Xander grinned and took both of her hands in his own.

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  Rakonell smiled. “Xander, do you have the rings?”

  He looked to Bitsy, who looked to the pixies who looked to Abby. She delved into her bodice and withdrew the rings. “Yes, he does.”

  She slipped them into his hands as a wave of laughter ran through the crowd. Some of them picked up on why the pixies had stolen their rings, that much was certain.

  “Alexander Desmith, do you take this Nexus to be your lifelong companion and agree to protect her against all threats that may come upon your household? Do you agree to assist in the wellbeing and discipline of the creatures and magic she brings into the world?”

  “I do.” Xander’s eyes smiled and he slipped the ring onto Abby’s ring finger.

  “Annabeth Hanover, do you agree to take this elf to be your lifelong companion and welcome his assistance in fighting all threats that may come upon your household, as well as to accept his counsel in dealing with realms and people of magic?”

  She fought happy laughter. “I do.” Xander pressed his ring into her hand and she slipped it onto his ring finger.

  “Abby and Xander now have their own questions and vows.” Rakonell folded her hands.

  Abby smiled. “Xander, do you accept my 31

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  creatures now and future as joint responsibility between us both? Will you counsel them, love them and encourage them as they begin to walk in the world?”

  He nodded, “I do. Abby, will you promise to share your plots and schemes with me so that I can be of the most use to you in times of strain?”

  She blushed, “I do.”

  Rakonell looked at them and then raised her hands together with an acorn held between her palms. “This oak will one day grow a dryad. The tree that will grow will prove your love and the lives that you lead. It will show future generations how a Nexus and his or her true love can live and thrive. All triumphs, arguments and failures will be recorded within the rings of the tree.”

  Another dryad to one side brought forth a pot and the acorn was planted in the pot. “Place your hands on the pot.”

  As one, they pressed their hands to the soil.

  Abby felt a tingling under her palm and the look in Xander’s eyes said he felt the same.

  “The seed is now tuned to you and I welcome all to enjoy a moment of silent celebration.”

  Abby and Xander grinned into each other’s eyes in silent celebration. He leaned down and kissed her, starting a round of applause that wrecked Rakonell’s silence.

  Abby wrapped both of her arms around 32

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  Xander’s neck and surrendered to his kiss, memorizing his taste in that one moment and letting her power spill into him with abandon.

  They were both glowing when they finally parted.

  “I now pronounce you Nexus and elf, or man and wife, you may kiss each other.”

  Xander bent her back over his arm and their kiss and the explosion of joy that Abby let loose had everyone cheering.

  When he set her on her feet, they walked to the open tent set aside for the time between noon and sunset and they took their places at the head table.

  Abby smiled and looked at her new husband, “I am really glad we did the whole legal and blood bond before the ceremony. I really didn’t want to put our nuptials up to a challenge.”

  The gnomes were on high-service alert and soon, they were both treated to a full selection of the human-safe foods from the buffet.

  “Wow, this is quite the spread.” Abby smiled.

  “Far more of a variety than I had anticipated.

  This is great.” Xander fed her from his plate and she did the same from hers. It was incredibly cute and also could double as foreplay if they didn’t have to engage in an elf ritual at sunset.

  Musicians started up and a few folks began to dance. Xander quickly wiped his hands on the napkin and led her to the dance floor. “Dance with me, Mrs. Desmith.”

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  Abby blinked in surprise. That was her name now. “Of course.”

  As they cruised around the dance floor, she noticed Xander’s parents, Max and Gregori, Laura and Verne, Seesee and Miklos, as well as dozens of others who had touched their lives since Abby had been outed as the Nexus.

  Everyone was here to share the joy, to have fun and to witness a historic moment. Abby was the first female-married Nexus in history. The little fact that Xander’s ancestress, Terranor, was not only a female Nexus, but also one who had married and had a bunch of children and was, in fact cruising around the dance floor with her husband, Strykr, didn’t mean much to people who didn’t know their Nexus history.

  Abby was not the first, nor would she be the last of their kind. Waltzing around the floor was soothing and as Xander leaned in to whisper, his hair slid along her cheek. “What has put that smile on your face?”

  She looked up into his gleaming eyes. “I am thinking about my past and our future.” She stroked his cheek and the tingle that ran through her had nothing to do with her own energy and everything to do with his.

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  Chapter Six

  s they danced to music that blended in strange A and usual styles, pictures were taken, sketches were frantically drawn for later portraits and everyone was trying to get in on this piece of magical history.

  Strykr cut in and passed Terranor to her grandson. “How are you enjoying your wedding, Nexus?”

  “Abby. And it is wonderful. Nothing has gone really, really wrong and that, as you know, is a miracle with my creatures around.” She smiled at the handsome elf that reminded her of Xander in so many ways.

  He grinned, “Yes. A miracle or a lot of behind-the-scenes action.”

