Dagon stood and stretched like a well-satisfied male lion as he watched her tend the oven without a st.i.tch of clothes. "Remind me to give the staff a holiday more often."

She laughed after looking down at herself. "I didn't know cooking could be so much fun." She pulled the two bread pans from the oven and set them to cool on a wire rack on the countertop. She flicked the oven off and tossed the cow mitt on the table. "All done baking. What do you say we share a shower?"

He walked slowly toward her, his strides powerful, his long mane wild from their recent untamed activities, and his male scent alluring. She was already hungry for him, and when he reached her side, he scooped her up into his arms and attacked her neck with ravenous kisses that soon had them clawing at each other yet again.

They dressed in pure white robes in honor of the new sun, the new cycle, a new life. The pine boughs covered a long narrow table in the living room that sat beneath a tall window. The candles Sarina had made, all white and all various sizes, sat comfortably amongst the pine needles waiting to spark to life.

Each of them held a small lit candle in their hands, and it was Sarina who cast the ancient prayer in the ancient language that Dagon did not know but did not fail to understand. She blessed the Mother Earth and gave thanks for her generosity, then she asked for the new year to be filled with love, hope, and peace for all. And she asked that all would come to know the beauty of magic and allow its essence to touch their hearts and souls.

At opposite ends of the table they stood, and in unison they reached out their lighted candles to spark one candle, and then with a soft whisper of a breath from Sarina over the unlighted candles the magic of the cast took hold and she cried out in delight as candle by candle sparked to brilliant life until the twenty-one candles that covered the tabletop flickered with light.

She clapped her hands like an excited child, and her smile displayed her wonder and joy. She had feared that her meager power would fail her, but a small surge of energy still lingered, and it was all that was necessary for the cast to work.

"Bless you all," she whispered to the candles, and their flames rose up and dipped as if in respect to her magic before settling to a normal flicker.

Dagon stared at her in awe. "I have never seen anything like that."

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she said with pride.

"Will these candles really burn all year now?"

"Yes, they will. They are blessed with the magic of the solstice. Place them wisely throughout the castle, and they will offer light and protection."

He walked over to her and she took the candle from his hand to blow out along with the one she held. "Thank you for this special night. It will linger long in my memory."

She discarded the unlit candles to a nearby tray, and with a slow spreading smile she wrapped her arms around his neck. "We have more memories to make."

An hour later with laughter on their lips and their bodies still damp from their enthusiastic lovemaking, they slipped back into their robes and attacked the table spread with a bounty of food.

"I'm starved," Sarina said, piling her plate with sliced ham, turkey, oyster stuffing, and a fat yam. She frowned when she realized there was no more room on her plate and she would have to make a return trip for the vegetables.

Dagon opened a bottle of chilled chardonney and filled two gla.s.ses for them. They picnicked in front of the large stone fireplace on the warmth of the hearth rug, sitting opposite each other so that they could share their plates of food.

Lady Lily enjoyed her own special treat, fresh milk and a fillet of fish broiled to her liking, and of course there was her new bed pillow scented with pine and on which she curled up to sleep after satisfying her stomach.

It was a joyous time for them, and they took advantage of every precious moment. They did not think of the past or the future, only the moment, and when they thought themselves stuffed, unable to eat any more, they both spied the tray of cookies on the table and tripped over each other in an attempt to beat the other to the tray first.

Sarina made them Earl Grey tea, and the teapot soon emptied and the cookies vanished, and they slumped together on the couch both proclaiming they would never eat another bite.

And wrapped in each others arms they fell asleep to the crackle of the fire and the contentment of their full stomachs, knowing tomorrow's new sun would bring new promise and new hope and with a little magic a solution to their dilemma.

Thirty.

Sarina slipped quietly from the bed, adjusting the covers over Dagon's naked shoulders. Lady Lily swatted at her from her contented perch on the top of Dagon's head. She did not like to be disturbed when she was cuddled by Dagon, and she let Sarina know it. With a soft meow she curled back into a ball and closed her sleepy eyes. Sarina hurried into the white terry robe that had carelessly been tossed over the chair the evening before in their haste to make love.

They simply could not get enough of each other. They had behaved like two young lovers who had only recently discovered the joys of s.e.x. She shivered, grateful for the warmth of the robe around her chilled body as she rushed over to the hearth and proceeded to add logs to the dying embers. The dry wood caught instantly and flamed to life. She sat cross-legged on the hearth rug and held her hands out in front of the roaring fire for it to toast them warm.

