Which brought Spike back to why he was barreling across the freehold, dodging spires and platforms with deceptive ease. He was going to surprise Del at the forges. Actually, he was going to talk Del into going flying with him. He’d prepared an afternoon of rest for the constantly overworked weapons maker.

The Del that he found at the forge was pitch black, as though she’d been rolling in soot. She was also screaming at the top of her lungs as most of the assistants cowered near the fires. It was not normal behavior for the typically calm dalhari.

“Only a flake-brained idiot would dump oil-soaked rags into a furnace right when someone is going to temper a sword in it! How on this ever changing planet did you get an apprenticeship at the guild? Who is responsible for this poel-addled farce of a smithy?” Del looked around the forge. “Are you all deaf?”

“If they’re not now they will be soon,” Spike said lightly, leaning up against a workbench.

“Weaver!” Del spun around. “What are you doing here?” Some of the assistants began to stir, so Del turned back to them. “He,” she pointed at Spike, “couldn’t tell you how to temper metal, but he wouldn’t have made such a stupid mistake.”

Spike saw that Del was not going to calm down any time soon. Gesturing to one of the other masters in the forge, he stepped forward and distracted Del again. “Can I speak to you a moment, Del?”

Del frowned but nodded. Whatever it was probably wouldn’t take long. When they got outside, she turned to question Spike, only to have him grab her, wrapping his arms around her still-folded wings. She let out an undignified squawk as he pushed off the ground and began to fly.

“What do you think you’re doing!” She screamed, struggling. Unfortunately for her, while when he was human she was stronger than he was, as a dalhari he was the stronger of the two. Her efforts to get free were simply making their flight bumpy, so she stopped. If she’d managed to get him to drop her, she’d be fine, but he was too strong for that. “You do realize that you’re going to suffer for this.”

Spike just grinned. Actually, he probably wouldn’t, but he wasn’t going to tell Del that. Before long, they had cleared the freehold and were approaching the woods surrounding La’iv’s pastures. Spike made a slow descent over the trees, landing next to a deep, spring-fed pool.

Del immediately resumed her struggles. Instead of letting her go, Spike jumped back into the air and let them fall into the center of the pond. Del let out a squeak just before they hit the water.

Spike let go of Del and swam off toward the bank. He’d figured that Del would be filthy, so he’d set aside some soap when he brought the food out. When he turned back to her, she was still fuming and sputtering in the water.

“You are in so much trouble, Spike,” she spat, glaring at him. The water had begun to wash off the soot, so now Del had streaks of blue skin showing through the black, and inky strands of water surrounded her, drifting slowly downstream.

Spike approached slowly, proffering the soap. “I just thought you might like a break, Del—that and a bath.”

“You could have asked, you know.” She reached for the soap, but he jerked it back. Laughing at her curses, he nimbly avoided her as she sought to grab the soap from him.

After a few minutes, Spike managed to get behind her. He put his free arm around her middle, wrapping his tail around her as well to keep her from opening her wings. That action would have easily sent him flying.

“Calm down, Del,” Spike said in a soft voice. After another minute or two, she complied, slumping back against him. “Better now?” Del nodded tiredly.

After he was sure she wasn’t going to turn around and wail on him, Spike loosened his grip on her waist a little and began to guide her over to the bank. Setting the soap back down, he began to unlace her vest. After a moment, she began to help him.

“I’m still mad at you,” She said as they undressed each other. To be honest, she was confused. They had spent a lot of time together since her return, but Spike had refrained from more intimate contact as part of the courting. It wasn’t prohibited; however such physical pleasures were usually reserved for more advanced relationships.

But it seemed that Spike was all business today. As soon as she was undressed, he began to wash the heavy soot off her. It had caked on wherever there was exposed skin—her hands, face, and wings. He paid special attention to the delicate skin of the wings, making sure to get all the soot out of each fold. Del relaxed into his ministrations, deciding to simply enjoy it.

Spending time with Spike had become the best part of her day. The years he’d spent in La’iv, and abroad, had added a richness to his character. The overwhelming loneliness she’d gotten glimpses of before was gone, replaced by the quiet, inner joy many dalhari had when they were among family. Although she wouldn’t wish the circumstances surrounding his change on anybody, the change itself seemed to have been the capstone on a remarkable transformation in the human Spike. She counted herself lucky that the dalhari Spike, Laio-kael, still loved her.

