She delivered a whispered kiss to his lips. "I know you should take me."

His teasing persisted as he slowly floated them up in the air. "You will only get yourself in trouble."

She felt them leave the ground, felt the strength of his arms tightly around her, felt the power of his magic

circle them, and smiled. "And you will rescue me."

He rubbed her slim nose with his. "Always."

"Promise?" she asked anxiously.

He settled them on a st.u.r.dy branch and ran a tender kiss across her lips. "You are worried about

something." It wasn't a question, he knew the answer. Her tense body made him keenly aware of her concern.

"A senseless worry," she said, attempting to rea.s.sure him-or perhaps herself.

He accepted no resistance. He intended an answer. "Not senseless if you gave it thought. Tell me."

She answered with reluctance and apprehension. "What if one day you cannot rescue me?"

He kissed her lips softly and whispered. "Always, always I will rescue you, never doubt it."

"But-" she attempted to protest.

"No, buts ," he warned her with a kiss that silenced her. "There is nothing, absolutely nothing in this

world that will prevent me from rescuing you."

"There are magical powers greater than you," she challenged.

"Great magical power brings great wisdom and can be reasoned with."

She laughed gently as if she knew something he didn't. "I wouldn't count on that."

He claimed a kiss that left her breathless. "Count on that and count on me, I will never fail you."

Joy filled her to the brim, and she felt hopeful that all would turn out well. She was about to voice her

confidence in him when a sudden gust of wind whipped through the tree branches and swirled in a

whirlwind around them. Dagon instantly tightened his grip around her waist and shielded her with his body. The wind died as instantly as it had surfaced, and Sarina looked about in surprise.

"Expecting someone?" he asked, watching her searching eyes grow wide.

She sounded as if she asked herself the question as well as him. "Rain?"

"Soon," he confirmed, "which means we'd better hurry."

Sarina kept an arm around Dagon's neck as they floated from branch to branch plucking pinecones.

They laughed, teased, and kissed often, and Dagon used his magical skills to bring the basket up off the

ground to float alongside them, making collecting the cones that much easier. The basket full and raindrops beginning to fall, the laughing couple floated with haste to the ground and hurried off with their finds to the castle. They entered the kitchen just as the rain turned to a torrential downpour. Margaret had lunch waiting-vegetable soup and beef sandwiches on thick crusty bread.

Unfortunately, Dagon had received several frantic business calls and reluctantly could not join her. Sarina tried to hide her disappointment, a.s.suring him she would be fine on her own. After all, there was so much to do to prepare the pine and cones for a.s.sembling.

He took her hand, kissed her palm, and drew her into his embrace whispering, "I will make this up to you this evening." His promise appeased her, and she relaxed against him. "Then I look forward to this evening." A kiss to her lips and he was gone. She ate her soup and chatted with Margaret about the holiday decorations, proudly showing off her collection of pinecones. Soon the table was cleared off and paper spread over it and the pine branches placed on top along with the basket of pinecones.

The scent of fresh pine permeated the kitchen, and as soon as the two women began to twist, bend, and shape the branches, the aroma grew even stronger. With a strong sense of friendship the women worked side by side, their hands working their magic though no magic was needed. Both had done this enjoyable ch.o.r.e for many years, and it never failed to excite and please.

Sydney burst into the kitchen. "Why did you not tell me of the severity of the spell?"

Margaret remained quiet, her hands continuing to twist and bend the branches into a beautifully crafted wreath.

"How do you know of the spell?" Sarina asked calmly, her hands stopping their work.

Sydney softened her response in respect of a wise one. "I am not at liberty to say."

Sarina nodded in understanding and smiled. "If I were to venture a guess, I would say that a little fairy told you."

Sydney conceded. "I forget about your remarkable sight."

"If the fairies have begun to talk, then they are worried," Sarina said with concern.

"Very much so, they fear your prediction."

Sarina sighed her frustration. "I meant no harm, I only wished to help."

"They know this," Sydney rea.s.sured her, "and they are frantic to help you."

"They cannot."

"Which has them all the more worried."

Sarina spoke softly, her dark eyes filling with age-old wisdom. "Tell them that all will be well. There is one who will rescue me."

A bittersweet smile crossed Sydney's face. "And once he does, the rest remains up to you."

"I have given it much thought," Sarina said, "and I realize the answer will not come to me if I chase after it."

"Then what will you do?"

"Wait and know that the answer is already mine."

Dagon returned several calls, handled a business problem, conducted a meeting over the computer, and managed to eat his lunch in between. He had several more E-mails to answer and a contract to download and read later. When all he wanted to do was spend the remainder of the day with Sarina.

When had she become so essential to his life? He had thought his life full, and once he chose a lifemate, it would be complete. But complete was an ending, not a beginning, and with Sarina life had just begun. When they were together, he experienced a joy of life so potent, so desirous, that the sensations astounded him. He sometimes wondered if she were real or merely a fantasy of his own making. Then he would touch her and have his answer.

Life plans had once been essential to him; now he realized life had plans of its own, and when two were meant to be one, there was no stopping the magic. The phone rang and he reached for it with a smile. "Dagon, it's Sebastian." "You're in Ireland already?" he asked, glancing at the clock and noticing it was already late afternoon. Sebastian gave a quick laugh. "Lost track of time, did you?"

