* * *

  Ruby had turned her attention to Damon as he’d stood with his brothers. He was so beautiful. He had hidden depths most people probably never imagined. Not fragile but he let himself be vulnerable with her.

  When they’d been outside earlier and she’d told him about the fight with Scarlett, it could have been a fight. He’d been hurt. But he’d listened to her. And he’d understood and accepted her explanation. So many people she knew got into stupid arguments all the time because they never just talked stuff out. But there he was all emotionally available and honest. Knocking her on her ass.

  But also bolstering her. Shoring her up.

  Damon Dooley had been there all along but this love? This love that left her breathless, grateful and at the same time calm and satisfied. She found herself thinking of him all day long and not just sex stuff. The way he was so gentle with her dogs. His laugh. That look he got when he was in official mode and was listening to one of his wolves who needed him.

  The totality of Damon Dooley was something she’d happily spend the rest of her life learning but she doubted she’d ever see all his kindnesses because he did them so regularly and without any expectation of thanks.

  Oh but he deserved thanks. And all the pets and compliments for his deeds as well as his looks. For his brain and his heart.

  He was her brilliant love. Her strong, sexy wolf who brought her bulbs and garden gloves and expensive chocolate for the cocoa she made for the end of each day they spent together.

  To her left Katie Faith said something but a surge of tawny, golden shifter energy slammed into her with enough force to take her breath. At the center of the gold were blues, greens, browns.

  It filled her up, washed over and through her, clung to her skin and eyelashes. Shifter magic, most assuredly. But more specifically, Damon’s shifter magic. Made into something else. Something more.

  Ruby’s magic swirled all around this new center in her until it grew roots. Together.

  And when she blinked, Damon was just a few steps away and there was no sound but her pounding pulse and the sizzle of energy when they made physical contact. All of it, everything between them threaded together when he put his arms around her waist.

  “So, that happened,” he said as he bent to kiss her. A soft, sweet brush of those talented lips and she sighed happily into him.

  “Yeah. But what is that?”

  He chuckled. “We just sort of performed a binding. At Halloween dinner in front of several dozen people.”

  By accident?

  But magic didn’t work that way. What had happened was a spell of intent. From them both. And because the veil was so thin and because they were surrounded by all his folk. All those elements had clicked together at the very instant they were supposed to and had made their own unique connection spell.

  “Well look at that. We sure did. You good?” she asked as quietly as she could.

  He laughed, the delight of the sound dropping over her like rain and she realized part of it was that she had picked up his pleasure via their new connection. Which brought a smile to her mouth in answer.

  When they broke apart, she realized pretty much the whole room watched them both.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Well that was quite the capper to the evening,” Patty said to Ruby just seconds later. Things had gone back to normal. Or. Normal adjacent anyway. At least the whole room wasn’t staring at them and while she knew everyone was talking about them, at least it wasn’t in her face.

  This felt happy. For the most part. She noted the dark look from Scarlett but who cared about that when her magic had up and claimed the man in front of half the town like it just wasn’t content to wait around any longer?

  “I’m so pleased to welcome you to the pack, Ruby.” Patty hugged her—also a Southern woman bosom hug but instead of White Diamonds, Patty smelled of Shalimar.

  “Thank you. I’m...well this is quite a surprise.”

  “A happy one I hope.” Patty looked to Damon, who was deep in conversation with Major but still held Ruby’s hand.

  “Oh my goodness, yes. Damon is the kind of person I’ve always dreamed of ending up with. But he’s his own package. There’s no one like him. I’m so thrilled. But it’s sudden. I mean one minute we’re walking in and now we’re like bound. I hope people don’t think it’s rushed.”

  “Who gives a shit what anyone else thinks?” Patty said in an undertone. “But we’re shifters. We have different rules and what do you call ’em, cultural norms. This is far from rushing for us.”

  And for her too. Her magic took things into its own hands and Ruby chose to see that as a very good beginning for them.

  “We need to have a ceremony. To welcome you to the pack. A wedding of sorts as well,” Patty said. “Between me and some of the other elders, we can work with you to give you lessons. A sort of Dooley 101.”

  “You’re so good to me. I’d love that. I know there’s so much I need to learn.” What had they called Jace, his brothers and Mac back in the day? The Princes of Diablo Lake. Ruby supposed being with him was rather like marrying into royalty and she’d need lessons.

  Major swept Ruby from Damon’s arms and danced her down the walkway between the long tables. “I am so fuckin’ happy for you two. Truly. You’re a catch, Ruby. And Damon knows it. He’ll do you right. He’s so gone for you and this means you’re just as gone for him. Damn. This is the best.” He hugged her and kissed her cheeks.

  Katie Faith and Aimee hugged them both, crying about how happy they were and soon enough, Damon was there at Ruby’s back.

  “I do need to go. There’s the midnight Consort event and I need to tell my family before they hear this from anyone else,” she told him. “I know there’s probably stuff you have to do here, especially after that whole...whatever.”