After a few minutes, Del noticed that Spike’s touches had changed. Where he had once washed, he now caressed. Del leaned into his hands, seeking out more. To be touched, even for a moment, was always welcome.

Spike gathered Del closer, relishing the feel of her against him. It had been so long, made longer by his own intentions. He had, however, tortured them both long enough. He ran his hands over her back, massaging the always-sensitive muscles around the base of her wings. The low moan he got in response just spurred him on.

Del groaned as Spike’s hands did wonderful things to her body. Deciding to actively participate in the seduction, she mirrored the caress on his body, relishing the expression on his face as his wings were touched like that for the first time. Spike had taken no lovers since Del, so there were many things about his new body she would get to teach him.

Moving one hand lower, Del scraped her nails hard down Spike’s lower back and onto the base of his tail. He arched into her, growling harshly. She repeated the motion over and over until he begged her to stop.

“You’re evil,” He panted, grabbing her hands to keep them still. Del smirked. That smile irritated Spike, so he kissed it off her. Del quickly forgot why she’d been teasing Spike; actually, she forgot pretty much everything. He really did know how to kiss.

Spike swept his tongue over Del’s, tasting sweat, metal and that spiciness he’d been craving all his life. She freed her hands and brought them back around him to hold on, even as she wrapped her legs around his hips. The maneuver brought his erection against her center, making them both gasp.

“Del?” Spike asked, watching different emotions—fear, joy and lust—flicker across her face. “Are you sure? That’s not why I brought you out here.”

Del leaned her forehead against his. “I know. It's what I want, Laio-kael.”

Spike bent his head to her throat, nibbling the skin between neck and shoulder. She shifted against him, rubbing her heat around his hardness. He moaned and tightened his grip on her waist, keeping her still. “Too fast, Del.”

She snarled and pushed up, positioning herself over his shaft. Spike almost lost his hold on her as she sank down, impaling herself on him. They both cried out, he at being taken in and she at being stretched.

They remained motionless, holding each other tightly, until both had regained a measure of control. Then Del flexed her inner muscles, causing Spike to twitch. He captured her mouth in another kiss, even as he used his grip on her waist to lift her up, and then back down.

She moved also, her powerful legs providing leverage. Spike managed to move them closer to shore, turning them so that he could lay Del on the bank. She drew her wings in and pulled him over her.

Spike thrust hard into her body even as she arched up, almost bucking him off. He tried to slow them down, but between his desire and hers, they were caught in a maelstrom, hurtling toward the finish. Hands grasped and bruised, teeth bit. Del nipped at his shoulder, her fingernails raking down his back.

Spike lifted up, putting most of his weight on his forearms to either side of Del. Using the change in position to his advantage, he moved with greater force. Del began crying a high, keening wail, meeting him thrust for thrust. He watched in rapt fascination as her eyes widened and fell blank as her climax hit her full force. She convulsed around him, pulling on his cock with her body as she came, hard. He continued to move within her, drawing her climax out. Her body contracted around his and he could hold off his own orgasm no longer. Screaming into the air, he joined her in ecstasy.

When Spike woke up, Del was sitting cross legged on the ground next to him. She had found the food he’d set aside and was nibbling on a sweetcake. Pushing himself up, he joined her for dinner.

“You know, I’m going to need another bath now,” Del said, still staring off over the pond.

“You don’t seem to upset about that,” Spike quipped back.

Del smiled. “I’m not.” She finished off her sweetcake, and then turned back to him. He stilled at the expression on her face. “How long are you going to do this?”

“Do what?” He asked, evading the topic.

“The courting. It’s been six months, Laio.” She sighed. “We aren’t children.”

“So you’ve said,” Spike murmured. He’d thought this particular topic had been put aside.

“It’s not that, Laio. I just…” She got up to pace the ground. “I know how…”

She threw herself back down on the ground. “I know how I feel about you. That’s not going to change, no matter how long we dance around and play the courting game.”

All of a sudden, Spike felt very cold. All this work, the courting, had been to convince Del to stay with him forever. But it hadn’t worked, because she felt the same way that she always had.

Del studied Spike’s face, noting how he’d paled—as much as he could. She still marveled at his ivory skin. “Laio-kael?”

He turned his head back toward her, unable to completely mask the hurt he felt.

“I would ask you to consider joining with me.” Del got back up, retrieving her now-dry clothes. She pulled them on quickly and flew back to La’iv, leaving Spike sitting next to the pond.