  Abby blinked, there was something going on that she wasn’t seeing and for once, she was relieved. “What I don’t know won’t freak me out.”

  He laughed. “Good attitude. Have you decided on a honeymoon spot? I hear it is traditional 35

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  among your people.”

  She laughed out loud as he spun her in a turn. “I think we will just crank up the wards on Oak Point Way and enjoy being as normal as we can be.”

  “That seems a tad boring for you.”

  “Sometimes the day to day has the most appeal.

  How has your wife been keeping?”

  “Oh, she is busy with the project you have gotten her into and her sudden urge to keep tabs on all of our grandchildren.” His smile was soft as he thought of Terranor, and Abby smiled when he sought sight of his wife across the dance floor.

  “I hope we are still that in love after five years, let alone hundreds.” Abby had no idea how long her lifespan was, but she was planning to spend every waking moment with Xander that she could.

  She would make her memories last for eternity, no matter how much time they had.

  “You will be. Your souls have been floating in search of each other for eons. Now that they have connected, they will not let go. It was the same for Terranor and me.” His low tones reached only her ears.

  “Excuse me, may I cut in?” One of the seven goblin kings was there, offering his multiple arms for her as partner.

  Strykr nodded, kissed Abby’s cheek and let the king steer her around the dance floor. It was the start of a trend that had Abby’s bottom pinched, 36

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  her toes stepped on and a close encounter with troll drool that she could have done without.

  Abby almost collapsed with relief when Laura and Seesee claimed her for the formal pictures that were to be taken outside the front of the hotel.

  Xander took her by the arm and they led the procession of family, friends and acquaintances who were going to join them in the Nexus wedding album.

  A solemn column of robed figures met them in the front garden. As they approached, Abby noticed a lightening of Xander’s soul. “Who are they?”

  “The seers. My great, great grandmother and cousins who have powerful connections to the future and past.”

  “Like Celia.” Abby waved to the young seer and she waved back before one of her elders shook their heads in an exasperated manner.

  “Just like Celia. Come, you need to meet Gwynhar.” He steered them toward the seers and the group turned as one.

  Abby winced inwardly. No, that wasn’t creepy at all.

  An aged elf stepped forward and held out her hands for a greeting, not to Xander but to Abby.

  “Abby, I have dreamed of you since I was a very little girl.”

  Abby smiled as she recognized the resemblance 37

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  to a child she once knew. “You are related to Elspeth.” The contact between them caused a spark and the seer closed her eyes.

  “Her granddaughter. It is good to meet you finally. Xander was never quite sure of meeting and falling in love with a Nexus, but you proved his doubts groundless.”

  Abby elbowed Xander in the ribs, “Doubts?”

  “Only about meeting you, never after that.

  Nanna Gwynhar, you are giving me a bad reputation on my wedding day.”

  “Sorry, Xander.” She winked one bright blue eye.

  The photographer cleared his throat. “We are losing the light. We need to take these pictures.”

  That was that. They lined up in neat rows with Xander and Abby front and centre. Abby smiled, held Xander’s hands and they got through his entire family—with Terranor and Strykr in the final row—his parents, the seers and his siblings.

  “Tara and Strykr, come back here. I want one with just you two in it.” Abby was firm and Xander’s grin agreed with her.

  Tara and Strykr got their photo and then Terranor and Annabeth stood together in a moment that had never before been captured on film. Two Nexuses together for the first time in history.

  The men joined them and more pictures were 38

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  snapped, then it was time for the Oak Point Guard photos.

  The guard did one picture standing formally.

  One with them scowling into the lens and another with all the couples in clinches. The final photo included all of Abby’s creatures standing with their arms crossed and glaring into the camera.

  After that, there was a set of photos with Xander, Abby and her creatures and then all hell broke loose on film as Abby and her beasts took centre stage.

  A halo of pixies, fence of gnomes and a belt made of a dragon with the gargoyles holding the edge of her dress would be Abby’s second favourite. Her favourite was her sitting holding Buffy, Bitsy and Alphie on her lap. The new family and proof that her creatures would have a life without her.

  Once she was sitting, creatures swarmed her and she kissed and hugged them all while the shutter clicked frantically.

  Laughing, Abby looked up to see Xander staring at her with a gentle expression on his face.

  “It’s time for the final ritual. My life to yours.”

  The photographer continued clicking madly as Abby rose to kiss her husband, their last moment as two separate beings.

  The crowd of creatures ebbed and flowed around them as they returned to the altar, this time 39

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  saplings framed it and were tied into a bough to give them shelter.

  The gathering of witnesses sat silently, the levity of the earlier ceremony forgotten. This was the one that would be binding for eternity.

  Abby and Xander entered a circle of elven elders. The circle closed behind them and even Abby’s creatures had to wait outside.