"You know that old saying, time flies when you're having fun."

"You can say that again, and I'm about to have some fun of my own when I get off the phone. But first the reason I called."

"Which is?"

"I discovered some information about the Ancient One that might prove helpful to you."

Dagon sat forward in his chair. "I'm listening."

Sebastian wasted no time. "Did you know that she was once deeply in love?"

"I heard something about one love in her life."

"He was a powerful warlock."

"Warlock?" he repeated with surprise.

"My exact response. I remember Sydney saying something about warlocks being evil."

"They practice the darker side of magic. Which makes me wonder why a witch of her immense wisdom

and power would a.s.sociate herself with a warlock." "That I couldn't find out, I could only piece together what I discovered and make a.s.sumptions from those facts. So the facts are that we know she loved a warlock, that love was somehow lost, perhaps never returned, and she has never loved since, leaving her-" Dagon finished. "A wiser woman where love is concerned." "Which might just work to your advantage." "This information definitely has helped me, thank you, Sebastian." A brief pause proceeded Sebastian's response. "A word of caution."

Dagon listened in silence.

"Keep your patience. Her powers are tremendous, and I hear her temper is legendary."

"I'll keep that in mind, and thanks for the help, Sebastian. I truly appreciate it and your concern."

"No problem, take care and good luck."

Dagon returned the phone to the receiver and gave thought to his helpful and cautionary words. He never lacked confidence in his powers, he was a potent witch and intelligent, and it was his intelligence that he would need when dealing with the Ancient One. His powers were of little consequence where she was concerned for her powers far exceeded his.

Reason, patience, and wisdom would serve him well. But in the end he knew the most powerful weapon at his disposal would be that of love. If she loved once and lost that love, then she would understand his feelings, her wisdom would not allow for anything else, and in the end love would be his saving grace.

He looked out on the rain that pelted the windows, vicious and intent, demanding entrance, yet he was safe as was Sarina and that was how he would keep her-safe. He would allow no harm to befall her. He would be there for her always rescuing her, caring for her, loving her. She was part of him and he part of her. They were joined as one forever and always.

He loved her plain and simple.

And while love wasn't simple, it also wasn't perfect. And he accepted that and looked forward to the challenge love would offer them. Life was suddenly wonderfully delirious, and he chose to experience every fruitful moment to its fullest.

He stood, switching his computer to sleep mode. He had conducted enough business for one day. It was time to find Sarina.

Dagon watched from the kitchen doorway. The three women-Sydney, Margaret, and Sarina-were laughing and chattering while their fingers were busy twisting the pine branches. Several wreaths sat piled waiting for decorations, and half a dozen swags sat to the side glittering with a generous sprinkle of gold dust.

Mugs of hot chocolate sat amongst the branches, and a plate of shortbread cookies sat aside from the pine and looked to have been steadily enjoyed. The rain that pounded the windows mattered not to them. They were engrossed in the moment they shared together, and he envied their easy camaraderie. They appeared lifelong friends.

Dagon thought a moment and realized that they could very well have known each other for many years, and he suddenly felt the need to learn more about the woman he loved, much more.

"The castle will look magnificent," he said, strolling casually into the kitchen.

Sarina smiled with delight. "Yes, it will look simply stunning. We're working on swags for all the fireplaces and a special one for over the door, though I think we may need more pine branches."

"No problem. When the weather clears, I will collect more for you," he said and looked longing at her hot chocolate.

"Want some?" she asked and raised her mug to him.

He took it like a greedy child along with a shortbread cookie.

In no time the women had him helping, dusting the pinecones with gold and stringing the berries in bunches. The tasks were simple, the company delightful, and the moment a memory maker. This time he would remember forever.

He blessed Sydney when she sighed in his direction and told him she was simply too tired to join him for supper and preferred her meal sent to her room. Before he could suggest that Margaret send a simple fare to his room for supper, she suggested that it was a good evening for hot soup before the hearth and informed him that she would have a meal for him and Sarina sent to his room.

He was much too intelligent to think this a coincidence. The two women had planned this little maneuver, and he smiled in appreciation of their deviousness.

Margaret and Sydney shooed Sarina out of the kitchen along with Dagon, insisting that they would clean up, and that tomorrow was time enough to resume the task at hand. By week's end the wreaths and swags would be ready for hanging, and the thought excited Sarina.

Her childish thrill was contagious, and Dagon hurried along hand in hand with her as she detailed where the wreaths and swags would hang. She talked of the trees that would grace the foyer and the living room and insisted that they be uprooted carefully and replanted in an area of their choosing.

She chatted about the fairy dust that would light the trees, and the cones and berries that would decorate them, and it was during her endless chatter that he realized the extent of her knowledge. She spoke with the wisdom of the wise ones who were familiar with the Mother Earth and who would do all in their power to protect her children.

His silence silenced her and she looked at him with ageold eyes that knew.

He brought her to the sofa in the small receiving parlor and sat, easing her with a gentle tug down beside him.

"Tell me about your youth."