Well. Spike just stared at the glassy water. That had been unexpected. He’d been expecting a gentle letdown, wherein Del told him to shove off in the most polite dalhari brush-off lines available.

Then she had to go off and propose to him. Talk about ruining his expectations.

Wait a minute.

She proposed. Asked him to bond.

Why was he sitting naked in the middle of the forest?

•••

Del lounged in front of the fireplace in Spike’s quarters, snacking on some dried fruit she’d found there. She expected him back at any time, figuring that whatever shock he’d been feeling would’ve worn off. It had delighted her to no end to be able to have the last word on the whole courting issue.

When Spike got back to his quarters, he found Del lying around like she hadn’t just figuratively bashed his brains in and left him sitting like an idiot in the forest. He stalked over to her, pushing aside some of the pillows and cushions that surrounded her.

“You, Del-syralia, of the Saydhe, of the Disiaron,” Spike began, “are an evil dalhari. You should be whipped for that.”

Del grinned. “Um hmm.”

Spike sank down on the cushions. He took the bowl of fruit from Del and set it aside. Leaning over her, he pressed a quick kiss on her forehead.

“And despite that I would be honored to join with you,” Spike said quietly, watching as joy settled in on Del’s face. She reached up and pulled him down on top of her, rolling them both deeper into the cushions.

Gaha was about to knock on Spike’s door when she heard a long, low howl emanate from the quarters. Grinning madly, she lowered her hand. That wasn’t just any scream. As she walked away, she wondered how Spike had gotten Del to agree to bond—or if Del had gotten fed up and just asked him.

•••

Del and Spike didn’t have to worry about anyone’s reaction to their impending bonding because they spent the next week immersed in work. The mess that Spike had kidnapped Del from was a serious fiasco and kept her in the forges all the time. Apparently, an apprentice had blown up a furnace. At the same time, Spike was busy at the weaver's guild, directing shearing. There were enough prhang to be shorn that it took pretty much everyone to get it done.

Because of all this, Spike was caught unawares when he was stopped by a dalhari as he crossed the expanse of the house’s main hall. He turned to look at his interceptor. The dalhari looked vaguely familiar—but Spike couldn’t place him.

“Yes?” Spike asked.

The blue dalhari grinned, showing off shiny black teeth. Spike recoiled a bit. “Laio-kael?” Spike nodded shortly.

“Is there something you needed?” Spike was in a hurry because he was late to meet Del.

The stranger just grinned more widely. “Hmm…short-tempered but a stable personality, if Gaha is to be believed. Yes, you’ll do. You have permission to court my daughter.”

“Good thing, since we’re getting bonded,” Spike said without thinking. Then who this dalhari was sunk in. Waei.

Waei roared. “What?! Gaha!”

Spike watched in fascination as the Mirh elder flew through the hall. She must have been on the other side, near the fire, Spike thought absently.

“Yes, Waei?” Gaha said as she landed.

“You didn’t tell me they were getting bonded!”

Gaha smiled. “They haven’t announced it yet.”

“You knew?” Spike said dumbly. “How? Did Del tell you?”

Gaha grimaced. “When does she tell me anything? I just knew.”

Spike looked over Gaha’s shoulder. Del had gotten impatient waiting for him and was stomping down the hall. He saw the precise moment she recognized her father.

“Waei!” Del took to the air and tackled her father, sending both of them skidding across the floor.

Gaha looked over at Spike in sympathy. “No insult intended, Laio, but you may want to wish for a little less...enthusiastic relationship with Del.”

“I’ll manage,” Spike murmured, watching Del and her father. They really were quite close. Waei and Del sat on the floor, talking animatedly. Her father’s bluster about their bonding had been just that—bluster. He was very excited for his child.

“When is this bonding?” Waei asked, looking pointedly at Spike.

Spike smiled evilly. “As soon as we find enough dalhari to defend us.”

Gaha snorted. “They can get every Saydhe in four regions by next week, if they wanted to. They’re just procrastinating.”

Waei shot a dirty look at Del. “No. You will bond next week—after these four regions’ worth of Saydhe show up.” Del started to protest, but her father stopped her. “I know you, Del-syralia. You’ll put it off for fifty years. It will be next week.” The voice was not just that of a father, but also of an elder. Spike wouldn’t dream of disobeying it. Neither would Del.