  He spun her out of Major’s arms and into his, kissing the tip of her nose. “Where you go, I go. That’s how it is and I’m entirely good with that. I don’t want your family to be mad that they heard about this secondhand. I know what they mean to you.”

  They said their goodbyes as quickly as they could given how many people wanted to congratulate them.

  “I’ll see you all in a bit. I need to change my clothes first and then I’ll head my family off at Miz Rose’s,” she told Aimee and Katie Faith as she hugged them one more time.

  “We’ll go over now to attempt rumor control,” Katie Faith said.

  * * *

  In the truck, Ruby scooted over to the middle so she could put her head on his shoulder. Needing that touch after the events of the evening.

  “Are you really all right with this?” Ruby asked as they headed into her house. She changed out of her dress and into the gown and cape that went over it. Her Samhain celebratory gown was red with yellow piping and the cloak was deep black lined with red. “Like hello you’re married!”

  “Ruby darlin’, I wanted to marry you weeks ago. The wolf knew and the man knew. But we understood some time needed to pass for you to understand what we had this time out. And that binding tonight? Baby, that doesn’t just happen. Imprinted couples who choose the binding aren’t even a majority in our community. And what happened tonight? That simultaneous whatever it was that made our own unique magical binding? So very rare. We showed every single shifter in town that you and I are it. People can talk until the sun burns out and try to make trouble but the truth is, they all saw the magic of what you and I are. I love you and everyone knows it.”

  She let that soothe and center her. “All right then. I have no reason to think they won’t be happy for us. But they’re going to demand an actual wedding for my family to attend and all that. I know you’re building a house and you have a business to run and a pack and we’ll fit it in the best we can.”

  She put on thick-soled boots because they’d be walking and she wanted to stay warm and comfortable. No one would see them anyway because the gown and cloak were long.

  “I’m nearly finished with what will be our house. Ours. And a wedding is part of my to-do list if that’s what you and your family want. As far as I’m concerned, we’re already married. Whatever we need to do to make your family feel included and satisfied, whatever you need to be happy and satisfied, is what I’m happy doing.” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “I just need to get you a ring.”

  * * *

  Ruby sent a quick text to the family group chat to let them know she needed to speak with them all ASAP and would meet them in five minutes at Miz Rose’s to explain everything.

  “You better just spit it out up front,” Ruby’s dad said when they arrived. “You’ve got us worried. If you’re pregnant, that’s okay. We’re pleased as punch.”

  Ruby laughed. “Good to know. But I’m not pregnant.”

  Lovie snorted. “Good. That boy best marry you first.”

  “About that,” Ruby said.

  Ruby explained the whole thing. The way Damon’s feelings and energy had combined with hers and how it had created a binding spell of sorts leaving them married in the eyes of pack law.

  “And me,” Damon added. “I mean, this is more than a rules situation. Just to be clear.”

  Ruby squeezed his hand.

  Her mother swept them both into hugs and it went down a row of her family until she and Nichole hugged, both crying happy tears.

  “Your energy feels different. Just a little. But there’s a bit of pack magic in you now,” Nichole said.

  “I understand and respect that you’re officially considered married as far as the shifters are concerned. But just know we expect a wedding ceremony as well,” her mother said and Lovie nodded.

  “Sooner rather than later if you’ll be living together,” Lovie said and Ruby didn’t have the heart to tell her grandmother they already were pretty much half the week at least.

  “We can talk about it tomorrow. Everyone is gathering near the gate,” Ruby said, pointing to the rest of the consort.

  The town cemetery was only half a mile away so they walked, solemn, holding lanterns, candles and torches down the quiet little lane it lay on.

  * * *

  Damon wasn’t nervous at all, just fascinated as they entered the cemetery and fanned out, heading to the markers where friends and loved ones were buried.

  “Now we leave offerings and tokens,” Ruby told him quietly. “A way to memorialize that exchange between the living and those who’ve passed on.”

  She explained that Samhain was a time to celebrate the lives of those who’d passed. To make offerings and recognize that life and death are on a continuum. One made way for the other. Over and over again.

  At the time of year when the veil between worlds was so thin, it was thought to be possible to connect with the dead and departed from this plane of existence to the next.

  At her aunt’s grave, she left a fabric-wrapped bundle propped against the stone. Her lips moved, eyes closed as she held a smooth river rock in her hand she placed atop the marker.

  She repeated the process at several graves until they reached his mother’s and they both went to their knees. Ruby pulled out a small bunch of apple blossoms tied with a red ribbon and placed it on the ground while again she gave her prayer/observance.

  Her magic was elegant and yet very simple and Damon loved to watch her at work.

  Damon pulled out the offering he’d brought for his mother. Ruby had explained it didn’t need to be expensive or rare or anything like that, but a token that would mean something to him or his mother. Just a moment of thanks. He’d brought a little porcelain fairy he’d picked up a few years before at a secondhand shop in Nashville. Now he knew why it had called to him.