Tomorrow was Christmas and they would share the holiday together, though many phone calls would be made to family and friends. And then . . .

Then right after the new year her sister would return.

She had thought that perhaps their crazed lovemaking was due to the fact that this might be their only time together. And the thought so upset her that tears pooled in her eyes and teetered dangerously close to spilling. Tears would not solve her problem and would only serve to make her more despondent.

Wisdom was her best weapon.

Love.

The word was a bare whisper in her head, and she smiled knowing who sent the single-word message. She rose quickly, gave Dagon's cheek a soft kiss, and fled the room in a rush.

She hurried to her own room to dress, the clothes she needed being there. It was with haste and excitement she dressed in her black dress with the cowl neck. She slipped black suede ankle boots over black silk stockings and swung her black-hooded cloak around her shoulders, pulling up the hood to cover her tousled hair that she barely ran her fingers through this morning.

Dawn had peeked on the horizon barely an hour ago, and peeked was all it could do since dark gray clouds hurried in overhead and blanketed the sky with a promise of foul weather. A good storm was brewing and the temperatures had dropped considerably overnight. Perhaps a few snow flurries would grace the ground for Christmas, though it was probably more of a downpour they would see.

Sarina hurried her steps along the pebble path, around the mermaid pond, smiling at the delightful memories, and with a quick step entered the woods. She looked as if she flew around trees, over fallen logs, around low hanging branches, and whirled to a stop in a small clearing where pine needles cushioned the earth and an old worn tree stump provided a seat.

With the absence of the sun and the thick covering of the plethora of tall trees and fat branches, light was near to nonexistent. But that did not matter to Sarina; she simply took her seat and waited patiently.

A twinkle of light suddenly flitted overhead, followed by another twinkle and then another and another and . . .

Sarina smiled with pleasure as she watched the fairies descend down around her.

It was a beautiful sight to behold, their small wings sparkling, the merry tinkle of their voices, and the soft flutter of their wings, it was a melody that never failed to touch her heart.

They were all dressed in white and gold in honor of the Winter Solstice. Gold fairy dust sparkled in their hair and glittered on the soft wool of their garments. Their head wreaths were pine and donned with tiny gold berries and pinecones.

When they all finished descending, the small clearing stood aglow with a soft glittering light that would leave mortals breathless, but Sarina was familiar with the fairies' glow, and she basked in its magic.

"Wise one, it is a pleasure," Beatrice said and executed a respectful bow while continuing to flutter in the air in front of Sarina.

"It is always a pleasure to see you, Beatrice," Sarina said with an acknowledging nod. "As it is to see all of my friends." She extended her hands out over all the fairies and they murmured their own joyful greetings.

Sarina had grown up with most of the fairies that surrounded her. Some had taught her and some she had taught, but all were friends since fairies knew no other way.

"I heard your message," Sarina said to Beatrice.

"We wanted you to know our love and thoughts are with you in your time of need," Beatrice explained. "And we wished to extend our blessings for a joyous new cycle."

Sarina spread her hands out once again and sent a hushed warm breath to whisper across the fairies. "My blessings to you all."

A flutter of excitement rippled through the small creatures and murmurs of delight were heard as were whispers of rea.s.surance that she the wise one would protect them.

Sarina looked to Beatrice. "They worry about something."

"Your prediction of his return has spread throughout the lands, and they grow concerned. They fear this time he will win, and if he does . . ." Beatrice shook her head sadly.

"Trust my sister's strength and courage; she will allow no harm to befall you."

"Your sister possesses a love few come to know or understand, and she uses that love wisely. We have faith in her, in you-and in Dagon." Sarina had the strangest feeling that Beatrice understood more about future events than her message was relaying.

"He is my hero."

Beatrice smiled. "It is the one whom no one suspects who will be the true hero."

"He will save me?"

"He will save you all."

Sarina smiled. "Is this why you summoned me here- to tell me riddles?"

"To remind you," Beatrice said, adjusting her lopsided head wreath for the third time.

"Of love?"

"You understand?" Beatrice appeared startled.

"Your gentle reminder sparked a memory, and I feel foolish for not having discovered the missing piece to this amazing puzzle sooner." Beatrice fluttered her wings, the crooked one tipping her to the right as she flew to place a kiss on Sarina's cheek. "We all have faith in you."

"And my sister."

Beatrice bowed her head in reverence. "She is the Ancient One. She knows all and protects all. She would never hurt nor harm a soul."