“Fine,” She said, although she looked a bit put out. Spike had no problems with it.

“Good.” Waei patted her on the shoulder, and then turned to Gaha. “We’ll send out messengers immediately.”

The two elders left hand in hand, discussing the coming event. Spike watched them go, shaking his head. “Now I know where you get it from.”

Del stood to join him. “Perhaps.”

Spike grinned. Del would probably deny her mother’s influence on her, but it was definitely present. “You made up with Gaha?”

Del nodded. “Getting there. It’s not an overnight thing.” Wanting to avoid that topic, Del grabbed Spike and herded him out the door. She’d been planning a quiet dinner, but it looked like they’d be planning a bonding instead.

•••

Spike watched Del as she walked toward him in the great hall. All around them stood their clan brothers. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Fain and Vaishi. The teacher looked happy for them, but also worried at his role in the bonding. Vaishi was the warrior of the couple.

Thoughts of others vanished as he took up position with Del in the center of the room. They wound their bodies together, an outward reflection of the intertwining of their souls that was about to take place. He’d been told the basics by Gaha and Waei. The bonding could either be exhilarating or frightening—depending on who was participating.

What would occur was a joining of their souls. During the bonding they would receive all of each others’ memories, reliving each one. Once that had occurred, a connection would form between their minds and souls, forever binding them to each other. They would sense each others’ feelings, and would always know where the other was. Some very sensitive dalhari could sense their bondmate’s thoughts as well.

Del rested her face against Spike’s shoulder, anticipating the beginning of the bonding. Lifting her head, she looked Spike in the face, catching his gaze. As one, they arced back, baring shining fangs to the morning sun. Then they struck.

~A tall, dark man. Pushing, biting. Pain and weakness, blood. Waking up hungry. Craving violence. A dark lady feeding the hunger. Madness.~

~Soaring through the air. Feeling the moisture of clouds. Hearing father cry out. Striking something. Falling, hearing bones shatter. Pain, anger and humiliation.~

~Betrayal. Loss. Rejection. A family, albeit dark, torn apart. Only a madwoman to give comfort. Fury, despair.~

~Joy. Pride. A well-honed sword slicing the air, singing. Approval, receipt of mastery. Accomplishment.~

Spike just barely registered a tug on his body. The thought entered his mind that it was the attackers at the bonding trying to separate them. He felt Del tighten her hold.

~Fear. Loss of security. Needing approval. Betrayal by loved ones. Infidelity and disgust. Rage.~

~Embarrassment. Shy approval. A crush. Betrayal, deceit and anger. Blood flowing in defense. The pain of love lost.~

~Horror. Helplessness. Loss of identity. Dependence upon the enemy. Humiliation. Anger. Sadness and grief.~

~Curiosity, interest. Humor. Increasing lust, affection. A sense of wonder and protectiveness. An awakening.~

~Disorientation. Confusion, sense of surrealism. Danger, unlikely protection.~

~Fear of loss. Old wounds opened, left to bleed. The need for love warring with the need for safety.~

~Security, acceptance. A new family, even as loved ones disappear. Anger replaced by understanding. A sense of accomplishment, of journeys completed.~

~Finding one’s soulmate. Togetherness, love, passion. The need for nothing else.~

~Homecoming. Together(apart)ness. Blurred borders. Want, need, have.~

When Spike regained awareness, he withdrew his fangs from Del and lifted his head. She caught his gaze, smiling slightly. He knew, somehow, that she was happy and content. Joy filled his soul, for it was no longer alone. Tilting his head back, he began a celebration. After a moment, Del joined him.

The fighting stopped as the others joined them. The song continued long after Del and Spike stopped singing. Grinning like loons, they picked themselves up and made for the exit while their brethren were otherwise occupied.

When they reached the exit, they were met by Del’s parents. Waei and Gaha handed each of them a cloak and shooed them down the hall toward Spike’s quarters. They would spend the next few days there, getting accustomed to their new bond. It was best that they stay together, apart from others until they understood its limits.

Once safely inside Spike’s quarters, he and Del discarded their cloaks in exchange for the bed. Their coming together was slow and beautiful, filled with the knowledge of their place within each others’ soul.

Afterwards, Spike held Del as they watched the dying sunlight fade from the room. It was chilly enough that he needed to get up and start a fire, but neither of them wanted to leave the bed just yet. There would be time for that later. Now was for them.