said. “We’re here for
you.”

“I appreciate it.”

Thane linked his fingers with hers and
lifted her hand to his lips.

The rest of the evening went by in a blur of
sorts. Sydney couldn’t really focus on much, as her mind was
preoccupied by the fact that in a few short hours, she would be
permanently bound to the man who stayed glued to her the entire
night. She wasn’t nervous, although, she wondered if she should be.
Everything was happening very quickly.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A
T ELEVEN
FORTY-FIVE, Thane pulled her aside and gave her a sweet kiss. “Do
you want to go up and I’ll join you shortly?”

Sydney nodded.

“Are you all right, love?” he asked, and
stroked her cheek. “We can wait.”

“I don’t want to wait, Thane.” She smiled.
“I’m excited. It’s just a little overwhelming.”

“I know.” He squeezed her hand. “I’ll see
you in a little bit.”

Sydney walked up to their room and found the
lingerie she’d packed for their special night. After changing, she
stepped into the bathroom to brush out her hair and clean her
teeth. She heard the bedroom door click shut and walked out of the
bathroom to find Thane pulling off his shirt.

Sydney leaned against the doorframe and
watched him.

He caught sight of her and his eyes swept
her body. “Shite, love.”

She giggled. “Do you approve?”

“Aye. You’re stunning.”

“So are you.” She moved further into the
room. “Now what?”

Thane smiled. “First, I’m going to kiss you,
because I have to.”

She snapped her fingers. “Well, hustle on
over here, then.”

He closed the distance between them and
covered her mouth with his. She couldn’t help herself from sliding
her hand up his chest, breaking the kiss and sighing. “You’re
ridiculously gorgeous, Thane Allen.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

The little clock on the fireplace mantel
chimed twelve times and he cupped her cheek. “Do you want wine
first or do you want to start?”

“I want to start.”

“Me too,” he said. “Okay, repeat after me.
“Ég gef þér allt sem ég er, allt sem ég vil vera
og allt sem ég get verið.
”

“Oh, that’s easy,” she droned
sarcastically.

“I’ll think it as we go, so pull the words
from my mind,” he suggested. “Ready?”

Sydney nodded.

“Ég gef þér allt sem ég
er, allt sem ég vil vera og allt sem ég get verið.
”

“
Ég gef þér allt sem ég
er, allt sem ég vil vera og allt sem ég get verið
.” Sydney
felt her knees buckle and she grabbed for Thane.

He wrapped an arm around her waist. “I’ve
got you, sweetheart.”

“Okay.” Sydney raised her arms and linked
her fingers behind his neck.

“
Ég er þinn að eilífu. Skuldabréf okkar
mun aldrei vera brotinn.”

“Ég er þinn að eilífu. Skuldabréf okkar mun
aldrei vera brotinn.” Sydney held onto his neck a little
harder.

“I won’t let you fall, love,” Thane
promised. “It’s part of the bonding. Ready?” At her nod, he
continued, “
Ást mín er alger
.”

“Ást mín er alger.”

Thane lifted her before she could fall, and
carried her to the bed. After he removed the rest of his clothing,
he climbed onto the bed beside her and pulled her into his arms. “I
give you everything I am, all I want to be, and all I can be. I’m
yours forever. Our bond will never be broken. My love is absolute.”
He was gentle and attentive as he made love to her and she relished
in the feeling of her body reaching for him of its own accord.

“That was amazing,” she breathed out as they
lay in bed and caught their breath.

He smiled, kissing her gently. “I love
you.”

“I love you, too.” She kissed his chest.
“What happens now?”

Thane chuckled. “We wait.”

“I don’t like to wait.”

“What?” he asked in mock surprise. “I had no
idea.”

She laughed and smacked his chest gently. “I
just want all this over with.”

“I get it, love.”

“Sorry, that’s not very romantical is
it?”

“Romantical?”

Sydney grinned. “Something my mom always
said.”

“I love it.”

“She hated anything to do with schmultz. It
was about the only thing we disagreed on. Anytime I wanted to watch
a movie, she’d say, “It’s not one of those romantical ones, is it?”
It just kind of stuck.” Sydney smiled, realizing her pain wasn’t
quite as heavy as she talked about her mom.

“I’m glad, love.”

“You can still read my mind, I see.”

Thane chuckled. “You were hoping for a
different result?”

Before she could respond, hot fire shot
through her legs and she cried out in agony.

“All right, love, it’s starting. It’s okay,
I’ve got you.”

The pain shifted to her feet and she
whimpered, but she never got the chance to get used to the pain,
because it moved to her left breast. This time she screamed. “I
can’t do this,” she panted. “I can’t.”

Thane kept hold of her hand as he slid from
the bed. “You can, sweetheart, I promise.”

The fire licked at her stomach and then
headed straight for her skull. Sydney groaned, trying to grab for
her head, but Thane wouldn’t let her. “Thane!”

“I have to stay connected to you,” he said,
and reached for his phone. “It’s the only way I can alleviate any
of your pain.” With one hand, he grabbed a pair of sweats and
tugged them on, then called Samantha.

Sydney couldn’t focus on anything Thane was
doing as the pain raged on in her body. Everything was on fire.
“Thane,” she rasped.

He squeezed her hand. “I know, sweetheart.
Sam’s on her way. It won’t be long.”