  Strykr was in the circle but was not conducting the ceremony. That duty fell to an elf named Raffin. A love talker with a human fiancé of his own.

  “We are gathered here today to join Alexander Desmith and Annabeth Desmith in the bonds of joined life.

  “This is a serious matter, not to be entered into lightly. To combine one’s life means that you will share the joys, the sorrows, the pain and the eventual death of your partner. Some live for centuries, some for years, some for months, but when one dies, they die together.

  “We are here to confirm not that you are willing to live together, but that you are willing to die together.”

  The elves in the outer circle began to charge up.

  “You can change your mind and live lives together and yet separate, without the binding. Do you wish to leave?”

  Abby looked to Xander. “No.”

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  He smiled. “No. We will stay.”

  “Excellent. Seal the circle.”

  The static coming from the elves jumped in frequency and became a steady hum.

  “Xander, take Abby’s right hand in your left.

  Abby place your hand in mine. Xander take my hand as well.”

  They formed a triangle and waited. They didn’t need to wait long. A shock of power ran from the circle and through Raffin. The shock of power didn’t hurt, but it burned along her nerves in a very intimate manner.

  Xander and Abby now hummed at the same frequency and Raffin presented them with a rose.

  “Grip it tightly and then pass it to your spouse four times.”

  Abby let the thorns pierce her skin and she handed the rose to Xander. His blood stained the stem in return and she repeated it. The pain radiated up her hand, but she handed the rose back to Xander. When his hand closed over it, her eyes widened as the pain came through to her. She could feel what he felt. She continued her turn and his wince confirmed that he was feeling what she was.

  When the stem was covered with their blood, Raffin held out a box and Xander placed the rose in it, closing the lid.

  Abby reached out to touch the lid and she 41

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  sealed the box.

  “Within is the instrument of your joining, but you are now linked mind to mind, body to body and after you consummate your union, soul to soul. You share power and weakness, pain and pleasure. Life and death.”

  At his last words, the elves let out a shout and a ball of power fired into the sky. It was time to start the party.

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  Chapter Seven

  he box with the bloody rose came with them, a T reminder of their choice to link and the pain they endured to make it happen. The evening party was set up with a vast array of food and drink, and a dance floor of enormous proportions gleamed invitingly.

  Abby and Xander entrusted their rose to Laura who was taking a moment to get off her feet and rub her pregnant belly. Verne was sitting next to her and he began a foot rub as soon as she was distracted by watching the box and a little less concerned about propriety.

  Seesee was dancing slowly with Miklos and a sleepy Gaia. Buffy and Bitsy took to the dance floor while Echo watched Alphie for them.

  All around them, creatures paired up and began to dance as Hellebore sang a slow torch song.

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  Ruffles danced with Skint who had worn tights for the occasion. “What do we do now that she is taken care of?”

  Skint gave it some thought. “We do what she always wanted. We live our lives and come home for the holidays.”

  Ruffles smiled. “I have always wanted to see Asia.”

  He spun her into a twirl. “Funny you should mention it. So have I.”

  Harbinger was loitering near the buffet when a small sprite walked up to him. “You are one of the Nexus’s creatures, aren’t you?”

  He bowed low, his dress leathers studded in an attractive pattern. “I am. Harbinger, at your service.”

  The pale green woman giggled. She was only four inches taller than he was. “I have always wanted to be with a being of pure magic.”

  “Then I fit the bill. What is your name?” Harby couldn’t believe it. He might get lucky.

  “Minxi. Minxi Larish. Would you care to dance?”

  He swallowed and offered his arm. Together, they stepped onto the dance floor and began a slow turn that had them centre stage where the 44

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  entire gathering could see them.

  Harby decided in that moment that he liked weddings.

  Splint and Mitsy sat back and watched the dancers.

  He was hampered by the built-in cast that the Nexus had given him and she by her gloves.

  Mitsy gave him a serious look. “Wanna make out?”

  He didn’t need to be asked twice.

  Angel and Firefly were enjoying the attentions of a flock of pixies and each moment caused ripples of pleasurable torture that they didn’t want to stop.

  They really liked weddings.

  “The ceremonies were beautiful.” Seesee rocked comfortably in Miklos’s arms, Gaia nodding off to sleep between them.

  “They were. Would you ever want to join your life to someone like that?” His words were casual, but it was a forced casual.

  “Maybe, but I think I would have to wait until 45

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  my powers have left me. Only a few more years.”

  She smiled and used a strand of her hair to caress his cheek.

  “Being powerless will be an adjustment for you, won’t it?” His tone was soft and understanding.

  “It will. I have had them for most of my life. I don’t want my niece to take them in the same blinding rush that I had. But life without them isn’t something I can even think of now. I don’t even know if I will be allowed to stay in the Oak Point Guard without them.” She smiled and gave him a light kiss as a counterpoint to her words.

 

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