"I said those words to someone recently, though I failed to completely understand them. Tempest truly is wise."

"You will help her?" Beatrice asked anxiously.

Tiny heads bobbed in agreement with Beatrice, all looking for rea.s.surance from her.

Sarina did not hesitate. "I will always help my sister."

Tiny cheers joined each other until a small echo of delight filled the air, and as each fairy ascended they blew kisses that rushed across Sarina's chilled cheeks and heated them to a toasty pink warmth. "You know now what must be done?" Beatrice asked, waiting to be the last to bid her farewell. Sarina held her finger out for Beatrice to perch on. "I think I knew all along. That is why I made such wise choices." "Then all is well," Beatrice said with a satisfied grin. "Not all," Sarina said with a look to her crooked wing. "Shall I fix it again for you?" Beatrice pushed her head wreath up yet again away from her eye. "It would be nice to fly straight again, though I will probably manage to fly into another tree soon enough."

"Then I will repair it again for you," Sarina said and with a soothing touch of her finger over the crooked wing straightened it completely. Beatrice tried out the repaired wing, fluttering up in a straight line and grinning with sheer delight. "Thank you, oh, thank you, wise one."

"Thank you," Sarina said on a soft whisper and sent the words up on a gentle breath as Beatrice flew away to join the others. She sat in silence, the wisdom of the ages pouring through her, and she admonished her own foolishness time and time again. Part of her knew the truth, understood it, and yet failed to see it and apply it. Her chance was here and now, and she would wisely embrace it and then . . . She would have a long talk with her sister. Lady Lily paced the kitchen floor right alongside a nervous Dagon. He was simply beside himself. He had thrown on his black jeans, and bare-chested and barefooted, he had searched the entire castle, and that was no easy ch.o.r.e to accomplish, though being a witch helped, and yet he still was unable to locate Sarina.

He detested waking up and finding her gone. He much preferred waking to her warm, naked body next to his. He would stroke her to wakefulness, and she would respond most eagerly, and their morning would begin with a slow and gentle loving.

It was a great way to start the day.

But this day, this morning, he woke alone.

A loud meow caught his attention, and he looked down to see the white furry kitten winding her way

around his ankles. "Okay, I wasn't alone, you were with me."

She purred contentedly.

He shook his head, certain the kitten could read minds. "You take after your master. And if she

doesn't-"

He spotted her out the kitchen window racing across the lawn, her black cloak fanning out behind her as she rushed toward the castle. He understood her haste when the first spat of rain hit the windowpane, and he smiled as he watched the skies open up and drop buckets full over the land and over Sarina.

He greeted her at the back door with a large towel. "A morning stroll?" He couldn't keep the annoyance out of his voice. She patted his cheek. "Miss me?" "d.a.m.n it, Sarina, you know how I hate waking up without you beside me." "No," she corrected with a sweet grin. "You hate not having me there to make love with."

"That, too," he confirmed curtly.

She laughed as she slipped out of her black dress and discarded it to the peg next to where her wet cloak hung. She stood before him in nothing but black silk stockings that hugged her thighs with a band of black lace and black ankle boots.

His body responded with lightning speed, though he stood shocked senseless, unable to make a move.

Her hips swayed with the inviting gait of a female in hot pursuit as she approached him. And when she reached out to unb.u.t.ton his jeans, he grabbed her hand. With a smile he said, "Promise me this isn't the only morning I'll find you so seductively attired." She tickled his ear with her tongue. "Wait until you see what you get to unwrap Christmas morning." He laughed with pleasure and proceeded to seduce the siren he held in his arms. Early that evening with the rain turning gentle and the air turning colder, they sat before the hearth in the living room toasting marshmallows. He could tell something disturbed her; she was more quiet than usual and her dark eyes more distant, as if she were elsewhere.

"It's burning," he said to her, gently watching the fat marshmallow on her stick engulfed by flames.

"What?" she asked and looked at him absentmindedly.

He pointed to her burning marshmallow.

She gasped and yanked the stick back, blowing wildly at the flames that ensconced the sweet, fat piece of confection. "Ohhh," she bemoaned.

Dagon took it from her and surrendered his perfectly toasted marshmallow to her.

She smiled at him gratefully and with small bites enjoyed the treat.

Dagon skewered a fresh marshmallow to another stick and began to roast it. "What troubles you?"

"Troubles?" she asked with a pretend smile.