  “You don’t have to say anything out loud,” Ruby explained. “Keep it in your head if you want. Or feel without words. My point is, however you want and need to manifest this is absolutely fine.”

  “Thanks.” Damon meant it. All this was new and could have been overwhelming or worse, made him feel inadequate or ignorant. Instead, Ruby made sure it was warm and welcoming.

  The whole cemetery was full of scenes just like the one he and Ruby made. Some people had brought beach chairs and had set them up at gravesites to celebrate that way.

  “This is the solemn part. Tomorrow we burn shit and eat all the food,” Ruby had told him earlier. But what he saw then was full of joy. Solemn yes. It hurt to lose those you love. But instead of ache, these witches chose to use these moments for joy. For love and happiness.

  That lightened his heart as he placed his palm on his mother’s headstone and closed his eyes. He’d never get to know her in person. She’d never hold the babies he and Ruby would go on to have. But she’d be there anyway. In the shape of his future son or daughter’s eyes. In his own when he looked back in the mirror.

  That’s all Damon could have and it sucked. But. For the first time in years, this felt like enough. She was gone and that wasn’t going to change. But she could still be in his life. She was his mother after all and her love would always be there.

  * * *

  On the way home, Ruby took their route to a three-way stop not so very far from where the truck was parked.

  “This is a crossroads. I’m going to leave an offering for Hecate,” she explained to Damon.

  She pulled several things from her basket and placed them in the center where other offerings already had been placed. That made her happy. This celebration that countless others had celebrated and observed over generations of witches like herself. She was part of something larger.

  A loaf of apple cake and a bottle of mulled wine offered to appease the hungry ghosts.

  Hecate, please take this token of food and libation in your name at Samhain. I request that you watch over and protect the people of Diablo Lake against anything malevolent.

  Ruby poked her thumb in a place she knew would heal quickly and let several drops of blood hit the dirt next to her offering.

  Magic rode the air. Metallic and sharp, like the scent of her blood. The goddess was pleased.

  She stood and turned, her gaze finding Damon. “We don’t look back,” she said as he took her hand and they walked the other way, back toward where they’d parked earlier.

  “Ready to go home?” she asked him.

  “Sure am, wifey.”

  That made her smile as she put her head against his shoulder a moment as they walked on, toward home and bed. Sleep would come after a bit of celebration.

  * * *

  Damon had never once in his life been nervous about sexing a beautiful woman up. Especially if they’d already been together before as he and Ruby had. But everything was different.

  More. Better.

  At her front door he felt so damned shy. She turned and when he noted she had some nervousness too, everything felt easier.

  He pulled her close as the dogs ran into the living room, beyond happy they were home.

  Damon smiled at the sound of the dogs’ nails tippy tapping against the floors as they pranced and danced and jumped with joy at their feet.

  Ruby went to her tiptoes, stretching up to kiss him before she knelt to give the dogs attention. “Guess what? Damon is your daddy now. Forever. If he tries to run we’ll find him so get a good sniff for reference.”

  That made him laugh as he joined her. “You can’t get rid of me now.”

  “As if we want that anyway.”

  She stood and let them outside, where they barked and ran and played happily, pausing to do their business before getting back to the house.

  * * *

  Ruby threw the locks on the doors once the boys came in from outside. The enormity of everything that had happened over the last several hours could crash outside all it wanted. But for the next hours she and Damon would be together. Alone. To celebrate what had just happened.

  He went to be sure there was fresh water for the dogs and after giving them one last burst of love and scratches behind the ear, Damon stood and looked at Ruby with so much intensity it left her weak in the knees.

  So she held out her hand and he took it, leading him to the bedroom where she closed the door or the dogs would come in for company at the exact wrong moment.

  “I need you,” she told him simply. Honestly.

  “I’m yours. Always.”

  And he gave himself to her. Going to his knees and bowing his head, as if seeking benediction. The simple devotion of it was so pure it nearly hurt. She vowed to be worthy of the heart this man had just given her.

  He helped her out of her boots and stood, taking her cloak and laying it over the back of a nearby chair.

  He slowly unbuttoned the front of her gown and parted it, baring her body to his gaze. His hands that slowly caressed her shoulders and her neck as he pulled the gown free.

  “You’re my beautiful goddess. The finest gift I’ve ever been given. You’re more than anything I’ve ever imagined.”

  Tears pricked the back of her eyes.

  She took his hands in hers and kissed his palms.

  “We’re the best gift. Damon, you and I will move mountains together. We are magic.”

  Though they tried to keep it slow, the remainder of their clothes lay in a pile on the floor and they stumbled back to the bed in a tangle of limbs, their mouths together in a flurry of passionate kisses.

  Pleasure arced up her spine as his mouth skated down her neck and over her collarbone. He murmured that she was beautiful. That she was precious and talented. That she was kind and compassionate, sexy, smart.

  Sweat beaded on their skin as she kissed his chest over his heart, felt the vibration and knew it beat for her. That he was hers in every way and that she would die before she purposely hurt or misused him.