Dagon lowered Sarina to the ground, though kept his arm firmly around her waist. "Thank you. Your

blessings mean much to me."

"You will treat her well." It was an order Tempest meant to be obeyed.

Dagon took no offense, for the demand was issued with love. "Always, I will always love and protect

her."

"I welcome you to our family," Tempest said and held her hand out to him.

He accepted her offer of friendship and was startled by the peace, calm, and love that washed over him

when their hands embraced.

"Thank you. I am proud to be part of it."

Tempest looked to Sarina and waved her hand over her. "Your powers are now fully restored, and it is

time for me to go." She took a step back.

"No, wait," Sarina said anxiously and turned to Dagon. "Please give me a few moments alone with my

sister."

He nodded and stepped back into the shadows to wait.

Sarina rushed up to her sister, hugging her, and then taking her hand. "We have a wedding to plan."

"You wish my help?" She seemed surprised.

"Of course! Why wouldn't I? I want it to be special, and only you would be able to help me make it

so."

Tempest squeezed her hand. "You were right, my spell was never meant to hurt but to help you. When you told me of his return and I remembered how very much I loved him, I realized that you had never allowed yourself to know true love. And I worried that you would forever lock yourself away, and while my own love had brought me pain, it had still left me with joyous memories I would never wish to surrender. I wanted you to experience such a love."

"And the feat-"

Tempest shook her head. "Love, Sarina, simply love, and you even surpa.s.sed that with your news of a son created from a rare love. So simple and yet so magical."

"You will be there for his birth? I will have no other tend me," Sarina insisted.

"You'd better not."

Both sisters laughed and hugged.

"Thank you, Tempest, for giving me Dagon."

"I did not give him to you. Love brought both of you together."

"It wasn't until I stopped looking that I found him."

"Then you discovered the secret," she said softly. "You can chase after nothing; it must come freely or you will never find it."

Sarina kissed her sister's cheek. "I'm so glad that you're my sister."

Tempest laughed softly, though a tear filled her eye. "You have no idea how delighted I was when Mother and Father had you. I had so wanted a sister."

"You didn't mind them plopping me in your care and taking off on their adventures?"

"I ha.s.sled Mother and Father until she agreed to let me care for you. After all, they were much too busy on their adventures to give you a proper upbringing. Now go, your witch grows impatient and his body grows needy."

"Tempest!" Sarina said on a giggle.

"He is a good witch, I like him."

"I am so glad to hear you say that and, oh," Sarina said with excitement, "you must stop by the castle before you leave. I have two loaves of apple cinnamon bread I made for you, and Dagon baked you two loaves of cherry bread."

Tempest grinned. "A man that is not afraid to bake! Now I really like him."

Sarina squeezed her sister's hand she held. "I want to help you, Tempest, you are going to need it."

Tempest shook her head and slowly withdrew her hand. "It is too late. I knew this time would come, and even you with your tremendous powers of sight cannot tell me of the outcome."

Sarina sadly shook her head. "No, I cannot, but I can tell you that Dagon and I will be there to help you. Sydney, Ali, and Sebastian, too, they are good friends. You are not alone."

"I appreciate that and perhaps-"she faltered in her speech, her sister's love and concern giving her hope- "perhaps all will turn out well. Now give me another hug and go to your lifemate, he is anxious. And I will stop at the castle kitchen and pay a visit with Margaret before I leave and collect my gifts. I will also take time to discuss the wedding with her. The menu is important, and she is an exceptional cook."

They hugged tightly, holding on to each other as if reluctant to let go until finally they separated and with a gush of wind and swirl of light Tempest vanished.

Dagon joined her where she stood looking up at the night sky. "I like my future sister-in-law."

"I'm glad to hear that, because she likes you."

"Really?" he asked as he took her hand and they walked back to the castle.

"She was delighted that you baked her cherry bread."

"The bread came out good, didn't it? She'll like it, won't she?"

Sarina smiled, happiness filling her heart. "She'll love it, and she even talked about our wedding. She's going to help me plan it."

"Whatever you want, dear heart, is fine with me-as long as it is soon."

"I thought February. That will give my sister and me time to plan."

"Ali's going to insist on helping."

"I'd love her help. Actually I was thinking of asking her. Can we call them now?" she asked anxiously, tugging him along toward the castle.

"I had other ideas in mind."

"Will I like them?" she asked teasingly.

"I guarantee it."

"Good," she said and released his hand to run ahead. "Then we'll call Ali and Sebastian first, and then we'll tend to what's on your mind."

He chased after her, taking flight to catch her. He had forgotten her powers were restored, and with a whoosh of wind she disappeared before his eyes. d.a.m.n, but this was going to take getting used to.

Later that night after making love slow and easy, they sat in bed sipping hot cider and talking.

"A son," he said, his hand splaying over her naked stomach. "I can't believe we're going to have a son."

"Who will probably have his hands full with Ali and Sebastian's daughter." Sarina giggled.

"d.a.m.n," Dagon muttered. "I should have realized that you were pregnant."

"Why?"

"Sydney mentioned to me that our child would grow with Ali and Sebastian's child. When Ali informed us of her pregnancy, I should have known yours would follow." "Actually," Sarina said, placing her mug of hot cider on the nightstand beside Dagon's, "our son is due before Ali and Sebastian's daughter."

"You kept your pregnancy from me?" he asked, his disappointment evident.

She shook her head. "No, I didn't realize I was pregnant. I didn't even think about it or think about taking precautions." She playfully slapped his naked chest. "You didn't, either." "What was the point? I knew I loved you and that I wanted you for a lifemate. What difference did it make if you got pregnant? We would wed regardless."

"Positive were you?"

"Absolutely," he insisted with a mushy smack of his lips to hers.

She wiped at the remnants of his wet kiss with the back of her hand. "You do realize our wedding will be attended by many."

"Because of your sister?"

"Yes, there are many who will come to pay their respects and honor her presence and of course request favors."

"What favors?"

"Tempest will be generous with her skills on our wedding to honor our joining."

Dagon shook his head. "I will allow no one to disturb her or make demands of her in my home."

"But-"

He silenced her with a finger to her lips. "No buts -that is the way it will be. She is your sister and will enjoy the day, and I will make certain all of the guests are aware of this before they accept the invitation."

Sarina cuddled against him. "I can tell she will favor you."

He hugged her to him. "I heard you ask her to tend you when you deliver our son."

"I would trust no other."

"She will see to your care, then?" he asked, knowing her sister possessed the skills necessary to make her delivery easy and as painless as possible. And he did not want to see her suffer, for he would surely suffer along with her.

"Of course, she would let no other tend me."

"A wedding and a birth," he said joyously. "It will be an exciting year."

Sarina ran her hand over his firm chest. "I told my sister that we'll be there for her if she needed our help."

"You worry about her?"

She nodded, looking up at him. "I don't want to see her hurt. And I fear that his return will cause her pain."

"Then we will see that she doesn't suffer," he rea.s.sured her.

She smiled and planted a mouthy kiss on his lips. "My hero."

"With your powers restored, you may not require my hero services any longer," he said, sounding disappointed.

She stared at him as if stunned. "You will always be my hero."

"Even though I no longer need to rescue you?"

"You never know," she said with a glint to her eye.

He laughed and gathered her more closely to him.

She snuggled contentedly against him when suddenly she sprang out of his arms. "I almost forgot. I have something for you." She hurried off the bed, rushing to a wooden oak chest near the window. She retrieved a small tin box and rushed back to the bed with it.

He watched her with curious eyes. She sat on the bed in front of him and opened the tin box. "I saved these. I searched and collected until I had every last piece."

"Pieces of what?"